[1968blackstang]

So i was reading Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords magazine and saw thier article on building a low buget 302 with 400 hp.They magaged to get 399hp with spending just over a grand. how realistic is this figure and, how reliable would this motor be for a daily driver?

i've decieded to upgrade from my 289 so i can up the power in the future, but i only have about $1500 to play with now. MM&FF used procomp cast aluminum heads and a comp cam with a block out of a wreaking yard. Any ideas or comments for my build?

thanks

[PaulS]

If you use the same dyno and settings you will probably get close to the 400 HP level........

Do you want to run your engine the way they did to get that HP?
Are you going to use it on the street or drag race?
Are you going to use the HP or do you just like the lope at idle?
Are you prepared for the lack of fuel economy that their engine suffers from?

It always works better if you design the engine to meet your needs and not someone elses.

[FordGtMan]

400hp in a 302 is not a very streetable motor, also which i do not believe can be done right for 1500 dollars. It will be a struggle enough to build a motor with decent performance for that amount of money. Im in the same boat as you, i got 1500 bucks.
Also, are you sure you want a 400 hp motor in your car so if you floor the rest of your powertain breaks? Its not just the motor you have to think about, its the rear end and transmission also, which combined can be the price of your motor. 300hp is hella enough for a 3000 pound car, and you most likely dont have to swap everything(300hp is about the limit you want to go). Save yourself the time and money. 300 ponies will break your tires loose at decent speed.

[429ragtop]

For $1500 you can approach 400 hp with the right heads, cam, and carb. The problem is you would have nothing left to upgrade your rotating assembly. The HP and torque in you engine would not be realized until it got into the high rpm range, so what would be the point if you didnt have an adequate rotating assembly? Or to put it another way, "What would it prophet a man if he gains the whole world, but looses is soul?"

[FordGtMan]

Remember also have to buy a good ignition system to get that type of power, which will easily cost a few hundred, roller rockers, and plus the intake and carb. I know that these depending on what you buy will atlest cost over 500 bucks by themselves. Also The things that you dont really think about are the things that will eat your budget away. Lifters, pushrods, adequate headers, gaskets, etc.

[66mustang86]

I just built my 86 302 and its about 310 horse. I did it for just under 2000 grand and I didnt use aluminum heads I went with the old 351 head swap. This saved me some money to use other places on the motor. All around I got what I was looking for a 300 horse motor that is streetable and reliable and I dont have to worry about scattering the motor every time I jump on it. So ya u could make 400 horse for a grand and blow up your drivetrain the next day or u could build a motor that lasts and still has good power. Its all in what your looking for.