how to get 500hp out of my 302

[PDANK Racing]

Carb'ed will give you more power, I don't have any experience with fuel inj. in a racing application, but suspect that is more consistent, but also more expensive than carb'ed. The carb'ed intake w/ Msd ign controller kit http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CN549M/...SIN=B000CN549M is around $600 thru my local speed shop, the kits might not cross over different motors, so make sure to check that. The flywheel and adapter kit from TCI is $230.

Which LS? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_LS_engine
If your $5000 budget includes tranny, and torq conv, that should leave you with $3500 for the motor.

Locally, I can get a 100K mi 5.3L for $400, not including accessories(starter, alternator, ps pump, ac), don't let them charge you full price for the acc.'s either. If you are going EFI, you will need the wiring harness, computer, etc. Google can find you all the info you need.

The LQ4 6.0L is used in the silverado 2500's and are pretty easy to find, I bought one with higher miles for $600 with all accessories but the starter. I've seen them anywhere from $800 to $1200.

The LQ9 6.0L has higher compression and better power, but wasn't nearly as popular. Pricing was $1400 to $2000.

Stay away from anything with VVT.

Only real weakness of the stock motor is the pushrods and oiling system above 6000 rpm for extended periods. Comp cam pushrods will be around $150. The oil pump can be improved with porting and polishing, otherwise a moroso part #22120 is $200 Another problem is that the parts cost for this engine is still relatively high, but circle track is starting to run them so that will be changing in the near future.

Parts -Carb'ed
Pushrods $150
Intake/Bolts $270 (bolts are not included with the intake)
MSD Controller kit $310
Oil Pump $200
TCI Flexplate Kit-$230
Motor Mounts-???
Total-$1160

If you decide to go this route, call Mike at Bay Speed Center (920) 336-8261, he's been working with LS's for a while now, and can answer any questions you have, and probably shave a couple $$ off the parts. Plus being out of state, you won't have to pay sales tax, that should cover the shipping.

Also growing up with Ford blood, I know how you feel. You'll get over it.

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[kdm73091]

how could you get the 5.3? my buddy is interested in either that or the lq4 if you would be able to help us out with that also... so in your opinion for a trophy ranger and i want 500 plus would be nice, what would you go with the lq9? what is the difference between the lq motor and the ls motor? cast block?
and with all those parts you listed that is for wich motor and how many hp would that give me? my budget is strictly motor thats not including the trans... i appreciate alll this info. what state is mike out of? and you also? im in ca.
haha yea i always said i would never put a chevy in a ford let alone drive one

[PDANK Racing]

Lq9 is the engine code for that version of a LS 6.0l. Mike and I are out of Green Bay, WI. Give Mike a call, discuss your budget, application, and hp goal, and he can put together a package that will work for you. For finding a motor, check www.car-parts.com, it searches salvage yards across the country. If you don't find anything, send me a pm and I can source one for you.

In my 1st post I had a car craft link for an LQ4 build, check it out. They got 480 hp with only adding carb, intake, cam and headers. The LQ9 would probably be around or over 500. I went with a LQ4 because my entire parts budget is $4k(not just motor), so I gotta pinch everywhere I can. With a larger budget, I would have gotten either a LQ9 or something better.

[PDANK Racing]

Lq9 is the engine code for that version of a LS 6.0l. Mike and I are out of Green Bay, WI. Give Mike a call, discuss your budget, application, and hp goal, and he can put together a package that will work for you. For finding a motor, check www.car-parts.com, it searches salvage yards across the country. If you don't find anything, send me a pm and I can source one for you.

In my 1st post I had a car craft link for an LQ4 build, check it out. They got 480 hp with only adding carb, intake, cam and headers. The LQ9 would probably be around or over 500. I went with a LQ4 because my entire parts budget is $4k(not just motor), so I gotta pinch everywhere I can. With a larger budget, I would have gotten either a LQ9 or something better.

[scottm]

I always say I would put a chevy in anything that moves... But the best answer for a ford guy is to build a stroked 351w with aftermarket heads. You can get to 500 hp pretty easily.

[Scott_AZ]

500hp?


500hp @ 3000 rpm is a jaw dropper
500hp @ 9000 rpm is a joke.

The easiest way would be to state your budget and let the peanut gallery go crazy. Realistically, you can't really do anything too amazing with 302 cubic inches (unless you're asian[that's a rice rocket joke not a pen15 joke]).

[bob380sx]

For 5k you could build the short block to handle 500hp. C4 is a good trans if the truck is light. My dad runs high10’s ¼ mile with about 500hp NA 302 and c4. He has twisted it good enough to crack the tail housing and bell housing. Main case held up and it’s still running all the same parts in side. No lie 10 years of racing with it. Probable over a 1000 passes. It’s in a pinto. Heat is the killer it’s at 240 taking the strip with a big griffin rad even. Its pretty radical 0% drivability. Its not happy in the lower rpm’s off the cam at all. It would make a crappy off road engine unless you just want to sand drag or hill shoot. Baby C6 probably better for off road but you get less HP at the wheels. C6 takes a lot more to turn than a C4. That’s why the mustangs got the Cleveland and not the M same engine but the Cleveland bolted to a C4 and the M’s bolted to a C6. It freed up some HP at the wheels. My $.02

[kdm73091]

Yea i know but thats a drag car and alot of guys have no problem making tons of hp and running a c4 but they only run a quarter mile. Its a hell of alot different and constant abuse running 400 miles.

[ProFORMANCE]

During the 1980's I worked as an engine builder supporting numerous forms of motor-sports from 4-cyl midgets to V-8 Cosworth Turbo Charged Indy-Car engines. During that time we built 309ci Ford engines for Tom-Gloy's Trans-Am program. Some versions of these engines made over 580hp using a heavily modified 500cfm spec Holley carburetor, but Tom preferred the power-band of the 565hp engine over the 580hp+ engine. To obtain this much horsepower, there were no parts that remained even close to OE including the SVO engine block. All components were manufactured specific for these engines including raw SVO manifolds and cylinder head castings we ported/assembled ourselves. The engines had a life of about 350-400mi provided the valve springs were changed at 200mi. The engines had somewhere in the area of 2.280" inlet valves with over 3/4 inch lift and a max RPM of 8200 (excluding qualifying.) This was before rev-kits so the springs had over 750lbs of pressure over the nose which was extremely hard on the valve train, the week link of the engines at that time. The 500 cfm carbs were heavily modified to obtain flow rates in excess of 760cfm. In the 80's, these engines cost around $40K to build. So, it is possible to obtain 500hp+, but probably not cost effective. Engine components have come a long way since then, but prices have also continued to rise.

In 1984, while competing against Jack Roush's factory sponsored Mercer Trans-Am team, Tom won the Trans-Am championship. In 1983, he finished runner-up.

[Boss327]

I'd give Ben Alameda a call. He's local to you and can point you in the right direction. http://www.benalamedaracing.com/index.html