'78 Cobra 302 into 87 Ranger?

[baddad457]

You're not going to get what you think here. Offy single four carb intakes were the worst designs ever made, aside from the Edelbrock SP2P. Ditto for an Eddy carb.

Actually i feel i will do ok with what I have set up so far. I am not looking for a 1/4 mile screamer, nor an engine that will get revved over 5K. what I built was a thought out lower rpm torque engine with careful planning. The cam shop is 30 miles from me, so when i went there I told the engineer that i was planning on long tube headers, gt40P heads, bored 68 block, offy dual port intake, stock crank and rods and slugs that the machine shop suggested @ $70 bucks each. (no idea where the tag is on them now).

I let him know that I would seldom run over 5K and not into drag racing but wanted the stomp pedal to do its thing when needed. the original 68 stick was in very nice condition and after $300 i got a 2 stage cam, along with recommendations for lifters and push rods.

The bad rap the offy intake got was from guys that wanted a 1/4 mile screaming intake and used them with shorty style headers. wrong combination from the get go.

I am building a show truck so a beat the daylights outta it truck is not what i am after.

cheers and here is the engine

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156327

You'd be better off with a stock iron intake. And nowhere close to 350 HP at the wheels. Maybe 250 hp.

 

[Angie]

You'd be better off with a stock iron intake. And nowhere close to 350 HP at the wheels. Maybe 250 hp.

i can see you didn't read this thread from #1....

 

[baddad457]

i can see you didn't read this thread from #1....

I read all of it. You started off saying you "scored" a 302 from a 78 Mustang Cobra. Now you're saying it's a 68 block. And I'm the one confused ?

 

[Angie]

who started this freaking post??

 

[bobbywalter]

nice to see you posting baddad.

I curious to know why you think the 78 short block is inferior to an 88 ? Do a H/C/I swap on either and you basically have the same result. But that's IF you keep the factory pistons. The 78 has a better block with 10 pounds more iron. The crank in the 78 is heavier, but the 88's balancer and flywheel are too. Both have the same rods. Convert the 78 to roller with new 1.619 Pin height pistons and they're identical.

muh?


i know for sure the 78 block is likely better.


my point was...the 78 was not a boat anchor.

i have been swapping v8's (all makes) into the rbv platform since the 1980's and lived through the dismal wheezer 302 era. which getting 350 hp was done then too...just not overly common.

so i guess i am at a loss to what makes his free boat anchor any different then the others since no matter what, i am starting with a hci swap right off the bat building any 302. all stock 302's are nutless cowards compared to any modern powerplant.

apples to apples.....? is it a 302 or not?


are you only using stock parts for 1978 for a 1978 engine

and comparing it only using stock parts from 1988 for a 1988 engine?




because you can get 300 whp from the 88 carefully modified/reconstructed...



the 78 if you lock yourself in that oem only footprint with that year parts....yeah....not happening.


is that apples to apples enough?


otherwise adding a custom hci to the 78 engine along with better rods and pistons easily pops the 300 whp cherry.

goal of 350 hp....hci right off the bat...rotating assembly will dictate the specifics. but short of a boss 302...ya know...


i was stating the 78 if you were only using stock parts for 78...verse an 88 well, you can make more power easier with the 88 confined to that box....


350 hp is not hard to do. just have to go shopping.


now if your expecting to pass emissions and get ok fuel economy....i cant help you with these platforms.

 

[baddad457]

nice to see you posting baddad.







muh?


i know for sure the 78 block is likely better.


my point was...the 78 was not a boat anchor.















goal of 350 hp....hci right off the bat...rotating assembly will dictate the specifics. but short of a boss 302...ya know...


i was stating the 78 if you were only using stock parts for 78...verse an 88 well, you can make more power easier with the 88 confined to that box....


350 hp is not hard to do. just have to go shopping.


now if your expecting to pass emissions and get ok fuel economy....i cant help you with these platforms.

I got the OP confused with the later poster that jumped in midway in the thread. As for the 78 vs the 88, the only difference would be the roller cam. And the rotating assembly would be a bit lighter in weight vs the 78.

 

[don4331]

350 hp is not hard to do. just have to go shopping.

Bobby: I'm going to give you hard time, just 'cause.

Did anyone notice the OP is from Colorado Springs?

350 rwhp @ mile high, is 425+ rwhp at STP; which is over 500hp @ crank again at STP (maybe as much as 550hp). And making that power in a 302 and having it "drive-able" is getting...challenging.

I also note per the link to the Hot Rod magazine site - the 400hp engine was making almost 400 ft.lbs of torque - which really puts it out of league for T-5. And yes, I replaced many Borg Warner transmissions in my wife's Mustang/buddy's Mustang/another buddy's Camaro. There's one in my garage at moment awaiting rebuild.

 

[Angie]

" And yes, I replaced many Borg Warner transmissions in my wife's Mustang/buddy's Mustang/another buddy's Camaro. There's one in my garage at moment awaiting rebuild. "

Why not look into going with Doug Nash 5 speed instead?