Ford small block "302".

Ford small block "302".

Author
Discussion

haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
quotequote all
I am thinking about a transplant.

Where/who is the best place for information-parts-spec etc here in the UK?

Fleckers

2,851 posts

200 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
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depends on what you are going to put it in to to be honest

can you diy ?
are you going to pay someone

gas valley have a good rep at the moment in Custom Car but there are many many hot rod, custom car and drag race people out there that can do a very good job


haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
quotequote all
I can do it all apart from the ecu and mapping.

Cledus Snow

2,088 posts

187 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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I can't help thinking that this thread needs a bit more detail from the OP to get a useful answer.

haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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Probably right.

I have a tweaked 4.6 RV8 in my TVR Chimaera at the moment.

I love track days and it is on those that the old 4.6, even though it is pushing out 320ish Brake gets a bit out classed on the faster circuits.

Ideally, close to 400 brake at the rear wheels would be epic, is the realistically achievable?

The ford engine with the correct spec sounds like it's up to the job, stronger, slightly smaller, bell housing available to fit my T5 box and lots of tuning stuff out there.

Like a lot of guys, £ isn't endless and I need to seriously keep that in mind.

From my very limited knowledge there is a lot of variations and a lot to learn out there.

I could and probably will build an engine to suit eventually although if the right engine with a bit of history came along, that would be the far easier/quicker option!

LuS1fer

41,082 posts

244 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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I don't know about the niceties of it but an LS1/2/6/3 is a smaller and more compact engine than the Ford and crate engines are cheaper. I know one guy here has a TVR with one in it (jellison).

Also when you say a 302, you're talking about the old cast iron engine (presumably) that was replaced by the all-alloy 4.6 2v back in the 90s and became the 3v in 2004 with the advent of the 2005MY Mustang GT (with 300hp as standard). That's obviously a 281 but has many supercharger options. The modern 302 in the new Mustang is going to be very expensive.

Would it not be easier to supercharge what you already have?

haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
Would it not be easier to supercharge what you already have?
I was thinking about the older engine on the basis of cost.

Unfortunately, I can't really afford to go LS, (I think) I really don't know the costs involved.

The ford option sounds attractive as there wouldn't be any gearbox issues as far as mateing is concerned.

S/C? Don't know, I'm sure it would tick the power box, is the engine strong enough for sustained track use, probably.

Again, how much for a S/C kit + add a full MS or Emerald type kit, is that a better option?

LuS1fer

41,082 posts

244 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
I'm not sure on supercharger prices but I think the issue I was thinking of is the weight of the iron block engine which I would imagine won't do wonders for the track handling.

haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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Point taken although rumour has it a ford with alloy heads fully dressed isn't much heavier?

Fleckers

2,851 posts

200 months

Saturday 19th May 2012
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to be honest a 4.6 RV8 doing 300 bhp is mild, I would keep what you ahve and spend a few ££ and clear the 400 mark with out any engine swaps

as previously stated cart ford lumps are not light on the scales so you may get the bhp but will the handeling be off ?

track cars are not always about pure power but how the car goes especialy round the bends

just my 2p worth

Alexdaredevilz

5,697 posts

178 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
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Fleckers said:
to be honest a 4.6 RV8 doing 300 bhp is mild, I would keep what you ahve and spend a few ££ and clear the 400 mark with out any engine swaps
400 bhp rover v8 will cost a arm and a leg, be unreliable and a nightmare on road

Unless I've been doing it all wrong

I got
4.6 top hat block, high comp pistons, ported heads with large valves, large inlet, large mech cam etc if im very lucky I will be at 330-350hp

With out going throttle bodies for another £3k+ to gain 20hp it's not going to get much faster with out building a full out race motor and that wont be usable on the road

Where as the Ford lump, there's a unlimited after market parts supply out there to make a piss easy 450bhp with road manners and half decent mpg in a 1 ton car, it mates up to the existing gearbox its a no brainier if you ask me,

As for the weight? its going to be at worst 20kg's more, its no different than having a fat bloke driving vs skinny guy

steviejasp

1,646 posts

164 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
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Wouldn't a small block chevy 350ci be a better bet?
Already 700cc bigger and Chevy parts were always much cheaper when I used to play around with yank V8's.
My mate has just built a 396 inch small block that he reckons is good for 500hp.

Alexdaredevilz

5,697 posts

178 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
quotequote all
The Chevy is better and cheaper

But it's wider which will stop routing the exhausts down the side, so you can add £1500+ for exhaust

Also going to have issues bolting it on to existing box,bellhousing clutch etc
Where as the 302 bolts straight on the Tvr box

Making it at least £3k cheaper to do with the ford

steviejasp

1,646 posts

164 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
quotequote all
True, but put ally heads on it and a scattershield bellhousing and you are well on your way.... http://store.prestoliteperformance.com/gm-sb-to-un...

Width Length Height Weight
BOP/R 26 28 27 320
Ford 24 29 27.5 460
Chevy 26 28 27 575
Chevy/w alum heads 26 28 27 525
Ford/w alum heads 24 29 27 424



Edited by steviejasp on Sunday 20th May 12:28

haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
quotequote all
What's BOP/R?

steviejasp

1,646 posts

164 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
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Buick/Rover

haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
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Ah!

haircutmike

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
quotequote all
So the Rover engine is considerably lighter and the other engines weigh just less then half the weight of the TVR!

steviejasp

1,646 posts

164 months

Sunday 20th May 2012
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Or the yank v8's only add as much weight as a passenger over the rover...

heightswitch

6,316 posts

249 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
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coffee

N.