67mustang302

My 67 is set up to handle. Most front engine cars are front heavy, even new ones from Europe. Hell, current Porsches are 65% rear weight biased...it doesn't get more imbalanced than that.

Making a car handle is about the suspension, weight distribution does play a key, but it won't make or break the setup. And again, all the suspension parts for for V8 configurations. A 302 only weights slightly more than an I6...SBF's are ****en light. And they'll make 2x the power of a 6 for the same money.

If you want sports car performance, there's a reason current market domination in classes for which an American car exists....is by an American car. Even weight biased over the front. Torque over a really broad rpm range is great for coming out of corners without having to play the stupid shifting game, and it's hard to beat American V8's for broad torque.

120mm

I will not dispute any of that. However, I think I will find that my I-6 will more than satisfy my admittedly non-competitive needs for a fun car. And I'm curious as to how much it will surprise me/others.

I am going to find out how well it performs with modern distributor, suspension (In 1967 the suspension is identical for base model I-6/V-8, obtw...), exhaust and possibly carb. I can't see the logic to replacing the head/intake manifold, at least not for any cost-effective application.

I won't be out anything, as I already have a home for the I-6, whenever I tire of it. IF I tire of it.

For now I will have something fun to drive.

1slow67

Not true

120mm

I agree.

I know of at least one I-6 200 c.i. that puts out over 200 horsepower, and the builder spent $3000 total on the build. Note that $2000 of that build is a proprietary aluminum head. You should be able to get close to that performance by rebuilding a 250 ci head yourself for cheaper.

What 302 puts out over 400 horsepower on a $3000 build?

1slow67

There is one around with a modified log head, cam, and turbo putting down over 400 to the wheels.

67mustang302

Used set of AFR or TFS heads (which are usually all over the place on Corral), custom cam, basic rebuild kit. Then intake, cheap set of headers and exhaust, half decent ignition system. Build it yourself, 400hp for around $3K. Wouldn't be the most reliable since the pistons/rods would be basic stuff, so it would be intolerant of anything other than a conservative tune...and don't expect 300k miles out of it either. But it'll make the power.

It all comes down to what you want out of the car and how much you're willing to spend. 302/347 engines these days are a dime a dozen and make plenty of power. The problem with most of the Classic Mustangs lacking power, is the owners refuse to step outside some of the old school ways of thinking, and hobble themselves with ****ty cams, ****ty intakes, ****ty carbs, ****ty heads etc.

You can't build an engine with 40 year old technology and methods expect 21st century performance and reliability.

If you can hit your performance goal with the I6, fine. Even if it has a lower hp/$ value you don't have to **** around with changing engines etc, so it's just easier sometimes.

The problem with the older I6 engines, is they were designed based on utility and not performance, and building reliable performance engines is expensive. And there's just very little performance market for engines like the old Ford I6's, so it tends to be more expensive.

Also, just for reference, the I6 is no where near 200lb lighter than a 302 based engine. Factory weight for a 302 with iron heads, iron intake etc was 425-450lbs. The I6 was like 375lbs. Since a 302 has more weight in heads than the I6, changing to aluminum heads on both nets a bigger weight loss on a 302, to 400lbs or slightly less. So aluminum upper ends on both engines and the weight difference is only about 50lbs.