Want a 5.0 mustang, which motor?
 

I will have around $3k-5K in cash to spend and want to get a 5.0 mustang (93 or older). Either a GT or a LX, doesnt matter. But I would like something that doesnt have the stock motor. Which is the best motor for performance, and reliability for a mustang? A buddy told me not to go with the 347 because it will overheat on long drives. I dont want to trailer this car, and it will be a street car. But i do want to take it to cruises, and car shows at the beach which is a 3 hour drive. I am looking for around 400 horse to start out with, with room for more.

I have owned nothing but turbo imports, and currently own a 12 second 91 toyota MR2. Im selling it for a nice profit and want to make a change. I always wanted a muscle car, but DO NOT want a muscle car and get beat up on by imports. I beat up on alot with my MR2 with just bolt-ons. My previous MR2 went 11.80's on radials. had about $4k into the motor, again all bolt ons.

So what motor should i go with that will not dissapoint me? I am going to try to find something thats already done. Even if its a nice size motor, and stock... as long as there is plenty of room for improvement. I just dont know where to start? 347, 383, 351? I see some guys doing the 408. Will the stock 302 be enough for me with just bolt-ons? I also want to keep it 5 speed. Just more fun for me.

Thanks guys, and please help a mustang noob out.

to start the 383 is a chevy engine. a 302 isnt bad as long as you have some good heads,cam and intake. if you want a carb motor then 87-88 are the ones. 89-93 are the maf and fuel injected cars. i have a 302 crate engine with some bolt ons and have an estimated 440 hp to the crank. it really depends on what you want to do with it. i know you said it would be street. i dont think youll find a built car for that price but you never know. for that much power id look to spend about 6-7k. if you have the extra money a crate engine would be great. i hust saw a built engine on craiglist for 3500. it ran 7's or 8's on spray. pretty goodprice for that kind of power.

Hey, Zebo, I am not doubting you, but what bolton's do you have? The GT-40 motor is an overrated out-of date crate motor. It would be lucky to put out 270rwhp and using a 15% drivetrain loss, that equates to about 311-320 flywheel horsepower with all the supporting boltons. Maybe you're hiding something....

Bigger is always better. Swapping a 5.8 based engine in place of a 5.0 is not too difficult. It is taller and wider, so you have to make room for it.

Running a stroker is not a big deal, provided it's built correctly. They have no greater propensity for overheating than a non-stroker built to the same specs. Heat is a by product of power production - a waste product. If you build a lot of power, you'll need a bigger cooling system.

Which engine in particular mostly depends on your budget. Gordon Levy can build you a 650hp motor for about $8,500 or so. Ford Racing will sell you a mild mannered 302 for half that.

well a 302 w/ heads intake work and nitrous will go 11's

stroker w/ a blower or nitrous will make 500 and go 10's

100% bone stock 302 on gears and tires will go 13's

add some nitrous and it'll go 12's



so how fast do you want to go in the long run ???? that will answer your question, cuz you feel 600 hp is in your future.. then a 302 based motor is not for you most likely, you need a 351 based motor or just go big block

thats just my opinion after 6 stangs and 20 years of driving them ;)

hells yes !! since most peeps have almost $25k tied up i'd say so

sure it wasn't just the heads ?

a good running 302 with gears, stickies and nitrous will hit 12s, which can be done for around 2K(depending on the starting condition of the car)

and another 3k in heads/cam/intake and knock on 11s

or strap a blower on a stock 302 and tires and gears and hit 12s

lots of options

Well, I would like to go 12's all motor, and have the nitrous for my buddys supra. :) Even though he just touched a 10.99 with it last month. Most of my friends have fast cars (rx7', LS1 cmamaros, Supras, twin turbo 350z's, ect). Looking for something that will keep me with them. My 11.80 MR2 kept me within distance, but it couldnt pull on any of them.

Say i get a stock 5.0 and do 4.10's, full exhaust/headers, intake, heads and a mild cam. What would i be looking at with that set-up? A friend of mine is selling this......

"89 Lx hatchback 5.0 5spd 118000 miles on car, rebuilt motor out of 91 mustang,Blue, black int, cobra upper and lower intake, 70mm tb, pulleys,headers,alum driveshaft, frame connectors(need welded on), 4:10 gears, new tires, nitrous, flowmaster exhaust, rear tubular control arms, 5 lug conversion, disc brakes front and rear, Cold air intake, pillar gauges, supercomp tach, ford motorsport cam."

Said he would take $3k cash for it, and it also has nitrous. Not sure if its a fogger system, direct port, what shot, ect. What would something like that do all motor?

high 12s, it has stock heads, slightly improved intake, and an outdated single pattern cam, also are those street tires?

if you want better then 11.8s, a 351 would be a good basis

i know the motoris a little dated. it has about 30k miles on it. i dont dog it though. i take good care of it. ive got the usual. cam, cai, the heads are the gt-40 alum, cobra intake, 75mm tb, 75mm maf, 3.73, sub frame connectors, its lighter with a fiberglass hatch and hood. the guy i bought it from did most of the work. we figured it out and thats why i said estimated. i need to get it to a dyno so i can get some real numbers. i do think a new cam, heads, and intake are in the future. it will probably get a big overhaul within a year or so.