I just obtained a 65 mustang coupe with a 302 engine in it. The engine is all stock and I'm wondering what are some good cheap upgrades I can put into the car to get more horsepower out of it? (Cheap being $500 or less per part)

 

I always lived by the Motto "before you make it go go go make sure that you can make it STOP� If it doesn't have front disc brakes that should be your first upgrade. With that said the get more HP for around $500 I would do three things:

1. Aluminum intake such as the Edelbrock performer
2. 4 barrel carb to go with said intake
3. Headers IMHO biggest bolt on HP besides new heads

After those three things if you have any money left over (which you wont) than get an msd ignition box and a set of performance plug wires.

 

Yeah, brakes first, then suspension(power is useless without traction) then engine. As far as power, h/c/i is the best way to go, but pricey, so start saving. You can take care of the i and get a decent 4bbl intake/carb combo, I'd reccomend the new Weiand Action Plus(pn 8124), it'll outperform Edelbrock's Performer, and it runs great on the street and can make a crapload of power, either will work well though. Then maybe other small stuff, electronic ignition definately(points works, but electronic ignition is going to be less trouble and make better power), headers/exhaust. Then just save save save, and take care of the h/c part of the equation, good heads and a cam. And somewhere in there some gears for the differential with a posi traction or locker unit of some sort

 

+1 on the post above... gotta stop befoer you can go... I would definately suggest a disk upgrade and then worry about the engine.... if you are gonna do an engine up grade you kind of have to make sure everything is going to mesh well.... for instance you would not want to build horse power on the top end with out knowing if your crank and rods can handle it.... nothing worse then putting a rod through the block.... I recommend saving and doing it all at once so you can up grade everything in sync.