what is a good horsepower range for a 302 with a c4? I am wanting to rebuild the engine in my 66 mustang but im not sure what all to do so im going to tell the local machine shop what horsepower i want to make so they can set it all up...but im not sure what horsepower would be good.

I am also putting 3.70 gears in it.

 

how often do you plan to drive it and how do you plan to drive it???...If it were me I would shoot for 300 shaft HP...

you'll never get 2 identical answers with a question like that...sorry.

-Gun

 

like 300-350hp?

 

and If you plan to drive it above 70mph for any extended amount of time you'll be sad you went with 3.70s.

-Gun

 

I plan on driving it at least once a week. Its not really going to be a daily driver.

just a car to have fun in

 

you'll be turning 3800 rpm at 75mph

and yeah 300-350 would give you lots go...if your closer to 350hp you might want to drop down to 3.55 maybe even 3.00s

 

i dont plan on taking very long drives in it. just around town and to shows basically

 

Have them build you a 347 stroker out of your 302, which probably is actually a 289 if it's the original engine by the way. You can usually build one for around the same money if you don't go high end with the crank and rods and make upwards of 400+ horsepower. Word of warning, stock Ford 289 and 302 engine blocks have a tendency to split in half right down the middle at anything much over 500 horsepower.

No matter what you decide, spend the money for a good set of heads. To make good power your engine needs to breath and stock Ford heads kind of suck in that area.

 

no its not the original motor. its a 302 out of a truck i believe. The owners before me put it in.

yeah i've thought about doing it a 347 stroker

 

If you go with a stroker you are going to need to beef up alot more parts than just the motor, expect to spend some big money. Keep it simple with a mild 302 build, heads cam headers etc. This will give you a car that has plenty of pep for the once a week drive around town, and you should be able to use the rest of you stock drivetrain.