There's a HUGE difference in performance between a $5k engine and a $12k engine, assuming similar profit margins and methods of building. A $12k engine is going to make way more power, way more reliably than a $5k engine of the same size. It comes down to how much you're willing to pay for technology for a given level of performance.

And these days $12k ain't that much to spend on a performance engine....that's about going rate for a complete turn key crate engine that's a solid street performance setup. Power with reliability cost money.

And if you want to go race professionally, you're going to be into an engine for a minimum of $20k for some basic 'amateur' level stuff to be competative. NASCAR Cup engines are $60k-100k depending on who built it. And the $60k engines aren't in the cars up front.

Like I said, it comes down to what level of performance you want and what you'll pay for it. Technology=money.

 

well, what i was really looking for was a car that could keep up with today's mustang and camaro. the 2012 mustang has a 412HP rated engine while the 2011 camaro has a 426HP engine (for the V8 of course). Now in my misinformed mind i thought that it would be easier/cheaper to get a 351W to that output over a 302. anyone dare to guess what the average ricer or meathead has now a days in their engine bay?

 

The new Mustang is pretty damned fast for a street car in it's price range. You're going to have a REALLY hard to getting that kind of performance out of $5k. Cubes make it easier though, so a 302 with a 347 stroker kit with good heads and cam etc could do it, but there's a lot of other ancillary crap that nickels and dimes you....assuming the trans/rear/suspension can take that kind of power.

A stroked 351 is easier, but you still need good heads to feed the engine, which is going to be $1,500 new for assembled heads. I personally wouldn't put procomp anything on my car.

Also depends on what you want for reliability....something that you get on now and then is one thing, something you run hard and flog regularly is quite another.

 

The first one. however i would very much like to take the car to the track a few times a year but the main thing is certainly the first one, reliability. This is my daily driver and i intend to keep it that way even after all the money ill be dumping into it. I always had that 400HP in my head as to what i wanted. I'm wondering if maybe I'm overextending myself with that much power for a daily driver.

 

Jim's 66 Mustang runs a 408W, we built the engine in the garage using a stroker kit, Edelbrock Vic Jr. heads.

Makes easy power, dead reliable to this point, and was fairly cheap to build.

It FITS in the 66 bay with swap headers, but with the AIR GAP manifold it is about 1/2" short of fitting under the hood with a low profile air cleaner, (A low pro air cleaner fit when a carb with no choke was used)

IMO the 351 fit in a early Mustang is a non issue apart from the air cleaner thing, and this can be addressed a few different ways, no way is this a "show stopper"

IMO $ for $, it is hard to beat a 351 stroker Ford for easy power.

 

Yes you have to be careful just plucking a hp number out of the air and sticking it in your daily driver..Increasing hp levels usually means increasing the rpm range of the engine to get that hp...This means you will need lower gearing to keep the motor in that rpm range..That affects things like gas mileage and engine longevity....There are ways you can help though..An overdrive trans will let you have your cake and eat it too or a bigger cubic inch stroker will give you the same power at a lower rpm range....If you do decide to go with some sort of crate engine be sure that there is a decent warranty on it and that the builder is not some fly by night ebay company that will be gone if you ever have problems.....
Here is a place that I have heard good feedback from and you can check out some pricing..
http://www.fordstrokers.com/index.php

 

Yes and yes. Building something that'll provide the performance in the range YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT IN. A lot of people build engines with 6,500-7,000rpm limits, and spend 99.9% of the time under 3,000rpm. Pointless.

You CAN get great power out of small engines and have reliability, performance and efficiency and mileage out of it....IF you're willing to spend the money.

And yeah, $ for $ stroked 351 based Fords are really hard to beat. You can just build something dead reliable that performs well without having to dump a bunch of money into it, and still have an easy 450-500hp engine.

KEEP IN MIND THOUGH......

If you're not used to driving something with that much power, you'll likely just wreck it. If you're used to a 200hp V8, then a 400hp V8 will scare you for the first few thousand miles.

You'll also need a trans/rear and suspension that can take it. More money.

 

Well this is an issue thats actually a non-issue. right now i have a 3 speed. Most of my driving consists of highway driving and let me tell you. Its is loud inside the car so i am getting an OD transmission regardless. Originally i wanted a T5 but if i indeed stick to that 400HP it wont be able to handle it, so a TKO it is

 

TKO, Richmond has 5 speeds, T56(or variant) built T5's etc. Plenty of options.

TKO's are loud too though, quiet down after they're broken in though, but they whine a bit in 1st and second, straighter cuts on the gears means more noise but more strength.

 

I know straight cut gears well i had a m22 in a impala everyone thought i had a blower because it whined almost like one,But you do get use to it after a while.