ok, im in highschool and im going to replace my 250 witha 302 and want to get fairly good gas mileage while still getting good performance, suggestions on what i should do from performance that wont lower mileage too much, i still need like maybe 10-15 miles to a gallon at the least. i can build the engine from the bottom up so anythings an option.
a 302 with a moderate rebuild will be much faster than that of the 250.. depending on the carb size, cam and pistons will vary your gas mileage... a good combo is a edelbrock performer intake, edelbrock 600 cfm carb, 9.0:1 pistons and a .484 lift cam will do you good for as cheap as you can go.....thats what i have in mine...but i have 9.5:1 pitsons... i ran 14.5 in the 1.4 mile (best time) and that was with an MSD complete ignition.... there are hundreds of engine builds you can do......the best way to keep your fuel economy is just a basic rebuild and i am sure you could do it for under $1200 for everything....well as long as you do it yourself, except the machine work. good luck
Gas milage, 87 octane and decent power... Holley 600 vacuum secondaries, Edelbrock Performer intake or Weiend Stealth, 9:1, Comp Cams 268H, Hooker 6901 headers and a light right foot. The reason I say the 268H is the stock cam doesn't like cruising at 3000rpms, if you don't have overdrive, that is roughly interstate speed. 268H has similar intake duration to the stock cam, much better exhaust flow. Being an original straight 6, odds are you have a 3:1 rear. My car with Holley 600, Edel Performer, Hooker Super Comp headers, stock 8:1 engine and overdrive tranny with 3:1 rear got 24mpg on a 3 hour drive. Not to argue with stmanser, we're talking very similar combos, just comes down to preference.
ok thanks, im just trying to get a lot of peoples opinions and kinna pick and choose, im not that experienced with this kind of stuff but i do everything on the car myself anyways and am learning more as i go ( i just hope i dont screw it up, i love this car haha)
i love helping people out...i may not be the most knowledgeable about some things, but if i have done it before then i post what i did to rectify the problem.... i look for help as well....even if i know the answer, i like to ask and get another perspective,....it helps ALOT.. good luck with the car... we are all here to help each other
if i go with a new cam would it be worth while to also buy a new higher performance rocker assembly or stronger springs and stronger pushrods to prevent from bending under higher pressure from new cam and such? a lot of the times when people do one they do the other 2 also from what ive been told.
If you went with the 268H, you could use all stock parts, but springs would be advised. My springs have gotten weaker since I got the car almost 8 years ago. It would rev to 5800 without float, now it barely passes 5000.
oh yeah and just wondering will anything else need upgraded to handle the extra power,im also putting in a t-5 transmission in.
Comp Cams has a spring set recommended for that camshaft. As for the T5, as long as you're not too hard on it, you'll be fine. If anyone starts talking about power shifting, ignore them. T5 will handle a 302 of about the power level we're discussing without problem. Much over that, you have to take it easy on it.
74merc; I am about to order a 268H cam for my Mav, and wondered if you would need a looser converter with that cam? Seems a stocker would work, but would the higher stall give you a problem with a 3:00 gear? Thanks in advance, Earl
I don't have that cam, but just my -- with my cam and a 2300 stall converter, the 3.0 gears made it feel mushy driving around town. The 3.40's feel alot more responsive.
i ahev a .484 lift cam in my 302 and i bought a hughes 2500 stall....since thats what the guy told me i would need for that cam.....now i have learned to always get a second opinion... .512 cam is planned for this spring and new springs in the heads and a whole lot of fun at the track...
268H would be mushy with a bigger stall. anything over 2000 would waste power. According to Comp, should work fine with stock converter. Several people are running the 268H on Mustangsandmore.com and loving it. A few are running the 270H with stock converter and gears, but that is pushing it.
What is the transmission you guys would recommend? I would like a manual so I was thinking the T5 but im not very experienced with this stuff seeing as I have not been around this all that much, just want opinions, want to get my car to be just right.
