I have a 351 lined up, headers?

early Mustang Hooker 351W swap headers

There is a local drag racer that has a 408 stroker 74 Mav running low 10's and he runs the Hooker 351W swap 1 3/4" headers that ratio411 mentioned for an early Mustang, not exactly sure what years, but they only make 1 set for the early mustang 351W swap.

Once I saw the motor with no shocktower mods, I asked him a lot of questions. He also said he could not get his hands in there to even change spark plugs and that he enlists his wife with smaller hands to help. Tight around the steering box obviously but his entire front suspension/engine compartment was stock. I was shocked they fit in there with no mods.

Hope this helps

 

The only problem I have with those is I think 1 3/4 is a bit big for what I want to do. I'm looking for a little over 300hp, 300+ lbs torque and streetable. Should be an easy task with a 351, getting a little tough on a 302, but I like a challenge.

 

I am pretty sure you mean 300/300 at the wheels...
If so, then you are right... streetable and this power level in a 302 are a contradiction of terms.
Maybe a swap to 5.0 FI would push you further than anything to street manners at that power level. To do it carburated would require a cam, carb, and intake combo that would then require an aggressive converter and gear combo. It's a downward spiral that will likely end in a place that you may very well not consider street friendly.
Dave

Edit: Swap to FI is not intended to overlook the obvious option of stroking the 302 to 347...

 

351 and shock tower mods. done, love it, and never regret it. cutting the shocktowers makes one wonder why ford didnt do that in the first place. i'll get pics of mine with my hand between the engine and the shock tower and you'll see what i mean. even with a 302 it makes one hell of a difference. i used cheap 302 headers and they fit fine except for the collectors, i need to pull them together more to line up with the crossmember but i dont think that will be much of a problem. go with the 351, you'll love it.

 

Try a 331 stroker. You can get 300 at the wheels and get alot more torq than the 302. It will cost you less in the frustration and maybe even the financial department too. I thought long and hard on that subject and decided that the 331 fits into exactly the same space. It gives up over 25 cubes to a rebuilt 351 (357) but is 70 LBS lighter.

 

My cousin is putting 320ish hp to the ground, pretty streetable once he puts the exhaust back on. 289 bored .030 over, 270H, AFR 165s... only about 280 at the rear with the exhaust... I'm shooting for something like that... after figuring in milage, I'll probably go a bit less than my original plan.

Long time going, it'll be years before I do the engine...

 

70 lbs = 7 hp
25 cubes = 25 hp easy...

Net win for 351w = 18+ hp

Now stroke to 393... big win, less money than 331.

That's the way I look at it.
Dave

 

Your cousin is a tougher man than I...
I put 300 to the ground with a 306 and that thing was not what I would consider 'streetable'. Lots of noise, shaking, cold blooded, 5 mpg, 4.11 gears to get out of it's own tracks, etc...
320 rwhp from a 289 with those mild mods is amazing. That is 400 fwhp, or nearly 1.4 hp per cube!
Dave

 

I'd like to see pics if anyone has them

 

I think if you stoke it to 393 it is now more $ than the 331 when you count the added hassle of fitting it, shock tower mods, and new headders and such. Since the 331 fits in the same space. The 393 has the cost of installing and modifying + cost of stroking. Probably costs more. The 357s hp advantage is probaby going to be very little when weight and the windsors extra heavy reciprocating assembly is factored in (Against 331/347) Though if you are gunning for lots of HP the Windsor block is significantly stronger. How fast are you trying to go? I know a guy here who has a 306 powered 73 Comet with Roush heads and 10.5:1 compression and 4.11s and a 4-Speed. It has a solid flat tappet and can easily be driven on the street. It ran 11.80s at 116 MPH at the track. Just an example. It lopes alot and has all the cool muscle car sounds. With how light these cars are, over 300 at the wheels will get you into the low 12s maybe 11s. Dont get me wrong I love the Windsors. (And the Mighty Cleveland) I thought of putting one in my Mav. And I am not recomending against it. I am just being the devils advocate. I have spoken to people who have done it and loved it and some who are glad it's done but wouldnt do it again. Be sure of what you want before you start.

My 72 has a T-5 5-speed 9" with 3.70s (posi not working right) and a tired 302 with ported heads hydrolic cam (6500 RPM shifts .510/515 Lift 230/234 Dur@ .050) 1 5/8 headders and 8.8 compression and it runs mid 13s at 104. It onely makes about 220 HP at the wheels. I am going to a 9.5 compression (87 octaine baby!) 331 with AFR 185s and a hydrolic flat tappet alittle bigger than the first. I know a guy with this combo in a Mustang and it hit 340 to the ground. With the same stuff on a 393 stroker Windsor you'll have closer to 400 at the ground. Definitly 9" rear end territory. A must with a stick shift. (If you race it)

I agree though. Why diddnt Ford at least put the 67-70 Stang towers in these things. I know our controll arms are longer and better but Ford never put that potential handling advantage to use in the Maverick anyway. 351s FEs and even 460s would be easy.

Hey Dave. You have a Cleveland in yours? How fast does it run in the 1/4. I love Clevelands.

 

My opinion , if you are looking for 425 or less hp, stay w/ the 302 based stroker.

Anything more than that, you gotta get the cubes...

 

runs 8.76 in the eighth, 2 second 60, about 3400-3500lbs with driver (still trying to get a definate weight) 4 door 68 Fairlane. With a full exhaust it would be streetable, but it wouldn't put 300 to the ground, probably be closer to 240 by then. As is, its fun to drive, but I'd hate to drive it every day, after a long day at work, etc... its his toy. The engine is nothing radical, 18 inch straight pipe is really why this one runs so well. A full exhaust would make it completely streetable, but cost quite a bit of rwhp. Its not a lot of torque, only about 350lbs, but it turns nearly 7000.

the launch is pretty good, slicks grab, everything just kind of fell together perfect. I really don't know how much more we can tweak out of it. The converter stalls at about 1800 right now, not enough. Definately costs him on the launch, but it still launches pretty hard. Needs about a 2600-2800 stall as its just a toy for the most part, I'd love recommendations. Everything else just seems dead on.