I'd like your input! My new (used) 302!

Goto www.eaglerod.com, for you stroker kit.
Call Doug Thorley for your headers, they make a set just for Mavericks.

 

302 block .030" over SRP or Mahle lightweight forged pistons, stock rods, stock 3" stroke crank, RPM heads, RPM airgap intake, Hyd. roller cam that puts you up to about a 6500 max RPM, around .550-.575" lift, Hedman headers (they worked great for me and they were CHEAP..). Outta get you real close to 375-400 HP reliably. Keep in mind that the stock iron heads are THE choke point so if your budget does not allow aluminum aftermarket stuff, the iron heads WILL work; but they'll choke a lot of HP & torque. I'm not going into a head debate, this is just a combination that is proven to work, both on my cars and friend's cars. You can also use heavier cast TRW flat tops and they'll work...but I prefer lighter pistons as it revs faster and is a LOT more responsive. Ran a very similar build on an '84 Mustang GT a few years ago. One of the most fun rides I've ever had for a street car, and it had iron heads. The ONLY things I would have done differently were 1--get a set of RPM heads, 2--aluminum flywheel, and 3--not sell it. I got bitten by the turbo bug and traded it for a '84 SVO which was fun in itself, but a lot of work.

 

This thread is going perfect for me. Thanks for the input guys. The more ideas and tips you give me the smoother this should go.

 

First thing you need to do is lose those '86 model heads. They suck. Badly.

A 331" deal is a good one. To save on costs you can use a cast crankshaft (which will be fine for a street/strip engine) and I beam rods. Use the 5.400" length. Several companies have this kit available with pistons, rings, rods, bearings, and crankshaft. Check with Eagle, Scat, Coast High Performance, and also on Ebay. Plenty of companies on there offering this kit also.

Heads.....there's a can of worms you don't want to open around here. Iron heads - World Products iron 200cc heads are good. Aluminum - Edelbrock Performer RPM, TFS Twisted Wedge, Air Flow Research 185 or 205, FRPP X heads, Brodix, etc etc.

Cams/Intake......pick out your basic hardware and decide what you want to do with the car and we can always recommend these items at that time. You should probably do a hydraulic roller cam and either a Performer RPM Air-Gap, Weiand Stealth, or Edelbrock Victor Jr.

Hope this helps.

 

Just my 2 cents worth after doing a 331 build, a few years back. Buying the components piece by piece can sometimes cost more than a good Eagle kit, when it comes to the rotating assy. There are some good deals on kits from dealers on ebay and others. You get everything in a pkg. to assemble the short block, except the cam. Have the block hot tanked, bored, cam bearings and "0" decked for a little more compression etc. 280 adv. duration and a .540 to .550 lift, makes a nice combo. Good roller timing chain set. Could advance some cams a couple degree's for some bottom end torque but that is not necessary. For real performance with this combo, I would use the Performer RPM heads (2.02 valve size) and air gap intake with Holley 750 carb. A bit overkill on cfm but with some proper jetting and such, will work great and is up to future HP upgrades you may want to do. With an MSD dizzy and 6al box, makes a great looking and "hard running" combo. Headers are a toss up and depends on budget and fit, etc. Top it all off with Flowmaster mufflers, sub frame connectors, traction device and a lower gear ratio with some sort of posi unit. If using a c4, put a good shift kit in and around a 2800 to 3000 stall converter. Last but not least, buckle up and hold on. Those little demon's will really surprise many GM and Mopar, hot rods, at green light intersections. Good luck and have fun with dad, let him drive it once and awhile too. The memories of your bonding, will last forever.

 

You guys rule.