[IQRaceworks]

Not really sure if this is the right sub-forum for this, but here goes.

I'm still trying to figure out the power for my daily driver foxbody project that I'm researching. I'm bouncing a few ideas around.....LS swap, mild 302 with FI, 347 N/A.....and now I'm thinking about a BBC with some soft of EFI on it like a Fast or Holley system. I'm looking for pretty mild HP numbers.....like 350-400hp to the tires. I also want something tame enough to drive every day that's fast, fun, reliable, and won't keep me pulling over to the pumps every other day.

Anyone put a BBC in a foxbody? Pro's, Con's? I've been a few year ago, and even a mild 454 or 468 can get you 400hp without even trying hard. Should this even be an option for me to look at, or should I stick with a boosted mild built 302? The LS swap would be fun, but to do it right.... I'm not sure I want to spend all that money ($3,000-ish by the time it's all said and done).

Thoughts?

 

[tjm73]

HERESY!!! But seriously...why bother with BBC? A 302, 351W, any mod motor or even BBF is easier to put in a Fox. If it has to be Chevy, the LS is almost as easy as any Ford option these days.

Also, not the correct sub-forum.

Mixed-platform Engine & Drag Racing Tech - Ford Mustang Forums : Corral.net Mustang Forum

 

[TrimDrip]

So you want to put an engine in that weighs a freaking ton that can easily make 800hp+ in racing applications with stock old school ls6 heads but, only make 400hp....I'm beginning to think you are a troll

 

[tjm73]

A 331 stroker will make 400 hp/400ft-lbs at the crank pretty easy. A 408W will surpass that at the wheels. Way easier and way lighter than a BBC. A 5.0 Coyote will rock the Fox too.

 

[tached93gt]

For your goals BBC is not the way to go

 

[5.0thunder]

mild HP numbers

won't keep me pulling over to the pumps

Looks like BBC is out. It's also a good bit heavier than your other options. no need to add the weight and complexity of the swap when you can get that power from a healthy 302 base or a mild 351w base.

 

[Enjoy_the_Ride]

363 / thread closed

 

[tjm73]

363 / thread closed

Certainly an option, but there are cheaper ways to get his power goals accomplished. A totally stock 302 with a turbo will get those power numbers and if you aren't in the boost constantly get decent fuel economy to boot.

 

[IQRaceworks]

I was just thinking about a BBC because I've built a few....but it sounds like a stock 302 with a single turbo will easily get me where I need to be (350-400 wHP).

So......as far as turbo kits go, how do they rank as far as best to worst? From what I've read...the on3 stuff is kind of crappy. What company makes a nice turbo kit that would be reliable enough for a daily driver? Am I better off going with a singer turbo...or something like a vortec or procharger SC?

Thanks again for the info guys!!

 

[toddturbo]

My goodness man don't you listen? Do you not know anything about Ford engines?

A 347 (stroked 302) will do that all day long, and reliably, withOUT a turbo. Or go with a 351w based setup and blow your 400hp goal out of the water with ease, again, withOUT a turbo.

 

[tjm73]

On3 has a mixed reputation. Hellion has been around a long time and seems to get good reviews. CG Fabrication gets excellent reviews it seems.

If you can weld you can probably fab your own kit.

On the non-turbo front, I have a 9.5:1 331 with AFR185 heads, a Trickflow R intake, 1.6 rollers and an Anderson Motorsports N-61 cam. Have dyno'd at 349hp/352 ft-lbs to the wheels.

 

[IQRaceworks]

My goodness man don't you listen? Do you not know anything about Ford engines?

A 347 (stroked 302) will do that all day long, and reliably, withOUT a turbo. Or go with a 351w based setup and blow your 400hp goal out of the water with ease, again, withOUT a turbo.

Building a 400hp motor isn't my goal......I can do that easily, and have done it several time before (but with sbc's). My goal is to build a "streetable" daily driver that will put down 350-400hp to the rear tires..AND idle good enough to have vacuum for the power brakes and other accessories, run on pump gas, not overheat when driving around in stop and go traffic when it's 100+ degrees out, and get decent fuel MPG.....an actual daily driver. I don't want to have to spin the motor up past 4,4000 rpms to have good power....it needs to have low end grunt that is there when I need it. I've built those kind of motor before.....and they are not for a daily driver, they are for a weekend car...or track car. I want something I can drive across the country if I need to on a road trip, drive it to and from work (25 miles) every day rain or shine, and then get out and drive it around town and have some fun in it.....all with the same motor.

That's why I was asking about a BBC.....and why now I'm asking about a mostly stock 302 with FI...either a single turbo or supercharger. From everything I've read here on the forum, and from what I've learned from experience......it's easier to make a daily driver out of a pretty mild motor with boost....vs. a high revving, rough idling, temperamental big head and big cam motor.

 

[IQRaceworks]

On3 has a mixed reputation. Hellion has been around a long time and seems to get good reviews. CG Fabrication gets excellent reviews it seems.

If you can weld you can probably fab your own kit.

On the non-turbo front, I have a 9.5:1 331 with AFR185 heads, a Trickflow R intake, 1.6 rollers and an Anderson Motorsports N-61 cam. Have dyno'd at 349hp/352 ft-lbs to the wheels.

Is it a daily driver? Would you be afraid to drive it every day...rain or shine? How it on fuel MPG? I'm just a little gun shy on a N/A motor.....I've had big HP N/A motors in the past, and they have been anything but daily driveable. Streetable? Yes......daily driver? NO.

 

[tached93gt]

That can be done with a 347 easily and be very streetable, my 306 put down 330+ rwhp and could be driven anywhere in comfort, I live in NC drive it to Georgia pick up my granddad drive him to St Pete Fl, then back to Georgia and such. Made numerous trips in that car to this day it's my favorite street oriented setup, I had faster and I had slower but that one was just perfect and ran 11.77 in drag trim, my commute to work at that time was over 70 miles one way and I would not hesitate to drive it a few days a week or if my beater was broke I'd daily it for long periods of time no sweat, driving it conservatively resulted in 20+ on the hwy with T-5 and 4.10s.

 

[tjm73]

Is it a daily driver? Would you be afraid to drive it every day...rain or shine? How it on fuel MPG? I'm just a little gun shy on a N/A motor.....I've had big HP N/A motors in the past, and they have been anything but daily driveable. Streetable? Yes......daily driver? NO.

I bought the car two months ago, but haven't driven it too much yet (wounded T5). But the driving I have done makes me believe that it 100% could be driven everyday in any weather. It runs on 89 octane. If it had AC (coming soon) I would drive it long distances without giving it much thought. As for mpg's... no idea yet. If I had to guess I would say it is as good as or better than my 5.4 F150. That gets about 14ish in all around driving.

That said, if I was building an engine for the car from scratch I would put TF 170 heads on a stock spec 302 with the stock cam, a systemax intake and a turbo. Set to 12 psi, tune for safe operation and enjoy.

 

[Michael Yount]

My goal is to build a "streetable" daily driver that will put down 350-400hp to the rear tires..AND idle good enough to have vacuum for the power brakes and other accessories, run on pump gas, not overheat when driving around in stop and go traffic when it's 100+ degrees out, and get decent fuel MPG.....an actual daily driver. I don't want to have to spin the motor up past 4,4000 rpms to have good power....it needs to have low end grunt that is there when I need it. ..... I want something I can drive across the country if I need to on a road trip, drive it to and from work (25 miles) every day rain or shine, and then get out and drive it around town and have some fun in it.....all with the same motor.

 

[TrimDrip]

but only because you drive a volvslo.

I would rather lay my nuts on that radiator and then slam the hood, than have to look at that in my vert every time I went to work on it.

 

[Michael Yount]

I would rather lay my nuts on that radiator and then slam the hood.

Uh, there's another forum for that type of stuff. And my rad's all pretty -- use your own radiator, please.

Seriously - your nuts would be preserved 'Drip. It started on the first turn of the key -- you'd never have to work on it. The good news is you're not the one asking about this alternative. The OP is -- "...the LS swap would be fun....". Fact is, this ain't about me or what you like doing with your nuts. His description of what he's after in terms of performance is precisely what I was after too. And so far, the choice I made absolutely nails his criteria - hence my response. Based on your responses in the thread so far, it appears that YOU might be the troll....LOL!

Over almost 5 decades, I've had experience with almost every option being bandied about by the OP. Answer's crystal clear for me. Nevertheless, opinions vary and difference makes the world go 'round - my choice of the volvslo is a prime example. The OP asked for input. He's gotten it, so he'll make his choices and on we go.

 

[bojo]

347 here, AFR 195 , FTI cam , sytemax, bbk long tubes, ultra flos. Fluidyne rad, mk viii fan still has A/C. And vacuum brakes, and the rest of the list goes on and on. Daily in the summer on a dry day yes. Ed Curtis spec cam , its healthy. I have driven it as far a myrtle beach for mustang week with zero problems and 20 + mpg. I'd keep a Ford in a Ford !!!!

 

[IQRaceworks]

Yeah......even though the idea of an LS swap seems a little "cookie cutter" to me (because it seems like everyone is doing it), it's hard to ignore the fact that you can get a nice idling motor that will make 400hp with just a cam, and still get 20+mpg with it, and have great street manners. And if you ever got the itch....you could single turbo it and get 600+hp on pump gas pretty damn easy, and still daily drive it. Those LS motors are pretty awesome........so yeah, I'm still looking at that option also.