Cheapest 500hp build

Itsaiight5.0

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So im putting a low mileage 302 in. What is gonna be my cheapest way to get to 500hp? I have little gains with air intake, side exaust, throttle body, and a/c delete. Just trying to figure out what's gonna be my next/ cheapest way to get on up to 500. I've been looking at the on3 turbo systems and thinking that might be the route. Open to any and all suggestions. Just trying to pick some brains and come up with something. Thanks!

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Heads/cam/intake with the ON3 kit and a great tune.. 500 HP is attainable with a decent 302 and a turbo but you run the risk of destroying the stock block or rods or both lol
 
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Itsaiight5.0

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Heads/cam/intake with the ON3 kit and a great tune.. 500 HP is attainable with a decent 302 and a turbo but you run the risk of destroying the stock block or rods or both lol
I just want something to Sunny Sunday drive and give a lil hell from time to time, without spending an arm and a leg.

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it will also be at the limit of the tranny. Don't forget a K-member with the price of the on-3, fuel upgrades(pump, injectors, and that is just to start) and a tune.

Now while you mentioned turbo there is no need not to consider super charging. There are a few different kits to choose from depending on what you want or can afford and they have been using them for decades now reliably.
 

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If youre looking for cheap Id lower that target hp number and invest in a good tuner if going the forced induction route. Also, like another poster said, 302s like to split down the middle around that 500 hp area. Some can get away with it, some cant. If youre wanting to go cheap Id imagine its because youre on a budget and building an engine should not be done “cheap” or else youll end up building it again.


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Itsaiight5.0

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If youre looking for cheap Id lower that target hp number and invest in a good tuner if going the forced induction route. Also, like another poster said, 302s like to split down the middle around that 500 hp area. Some can get away with it, some cant. If youre wanting to go cheap Id imagine its because youre on a budget and building an engine should not be done “cheap” or else youll end up building it again.


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Well, are there anything in the 302's to change out to help the longevity? I'm no mechanic, I'm an electrician that likes to go fast. But if there is some things I can change out while the motor is getting out in, once again, I'm open to ideas. I just want to keep it ford. I don't want any ls swaps or anything like that. Maybe even an affordable Ford motor that comes to mind?

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Another sparky, eh? Best trade in the world. My suggestion is to strap on the turbo kit, keep the boost conservative and build another engine on the side with a Boss or Dart block.
 

ttocs

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you can swap almost everything out but once your into the internals of the motor I don't think we are in the cheap relm much anymore. And remember, if you build the motor for that much your tranny will need to hold it. Build the tranny and the rear end will need to be able to handle it and then on top of all this remember then that the brakes on our cars are not the best and now we are nowhere near cheap. In reality a built motor isn't needed for the majority of us(myself in the future included) just do not need for occasional track days. Whats your budget and what are you going to use it for
 
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Itsaiight5.0

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you can swap almost everything out but once your into the internals of the motor I don't think we are in the cheap relm much anymore. And remember, if you build the motor for that much your tranny will need to hold it. Build the tranny and the rear end will need to be able to handle it and then on top of all this remember then that the brakes on our cars are not the best and now we are nowhere near cheap. In reality a built motor isn't needed for the majority of us(myself in the future included) just do not need for occasional track days. Whats your budget and what are you going to use it for
Well I'd like to stay under 35 Hun, and really I just want something that I can ride around on sunny days off work, stomp it every once and a while, maybe a few track days here and there. Basically a toy... I've had 3 fox bodies and they were fun and all but something about tha sn body made me get it. And I wanted to make it faster than my other ones. I moved away from all my friends that know cars so it's kinda just me out here and I'm not trying to just bring it to a shop and get fed a bunch of BS and little work get done.

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Itsaiight5.0

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Another sparky, eh? Best trade in the world. My suggestion is to strap on the turbo kit, keep the boost conservative and build another engine on the side with a Boss or Dart block.
Just curious, do you have a clue how much they run?

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evilcw311

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I like where this thread could go but once you said $3500 or under it kind of hit a wall.

Any decent turbo kit installed can help you get close to where you want to be, especially with a hci swap. But as others have mentioned your going to end up swapping a lot of other stuff as well.

By the time you get a tranny and rear ended that can handle the power, then you’ll find the suspension and brakes can’t hold, and then the tires can’t hold, and by the time it’s down you’ve spent $10-15k easily and that’s with you doing all work.


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Itsaiight5.0

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I like where this thread could go but once you said $3500 or under it kind of hit a wall.

Any decent turbo kit installed can help you get close to where you want to be, especially with a hci swap. But as others have mentioned your going to end up swapping a lot of other stuff as well.

By the time you get a tranny and rear ended that can handle the power, then you’ll find the suspension and brakes can’t hold, and then the tires can’t hold, and by the time it’s down you’ve spent $10-15k easily and that’s with you doing all work.


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Well the on3 turbo is around $15 Hun. The motor and install is gonna be a little over a grand. As with anything that deals with a car, we "set" a target to "try" and hit, to "justify" our spendings to the wife, and usually go way over. I figured if I set a low target, and ended up spending a medium range, I'd say I did good. If I have in mind 7 or 8 grand, it'll end up being above 10. [emoji23]

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Itsaiight5.0

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So would it be cheaper going with a different Ford motor? Like I said building a car is out of my wheel house. That's why I said I'm open to any ideas. I'm pretty sure there's a motor out the in a junk yard that I can do what I want, I just don't know what kind of motor to look for. I just know of the 302's that I've always had.

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96blak54

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Any modular 4.6l with upgraded rods and pistons will handle just about what ever you throw at it, but ...they are heavy and big!

Like the other folks mentioned, low boost turbo what you have now. Itll be fun! And then you can make your decision about moving forward with the 500+hp goal that involves an aftermarket block, new pistons, new rods, new gaskets, new bolts, new machine work, new rear end, new control arms, new tires, new tranny, new injectors, new fuel system, new tuning, new k-member, new wiring harness......and then you realize this car has sat for 10yrs!!!!

Stack your build blocks on whats running now. Worst that could happen is a blown engine or transmission, but you dont mind cause you were wanting something to build anyways. Then you can remember what the car was like come 10yrs into your build....lmao!

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