Newbie engine planning help

[Daryl]

I humbly encourage you to heed RAU, Duh and Shovel’s advice. Especially if money is tight. And in particular, Duh’s suggestion that you START with the blower. There are CARB legal kits (ie, from Vortec) for us Californians that will cost you the same or less when it’s all said and done versus the 302 swap/build. Far fewer headaches vs the numerous ancillaries necessary for a swap (as short-listed above) AND you’ll be throwing money at the engine performance ONCE vs twice. Lastly, since you said you’d ultimately want to supercharge it, it’s a no-brainer to start there and spend your $$$$ there.
Make sense??

 

[96blak54]

I too agree with these guys. Dollar for dollar staying with what the car has will be far cheaper in the long run. Naturally aspirated with a pi intake he will net 300rwhp easily with some good cams and a tune.

 

[chasingomas]

The condenser is placed in front of the radiator so yes it would impede airflow. I wouldn’t touch the bumper supports (or bash bar as you call them), even a modified or custom support will not make insurance happy.

I know, it’s tempting, but know this. You aren’t gonna go THAT much faster with taking weight out of the car. I knew this before I started, and it was just something I did to keep myself busy during my off time. All in all, I feel with how much I have taken out, the car is a little faster. But then again I have my body weight and then a little out of the car, and I’m like 170 pounds. So to do all that and keep the car looking and driving like stock, is kinda cool I suppose.

good to know. I definitely thought it was in the rear of the engine bay...thank you for the advice on the bumper supports haha and appreciate learning the actual name.

I hear you. Thats kind of how I'm looking at it too. It's something I can do that's free and will make somewhat of a difference, even if it's just getting more aquantained the car and what things are where off my own eyes and not google images.

and that is super cool to me lol while oem+ isn't my personal prefernce, I have a lot of respect for people who can modify their car, but in super subtle yet effective ways. And keep it looking stock haha

 

[chasingomas]

I humbly encourage you to heed RAU, Duh and Shovel’s advice. Especially if money is tight. And in particular, Duh’s suggestion that you START with the blower. There are CARB legal kits (ie, from Vortec) for us Californians that will cost you the same or less when it’s all said and done versus the 302 swap/build. Far fewer headaches vs the numerous ancillaries necessary for a swap (as short-listed above) AND you’ll be throwing money at the engine performance ONCE vs twice. Lastly, since you said you’d ultimately want to supercharge it, it’s a no-brainer to start there and spend your $$$$ there.
Make sense??

Hi. Thank you for your advice. I think through the course of the conversation I've realized I can achieve what I want out of the engine without needing forced induction or even machining right now.

I do really appreciate those last two sentences because in my head, it was like the final stage of what I wanted, so I thought to build an engine for that, I would need to go through a couple different set ups to be able to achieve putting on the blower. ie n/a->stroked n/a->stroked & S/C. What I'm realizing now is that, if I want a S/C, or turbo, or stroked, etc just build that right away. Now that y'all have said it, duh lol it makes a lot of sense. Just non-linear to my brain.

Thanks for your advice and kindness

 

[chasingomas]

I too agree with these guys. Dollar for dollar staying with what the car has will be far cheaper in the long run. Naturally aspirated with a pi intake he will net 300rwhp easily with some good cams and a tune.

I hear you totally and y'all are right, the engine swap is just something thats important to me.

It's the engine that was supposed to go into a 95 chassis I have, but due to family things and the gov forgetting about my disability application for 4 months on top of the 6 months it took already, I wasn't able to finish the build. I sourced most of the parts, but I ran out of everything lol money, energy, etc. So for me, the engine really means something special and personal. I chose the 1995 because it was the last year the 302 was in mustangs after like 20-something years, and I love that my engine is the culmination of all that work and testing etc. I got the 99 because , after all that struggle, once I finally got disability, I didn't have the engergy to build the car from scratch from scratch anymore, and I could have a running and driving car. But the 302 was something that took me a really long time to source and find and it's just something that's important for me to have in my car. That's the short story haha

so I hear you, and I don't want you to think I'm ignoring y'all, or discounting your knowledge or words. This is just bigger than just a car for me. I'm a little stupid, but a lot tough. I didn't wanna have to explain all this because it's kinda heavy, but I just figure if y'all understand why it might make it easier to not think i'm THAT stupid.

P.S attached photos are my 1995 the day I got it.

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

I hear you totally and y'all are right, the engine swap is just something thats important to me.

It's the engine that was supposed to go into a 95 chassis I have, but due to family things and the gov forgetting about my disability application for 4 months on top of the 6 months it took already, I wasn't able to finish the build. I sourced most of the parts, but I ran out of everything lol money, energy, etc. So for me, the engine really means something special and personal. I chose the 1995 because it was the last year the 302 was in mustangs after like 20-something years, and I love that my engine is the culmination of all that work and testing etc. I got the 99 because , after all that struggle, once I finally got disability, I didn't have the engergy to build the car from scratch from scratch anymore, and I could have a running and driving car. But the 302 was something that took me a really long time to source and find and it's just something that's important for me to have in my car. That's the short story haha

so I hear you, and I don't want you to think I'm ignoring y'all, or discounting your knowledge or words. This is just bigger than just a car for me. I'm a little stupid, but a lot tough. I didn't wanna have to explain all this because it's kinda heavy, but I just figure if y'all understand why it might make it easier to not think i'm THAT stupid.

P.S attached photos are my 1995 the day I got it.

I understand completely. It may not make as much sense financially or to other people, but it is your car. You do whatever you want to do because it is there to meet YOUR needs and is a source of YOUR amusement. So long as others opinions are respected, there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. It has been done before and can be done again.

 

[96blak54]

Man....im all about "hot rodding", build, rebuild, repeat. And i commend you for game planning and approach with your project. I know what hard times are like and your project gets put on hold. Mines been on hold again for a good 10years now. But stay focused! Write down, make a journal, note book the project objectives and steadfast.

Also make a build thread here. I say this gor all of us, we want to watch your progress! And best thing about a build thread is the support from members here.

 

[chasingomas]

I understand completely. It may not make as much sense financially or to other people, but it is your car. You do whatever you want to do because it is there to meet YOUR needs and is a source of YOUR amusement. So long as others opinions are respected, there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. It has been done before and can be done again.

Thank you for your compassion. It isn't very common. I just look up to 90's jdm tuners, and old school hot rods and rat rods, and everyone is doing custom work and doing it themselves. That's something i'm really passionate about, and I just want to continue that spirit in my own way if that makes sense. I'm looking at parts now

 

[chasingomas]

Man....im all about "hot rodding", build, rebuild, repeat. And i commend you for game planning and approach with your project. I know what hard times are like and your project gets put on hold. Mines been on hold again for a good 10years now. But stay focused! Write down, make a journal, note book the project objectives and steadfast.

Also make a build thread here. I say this gor all of us, we want to watch your progress! And best thing about a build thread is the support from members here.

Thank you! That's exactly the mentality I have. Drive it, break it, fix it, repeat. And I'm trying haha thank you. I'm super passionate and it's hard having to constantly put things on hold due to factors outside my control. I'm thankful to have the little though I get because I need it.

And I will for sure do that. I'm really excited for the build and thankful for all the help and understand.