302 vs 351?

[Capt H]

I am ready to order my BDR but still don't know what engine to go with, I am thinking 302 but Reg says 351 is the way to go. I would like to hear from someone with a 302 car what do you think?

[Lizard_King]

I have a 351w stroked to a 408, I wish I had more!!!!!! You will get use to the power, and wish you had more meat under hood! A Hemi would be the cats nutz......just not period correct....GO BIG!!!!! Keth Cratft motors are GREAT!!!!!!! Don't forget the gears you should run a 3:73 or higher...

[Nor Cal Al]

I've got the 392 stroker from Ford Racing and am more than pleased. They just came out with the 408 stroker. I'd go with the 408......

[RallySnake]

Capt H,

Not everyone has the cubic money and driving skills for big inch engines. Thay are NOT necessary!

Beware of the Cobra fever. You can become addited to Summit, Jegs and PAW catalogs and eternally enslaved to the evil force that craves speed.

A 302 engine is perfect in a Cobra. You will have a power to weight ratio that will beat anything that cost less than a supercar. You will save some gas, too. Built with the right parts, a 302 Ford engine can wind up to 8,000 rpm and put out over 400 hp.

It all comes down to how fast you want to go. People who build smaller engines tend to drive their Cobras a lot more. They not worried about wearing out that mega-buck mill.

Driving quickly comes down to eyesight, training and tires. I have driven my Arntz with 356 cubic inches for almost 20 years now. I push it VERY hard on long distance rallies. This size engine gives so much usable power that there has been exactly one time that I needed more. I was climbing a long straight road up a very steep hill. At about 80 mph, I realized that my foot was all the way to the floor. It was such a rare experience, it was almost a shock. Of course, the Honda S2000 behind me was left in the dust. There has NEVER been a time when any car has out accelerated mine.

You don't NEED more power. But, after bitten, you WANT more power.

Paul

[milo22]

I drove the 302 and the 351 before I purchased and I did like the 302 although I thought I would get used to it and wish I had went bigger. Now 7 months later after purchasing 351/408 I am more than happy with this motor. I'ts scarry fast when it wants to be. I am a little concerned with the temp though. I don't know if it's going to be able to handle the hot summer climate in Calif. I'm not sure if the 302 is as tempramental as the 351 but man it dose not like to sit at stop lights. good luck on your choice if it were me I would go 351/408

[Gatorac]

Originally Posted by milo22

I am a little concerned with the temp though. I don't know if it's going to be able to handle the hot summer climate in Calif. I'm not sure if the 302 is as temperamental as the 351 but man it dose not like to sit at stop lights.

Spal has 10" high performance fans that will fit right where the original fans are. These have taken care of my heating issues completely.

[milo22]

Thanks jim I think I'll look into those. I'm not sure what "spal" is though is there a website or phone #?

thanks
mike

[Gatorac]

Go here. http://www.the-fan-man.com/shop/prod...roducts_id/185

That's where I got mine. He had them in stock and shipped them right out.

[milo22]

cool thanks
mike

[427SnakeSC]

I have a 302 in my Classic Roadster S/C. Last year I put aluminum heads, a wilder roller cam and a bigger 750 Holley on it. It has an aluminum intake and Accel ignition. I have a 5 spd in it with a 4.11 final drive. I estimate it is putting out about 350 - 375 hp. I find it extremely quick and have yet to be beaten out of the lights. I took a 427 CSX out last year for a run and found it not to be any quicker than my SB. Saying that, though, I have ordered a new CSX, and will be running a Keith Craft 427 in it. The BB may not be any quicker than a SB, but they do have all that torque for sparking up the tires at will. Also, if "correctness" is an issue, then go BB. The SB runs cooler and just as quick and may handle a little better, although the 427 I took out last year didn't have any handling problems. A cast 427 with aluminum intake, heads, water pump, etc. will only weigh about 100 lbs more than a SB. Keith quoted me that it will be in the 625 hp and 600 lbs. of torque range. It all depends on what you are after. If "correctness", tire shredding torque, the sound and look of the BB are not on your wish list, go with the SB.

[wtm442]

The only thing you have to worry about is your wallet. Get the most bang for the buck ... at least a 351W block. Of course, if you expect a big raise this year or a second job ... go for the

BIG BLOCK

[mgiannetto]

I have a 351W stoked to 408ci. It is amazingly powerful and sounds awesome.

[SS COBRA]

I decided on the Ford Racing Engine (Crate) 342 Stroker/ 400 hp. Installed a Holley 670. Price wasn't that "much" more than the 302 and almost the same weight. Runs great for street use. There are times I wish it had more power, but 90% of the time it's fine.

[niles]

302 vs 351 not an issue.
Neither one!!! If you go small; go 393/408 combo.
Repeat after me; THERE IS NO SUBSTITUE OF CUBIC INCHES!!
A cobra is a statement; saying "I'm the baddest ass in town"
My 351 stoker has plenty of power; I just need more torque; When I'm loafing around at 2K and I punch it; I want immediate tire scredding; not wait .5 sec for the revs to climb to 3K.
I will keep my big small block cause it produced great power and get 12 mpg and 18 hiway mpg with a tall rear end.
If no road course is in the plans; the biggest bang for the buck is a warmed up 460 cu. All though forget MPG with it.
gn

[Thomas Gayer]

get the Roush 427
with 750 horses and that lightweight body
you would be able to do 250 mph
the sad part is Cobras with their big mouth go airborne at 160 mph.

[cdnus]

I have a 408"w, 500hp, 550ft. lbs.
SCARY!! SCARY!!! Fast. YET is extremely streetable, I drive it back & forth to work & am frequently caught in rush hour traffic with no problems as long as I turn the fan on when not moving. Once the traffic clears YAAAHHHOOOOO!!
I would not want anything less & I am 63yrs old/young.
Craig

[Lizard_King]

Based on the design of the car (Backdraft), it can only go 160mph AND NO HIGHER,it doesn't matter how much horsepower you put in it!!!!!! A big block will out balance the front by 360IBSs to heavy......351w or 351c stroked to a 408, is the magic number and weight perfomance.... I have a Keith Craft 351w/408 pushing 585hp at the flywheel and 490 @ the rear wheel with 510 IBS of torque at the rear wheel. My buddy just bought a 911 twin turbo for $180,000, and I pulled him just till we got to 110mph and he got me on the top end. BUT NOT THE 1/4 though!!!!!!!! Go with the 351/408 500hp or better to really move!!!! Also the Backdraft comes with a radiator out of a 7 series BMW, it is a single coil....NO GOOD!!!!!!! Send the radiator out to C&R and they will make a copy from scratch, with 4 coils and 5 inchs thick. Also change the fans to a 1000 cfm too I think 650 is stock. I can sit at a red light all day long now @ 185 temp........ The 408 runs just a bit on the hot side too........ Good luck!!!!!!!

[Speedysnake]

I drove the 302 and 351 demos at Reg's place in Florida. The 302v seemed peppy enough for all normal driving. The 351 / 385 hp. engine had more torque at low RPM, making it easier to move in traffic, didn't need to downshift. So I went with the 351. That said, look at Cobra Country & the asking prices for comparable cars, 302 versus 351. I think, when the day comes you want to sell, the 351 will bring more $$. Go bigger if ya want to, but for driveability, the 351 is great!

[jeffko]

They are both small blocks. The 351 just has a taller deck for more cubes. Cubes = torque and torque is where it's at down low and horsepower finishes the show.

I built a 393 with a 351W for less than $6k and you can too. No cheap parts and most all ARP studs. My first dyno finished with 435/453 at the rear wheels.

[Capt H]

Thanks for all the replys, it sounds as if I should at least go with the 351W.