Look What You Can Get For $2,000-$2,500
With common sense planning and execution, look at how much power your small-block can produce for under $2,500. These are three dyno pulls that demonstrate how much power you can make and why.
Pull 1 demonstrates what our 302 can do with the modest build-up we have just performed. This is with an aggressive flat-tappet camshaft and 302 heads. Expect 285-300 hp with 350 lb-ft of torque. With carburetor and ignition tuning, you can make the most of these numbers.
| PULL 1 |
| RPM | HP | TORQUE |
| 2,000 | 127 | 333 |
| 2,500 | 162 | 340 |
| 3,000 | 198 | 347 |
| 3,500 | 234 | 351 |
| 4,000 | 264 | 347 |
| 4,500 | 284 | 332 |
| 5,000 | 285 | 300 |
| 5,500 | 273 | 261 |
| 6,000 | 244 | 214 |
| 6,500 | 213 | 172 |
In Pull 2, we've opted for 351W heads with stock valve sizing. these cylinder head castings won't cost any more, and we expect a solid 300-plus horsepower, with 350-plus lb-ft of torque. for just a few bucks more, go with a 650-cfm Holley and a roller cam for eye-opening numbers.
| PULL 2 |
| RPM | HP | TORQUE |
| 2,000 | 127 | 333 |
| 2,500 | 163 | 341 |
| 3,000 | 199 | 349 |
| 3,500 | 236 | 354 |
| 4,000 | 268 | 352 |
| 4,500 | 292 | 341 |
| 5,000 | 298 | 313 |
| 5,500 | 290 | 277 |
| 6,000 | 263 | 321 |
| 6,500 | 234 | 189 |
Pull 3 takes the 351W head further with larger 1.94/1.60-inch valve sizing. Check it out--327 hp and 367 lb-ft of torque. Again, we suggest a more aggressive roller cam, larger Holley, and deep-breathing headers for substantial gains in power. Expect 350-plus horsepower and 375 lb-ft.
| PULL 3 |
| RPM | HP | TORQUE |
| 2,000 | 126 | 332 |
| 2,500 | 163 | 342 |
| 3,000 | 202 | 353 |
| 3,500 | 242 | 363 |
| 4,000 | 279 | 367 |
| 4,500 | 310 | 362 |
| 5,000 | 325 | 341 |
| 5,500 | 325 | 310 |
| 6,000 | 305 | 267 |
| 6,500 | 283 | 229 |
In the interest of good low-to-mid-range...
In the interest of good low-to-mid-range torque, we opted for this used Ford Motorsport aluminum intake manifold that we were able to find used at a swap meet. When combined with our higher compression ratio and a 600-cfm Holley carburetor, it will amount to a meaningful increase in power.
This is the Holley 4160 600-cfm...
This is the Holley 4160 600-cfm four-barrel carburetor. With its vacuum secondaries, electric choke, and easy tunability, it is more than adequate for this application. It's a great street carburetor. You can step up to a 650-cfm Holley for even more torque and horsepower.
This Speed Pro oil pump offers...
This Speed Pro oil pump offers us plenty of volume and pressure for a street application. A high-volume pump would provide more pressure than is needed in this application and would require a lot more energy to spin. Don't forget to blueprint your oil pump, checking side clearances and the like.
We're going with a Speed Pro...
We're going with a Speed Pro timing set, which features a double-roller chain and sprockets for less internal friction. The double-roller chain is far less prone to stretching than the factory style single-row timing set and costs only a little more. Consider this money well spent for precision timing and reliability.
As a final nod towards economy,...
As a final nod towards economy, we're opting for a rebuilt Autolite distributor with a new distributor cap and ignition wires. The Pertronix Ignitor electronic ignition retrofit will eliminate breaker points and improve drivability.