302, 351, 390 or 460?

I have a buddy that is starting on a mustang drag car project. He just bought an 86 hatch with a warm 302/C4 combo and we are picking up a 92 hatch roller with a 10pt cage in it. Last night he asked my thought about going to a 390. He currently has the running/driving 302/c4 combo, and has a 460/C6 sitting in an old LTD. His goal is to run sportsman or Pro and won't have money to make it fast so my advice was to stay with the 302 or maybe pick up a 351W as those are his most economical options, and If he really wants to build a big block, then go with the 460/c6 that he already has.

Am I advising him incorrectly here?

I would go 460 hands down

460 is heavy but easy power. My old iron headed 468 would run 10.60's with a 750 holley DP, hooker fox body swap headers and a magnum 294 cam. thats with a C6 and SSM bars too LOL...28x10.5 ET drags on a 8" rim.

BigRigTech wrote:460 is heavy but easy power. My old iron headed 468 would run 10.60's with a 750 holley DP, hooker fox body swap headers and a magnum 294 cam. thats with a C6 and SSM bars too LOL...28x10.5 ET drags on a 8" rim.

Did you have any trouble with the car hooking up? Also, what axle and back space on the rim?

460 or a small block will have the most used stuff avaliable if he's on a tight budget.

HorsinAround wrote:

BigRigTech wrote:460 is heavy but easy power. My old iron headed 468 would run 10.60's with a 750 holley DP, hooker fox body swap headers and a magnum 294 cam. thats with a C6 and SSM bars too LOL...28x10.5 ET drags on a 8" rim.

Did you have any trouble with the car hooking up? Also, what axle and back space on the rim?

no touble at all. I used stiff sidewall slicks with tubes. 5.5" BS. Now I run a 275 drag radial pro on a 10" rim with 6.5" BS. stock tubs with some hammer work and the fender lip rolled.

Don't worry about hook. These days, my aunt Maude could hook a Mustang. Just go to any dragstrip on any day and count the stock suspension foxbodies that are hoisting the hoops.

Engine choice? The 385 series bigblock for sure. Skip the FE stuff...you said he can't afford to go fast, and trying to do it with an FE will drive up the $$. The smallblocks are nice but fast ones get used up sooner. The BBF will make more oats per dollar and in mild form it will run til you're sick of it.

460 all the way. No comparison

If it's going to be a dedicated track car,..... I'd "probably" stay with the BB (460) engine,.....BUT,..... If the car is going to be a Street/Strip deal,...AND,... he's on a tight budget,...... I'd go with a 9.5" deck, 351 and stroke it out to a 408.
There's a LOT more small-block stuff on the used market these days,....compared to 385 series parts.

550 - 600hp shouldn't be too hard for either engine platform.

Should run high 6's in the 1/8th,....high 10's in the 1320,.....in a lightweight car with enough traction.

yea, it will be a dedicated track deal, and he already has the 460, but it will need rebuilt. Looking at the 408 kit, that would be the least expensive way to go. Have to see what we can pick up for a block and heads at the ford swap meet in November.

Unless it is a "class racer" built for a specific cubic inches or cubic inches to weight ratio ... build a big block.

It will run 13's w/460 stock condition. Install and have tons of fun.

He bought a car with a 302 in it, so we are going with that for the rest of the season, HOWEVER.... The turd just scored a 460 and 4 302's for $200. So, a 460 is in the works for the winter, and I'm going to try and convience him to part with the 302's..