What is the best way to increase horsepower to 72' 302

[is_wiz]

Can someone help me. What is the best way to increase the horse power to my 72' 302. It is lacking in power and I recently read that new it was only suppose to have 140hp which was the lowest of the early broncos. And now I'm sure it has even less. I was told it was rebuld 10 years ago. and I removed it about six months ago and replace main seals cleaned and painted it. Put edlebrock performance intake and edelbrock 600 carb on it and MSD power coil. It sounds a little better now but still next to no power. What should I do next. I was thinking a cam and valve kit. Any ideas?
Thanks!!

 

[broncnaz]

Headers or at least a better than stock exhuast system and a cam will wake it up. SBF's need a lot of help on the ehxuast side of the engine so far you've done nothing but upped the intake side so air can come it but cant get out. A good cam will increase your power the most but it should be matched to your needs. Not only that without a good exhuast your still choking your other parts so you wont see there full benefit. A lot of people run edelbrock performer cams and many companies have similar models you best bet is to call a couple of cam companies and get there recommendations then compare and pick.
While your tires size and gearing should be ok a gearing swap can make a big differance in getting your power back you have to figure broncos came with 28in tires stock and many have 3.50 gearing up the tire size by 5in and you've lost power due to the gearing mismatch. But gears and install can cost a lot. I run 33in tires and 3.50 gears in my 73 and it runs great but I matched the camshaft to my gearing.

 

[jspurl3]

second what broncnaz says... plus maybe a 4 or 5 spd transmission

 

[gtownky]

Super Charge it!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Since you ditched all the emissions stuff I would say a distributor with the proper curve in it. After that a mild cam swap. That is as far as I would bother with a 302.

Another question, what gears do you have with those 33" tires? It will be a dog if it has 3.50 gears. (there is an article in the tech section if you need to check). Add some gear will wake it up.

Beyond all that, added cubes. Get a 351

 

[Vintage Steel]

AIR, FUEL AND HEAT
increase airflow- high flow air cleaner, cold air intake, turbo, supercharger whatever you prefer
>New cam, valve job, new valve springs
increase fuel- bigger jets, four barrel, or fuel injection
increase spark- hotter coil, electronic ignition, MSD box, good plugs and wires
increase exhaust flow- headers, dual 2 1/2" exhaust, X pipe, free flowing mufflers
Of course none of this does any good if your motor is worn out.

 

[wildbill]

%) %) %) You will need to cam it 4V helps but it will take a good camm Call the cam co. of your choice tell them what you want the motor to do and they will suggest the best cam for that good luck. Bill %) ;D

 

[Scrapper_MV]

You already have the Edelbrock intake. Add an Edelbrock cam and heads with a decent exhaust system and you should get alot more out of it.

Lowering the axle gears will help alot too. But that opens a new can of expensive worms.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Cam & heads. The origonal heads on these things are boat anchors. Even with a good flowing exhaust system, you end up with small exhaust runners limiting the flow. Change the head and you can increase the compression a bit too.

 

[Explorer]

Totaly agree with cam and curving the dizzy. If you're still running points, upgrade to a Duraspark. I'd run a compression and leakdown test first to see the condition of your engine.

 

[RRRAAAYYY2]

But an LX mustnag that has a rotted body for cheap. Pull the motor and wiring harness. Sell some parts so the motor and harness are pretty much free. Cheap and tons of advantages.

 

[is_wiz]

Thanks guys. That helps a lot. I know I have to put new headers and exhaust. The stock is just incredibly small. And I will get a new distro. And really need to do a compression test too. It sounds like it runs well just no power.
Sounds like everyone is thinking a new cam. Any recommendations on which cam or which company?

 

[is_wiz]

My gears are stock for a 72'. (that i know of) I can do 65mph at about 2800rpms on flat. in third. not that that helps much.

 

[broncnaz]

Lots of people run edelbrock performers. or other cams with the same specs with good luck. But if you call a couple of the cam companies they may have a better recommendation for your vehicle and driving needs than just the popular grind that everyone uses. While I'm sure there recommendations will be close in specs to the performer any differance can make a differance in actual performance.

Auto tranny or manual? Sounds like you may have 4.11 gearing. check the axle code on the VIN tag in the glove box. A3 or A5 will be 4.11 with a limited slip diff, 03 or 05 is 4.11 open diff. Anything else is probably 3.50 gearing.

 

[csjr]

I turn around 2700rpm at 62mph with 35" (nominal) tires and 4.10 gears, so you may have 4.10 factory stock like naz said above.

 

[spadus]

Thank God someone told you to do a compression check. If your compression isn't within spec, you can bolt on everything they mentioned above and it wont do any good! Your engine stock is only good for 180 hp and with all the bolt-on parts mentioned, you will be lucky to break 200. if you want more than that, you will need to buy some heads. if you're going to buy some heads, you might as well rebuild the 10 y.o. short block too. how much do you want to spend? stock long block = $1,500. Dart makes some great iron heads for $1,200. A 347 stroker using quality parts will break 300 hp but will cost $4k. It's only money, i say Stroke it and work some overtime!

 

[blubuckaroo]

I really don't think you even need performance equipment to make these run great. My brother's '72 had the stock 2 bbl carb, late model E7TE heads, RV cam and flat top pistons. It looked completly stock from the outside. It would run circles around my '77.

 

[WheelHorse]

Being a Mustang parts enthusiast, don't waste your time with boat anchor e7 castings from 87-95 Mustangs.

Grab a set of either GT-40P heads off of an explorer...will have straight plugs and will require (most likely) special headers.

Aftermarket heads. Edels are notorious for poor valve to seat contact. I have yet to have a set of Edels have a good contact patch come through my shop.

Trick flow street or AFR 165 heads will serve you well. Plus you'll drop some weight off of the front end of the Bronco.

400hp with a stock cam with 165cc heads.

http://www.airflowresearch.com/articles/article087/A-P1.htm

By a explorer 302 from the boneyard, get the roller set up, and throw your intake on it with the better AFR heads and 1.7 roller rockers you'll be screaming. Stock cams are great for TORQUE. I'd run the stock cam with the 1.7's on a Bronco. Remember that the stock fuelie cams are for long runner dry intakes, you will need a cam that is set up for your carb'd app if you want to get the most out of it and not be disappointed in the time and money invested in your project. Other's have claimed that the fuelie cams work great with carbed apps, I'd consult Crane if I was doing a swap.

Do this a step at a time. You do not have to do this all at once, gather the parts and put it together on an engine stand as time allows.

http://www.airflowresearch.com/articles.php

Scroll to the bottom and click on the group one cyl head test.

 

[TDubya]

Do a compression test. If everything is within specs, I'd suggest a cam. I have the same setup as you; carb & intake, gearing, trans, tires. I installed a Crane cam w/ grind number 272 H10 with new valve springs in stock heads and have been very happy. Good idle, good power & torque in lower & mid range rpms, good throttle response. Its no race engine but plenty of usable power for an EB.

 

[u10072]

Just get a late model 302 out of an 89 and up --put new gaskets in it an the fuel injection and you will think you have a damn race car-- you wont but it will feel like one compared to 140 horse. Throwing money at old 302's instead of the 5.0's is crazy unless you have enough money to make them work. IF the engine is good-- a simple SEFI swap over the old carb and a decent exhaust will really wake an engine up from what I have done in the past myself. The beauty of the SEFI is tht you get immediate throttle response, quicker starts, and it so much better for the life of the motor as well.