This is topic Building a 306 on a budget in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
Hey guys, new to this site and trying to get as much information and suggestions on this build before I start it. I have an '89 5.0 LX with a 5spd and 3.73 gears. It has 150k miles and leaks some oil, so I am picking up a fresh 306 tomorrow, and plan on building that while it's out of the car and then swapping it in. My dad is a mechanic and I have a decent basic knowledge of cars, but he's a Mopar guy and I've never built a Ford motor before so I'm open to all the input and experience from others I can get.

My budget is about $5000-ish (a little leeway). The car is my daily driver first and foremost but I take it to the dragstrip on wednesdays during the season, and it needs to be able to pass CA smog.

One route I've heard is the Trickflow top end kit (which seems to be suggested frequently on forums). Another route suggested by some Mustang guys my dad works with via my dad is the Edelbrock Performer 5.0 heads and intake. My dad suggested since i'm on a budget, keeping it a low end torquey motor that will stay below 6000rpm. With this latter combo I'd need a cam (have heard the comp cams Xe264hr recommended), and with any combo I'd do the clutch and exhaust, and I assume I would be best off having a shop dynotune the car after all is said and done, although I'm not sure what my options are there.

I realize this is a pretty open ended post, but you have my budget (~$5000) and my requirements (daily driver, race it on wednesdays, CA smoggable), and I would love to hear you guys' input, suggestions, experience, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Jonathan

[ 2015-01-11, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: revcor ]
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
For $5k, I'd do a 331 or 347 instead of a 306. Look in the classified section here, you can find good strokers for cheap.
 
Posted by SLOW95GTS (Member # 10365) on :
 
your better off using the 5k on you original motor, unless your motor has high miles or has low compression. Building a stroker requires a bit more than 5k unless you get a short block for cheap.

Your best bet is doing a h/c/I and do a power adder then you can get a stroker after you blow the original 302.

Trick flow heads, Holley intake, and a smog legal cam will get you around the 300rwhp range and should be a 12sec street car while, with the stock h-pipe can pass smog.
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SLOW95GTS:
your better off using the 5k on you original motor, unless your motor has high miles or has low compression. Building a stroker requires a bit more than 5k unless you get a short block for cheap.

Your best bet is doing a h/c/I and do a power adder then you can get a stroker after you blow the original 302.

Trick flow heads, Holley intake, and a smog legal cam will get you around the 300rwhp range and should be a 12sec street car while, with the stock h-pipe can pass smog.
My current motor does have a lot of miles, so tomorrow I am picking up a fresh motor that has been rebuilt and bored .030 over already from a family friend. So I want to stick with that bottom end and focus on h/c/i. As far as your suggestion, do you recommend the TFS heads/holly intake combo over that top end kit that TFS sells?
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
The TFS top end kit is a good kit but all that stuff can be bought for way less if you piece it together with patience online. Sometimes you find on Corral people trying to sell their new never used parts for a good price.
 
Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
As stated, if you take your time you can find all this stuff online from private sellers relatively cheap. A word of caution though- check everything. What may seem like a screaming deal on a set of TFS heads may not be as good as you think if you start having to invest $ just to get them to a usable state. Camshafts and intakes are fairly easy to check, but with cylinder heads, springs and valves could be an issue. Be prepared to have them torn down and checked if they don't come with any sort of paperwork attesting to their condition.
 
Posted by SLOW95GTS (Member # 10365) on :
 
I've seen and done swap with the tfs heads and Holley intake with different cams and always netted around the 300-330 hp. I personally like the Holley intake over the trick flow ones.
How much are you getting the 306 for?
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
Especially with heads i'd rather just buy new ones for exactly that reason. I'm picking up the rebuilt 306 longblock for 700 today.

Say I were to build it with the TFS heads and Holley intake, any cam suggestions? the only two specific suggestions i've heard from people are the ford e303 and the comp cams xe264hr
 
Posted by Pure Stang (Member # 7251) on :
 
Afr 185's, custom (legal) cam and rpm2 intake. you wont regret it. and you still have cash left over for gears and some suspension. those top end sets by trick flow are ok, but you wont get the most out of it. seen plenty of people slap the tfs kit on and not break 300.
 
Posted by Pure Stang (Member # 7251) on :
 
custom cam is only 300 bucks btw
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
Never, I repeat never go with E303 cam. Pure garbage IMO.
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
any recommendations on who to talk to about custom cams?
 
Posted by BLACKOUTLAW (Member # 6821) on :
 
Flowtech Induction his the man,ED Curtis [worship]
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by BLACKOUTLAW:
Flowtech Induction his the man,ED Curtis [worship]
he's been recommended by a lot of people, is the benefit over going with an off the shelf cam with a carb number really that great? and can he be sure it will smog
 
Posted by Pure Stang (Member # 7251) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by revcor:
quote:
Originally posted by BLACKOUTLAW:
Flowtech Induction his the man,ED Curtis [worship]
he's been recommended by a lot of people, is the benefit over going with an off the shelf cam with a carb number really that great? and can he be sure it will smog
It will pass smog if you tell him to. It will stay within legal specs make more power and do what you want it to. I told my local builder what I wanted to be done and it does exactly that, great drivability and pulls to 6500. Off the shelf cams are 200+ Why not spend 100 more and get something better... I've seen as much as 20-30rwhp from a e303 to a custom cam.
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
What are your power goals?
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Secnd2nun64:
What are your power goals?
i don't really have "power goals" per se, i more have a budget and want to spend it in the ideal way for a DD/strip car while keeping it smoggable. so i want as much usable-across-the-rpm-range power as possible for my budget
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
This might be a good option for you with some trick flow heads.

http://www.coasthigh.com/14846-SF-F347E-SB-p/14846-sf-f347e-sb.htm

Or get that 427w in the fordsale section. [burnout]

[ 2015-01-15, 12:28 PM: Message edited by: Secnd2nun64 ]
 
Posted by Camara90 (Member # 134) on :
 
Little bit of advice on your build, if you are going to order your cam through Ed let him setup your heads. Even with a smog legal cam in order to get the extra power from a custom cam grind it will have aggressive lobes that cause issues with most off the shelf valvetrain components. Just order your heads through him, it will be worth it in the end.
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Camara90:
Little bit of advice on your build, if you are going to order your cam through Ed let him setup your heads. Even with a smog legal cam in order to get the extra power from a custom cam grind it will have aggressive lobes that cause issues with most off the shelf valvetrain components. Just order your heads through him, it will be worth it in the end.
he sells heads too? i'll look into it but i've actually been leaning towards tryna find some decent used heads if i can, my budget is getting eaten up quicker than i thought.
 
Posted by 92_5.0 (Member # 7624) on :
 
another option..run the stock (rebuilt) longblock and buy a Vortech S-trim kit with supporting mods and tune with those 3:73 gears you'll have a nice smoggable/street friendly set up [patriot]
 
Posted by ed650 (Member # 9897) on :
 
306 with gt40 heads intake and custom cam with a $1600 on3 turbo kit. Youll be like 400-450rwhp for under 4k..
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 92_5.0:
another option..run the stock (rebuilt) longblock and buy a Vortech S-trim kit with supporting mods and tune with those 3:73 gears you'll have a nice smoggable/street friendly set up [patriot]
well my long term goal is to build an all-motor motor as much for the learning process and experience of the project as for the performance. but what ive actually been thinking about doing is finding a used Vortech kit and putting it on the motor currently in my 5.0, and building the new block over time. so speaking of which if anyone hears of anyone with a vortech kit for sale let me know
 
Posted by 92_5.0 (Member # 7624) on :
 
Good choice. Run the current motor til it goes. In the meantime build up a motor that suits your wants and needs by taking your time and doing it right the first time.
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
Exactly. With the entry level vortech kits do you need a bigger fuel pump and injectors or is that only for the 7+ psi kits?
 
Posted by 92_5.0 (Member # 7624) on :
 
The stock 19 lb. injectors are fine as long as you run the FMU provided in the kit. Most S-trim kits come with an inline t-Rex fuel pump, but if you buy a used kit and the pump is not included you can replace your intank pump with a walbro 255 lph pump (I believe it's a 255, can't remember) and you will be fine. I would recommend upgrading your stock pump regardless.
 
Posted by 92_5.0 (Member # 7624) on :
 
I don't recommend spending money on an entry level A-trim kit, for a few bucks more you can get the S-trim and have much more room to grow in the future
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
if i can find a good deal on one i would definitely get an S-trim, but i'm really only doing this as a cheap way to temporarily quench my thirst for speed while i work on the new motor, so i dont want to dump a bunch of money in it
 
Posted by 92_5.0 (Member # 7624) on :
 
I know exactly what you mean, been there haha. If you do go with an A-trim, look into a UPR power pipe. They are made from plastic and will not heat soak. Also pick up a 73mm c&l mass air meter. You'll gain a few psi with those mods alone. Not sure if you have headers, but headers are a must when running a blower.
 
Posted by revcor (Member # 13604) on :
 
i just got off the phone with vortech i think im going to get one of their entry level SCi kits. i already have a walbro 255lph fuel pump so they were saying with a couple sizes smaller pulley and a bypass valve (totalling only like $150) it'll bump it up another 1.5-2psi
 
Posted by 50Reasons (Member # 6452) on :
 
Find a nice set of edelbrock Vic juniors and a hi tech cam and a Holley system max II intake 65mm to 70 mm tb and a nice 76mm pro m maf or sct maf oh and don't forget to get some 24lb injectors and upgrade that fuel pump to a 255 lb intake pump should be well under budget and don't forget to measure for some comp cam push rods for the new cam and 1.6 rockers and heads

[ 2015-02-03, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: 50Reasons ]
 




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