302ci to 400+hp?

[Jeff Chambers]

Nope, pump gas. 306ci bottom end with box stock AFR 165, 30# injectors and Cobra intake with AFM cam made 427hp and 418 TQ with a very mild tune. Compression is less than 10:1 making it very streetable. This is just one example. 400+hp at the crank is a very reasonable goal for a 302-based motor. All it takes is a very sound approach to matching the components. The 93 Cobra that this particular motor went into runs 11.6's all day long with a C4 trans on E/T Streets, then cruises home and on to the car shows where its a real eye popper. If I recall, peak HP was around 5400rpm and peak torque more around 4200-4400rpm....very respectable....the car runs with the stock 6250 rev limiter. Still has the full interior including the heavy leather Cobra seats and heavy stock hood, etc. Probably weighs in at 3200+ with the driver. The guy doesn't own a trailer.

As I said, all it really takes is good matching of components. The place where most people leave the most on the table is in the camshaft selection. Stay away from the lettered cams and generic catalog cams.....there's HP and manners to be found in a good custom cam and it'll only cost about $100 more.