A torque-monster 302 can burn rubber --- and save gas.
Compared with other engines of similar displacement, Ford's little 302-cubic-inch (5.0L) V8 is a torque-making beast. Torque is the motive force that propels your vehicle down the road, and is a direct function of engine efficiency relative to displacement. Increase torque output without increasing engine displacement or adding a supercharger, and you increase fuel mileage. You can enhance the 5.0L's inherently fuel-saving qualities by selecting parts and treating the ones you have to enhance torque at low revolutions per minute.
Instructions
1. Start with a 1987 and later iron block machined for a roller camshaft. Purchase a set of iron GT-40P heads. These heads are among the most efficient and best flowing Ford ever produced, and their 59cc combustion chambers will give you a bump in compression.
2. Purchase a lightweight crankshaft, hypereutectic pistons designed to yield a 10.5:1 compression ratio with 59cc heads and polished/shot-peened connecting rods. Have the assembly balanced for an internal balance, which eliminates the need for a heavy harmonic balancer or balancing weights. The lightweight rotating assembly will reduce parasitic drag for increased torque.
3. Coat the tops of the pistons, combustion chamber roofs and the insides of the intake/exhaust ports with ceramic-metallic powder-coating. This crucial step will keep thermal energy inside the combustion chamber and exhaust ports where it can help to produce power instead of simply dumping into your engine's cooling system. Bake all powder-coated parts at 400 degrees as per your coating manufacturer's recommendations.
4. Purchase a set of long-tube race-style headers and use the intake manifold designed for use with the GT-40P heads. Coat the inside and outside of the headers with ceramic powder-coating, and do the same to the underside of the manifold.
5. Coat the inside surfaces of your engine block, the crankshaft counterweights, connecting rods and the bottoms of your pistons with an oil-shedding coating and bake as per your manufacturer recommendations. This process will keep oil from collecting on surfaces where it doesn't belong and contributing to parasitic drag.
6. Assemble the engine using a Ford E303 camshaft, low-tension piston rings, a windage tray to keep oil off the crankshaft, fully rollerized rocker arms and Teflon-coated bearings wherever possible. Install the intake and exhaust manifolds and a supplementary crankcase vacuum pump. The low-tension rings will build power and help efficiency, but they won't seal unless you use a crankcase vacuum pump.
7. Use an electric water pump, electric cooling fan and underdrive pulleys for the alternator and power steering pump.
