Hey guys, been a while since I was on here, kinda had the car on the back burner, then It got ran into in the driveway by a friend and I had it in the bodyshop all summer, started buying parts to build the 302 NA, woke up xmas morning and the wife bought me an On3 Turbo kit..... then all I seen were dollar signs to make this work lol.... I planned on building a 306na with all forged internals, I already bought my TFS track heat 170 61cc heads, cam rockers etc. . .
everyone is saying not to build my bottom end because its a waste of money, the block will crack with boost. . . . so I have a 351 here on the floor, from what im reading they are a stronger block.

anyone here done the swap into an sn95 car and has anyone put boost to a 5.8 that would be kind enough to give me advice along the way. Im not an engine builder by anymeans I would really appreciate any help I can get

 

There are plenty of people running boosted 5.0's without cracking blocks, it just depends how much power you plan on putting through it. As far as I know a 351 is a pretty simple swap but someone should come along with more info on that. Since you already have some parts for your 302 I'd probably try to go that route if you can. P.S I think your girlfriend is a keeper if she bought you a turbo setup. Let us know how the ON3 kit works out as their prices seem very reasonable and I've always wondered what the quality was like.

 

shes a keeper for sure. . . their quality seems good, I mean its a cheap turbo, good to get you into the game. I already have my eye on a precision turbo. the block it wider I believe so the x-over pipe will prob have to be modified. Im just worried about putting my good top end on my stock bottom end and wrecking all my upper $hit. I would like to have 450-500whp. . . I mean if im going to put the turbo on, I might as well use it, right?

 

I'm in the process of finishing off my 351w turbo swap myself, and there is a lot of work and extra parts to consider before doing it. You're correct in assuming that your crossover pipe and downpipe will need serious modification, as the 351 is wider by 2" and taller by 3". Your left and right turbo manifolds/headers may not even fit anymore due to clearance issues, depending on turbo placement (I know mine didn't). Hood clearance is also a big issue when everything is 3" higher, so a stock intake will not fit. Those are most of the differences between the 302 and 351 turbo setups that I can remember, there are others if you intend to run the 351 on EFI, feel free to ask any other questions

 

I'm not sure where you get 3" higher from???when a 302 deck is 8.2" and the 351 deck is 9.5" = 1.3" higher

 

From pan to intake it is roughly 3" overall in height difference.

 

I guess most people only think of hood clearance and not going down. Thanks for this info.

 

The stock bottom ended 302 will be fine at your desired hp goal,as for your 351 it all depends on whats inside that counts. They handle more power than a 302 but also have to be built to handle said power. Put your parts on the 302, stud and brace it and get a GOOD TUNE, that will be the factor on how long your engine will last

 

Well its been a long time coming, still haven't started it up yet. had the engine together and apart a couple times. first time I pressed in new rod bolts and didn't know that you had to get them machined afterwards. bolted them in and wrecked a new set of bearings due to the big ends being out of round. took it back apart got them machined, put it back together and didn't have enough PTV clearance so I sent the bottom end to the machine shop, had them cut the pistons and assemble the bottom.
motor is now in, swapped all the accessories and brackets to fox. switched the upper intake around. there is now no ford ecu in the car. my good friend who has really done all the work, has wired in an AEM EMS which should be pretty cool for tuning.
Ill upload more pictures soon, this is all I have on my computer right now.
PS - the on3 kit so far has been pretty good. other than the crossover pipe barely touching on the dampner. (maybe to due with the trick flow heads off setting the manifolds)