Why Stroke it?

Steve-Os95GT

New Member
Jun 21, 2005
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Why go with a stroker motor? I am by no means criticizing anyone who puts a stroker motor in their Stang but I have seen people post numbers on their 331 stroker and they are barely, maybe 15%, better then most peoples 302 with the same applications. The reason I bring this up is because I need a new build up on my 95GT and am looking at a stroker kit or just boring to a 306. Like I said, I am not criticizing anyone who puts a stroker in their Stang.
 
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15%, better then most peoples 302 with the same applications.
I think you answered the question yourself. More power w/ the same combo is probably why people do it. More cubes w/ the same size block. A lot of people don't want to run a big block, which is bigger/heavier, maybe a little more work to fit in and is obvious. No one will ever know you have a stroker unless the motor is torn down or you tell them. BTW, 15% of a 300hp motor is 45hp...not to shabby.

There's a lot of threads detailing pro's and cons of each if that's a consideration for you.
 
I think the obvious "gear head" advantage is the increased vacuum ...
More air allows more fuel ... more fuel consumption (in the same amount of time) creates more power :banana:
And as Tim Allen would say ... arr ,arr, arr, uh, uh (caveman)

For lighter cars (fox body), sometimes the extra torque and power causes more traction issues than benefits ... unlike the heavier late model body styles.

But I believe, "Build it as bad as you like, then get the chassis to accommodate this."

Sometimes the extra 15% can mean the difference in a street confrontation where a juiced ricer starts walkin' away from you or you puttin' him in his rightful place. :nice:
 
Going with the stroker is the better outcome. I just noticed that Stangs with 331s having barely more than my 302.
292rwhp
324rwtq
But, like was said, just 10% more then that is 30 more horses.
 
strokers generally make there power at a higher rpm than the stock 302s (moving the powerband up) which is good for race applications, but a mild street machine with the right combo on the 302/306 will be more practical for a daily driver. it all depends on where you want youre powerband, and how much driveability your willing to suffer.
 
Why stroke the motor rather than do a standard rebuild? The question that goes through many people's minds.

Power difference? It all depends on the combo. It's really a complicated subject. An engine is an air pump, the larger the air pump the more air it can pull at the same rpm and if the rest of the components are matched it will make more power.

Cost? The cost to machine for a 347 would only require piston notching for clearance that you can do yourself, the rest is the same. Consider the cost to machine the stock crank compared to a new one. A new stroker crank cost about the same as a new crank, and is usually better than the stock crank as well. Having the stock rods preped vs. the cost of new ones and the difference in better rods. Pistons cost about the same. In all it really doesn't cost much more to build a 347 to a 306. The only real cost is the price of a 27oz balancer and flywheel which you might want a new one for the new motor anyways so the cost isn't really that far off.

I have a 306 in my garage, but I am probally going to sell it because I want more and I need to change out the pistons anyways. I really don't know what I want to do myself. All I know is 351W Strokers are really mean and I feel a bit like a yuppie putting in a 306 when I'm building a street/strip drag car.
 
wildstang87 said:
strokers generally make there power at a higher rpm than the stock 302s (moving the powerband up) which is good for race applications, but a mild street machine with the right combo on the 302/306 will be more practical for a daily driver. it all depends on where you want youre powerband, and how much driveability your willing to suffer.

A larger cube, longer stroke motor having less low end torque than a smaller cube shorter stroke engine???? Are you shure you don't have that mixed up. So I guess a 408 would be one slug off the line?
 
wildstang87 said:
... strokers generally make their power at higher rpms compared to stock 302s (moving the powerband up) ...

A lot of us have always been under the impression a longer stroke creates more power down low and that the heads, cam etc are responsible for the desired powercurve of the engine :D

Ps - I edited your text above while I was at it ... :stick:
 
the h/c/i does have alot to do with the power curve and where it is exactly, but if you take a 302 with h/c/i and a 347 with the same exact combo, the 302 would probably make more power than the 347 until higher rpms. that might be hard to grasp.
 
wildstang87 said:
the h/c/i does have alot to do with the power curve and where it is exactly, but if you take a 302 with h/c/i and a 347 with the same exact combo, the 302 would probably make more power than the 347 until higher rpms. that might be hard to grasp.

It is hard to grasp ... because it isn't true :nonono:
 
So, I guess that whether or not to go with a 306 or a 331 depends on what my "purpose" for my car is.
This is my daily driver and I would like a little more pep. I would like to see more torque since the only time I will need "power" is around town when going from stop light to stop light. I would like to see 325rwhp and 375rwtq. Considering what I have now that is not too far off, is it? Would I be able to see these new numbers with a 306 and better applications (bigger injectors, intake, MAF, etc..)?
95GT
Edelbrock Heads (out the box)
Shorties, pullies
CAI, stock intake
Lifters, rockers.... that is most of it.
292rwhp
324rwtq
 
Steve-Os95GT said:
So, I guess that whether or not to go with a 306 or a 331 depends on what my "purpose" for my car is.
This is my daily driver and I would like a little more pep. I would like to see more torque since the only time I will need "power" is around town when going from stop light to stop light. I would like to see 325rwhp and 375rwtq. Considering what I have now that is not too far off, is it? Would I be able to see these new numbers with a 306 and better applications (bigger injectors, intake, MAF, etc..)?
95GT
Edelbrock Heads (out the box)
Shorties, pullies
CAI, stock intake
Lifters, rockers.... that is most of it.
292rwhp
324rwtq

A 302 can be built to make big numbers, but the game with a street car is overall power numbers ... To make 370fwhp a 302 starts to head towards unfriendly street manners, where as a stroker will achieve these numbers relatively easily. I like the streetable pull from a 347 in the 94-95 Stangs :nice:
 
89CopCoupe said:
A 302 can be built to make big numbers, but the game with a street car is overall power numbers ... To make 370fwhp a 302 starts to head towards unfriendly street manners, where as a stroker will achieve these numbers relatively easily. I like the streetable pull from a 347 in the 94-95 Stangs :nice:

So let me get this right. You are saying that those type of numbers on a 302 are feasable but not recommended do to longevity with that type of strain? :shrug: BTW, thanks for all the help guys. :hail2:
 
Steve-Os95GT said:
So let me get this right. You are saying that those type of numbers on a 302 are feasable but not recommended do to longevity with that type of strain? :shrug: BTW, thanks for all the help guys. :hail2:

I know I am quoting myself but does anyone else have an opinion on this issue :shrug: ?
 
Steve-Os95GT said:
So let me get this right. You are saying that those type of numbers on a 302 are feasable but not recommended do to longevity with that type of strain? :shrug: BTW, thanks for all the help guys. :hail2:

Not longevity, but street mannors. A 302 might make that kind of power but it will have to revv to get there, lower rpm's will lack torque. IOW: There is flow, then there is velosity. With large heads, induction, and exaust it takes more volume of air to push the air through at a effecient velosity. Since the smaller motor pushes less air, it will have less velosity so it is going to have a hard time pulling in the air at lower rpm's. Once it makes enough rpm, it will be able to pull that air and push the exaust out but this may be a higher rpm than you drive in on the street. Am I making any kind of sence?
 
In order for a smaller engine to make equal power it must do so at a higher rpm.

Lack of low end torque/response/vacuum and poor idle quaility is also associated with the higher rpms power curves and thus deemed to be not as streetable. Higher rpms also wear internal parts faster and due to the lack of low end require steeper rear end gear ratios. Add and automatic transmissin into the mix and you also require higher stall speeds in the converter. This aslo lead to higher transmission temps placing a greater demand on an engines cooling capabilities.