HP and SC question

[DRJ1988]

ok i may be new to AF but im not new to hotrodding; anyway i got a 1965 mustang with a 289 bored .30 over with forged rods, crank, and slightly dished pistons. i got a crane cam .484 lift on both int. and exh. with a 272 duration, edlbrock performer dual plane intake with holley 650.
i plan to put tri y headers and 2 1/2 inch exhaust i was wondering about what power it can make i know its fast but id like to have an estimate, i also was looking at the novi 1200 supercharger for carb. ford engines from paxton. just wondering what psi i should keep it around and i know im going to have a power adder so i didnt get high compressoin pistons any say so would be apreciated. thanks

[dogbreath077]

It looks like you have built an engine that will perform best in it's mid RPM range. With that cam, your idle is about (?)900 to run smooth? I would say, from the specs and not knowing compression, that your engine is capable of 300 HP net. Now about the supercharger, those things can get pretty dicey if the engine is not built for boost. If the pistons, rods and crank are all forged, and your rings are hi-po, and your headgasket is hi-po,and your compression is 8 or 81/2 to 1, then you can put 14 lbs of boost into it. BUT!!!!!!!!!!!, if you have any stock components in that engine, then you will find that part lying on the driveway, just below a big hole in the oil pan, or block. Don't think for a skinny minute that I am joking, I am not. If you have stock this or that in this machine, then go with 3 lbs of boost to be safe. I have a 93 Ford Ranger with a 2.3L, just like the old Turbo-Stangs. the difference is the type of pistons. If I were to put a turbo onto it, and I would like that, I would only run 3 lbs max, and be happy with it. If I wanted more boost, I would overhaul the engine with boost in mind. Dangerous animals those bolt-on boost kits.

[SkylineUSA]

Well said DB077.

We must know what compression your at before any advice could really be given, and trans, gears, etc.

[DRJ1988]

its about 8 1/2 i didnt buildit high comp. b/c i know that u cant have high comp. plus boost. anyway i have chrome moly rings and hi po gaskets, the crank is not forged to my knowledge, it has been turned with 10 undersize bearings, i know it has forged pistons from ford racing

[zx2srdotnet]

3lbs in a 2.3 ranger? w/0 tuning maybe

i can do 7+ on my escort w/ good tuning stock. 6 safely w/o tuning

[SkylineUSA]

Those older cranks are pretty stout. You should be able to run 9psi on that engine, with a good tune, if your compression is that low. If you had alloy heads you could go as high as 12psi.

I like to build my engine with a little more comp, and keep the psi lower to keep the heat down when boosting. It's a dance between a lot of variables, get one wrong, and bye bye engine.