Hi. So my dad got me an '85 Escort last christmas to play around with, but soon he'll be needing it since he's selling his saab, so i'll be getting a 240.

Now i wanna make it a 350hp +. And im wondering, is it worth my time tuning up the original 4banger, or should i swap it for some V8 block? Also 50ft from where my Escort's parked, there's a volvo V6, probably 260 or 760 laying around in the grass.. dunno how much is missing, btut it seemed ok when i looked, but if not too much is missing, would that one be interesting?

Im not too high on cash either since im still a student and all so im gonna go as cheap as possible. But this is not goin to be street legal or anything. And not going high MPG's or anything. Just high HP and lb/ft.

Anyway please post your thoughts, thanks.

ehh... adding a turbo on to that motor would be your best bet. I don't think theres to many brick people here. Turbobricks.com can probaly help you more with it, plus there is a nice staged modification guide there.

Yes, log onto www.turbobricks.com (http://www.turbobricks.com) there's plenty of knowledge, help and advice there.

Mike

to take that b9 engine to this kinda perfomance will take $10000. To a v8 in it is around $3000+ infinite

A 302 or 350 fits just fine with stock rear and all. Virtually any trany. The project is not that easy beacuse you should be able to fabricate and weld a lot. Nothing really hard thoug. There are kits for $1000, but i dont think they are worth since you could buy a mig welder and do all the mounts yourself along with bracing everything.
The best way is to weld in a 4 link with 9 inch and put a t56 or turbo400 in it. Then it will be real fast (a built up engine)
Be aware you are not the first one to go this rout. They are very street legal.