1976 302

I was given a 1976 Granada. I will be performing a 5-lug and front disk brake swap on my 1966 mustang useing the granada parts. This granada also has a 302 and a c4. For the time being I'm going to swap in the 302 and c4 until i finish building the 351. Also I wont have to "shoe-horn" the 302 like I would have to do the 351. Now I am in the process of buying Edelbrock's Performer RPM power package for this 302. I already have a 750cfm Edelbrock Performer carb and the Performer RPM Air-Gap for the 302. I know a 750 seems a little large for a street drivin 302, but I called Edelbrock and they swore by the 750 for this build. It is a manual choke/manual secondaries. I am buying the heads this week and getting the Performer RPM hydro roller cam and retrofit lifters in a couple weeks. I am buying Speed Pro hyper pistons that should put me around 10:1 with the 60cc heads.
Now, my question is about the stock bottom end. I'm looking to get around 400hp here and was wondering if the stock crank and rods from a '76 302 are strong enough to last around 6500 rpms. Thanks for any replies.

Yes it take it, but for how long?

I don't think you will get 400 horses with the set up you describe but it will still feel impressive. I think the lower end can take 6500 but I wouldn't recommend it a lot. I think your power band will be lower than that anyway. The brake set up will be a good swap too. Good luck, Lovie

Yes the stock crank will take 6500rpm's, the rods can be another story... first I'd want to know what Ford OEM con-rods they use in 74(I'm not sure, will decide if you should do the following), next I'd de-carb em and polish em, then rebuild them wit new ARP hardware. With this they'll be good for your HP level in a non boost motor. Also I would only do this on a motor that has all new bearings.

Now saying that... I think your gonna not need to worry bout 6,500rpm's. I think you'll find that the Performer RPM package is gonna choke out round 6,000rpm. Also what heads are you using? valve sizes? Finally your not gonna run RR with a girdle or shaft-mounted RR's, I think your gonna start to get valve float at 6,500rpm again causing your power to drop off.

After you build this motor and slap it on a dyno I think you'll find closer to 6,000rpm is where you will make ya peak HP.

I planned on having the bottem end shot-peened and polished if I used them, as well as re-equiping them with ARP components. Also I was planning on running Edelbrock's Performer RPM heads, 2.02/1.60. I called Edelbrock and the promised me that I would not have valve float at 6500 rpms. I told them I was useing their hydraulic roller camshaft and they said I had nothing to worry about. Not to mock you but, Finally, The heads I have picked out have studs, not shaft mounted. So yes I will be running roller rocker arms.
If I where useing stock heads I would have valve float before 6500 rpms. Probably closer to 5800-6000. Oh, and its a '76, not '74. Thanks for the replies though.

I planned on having the bottem end shot-peened and polished if I used them, as well as re-equiping them with ARP components. Also I was planning on running Edelbrock's Performer RPM heads, 2.02/1.60. I called Edelbrock and the promised me that I would not have valve float at 6500 rpms. I told them I was useing their hydraulic roller camshaft and they said I had nothing to worry about. Not to mock you but, Finally, The heads I have picked out have studs, not shaft mounted. So yes I will be running roller rocker arms.
If I where useing stock heads I would have valve float before 6500 rpms. Probably closer to 5800-6000. Oh, and its a '76, not '74. Thanks for the replies though.

Your not mocking me, but I have have seen enough engine dyno charts and talked to enough engine builders that you will get some valve float with a hydraulic roller cam and RR's before 6,500rpm. Nothing that is horrible or I'd tell some they can run there engine to 6,500rpm's... but enough that your peak HP will drop of before 6,500rpm which was ya goal redline.

Also any head designed for stud-mounted RR's can use shaft-mounted rockers.