not getting enough HP!!!

[panchoman]

My uncle has a 89 Mustang lx. it has a 342 stroker, with 185AFR Aluminum heads, X cam, Edelbrock RPM performer intake, 1.6 Rockers, 70mm Throtle body, CNL 73 air flow meter, 24lbs injectors, long tube headers an H pipe and racing pulleys. He was told that the car should put out 450HP to the wheels, but its only putting 300HP and 340 pounds of torque. HE wanted to know if you guys know what could be wrong and why he isnt getting all the HP he should get.
any suggestions u guys have would be helpful,
THANX

[motor_head_429]

I might be off, but here are some things that I think are worth pointing out

A) I wouldn't go with 24lb injectors for a 342, I'd go with 30lb or 36lb injectors. Since you say he expects 450 RWHP that would mean about 535 at the flywheel I would lean to the 36lb injectors.

B) I would get the C&L 76 MM Maf instead of the 73.

C) I think the biggest issue is the cam. I don't like the alphabet cams. If he wants to see 450 TO THE WHEELS, he needs to have about 535 to the flywheel. I would get a different cam. Isky makes one that sounds nice. Part # 371275/284 I also like Crane Cams # 440141. Also, the Comp Cams Nitrous cams are nice, stage II or III.

By the way, I'm assuming it is a naturally aspirated engine with ABOUT 10.5:1 compression.

[burly94gt]

i totally agree w/ motor head on the cam. if your gonna go all out on a motor like that, you might as well fork over the extra 150 mesely dollars to get a custom ground cam. i hear that ed curtis cams are great, $325 shipped.

[GTStang]

He needs around 550ish hp at the fly to make 450RWHP varying. To do that N/A even on a stroker 302 you need to be spinning pretty high rpm's to achieve that. I don't see his cam or intake manifold breathing in the rpm range high enough to pump out 500+hp on pump gas.

With a good dyno tune I think he should make 350ish RWHP with a cam swap I could see maybe 400ish RWHP.

[phillyx2000]

Originally Posted by panchoman

My uncle has a 89 Mustang lx. it has a 342 stroker, with 185AFR Aluminum heads, X cam, Edelbrock RPM performer intake, 1.6 Rockers, 70mm Throtle body, CNL 73 air flow meter, 24lbs injectors, long tube headers an H pipe and racing pulleys. He was told that the car should put out 450HP to the wheels, but its only putting 300HP and 340 pounds of torque. HE wanted to know if you guys know what could be wrong and why he isnt getting all the HP he should get.
any suggestions u guys have would be helpful,
THANX

for one.. his motor is starving for fuel... get some 34lb - 36lb fuel injectors and get a better fuel pump.. also see if it needs a new fuel filter..

then get it tuned. (also after getting it tuned.. if you have a racetrack over there they should have a test and tune every week there where you can take it out and see how it runs as well... or you could take it to go get dyno'd but i'd just goto the track until he starts seeing #s he's been expecting then goto the dyno and get it dyno'd around that time to see what he is pushing)

that cam also seem's a little small for the setup.. but i could be wrong.. but i don't like the X303 cam to much... i'd go with a diff setup.. either way he could still get good #s out of it..

that's also a pretty small MAF for the air that.. that thing will need.. so i'd go with a bigger setup.

does he have a new rearend yet too? and what set of gears does he have?

[phillyx2000]

also is that H-pipe an O/R or catted?

[91notchback]

yeah those injecters are tinny he might be burning his pistons too

[phillyx2000]

also what setup of dist. does he have and what kind of spark plug wires and 02 sensors?

take out the 02 sensors and replace them with some Bosch ones or some others..

he probally needs new ones.. i'd do new set of 02 sensors w/ injectors and fuel pump and spark plugs and wires.. and if he already has a MSD dist. then he is fine.. and if you're going to throw in a diff cam do that with all that too then get it tuned

[birdman1986]

i think he may need some bigger injectors as earlier stated and have it tuned as earlier styated im no help i know but i thought the same

[panchoman]

i wont get to talk to my uncle till tomorrow but ill tell them all the info and ask him all the things u guys said about the spark plug wires and the 02 sensors and the rear end stuff, thanx for the help so far ill post the followup when i talk to him

[phillyx2000]

hey don't forget about the fuel injectors and fuel pump and to change the 73 mm CNL to a bigger one