just for reference i looked up the pricing on headers since I'm in the market for them:

BBK shorties:

chevy:
350 - Chrome $369, Ceramic $499
LT1 - chrome 349.95, ceramic 469.95
LS1 - 399 - 569 (depends on f-body vs. vette and chrome vs. ceramic)

ford:
5.0 - chrome $159, ceramic $279
4.6 - 419.95, 499.95

http://www.bbandtracing.com/BBK.html

Since the low-buck modification argument always comes down to the chevy 350 vs. the ford 302, I'd like you to compare the prices on these headers. Now, I'm not saying that the 5.0 is always cheaper to modify than the 350 chevy, but this is the only thing I've checked so far, and the 5.0s shorty headers are $200 dollars less than the same brand chevy headers. That's pretty bad. This money would go a long way towards a nice new aftermarket intake manifold or a set of gears or something. This is an apples to apples comparison. I swear I would've posted it regardless of the results. I admit that I was almost shocked at the difference in price here. I expected the price difference to go either way, falling within, say, 30 bucks of each other.

Chris

 

Dont most 302's come stock with header-like manifolds? If so, the performance gain wouldnt be as great on a ford as if you went from manifolds to headers on a sbc. Therefore there will be less of a desire for ford owners to buy headers in the first place. So if they don't want them as much, naturally the price will be lower, because there's less demand. Also, maybe the header manufacturers dont need to do as much homework on making ford headers since they only have to more or less improve the OEM design. So you might pay less for ford headers, but they probably won't add as much horsepower to a ford as a set of headers will for a chevy. Just my opinion though :lala:

 

Interesting analysis. Late model 5.0s do have headers stock, but they are actually quite restrictive. I don't know what a chevy would pick up, but I think a ford with shorties is likely to pick up between 10 and 15 hp.

I don't buy the economic reasoning. First, the demand for the 5.0 aftermarket is very high. Second, if it weren't less demand would cause less supply and the equalibrium price would still workout to be about the same, because less companies would compete over the 5.0 header market.

Chris

 

I also know that some motors can take advantage of headers more than others. This usually has to do with displacement. The best example I know of is the v10 viper. You will get AT LEAST 50hp just by bolting headers on one of those motors. But I still think that if you look hard enough, you'll find some dyno sheets that show that on average, headers replacing stock exhaust on an SBC have better results then headers replacing stock exhaust on a ford 302, all other factors being equal.

 

Yeah those headers are way cheaper than the chevys. I think the 5.0 aftermarket is way cheaper. They have way more aftermarket parts than us thirdgen people. Jus take a look in Summit. One page for TPI and a novel for 4.6 n 5.0. Is crazy how 5.0 responds to mods. My friend jus added an off road x-pipe and his car took off at least .5 secs. He almost took me out.

 

chevy headers i assume included a y-pipe, while the ford headers were just headers? I don't know.

Re-do your search and include a full exhaust(from heads to rear bumper) ie headers, y-pipe/H or X pipe, and cat-back for both types of cars. I think that would be a better comparison, since no one(basically) buys headers and leaves the stock cat-back.

 

Anyone know of the fastest (or a very fast) 302??

There's a 68 Camaro str legal in MD runs 8s.

 

http://www.megamustang.com/86GT/9sec.htm

this is the first one I have found

 

i wish a friggin aluminum driveshaft didn't cost $350 new for f-bodies. Mustang aluminum driveshafts are like $150 new. I don't get that.

 

ok here it is http://www.bollmanracing.com/

The Bollman Racing Ford Probe is powered by a Ford small block 302. This is one mean 5.0 liter engine making 750 hp at 9300 rpm! This Yates headed engine has 2, 750 Holley hp carburetors on top of a hand made sheet metal intake manifold. A Moldex crankshaft spins GRP rods and BME pistons. The car was build by Larry King Race cars in 1996 and updated in 1999. yeash nice I though 650hp (on pum gas mid you) was goodfrom the 460 I had in my 70 stang.

 

Should've made a new thread, but I watched in orlando ~ 2weeks ago, a mustang run mid-high 8s @ 160, looked very streetable(stock sized slicks, stock dash/console, normal hood, body panels) except for the 'chute and aluminum decklid wing. It was big single turbo engine.

Take off the chute and wing and close the hood,it could have easily passed for a 12 sec car or slower.

 

oops srry thats not streat leagal didnt read all off marks post

holly **** http://www.cars-on-line.com/nitro5249.html
not a car at all but could u imaginme going 198mpm on that

any way mustang isnt looking too promising yet
http://www.cars-on-line.com/90must7626.html

 

Last time I looked up LS1 headers they were about 1k, and my roommate has a 2000 gt and he said headers would cost the same for his car. How are the quality on BBK headers? Last time I checked a catalogue, BBK was more ford friendly than chevy.

 

bbk performnce is based in my town, and is very strongly mustang biased. if i remember corrctly, it only just started doing chevys in the last two years. check on a set of tes's or hookers, or hedmans. the price will be closer, and the performance will be greater on an sbc.

 

Shame on you!

BBK? That's just one brand - and a mostly Ford brand at that. And that's just headers! On top of that the Chevy headers you priced were with the y-pipe. Add and H-pipe to yours and then compare What happened to the other stuff? Broaden your horizons man... A pre 85 Chevy 350 will always be cheaper to mod than any 302 - PERIOD. It's the most ubiquitous motor in the world! If you want to get powertrain/application specific, as in late model TPI/LT1/LS1 cars, then yeah the 5.0 might be a little cheaper. Remember, when you want to go fast in a Ford you can chose from the 5.0, the 5.0, the 5.0, the 5.0... They have a few other to chose from but nobody builds them and they cost outrageous amounts to mod - they're forgettable.
Chevrolet has nearly a dozen different platforms to choose from, the older SB being the most common - hence, cheaper.

Mark - My co-worker just ran a 8.23 (MIR) in his 92LX with a soft launch, lifting at the 1200 area and we later found out it was pushing water (blown head gaskets)! All on a 306 with an 88MM turbo. He has the fastest 88MM turbo Mustang in the world! And on just 306ci and stock style rear suspension. Most of the other guys in his Outlaw class were at least 360ci.

BTW - he has everything he needs and in working order to tag the car - but has no reason to.

 

I think Gen. I chevy small blocks (like mine ) have the cheapest aftermarket. Every swap meet I go to has coutnless SBC heads, heders, intakes, distributors, even whole engines!