[Bill Harris]

Hummm.. You seem a little uninformed to be taking such a big step, but here are a couple of suggestions.

First, there is no 1969 302 engine that can use the Canfield heads. They can be used on a 1968 302 that was factory rated at 230 HP and has a NHRA factor for Super Stock of 230 HP with the Canfield heads. (220 HP with OEM heads).

Are your Canfields #18350's? If not, they won't be legal. Have they had any work done to them? If they have been ported you have to be sure that the port volumes don't exceed the numbers in the NHRA head spec. If they haven't been ported, you are not likely to be very competitive in class. Porting heads for super stock is very different than the usual "hog 'em out 'till you hit water" method. Combustion chambers must meet or exceed the OEM spec which is 49.5 CC.

The short block must meet the requirements spelled out in the engine specs for the 1968 302. Since it is a 306, it probably has the right 3.0" stroke and is no more than 0.070 overbore. Most importantly the pistons must have the correct configuration (flat tops with valve clearance notches) and the deck height/gasket thickness/chamber CCs must be within spec. You can use any cam and any intake manifold as long as it fits under the stock hood. The cam better be huge and you should be ready to spin that motor to 9000+ RPM.

You should probably claim the engine as a Mercury version so you can use a Holley carb. The Ford version only lists an Autolite carb, not sure which one it is but it might be a 4300 since it has an air valve secondary. The Comet/Cougar version lets you use a 600 CFM model 4160 Holley (secondary metering plate). You could use the ubiquitous 1850 carb, but it has to retain the choke horn and plate. The 4300 might be OK but I understand them to be very tricky to tune and hard to get parts.

A 1990 GT hatchback with automatic has a NHRA listed shipping weight of 3122 lbs. With the 68 302/230 engine you could run GT/IA through GT/MA depending on how much weight you want to carry. GT/IA would have to weigh a minimum of 2930 lbs with you in the car. GT/JA, min of 3045, GT/KA min of 3160, GT/LA min of 3275, GT/MA min of 3390.

You will need to make at least 400 HP to run the index and more like 480 to have the slightest chance in a heads up race. 500 would be nice....

Good luck and have fun!