V8 engine data

[binggy]

Frankly, i'm amazed and very much pleasantly surprised to have found a site like this that has knowledgeable people who share info so willingly.

I'll continue reading up some more so that as much as possible, I don't ask questions on info already discussed. It's just that some info I need/want is discussed but buried in not-so-easy-to-find threads.

Like I told the guy who'll build my cobra, i've had wonderful sleepless nights ever since i got bit by the AC Cobra bug.

My reasons for wanting to keep the 302 engine stock are 1) fear of having an engine that produces more power but also significantly eats up more fuel and 2) desire to have an engine that lasts as long as it should. Note that for now, I intend to use the car mostly for 300 to 600 km leisure (100kph average) weekend drives. I haven't driven cobras or mustangs but i've driven an Expedition, F150 and an E-150. I don't know what engines they have or how much power they produce compaired to the 302 but I do know they made ample thrust to power those heavy beasts. How do the the engines in these beasts compare to the 302? It would be mind-boggling to imagine an engine powering an expedition to power a small convertible that's about half its weight.

What i do know is their 3-4 kms to a liter (4 liters to a gallon and 1.6 kms to a mile) consumption. My concern isn't so much to save on fuel cost but in the idea of needing to look for a gas station sooner than soon. I guess more power means more air and fuel used in the process. How much mileage do you generally get from a stock 302 versus one with the upgrades listed above?