Max RPM's on a crate 302 345 hp

[tamanaco]

need help, got a Ford crate 302 345 hp engine with 670 CFM Holley...what would be the recommended RPM limit? 6000...6500?

[Dennis Kelley]

Probably less than 6200 rpm if it is a hyd roller cam.

later

dennis

[KevinM]

I would stay under 6,200 RPM unless you change the valve springs to something like the Comp Cams beehives.

Kevin

[Bob In Ct]

Just a thought - at 6000 RPM every piston is going up and down 100 times per second. At 19,000 RPM (Formula 1) they go up and down 317 times per second, why turn off the spark! This may be the reason engines tend to break at high RPM while they will run forever at 2,500 RPM.

Bob

[G.R.]

Put a 5800-6k limiter chip in the box. With that engine you could probably hit 7k no problem every gear...for a limited period then something will let loose. Smallblocks scream and keep on winding up.... it's real hard not to keep your foot into it before you shift.

That Ford crate 345 has hyd lifters unless you optioned solids ...over 6200 the lifters are working far harder than they were designed to even with roller rockers.

Been there, done that ,paid the price, not once but twice...keep the rpm at 6k or under.

MOO

[turnpike boy]

Call Ford Motorsport and they'll tell you that the B cam has signed off by 6000 rpm. Not much point in running it past there.

[cleandan]

Originally Posted by tamanaco

need help, got a Ford crate 302 345 hp engine with 670 CFM Holley...what would be the recommended RPM limit? 6000...6500?

I do not know what cam is in this motor but look into the specs. The motor may very well spin to the moon but if the cam is done making power by 5800-6000 rpm then there is NO use in spinning faster.