What would you recommend if I wanted a bit more power from a stock, 1953 308 Hornet engine? Engine runs good but looking for a 10 or 20% increase in power without spending a fortune. Suggestions appreciated along with estimated cost of work, assuming a good automotive repair shop is hired to do the work.
Discussion moved to "Hudson" forum category
John,
I believe the head from a 262 can be put on the engine, This raises the compression ratio a bit.
Per
[quote="John Lee" post=19818]What would you recommend if I wanted a bit more power from a stock, 1953 308 Hornet engine? Engine runs good but looking for a 10 or 20% increase in power without spending a fortune. Suggestions appreciated along with estimated cost of work, assuming a good automotive repair shop is hired to do the work.
It's been noted many times, the single easiest and biggest change is installing headers.
You can add a 262 head for a compression change but be sure you get a good in spec head and that it is "flat". If all you do is change the head over to a 262, you are probably ok. On an engine overhaul, where the block is decked and head is milled, you need to watch out for plug to valve clearance. I've experienced that on two 308's with 262 head added. I had to use the old victor metal gasked instead of the "Best" brand as they don't compress as much and change to NGK B-6L plugs to get shorter tip. I also do the side gap mod on the plugs, a tip from Rudy Bennett, who has been using it for years.
Of course, the 262 head must be from a "wide block" 262, '51 or later. '48 to '50 won't work.
F
Indexing>>
[url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys4GnIk_YC0 ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys4GnIk_YC0[/url]
get index washers at Jegs or Summit.
Known about this for many years but haven't done yet,but will; tks, Kerry~~
John,
A wide block 262 head will say "262", similar to the 308 on a Hornet head. The earlier 262 narrow block heads don't say 262 on them.
Per
What are index washers? I may be purchasing a Hornet with 308 engine in a couple of months. Owner is "finishing the engine swap.
Side gapping the plugs is different to indexing the plugs. Incidentally, The Hedrick Motorsport head of the engine dept who spend a lot of money on getting every little of power they can response to indexing was, "It wasn't worth the time and cost of the washers". So they never indexed their plugs. Maybe a flat top Hudson would benefit more than a NASCAR engine. 
[quote="Glenn Hebblethwaite" post=19856]Side gapping the plugs is different to indexing the plugs. Incidentally, The Hedrick Motorsport head of the engine dept who spend a lot of money on getting every little of power they can response to indexing was, "It wasn't worth the time and cost of the washers". So they never indexed their plugs. Maybe a flat top Hudson would benefit more than a NASCAR engine.
Glen, a couple of things in response to your post. The purpose of the index washers Richard spoke about is using one under a plug will lift the plug up and puts the tip further from the valve, thus more clearence, a sometimes issue when installing a 262 head on a 308 block.
The method of "side gapping" the plugs is different in this application. On these, you actually perform a "side gap" where the strap is to the side and not above the electrode. Ill try to post a picture later.
Thanks for the suggestion. Any recommendations on where to locate headers?
I just clicked on this link - it says overall exhaust length should be 44 inches. Is that a misprint?
Thanks for the suggestions. If anyone has interest - keep this going - what is next after a 262 cu. inch head and Clifford headers?
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