425–450 HP in a Fox Body Mustang: Coyote Swap vs. Built 302 vs. 363 Crate

How I Doubled My Foxbody Mustangs 225 Stock Horse Power on a Budget

The goal: 425–450 streetable, reliable horsepower in a Fox Body.
The question: What’s the smartest way to get there in 2026?

We’re comparing three routes:

1. Coyote swap

2. Build the existing 5.0L (302)

3. Ford Performance 363 crate engine

Let’s break it down.

The Baseline: Building the Stock 302 (5.0 HO)

1992 5.0 Foxbody Mustang HCI

AFR 165 58cc aluminum cylinder heads

Comp XE266HR

1993 Cobra upper & lower intake

The starting point is the classic 225-hp 5.0 HO small block found in the Ford Mustang. The mission: double the factory horsepower while keeping it streetable.

Phase 1: Heads, Cam, Intake

To wake up the stock 302:

• AFR 165 aluminum heads – $2,329

• Comp XE266HR cam – $550

• Trick Flow 1.6 roller rockers – $466

• Pushrods – $53

• Cobra/GT40-style intake (used market est.) – ~$1,000

• Supporting fuel and air parts (which were later upgraded to support the Kenne Bell super charger)

After refining the parts list and removing components that didn’t carry over to the final combo, the effective spend for this phase landed at:

$4,398

Result: 268 wheel horsepower (at ~3500’ elevation on a Mustang dyno).

Good—but far from 425–450 hp.

Kenn Bell 2.1 L SBF supercharger

Phase 2: Supercharged 302

Enter the 2.1L Kenne Bell “Flowzilla” setup.

• Used Kenne Bell supercharger – ~$2,500

• 47 lb injectors – $340

• 90mm MAF – $300

• 90mm throttle body – $360

• Aeromotive 340 lph fuel pump – $335

• Wiring/relays/cold air intake materials – ~$100

Total all-in cost to double stock horsepower:

💰 $8,333

That puts the car squarely in the 425–450 wheel horsepower range.

Option 2: Coyote Swap

Ford Coyote 5.0

Swapping in a modern 5.0L Coyote sounds tempting—and for good reason.

A used engine alone can run:

• $3,000–$8,000

Then add:

• Control pack / wiring: $800–$2,000

• K-member & swap components: $1,000–$2,000

• Transmission upgrade (T5 won’t live long)

• Fuel system updates

• Exhaust fabrication

• Miscellaneous surprises

Realistically?

DIY swap: $12,000–$15,000 is a more honest number for a first-timer. Could it be done cheaper? Maybe. Will it be? Rarely.

The Big Advantage

A stock Coyote is barely breaking a sweat at 450 hp. These engines routinely handle 700–1,000+ hp with boost—and much more with built setups so the ceiling is vastly higher than a stock two-bolt 302 block.

Option 3: Ford Performance 363 Crate Engine

Ford Racing 363 SBF

The middle ground? A stroker small block like the Ford Performance M-6007-Z363RT.

• Rated at 507 flywheel horsepower

• Roughly 425–440 wheel horsepower

• Long block price starts around $11,500+ taxes and shipping

But that’s not turnkey.

You still need:

• Intake manifold

• Fuel system upgrades

• Throttle body / MAF

• Distributor

• Tuning

Realistically:

💰 You’re probably closer to $15,000+ all-in

It’s powerful, proven, and upgrade-friendly—but that does not come cheap…

The Assumptions That Matter

To make this comparison fair:

1️⃣ You’re going to be happy at 450 hp FOREVER.

A stock-bottom-end 302 is near its comfort limit here. A Coyote or 363? Just getting started. If future 700–1,000 hp dreams are in play, this changes everything.

2️⃣ Labor is DIY.

No shop bills included. Coyote swaps require significantly more fabrication, wiring, and troubleshooting.
Small block upgrades are largely bolt-in by comparison. For a first-time builder in a two-car garage, the Coyote will demand more time and complexity.

3️⃣ Tuning is required for all three.

So it cancels out in cost comparison.

The Verdict - If 450 HP Is the Goal…

If your goal is:

• Under $10K

• DIY

• 425–450 reliable street horsepower

➡️ Modifying the existing 5.0L still wins in 2026.

You get comparable power for nearly half the cost of the crate motor route and thousands less than a realistic Coyote swap.

But Here’s the Catch

If you think there’s even a small chance you’ll want 500+ hp later, the Coyote or 363 becomes the smarter long-term investment.

Final Thoughts

There are countless ways to hit 450 hp—different heads, turbos instead of blowers, budget marketplace finds, creative parts combos. But purely on dollars-per-horsepower? In 2026, the humble small block 5.0 still punches above its weight.

And in a lightweight Fox Body, 450 hp is an absolute riot.