84 Merc needs more go

I have an '84 Grand Marquis with a 302, TBI I think is a 2 barrel version. I would love to get this car moving a bit better but don't have much money to work with (who does?). Any suggestions to get some oomph out of this completely stock '84? I am aiming for around 300hp/lbft. I've read that it is on a Fox platform too. I was thinking about an Edelbrock top end kit, but I don't know if the stock block is good for that. Keeping the TBI would be preferable, but not neccessary (it gets 22 MPG!). Thanks for any help.  

Your stock block is the non HO version, meaning its the plain vanilla 302 with aluminum cast pistons and tappet cam. It will respond to the edelbrock top end of course but maybe a better start is to swap in the mustang HO version and start from there along with a mustang ecm. HO used forged pistons from 85-93 and a roller cam. This is a much easier platform to get your 300 ft-lbs from. Fairly minor mods will get you there easily as the stock HO block in 1985 has 270 ft lbs.
If you want to keep your stock block then I suggest a cam and heads, preferably something that will raise your compression ratio to around 9:1.  

you also might want to do some junk yarding...

there was also CFI (tbi) HO5.0s made for 84 though 86 mark 7 LSC's  those 2 door coupes with air suspension...  they might have been in some other models also..

information you will need to know..   Green topped CFI injectors are for 3.8 V6's,  dark blue are for normal 5.0 CFI motors... grey are for HO5.0 CFI motors  i am not sure if there is a difference in the bore size of the blue injector throttle body and the grey injector throttle body...   the HO.5.0 CFI air cleaner also has duel inlets...

i am not sure.. but the HO 5.0 CFI motors in the LSC cars might have an aluminum 2 bbl CFI intake...  you could even use a 4 bbl intake with a 2 barrel adaptor on it.. to mount the cfi to.. but there would be NO egr..and the ecm might be able to tell... most can...

upgrading to a port fuel injected roller cam forged piston short block will also help...    gt heads off 95 to 97 explorers are also a good thing... they use an extended reach spark plug and have GT visable on the left top end..

for those who want to know... the green injectors are 36 pounders... the dark blue are 59 pounders, the grey are 62 pounders..   there are a bunch of guys who are using them with a machined adaptor on the top in turbo motors.. mostly little brick volvos with oversized hairdryers..

i also think that carefully removing the wiring harness... stretching it out and pinning it to a piece of plywood... unwrapping it... replacing any wires that have the insulation falling off.. and putting on new connector bodys.. all the parts are available...   i have had to replace a bunch of wires on 84 models.. where the insulation fell off...     some of them deep in the harness near the back of the motor...

and you do have an eec4 motor right.???   flat grey module on the side of the distributer.. right...    EEC3 motors used a crank sensor.. empty distributers.. and 8 volts to a lot of stuff.  like relays... the 12 volt relays used in EEC4 motors won't work on a eec3 system... been there done that... they all look the same...  

Thanks guys. You have given more information that a month of surfing has turned up. I have some decisions to make now. Thanks again!