Mild Stroker Build

Gents -- I am building a smallblock for a 65 Cyclone, and I'm looking for advice on how I might build the engine in order to get the results I want.

What I am starting with is a 66 289 block that is already +.030 (the bores are in excellent shape and should only need a honing out to .040, according to my machinist). The car is a toploader car with an eight-inch 3.50 equa-lok.

Ultimately, I am looking for a car that looks stock, but is more fun than the 225 hp "A-code" that originally powered the car. Reliability and moderate cost are very important. So...I'm thinking about 300 horsepower and about 325 lbs/ft of torque is all I'll need. I do not want a 13-second car with a lopey idle. As I said, the car needs to appear to have a stock powertrain and sound like a stock 289.

My machinist wants to build this engine as a 331 (remember...nothing radical...reliability and tractable power are the goal). I'm looking at Summit Racing's Scat forged piston kit because the machinist has told me that a number of stroker SBs have broken ring lands when equipped with Hypereutectic slugs.

Summit's tech folks tell me that these flat top forged pistons (from JE, IIRC) yield about a 10:1 ratio with 60cc combustion chambers. This sounds about right to me because I live at altitude 35 miles west of Denver. Should run fine on pump gas...might not even need premium.

So my questions for you all are:
* Which heads do I use? The machinist has told me to trash the stock heads and use something that flows better. Given my cost, reliability, and tractibility requirements, he is recomending early Windsor heads. Problem is, those things are getting very tough to find these day. I had a set of "D0" 351 heads I sold a couple of years ago for $100. If you can find a set these days, you'll be lucky to pay $300...So I'm thinking I ought to look for something aftermarket. The engine will be fitted with shorty headers that are intended to be used on heads that have stock Ford plug locations.
* Cam recomendations? Remember reliability, stock appearance and sound, and tractable power are my goals. Cost is also a consideration, as I don't want to have to take out a second mortgage in order to build this car.
* The carb I plan on using is a rebuilt 4100 1.12 off a 66 T-bird I have laying around. Again, I want the engine to appear to be a stock Cyclone 289... Some I've spoken to say this is too small a carb for a 331, although this carb was put on much larger-displacement engines by Ford. What do you guys think? Again, most of my driving is gonna be in the 2500-4500 rpm range and I want folks to believe this is a garden variety A-code motor.
* Finally, how about that equa-lok rear? I hearing that rebuild stuff for those 8s is non existent. I'm hoping there's a cost effective way to rebuild this thing to handle an extra 75 horsepower, but I'd consider going to another unit if it made sense.

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: mrgem on 5/26/07 10:17pm ]</font>

For your plans the hyper pistons would be fine, I personally prefer forged. For heads you might consider a set of GT40 irons. They're cheap and with a little home massaging are comparable to the old Windsor heads but use modern easily obtainable spark plugs. Or a pair of used aluminum heads painted engine color. The old Ford carbs can be tuned to run very well, most peolple don't don't realize how good these simple carbs were. I would also consider a good aluminum intake, used or new. Grind off the markings and paint engine color. Maybe an Edelbrock Performer intake and the matching Performer + cam. They make gobs of low rpm torque. Your 8" rear will handle the extra power and more.

_________________
70 Maverick Grabber, 5.0 (Performer RPM 2.02/1.6 heads, intake & roller cam, 650 DP Holley, long headers), "Z" T5 w/Steeda TriAx shifter, 9" "N" case Trac Loc w/3.89:1, 31 spline axles.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: bmcd66250 on 5/26/07 10:44pm ]</font>

If you are willing to trade time spent for money saved go to a junk yard in Denver and find a set of GT40P heads off a wrecked 5.0 explorer (50 bucks at the u-pull it places) then do some home porting and mill them to 60cc (these heads require a slightly different header but it is a viable option-check into these heads,as for cam comp 260h with the painted used aluminum intake will fill the bill quite nicley

The hyper pistons will work fine for what it sounds like you want to do.
What kind of budget do you have for heads?

A set of Mustang 5.0 E7's with the exhaust injection bumps ground out and a casting flash cleanup will get you to your 300 hp goal, if money is short. You can probably find a set for practically free if you look.

The explorer GT40's are a great idea as well.
[addsig]

Two years ago I did an engine for a 5000 lb Lincoln that was a 302. I made a 347 that was VERY mild. IT still made 388 HP at 5000 and 398 torque at 3900. Dont waste your time with a 331, Dont use an Edelbrock cam, and the Edelbrock performer heads are way better than those mentioned above. If you did all your own work, you could do this for about 3500-4000 dollars.
JOE SHERMAN RACING

Joe,

When you say dont bother with 331, did you mean that for the power he was looking for to not bother with stroking it?

NO, I NEVER build any 331, just move up to the 347. It is better EVERYWHERE

Joe,

Some say the 289 cylinder have skirts too short for a 347 vs a 302 block, causing it to not last long, use oil etc. Of course a couple of years ago same was said for 347 period.

The reason I am asking your opinion/experience is I am looking to stroke a 289 block as well. Still go for 347?

Thanks!
John in Dallas

I've heard that also about the cylinder skirts, so I went to my pops shed that happens to have 6 289 blocks a 7 302 blocks with my ruler and I was amazed to find that the were all the same....[img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

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On 2007-05-27 18:38, GChief wrote:
I've heard that also about the cylinder skirts, so I went to my pops shed that happens to have 6 289 blocks a 7 302 blocks with my ruler and I was amazed to find that the were all the same....[img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]
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People will make up just about anything to try and back their reasoning... [img]/forums/images/smiles/icon_spin.gif[/img]
[addsig]