Best way to proceed with improving up 427 Windsor street setup

[CraftEngines]

That is not the typical camshaft we use in these engines. Although alot of times our customers like to dictate what goes in their engine whether it is a good choice or not. We also do not use 950cfm or Davinci carbs on our engines. That being said we have had customers go with this camshaft and be very happy with the performance in the lightweight, stick shift Cobra. If a customer prefers a more radical engine, so be it. All we can do is make recommendations, but end the end it is the customer's engine. We have received the heads and we have to question the mileage that has been put on this engine. There was crazy amounts of carbon built up in the heads along with alot more wear than usual on valves and guides. We honestly thought these were off a 50K mile engine or more.

[blykins]

What brand were the valves, Lance?

I had to do some warranty work on some Pond FE heads because the valves/guides were completely worn in about 3000 miles. They had Ferrea hollow stems....same deal, was sucking oil down the valve stems. Valve heads were covered in oil/carbon.

[CraftEngines]

These valves had Manley part numbers on them.

[Ace23]

Originally Posted by CraftEngines

That is not the typical camshaft we use in these engines. Although alot of times our customers like to dictate what goes in their engine whether it is a good choice or not. We also do not use 950cfm or Davinci carbs on our engines. That being said we have had customers go with this camshaft and be very happy with the performance in the lightweight, stick shift Cobra. If a customer prefers a more radical engine, so be it. All we can do is make recommendations, but end the end it is the customer's engine. We have received the heads and we have to question the mileage that has been put on this engine. There was crazy amounts of carbon built up in the heads along with alot more wear than usual on valves and guides. We honestly thought these were off a 50K mile engine or more.

I am out of town so I can't reflect back on the record book for the car but I believe the original build when purchased from you guys had a Holley carb. The previous owner swapped it to a Davinci as the receipt for the carb is in my book.....the Davinci did not run well so Oltoff put a Holley back on it.

I have put 3000 miles on the car since I bought it. Could the following contribute to what you found? The car ran a PCV setup and it consumed a good bit of oil but it never smoked. It was pig rich with the Holley carb that was on it when I had it tuned on the dyno....I believe cylinder pressures were 150 to 160 with majority being closer to 150. We ran a leak down test prior to the tear down last month and saw 7-12% on all but the passenger side front cylinder and we think it was a head gasket that was leaking.

I cannot guarantee there are not more miles that what the car indicates but I do know the car was purchased with an indicated 6k miles in 2009 and was sold to me with 11k in 2015. The remainder of the car does not seem to have wear that would indicate higher mileage than shown.

[blykins]

If the valves were as worn as Lance said, it could have consuming oil that way. The carbon/crud on the heads would have been a testament of that.

A bad PCV valve could have also contributed....

As well as the carb being rich.