Fire Ant Gets A Big BOSS 9 - It Fits

[John Owen]

After reading the earlier post by Brent, I would like to introduce a cousin of his BOSS 9, and yes, it will fit in a Cobra, with little room to spare. Here are a few pix:







The only mod to the chassis was a V cut in the drivers footbox, about 4" high and 2" deep at the lower edge of the valve cover. All of this is above the pedal height. Unfortunately, removal of the valve covers must wait on an engine pull - they swing out and then lift up, requiring several more inches of width. Ford sculpted them tightly around the exhaust valves to keep the package compact.

As to the engine, it is an aluminum 600 ci block with Kaase BOSS 9 heads, single four barrel, 12.5 compression, cast manifold, and makes 1,130 HP at 7000 RPM on the Kaase engine dyno. It is the second iteration of this engine, the first made 980 HP on pump gas but never made it out the shop before I started on a few mods. Hope this answers the questions about " will it fit ".
I want to thank Jon, Cliff, Chuck, and everyone else at the Kaase shop for all their help with this project - it started several years ago when I was allowed to see the prototype port design for the new heads Jon was working on - skunk works project - decided right then it had to be...

[blykins]

Great group of guys down there.

That engine looks great down in the engine bay. I'm very excited and ready to take orders for some 520-604ci big blocks. The sky's the limit with these Boss 9 heads and some cubes. You can keep the revs and compression way down and still make an enormous amount of power, or you can open her up and really spin the Earth around.

Congrats.....awesome engine.

[xlr8tr]

holy crap... thats awesome. Correction: insane. Love it. I have a 460 in mine now, how wide is that motor at the widest point? And what are you running for headers/sidepipes?

[lovehamr]

John, now tell'em what you do with that monster.

Steve

[mpanten]

I like it, but pulling the engine to change valve cover gaskets is a deal breaker for me.

[blykins]

If you're more about power and less about style, you can use the Kaase P51 heads and obtain similar results....and it wouldn't require any modifications.

[mdross1]

Wow! now that engine speaks volumes about what that car is capable of.Will always love the look of a big block staring back out of an engine bay.
I modified the hood on my 460 powered Cobra to give the motor sufficient breathing room.Sure would like to see the hood combo on this car.Nice!!!

[BossCER]

That is a whole lot of ponies
What is the intended use of your car?

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by BossCER

What is the intended use of your car?

I'm guessing it's a grocery getter.

[John Owen]

Well – It would seem that I am busted. I prefer a low profile stealth life, and do not like to talk about stuff until it is past tense – but Steve and a few of my buddies have changed that. The BOSS 9 in the car is done, the HP is a matter of record.

As to purpose:

Factory (Five times 40)

My intention was to discuss this after my goal was achieved, so it goes…..

No irritation, but I consider it bragging before the fact. I can only laugh.

[blykins]

Rock on... (had to add a few more periods, didn't make the 10 character minimum)

[fordracing65]

Thats a great motor for a great price, sure beats a sohc cammer for $40,000, but thats just my opinion, awesome ride.

[John Owen]

I don't know the cost - I don't add this stuff up (ruins the fun), the engine was done in two stages over an extended period, and Jon made me an offer I could not refuse, my out the box BOSS 9 heads from the first iteration even swap for his Engine Masters BOSS 9 heads - all out porting, raised intake ports with intake spacers, and more - guess which I took? To have him build an equivalent engine would probably be north of 40. To me it is the challenge of better engineering that matters, not turn up the boost, tighten the head bolts, and pray.

Oh, about that 7000 RPM thing, perhaps you should try shifting to second - just a thought...

Sorry, I could not resist

[blykins]

John, smart trade...

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by John Owen

I don't know the cost - I don't add this stuff up (ruins the fun), the engine was done in two stages over an extended period, and Jon made me an offer I could not refuse, my out the box BOSS 9 heads from the first iteration even swap for his Engine Masters BOSS 9 heads - all out porting, raised intake ports with intake spacers, and more - guess which I took? To have him build an equivalent engine would probably be north of 40. To me it is the challenge of better engineering that matters, not turn up the boost, tighten the head bolts, and pray.

Oh, about that 7000 RPM thing, perhaps you should try shifting to second - just a thought...

Sorry, I could not resist

Why 7000 rpm, I shift at 7500, you should know that , expert.

[GeorgiaSnake]

Hey Doc - sorry if we preempted but

Should I pack my cooler for Commerce?

You ready for another visit? I'll be in your neck of the woods on Wednesday the 20th.

[mdross1]

John, how did you weave the exhaust in.My 460 needed custom built headers can only imagine what those Boss heads need for pipe.

[lovehamr]

John, sorry about that man. I didn't know you were going for the stealth option with your bright orange 600 cube, monster, Boss9.

[John Owen]

mdross1 – there is no breather. A sheet of thin aluminum is attached to the underside of the hood, a hole cut to match the carb, and rubber D seal applied to the underside of the hood to fill the uneven gap. The hood scoop is a standard Cobra bolt-on, but required a ½” spacer to clear the shortened carb vents. A half inch was also machined off the intake manifold carb pad. Inside the scoop there is some stainless screen to filter out rocks, birds, and small children. Otherwise, the hood looks stock. As to the headers, they were custom made by Chuck Lawrence at the Kaase shop. They are large stepped tubes, but the BOSS 9 exhaust ports point more straight down than P-51 or SCJ heads, so not too bad to fit.

Rev. GS – I need more time to come up with some lame travel plans for the 20th, otherwise, my Gasshole buddies are always welcome. Commerce will have to wait awhile, the engine is coming out for a clutch swap. Chugging through the pits at 10MPH requires a lot of on and off clutch, the organic disks heat up and start to drag – so a pair of sintered iron disks and a Long pressure plate are waiting – along with a new battery and the repaired 32 gallon fuel cell. If you show up, wear old clothes.

[D-CEL]

"Why 7000 rpm, I shift at 7500, you should know that , expert"