Boss 302 Stroker Crate Engine

[Keithc8]

Hey Guys,
We have recently been getting some interest in some Boss 302 type engines for our Cobra guys that are looking for something a little different under the hood. Unlike the Ford Racing Boss engines, we are tooling up for an actual Canted valve crate engine. We will use the Boss 302 block bored 4.125" w/ a 3.250" stroke giving us 347ci. We can also do a 3.400" 363ci engine when using a Dart block. We will use Edelbrock aluminum cnc ported Clevlor heads and Edelbrock E-Boss intake. These will be a pump fuel friendly, hyd roller engine that will make great power (500+hp, 450+ft/lbs torque) and be extremely drivable considering the larger than stock cubic inch. We will be offering these engines in a stock type look (stock intake, painted heads, etc.)or a more modern look (aluminum heads intake etc.). Just curious if you guys think this would be an interesting option for our Cobra engine line up.

Thanks
Keith Craft Racing

[olddog]

Keith I have a 5.0 block 347 in my Cobra. I purchased the car with that engine. I am not looking to replace my engine, but I do find your engine very interesting. I am a fan of canted valve heads.

I think it would make a great engine, however here are some issues. For me to change to a Boss, I would have to change headers. Not the biggest issue. I would stick to regular heads to ovoid that, if possible, even though I would love that engine over mine.

If I were getting an engine for a new build, I would prefer 351W based Cleavor with the 4.125 bore over the 5.0 based block. Honestly I have thought a 427 Cleavor would be my choice, if I didn't go with an FE, for a long time now.

Curious on why you would go 4.125 X 3.25 as your first choice. Is the extra RPM worth giving up the displacement? Longevity?

[Keithc8]

Of course a Windsor based engine is always an option and as usual we can customize any engine build for our customers wants. People are more interested in the Boss 302 concept than the Cleveor. We did this as a 3.250" stroke because the 3.400" stoke in the Boss 302 block is a terrible idea because of the short cylinders in these blocks. The stroke pulls the pistons out of the hole far enough they will rock. Another problem you will find is the short CH pistons for the 3.400" stroke and valve reliefs for a canted vale head cause the tops of the pistons to be a little weaker. As mentioned we will do this combo with the Dart Block. Longevity is no issue with the 3.250" stroke, we have hundreds of 3.250" stroke engines out there that have been being abused for years without a freshen.
Thanks

[olddog]

Thanks Keith for the explanation. I did not know about the short cylinders. I was assuming the 3.25 stroke would live longer than the 3.4 stroke.

When I go to the London Car Show, I always pay attention to the engines. There are twice as many small blocks as big blocks (maybe 3 times as many). Of the SB engines close to half are 5.0 block (at least 1/3 are). So the 5.0 block is very popular. If the price is not too large of a step up, I cannot see any reason not to go with the Boss over any other 5.0 block standard head, on a new build.

PS:
If you have built and dynoed one, it would be a good selling point to post the Dyno sheet. Maybe even compare to a standard head similar engine.