10-01-2009, 08:01 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: Contemporary, FE, Tremec TKO 600
Posts: 1,987
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Not Ranked
Yeah, slowly but surely, like a turtle in winter I'm progressing. I just got in from the garage after spending a few hours with the second engine. I have the shortblock done and ready for paint. It's a 390 GT shortblock. I pulled the main and rod caps, and the bearings are perfect. From the condition on the bores with all the crosshatch still sharp and visible to the bearings being in like new shape, I am fairly well convinced that this engine was rebuilt just before I traded for it. I didn't ask much about it since it's intended use was for a dummy engine to position and use to weld the FE mounts to the frame in the proper position. I actually got the whole engine in trade for a pair of bare Cleveland 4V heads. In the end, it turns out to be a REALLY sweet 390. Someone obviously rebuilt the engine. It has new freeze plugs, and it had an aftermarket Crane hydraulic cam in it. I can't use the C6AE-R heads as they are not drilled for the proper exhaust header pattern. My engine builder for the stroker has a virtual Ford Cammer and FE museum in his basement and he picked out a set of sweet DT2E-AA heads that he had laying around. He threw in a set of stainless valves and a set of springs and retainers that he had that perfectly match the cam that I'll be using. I guess he feels pity on me, he only asked for my old heads and $100 for the new ones. I'll toss in a Comp 282S solid cam and a roller timing chain, and I scored a cherry Milodon "T" road racing pan and pickup for $125. I'll throw a Pertronix unit in the stock distributor and hook it through the MSD 6AL that's in the car already, and top it all off with a Performer RPM and a Holley 750 Double Pumper. Most of the guesses I've been getting are in the 400 or so HP range when it's done, that should hold me pretty good until the stroker is done. Once it's mounted between the frame rails I can drop the body over it and finish up the wiring and interior. In the meantime, Nick (Mickmate) has welded up an absolutely beautiful Comp fuel tank for me, so I have to try to make time to get up there to him and pick it up, which is harder than it sounds because I am also finally back to work!
Anyway, that's probably more than you wanted to know, but that's where I'm at. Just as I said last year, I hope to finally drive this thing in the Spring. Of course, as usually goes with me, nothing is easy. I am now going through a divorce, so the thing may very well go up for sale as soon as it's completed....... 
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