Hey engine tranny gurus
 

Looking at who to build the engine.

Keith Craft, Engine Factory get good reviews.

Peter gave me a couple of names.

350 HP, 350 Torque, plus or minus. This is a street car with narrow tires.

Like 205-70-15 or 215-65-15.

Rear end 3.54.

Overdrive at .64 (I think.)

What do you seasoned veterans think about this?

I wouldn't look any further than Brent lykins. He's a 1 man shop. There's no "production line" . 1 guy, 1 builder, 1 engine.

I've been to Keith Craft's shop five or six times picking up motors. He four or five guys building motors. Each specializes in a motor. He has a lot of equipment to CNC heads, etc.

Love his motors! 482, 461, 347, 408. We had great luck with all his motors. And when we had a small problem, he fix it!

Dwight

We have had very nice engines from Keith Craft in the past.

Hey engine tranny gurus
 

Keith Craft hands down. Owner, Lance, is responsive and very thorough. Just finished an engine and shipped to ERA this past week. Cost is reasonable and impressive horsepower on dyno results. Good reputation and always responsive. Just a nice guy too. Answers all your questions and stands behind his work. Impressive engine machines in his shop. The latest technology. Recommend him. Good luck.

If you haven't purchased your transmission yet, consider TKO 600 with .80 fifth. I have both a .64 ( in my slabside with a 3.77 rear) and .80 (in my FIA with 3.31 rear) The .80 is more progressive and does not drop the revs like the .64.

Either one of these guys (Craft and Blykins) can build you an excellent engine. I used Craft but then they were just 90 miles down the highway from me.

If ERA is doing the build, I've had great luck with Joe Lapine at Danbury Competitive Engines. The guy is a Ford genius, great prices and has a quick turnaround. Both my 428CJ and 337 came out of his shop @550hp and 409hp respectively. Happy to talk about my experiences with him if you want more info.

I'd be happy to give you a quote. Is there a certain look that you're going for? All cast iron? Cast iron block with aluminum heads? Any specific displacement?

I have engines across 3 continents, including engines in Malta, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, the UK, and others. My engines come with a 1 year warranty.

I know that I'm taking a slight risk in posting this publicly, as it would be easy for someone else to pop in here and say, "I can beat that price", but to be frank, if they need the business that bad, then that's ok with me. :)

Here's what I can offer:

*Ford 302 block, pressure tested, magnafluxed, steel abrated, bored/honed with torque plates, align honed with ARP main bolts, square decked.
*Duplicolor ceramic engine paint
*Brass freeze plugs
*Durabond camshaft bearings
*New cam thrust plate
*Felpro rear main seal
*Clevite main bearings
*Scat 9000 series crankshaft, 3.250" stroke
*Custom Comp Cams hydraulic flat tappet camshaft
*Cloyes timing set
*New Ford pump eccentric
*Racetec forged pistons
*Mahle piston rings
*Scat I-beam rods
*Clevite rod bearings
*Externally balanced rotating assembly
*New timing cover and pointer
*Felpro timing cover gasket
*Pioneer harmonic balancer
*Melling oil pump and shaft
*Front sump oil pan and pickup
*Stainless steel fastener kit
*New water pump
*Felpro head gaskets
*Dart Iron Eagle cast iron cylinder heads
*Crower lifters
*Trend custom pushrods
*Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
*Mr. Gasket intake gasket
*Comp Cams roller rocker arms
*MSD distributor with black cap
*Felpro valve cover gaskets
*Cobra valve covers
*Factory style alternator bracket and pulleys
*MSD coil
*Quick Fuel carburetor
*New water neck
*Valve cover breathers
*Carter fuel pump
*Autolite spark plugs
*MSD plug wires
*Wix oil filter
*100A 1-wire alternator
*Powermaster starter

*Engine assembled and dyno'd

*RAM billet steel flywheel
*RAM pilot bearing
*RAM HDX clutch kit
*Tremec TKO 600
*Quicktime bellhousing
*New clutch fork

$12999

This is a complete, ready to drop-in engine, including all fuel lines, plug wires, alternator, belt, etc. You are looking at a little over your 350hp/350lb-ft goal, but it will be very streetable and run on 87 octane. The engine as quoted would have a factory 289 appearance.

The .64 OD trans would be fine at this level. The overall engine demeanor would be mild, so the problems that occur with the typical "performance cam" and the .64 OD would not be present.

Let me know if I can be of any more help.

+1 for Brent. He's helped me out and a bunch of others on this forum numerous times.

That is a very reasonable deal. Brent has an outstanding reputation.

I would have no qualms whatsoever in sending Brent a check based on nothing more than a telephonic "handshake." Our Cobra hobby in general is fraught with crooks, scammers, wannabees, and charlatans... but Brent ain't one of them.:cool:

If you choose to go 4spd, Mike Miles has always done me right.
414-690-2748

We would be happy to help you with your build. Feel free to give Tony or myself a call at your convenience to discuss options and pricing. There are many options for these engines and we can go over any ideas or questions you may have.

Thanks
Lance Smith

Thanks Brent I'll reach out to you shortly.

Thanks Lance will call you.