Hi Steve,
I've got a 428SCJ that I bought for under $1000 a few years back. I rebuilt it using Edelbrock heads just as Vic intended them....polished on the outside only. 60's vintange Edelbrock 2x4 intake with a pair of 500 cfm carbs, Edelbrock water pump, also polished, and most important of all, a set of original snake valve covers that came with the motor. The cam is Performer RPM which is a little hotter than I would like, but it works.

I'm just up 280 in Sunnyvale so feel free to stop by and go for a test drive if you would like! Check my gallery for pics.

-Jon

email: akitadog1@sbcglobal.net

Because I already had a '66 side oiler at the shop being rebuilt.

And on the subject of budget FEs, those two words don't work together in the same sentence when a 427 is involved.

Add a Girdle to the bottom end
 

PANAVIA If you go with a stroker, and I think you should. Add a main cap girdle to the bottom end. You will cruise this car but also betting you will take it up to 6,000 rpms a couple of times.:rolleyes:Everybody does.:eek::rolleyes:;) If you are going to run a MSD system, add a 6,000 rpm chip to protect the motor. My other idea for you is also to add an accusump tank to the car as a pre oiler for the motor before startups. 80% of engine wear is done at this time. they are easy to install, you can use a cable or go electric and have saved many engines from major damage when racing. The girdle is to give more support for the bottom end and the help better stablize the caps from moving. Over build the motor with good parts and you will get years of driving without failures. Match the parts will also give you the most power and best drivibilitity of the car. Everybody is trying to save a dollar right now but going cheap on motor, tranny, brakes, and wheels and tires is not the place to go. It's better to wait and get the better things than to be in a hurry and have to do things over a couple of times. Just my 2 cents. Happy Holidays. Good luck with the build. Add the aluminium upper motor to your motor. Intake manifold and Heads. It will save 100 lbs over a case iron setup. It also works better with controlling oil and coolant leaks. It's about expansion rates of to different metals. Rick Lake

390 block, 431 stroker,H beam rods, flattops, Comp 282 solid cam, Edelbrock heads etc.
Still in the works, but I'm thinking it's going to be more fun than the proverbial barrel of monkeys.

Budget FE? Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!

FE hydraulic flat tappet
 

Most cam companies do not have a good shelf FE camshaft. For your truck which is heavier than the Cobras and with the gearing you have I would look at something in the 224 intake and 230 exhaust duration @ .050. The lift would depend on the springs that you have and what they might take. I would think that something in the .525 range would work prety good. Would probably do on a 110 lobe seperation and have you install it at 106 for best results. Thanks, Keith

Eating Crow
 

I hate eating crow but sometimes you just have to take a bite and swallow then remember the lesson. I made a comment a few posts back about a Dodge Demon my brother drives. It has 116,000 miles on it with a HP 340 running a set of 3:23 gears with a four speed its a stock motor. On my way to town the other morning I was running about 60 when he pulled up beside me. I downshifted to 4th and he actually pulled away from me, slowly but he pulled away, he stayed in fourth also and admitted he was suprised. I'm using the FE406 with a tremec five speed with 3:42 gears. Don't know what the weight difference is but I'm pretty sure my car is lighter.

If the crow is slow roasted and your brother is providing the beer to chase it with it isn't that bad.

Something doesn't sound right with this scenario....:confused:

A Dodge Demon with a stock 340 is probably a mid-14-second quarter-mile car (engine rated at 275 hp from factory; and weight of 3,300 lbs).

Either your brother isn't running a stock 340, you need to get your engine tuned, or you should have dropped down to third gear...:JEKYLHYDE

He could be on the level. Remember, there were a lot of mediocre truck FEs and stump pullers out there. You don't generally see them stuffed in to a Cobra though....:rolleyes:

Sorry to say, but that sounds like 250Hp in the Cobra...

Dom

not far off
 

It was advertised a 425 HP at crank. Dyno runs gave 270RWHP and after a carb change and some other changes only went up to 290 RWHP and 345RWTQ. I'll move this to a new thread later after I check some other things.

425HP at the crank with no mufflers, water pump, or any other accessories. Knock off 55 or 60 HP for the pipes, etc., and whack another 20% for the drive train and you're down to 290....:(

Please correct me, if I am wrong:
According to the above: 500Hp (80%) at the wheels result in 625Hp before the 20% drivetrain losses. Add losses for mufflers and accessories (55 to 60Hp) and the output at the flywheel is 680 to 685Hp.

Dom

Yes, I think to get 500 at the wheel you'll need to be putting out in the hi 600's when the engine is out of the car and sitting on the dyno running free... maybe more.

eating crow
 

As far as the 340 my brother said the cam was a mild cam, lift was about 478, set of headers and a 650 DP holley. Compression check on my FE came up with the high cylinders having 140PSI and the low at 125PSI, throttle was at WOT, all spark plugs removed and a 15 amp battery charger running and engine at operating temp160 - 170 degrees. Thats why we are going to check out some other stuff hopefully this weekend.