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Small block SOHC anyone?
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Fascinating. I dimly remember this engine. I wonder if there's any builder out there who would care to replicate the tech...
This looks, to be honest, like a fairly stock head and valve arrangement, just with the OHC drive instead of rods and rockers. Is there any data about the head and valve arrangements? |
Ford had a prototype as well. It was more along the Pontiac OHC line. Again, it bolted to standard heads, not sure about the oiling. Ford discarded the idea when they realized that the big hold up on small blocks wasn't there rpm capability...it was head flow. So a cammer conversion added little, except cost and uniqueness. they found no noticeable power difference.
I checked out the ebay link because I thought it might be that engine. The all steel composition of these make it a weight adder too. More weight and no signicant increase in HP. I thought it was neat when Ford did it, but for me this leaves a lot to be desired. I'm still hoping to find that Tunnelport 302 that was on there a couple months ago...now that is something of interest. Other than the head and intake castings the tunnelport heads used most production parts. The rockers were Y-block items. |
That might turn a few heads at a car show with a dual quad intake & a pair of Predators.:MECOOL:
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It might be nice to do a boss302 version :) -- how about that for vintage oldness !
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Looks to me like stock heads and manifolds. The OHC part just bolts on where the rocker cover normally goes and those roller lifters are upside down with the roller against the cam and the other end against the valve stem. Simple.
I wonder how valve clearances are done? Buckets and shims or just grind the end of the follower to suit. |
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Ford actually designed and built DOHC small blocks in the 60's. 255ci aluminum blocks which put about 425hp and ran at 9000 rpm's. They won the Indy 500 in 65, 66, 67 and 69-71.
http://www.quadcamford.com/photogallery.html Very interesting site. Ford sold around 20 of these engines I think for $20,000. which is around $150,000. in today's money. John O |
There was a guy in California, within the past 10 years, who was making SOHC conversion kits for SBC, SBF and FE's. Actually sold a few around the country. I think his name was Pete Aardema.
quick google search and apparently he's still at it... Aardema SOHC page |
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Mario used on in a '67 or 8 'stang at Bonneville and set some records with it. Because of the engines size(width), I think they had to run a straight axle front end. |
The Boss 302, as I understand it, used the 351W heads. In order to take advantage of the much larger ports (like a tunnel port would have) the engine had to run at very high rpm, 7,000 or so. The kind of rpm, often seen during a road race, led to a LOT of failures of the engines.
You know I could see buying this strictly for a "conversation piece", like a piece of art. The price at $1,500 is not out of line. Fascinating! Edit: Ron61 reminded me it was the 351 Cleveland heads not the 351 Windsor heads the Boss ran. |
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"The first year, 1966, they produced 20 complete engines to be retailed for $ 23,000. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis- Consumer Price Index Calculator equates $ 23,000.00 of 1966 to $ 152,950.00 at 2008 values." Also, they used to fit the 427 cammer in early Mustangs, and this being a 255ci small block I wouldn't think fit would be a problem. I remember seeing a custom hot rod with rear wheel drive.:) John O |
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As far as installation goes, with the exhaust in the valley and the intakes tracts directly over the heads I would think you'd save some width over an FE cammer just because you wouldn't need to leave room at the sides for the exhaust. |
I think that 255 cid engine was the first choice for the GT-40 program as well, as FORD directed it be so. Which Shelby quickly abandoned (no doubt after a talk with Ford management :) ) due to reliability issues. He wanted to work with a more proven engine, like the 289. Makes sense when your looking at a 24 hours Le Man type deal. Reliability is the key.
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Hi Guys,
Here is an article from the Ford Racing days that outlines some of the engines referred to. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ng_Engines.jpg TR |
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