Motorsports 392/351w

[mustangmendez]

Ok is anyone running the 392 stroker 351w ?????
How does it idle ?
Does it pull hard off the line up to 6k rpms ?
Does it run hot in the summer ?
Any more comments ...
Thanks
I think this is what I want with a T5 tranny .
Oh yeah What tranny ,gear ,tire and rpms @70 mph
AM I asking to many ?????sssss
Thanks again..
Mustang Mendez

[ThePidler]

I too am looking at a 392 stroker in my LoneStar. I will be very interested in the responses to these questions.

Help us out you powertrain guru's...

greg

[CMansfield]

I just picked up my SPF with a 351W stroker, I went with the Edelbrock Victor Junior heads and performer intake, it has a holly 750, the tranny is a Tremec 3550 with the standard 8.8 rear geared at 3.73, the tires are Goodyear Eagle GTIIs 255,60, 15 front and 275,60,15 rear.
I only have 300 miles on it so it is not even broken in. I went with this combo becuase I like the low end torque, I drove virtually the same car and it runs smoother than and winds up faster than a 351W crate engine. I have not had it dynoed but we think it is putting out around 500hp and about the same torque.

I have not really gotten into it, but it pulls well out of the hole, seems like it gets into its power band about about 3,500 but I have been backing off at about 4,500 during break in period. I did run it on up to about 5,500 once yeasterday and it was still pulling strong. Brand new, the engine is stiff but idles well at between 800-900 rpm.

At 70 mph, you are running around 2k+- rpm, I think 5th gear is about .68 I will check it this afternmoon if the sun comes out.

I am sure there are many much more knoweledgable people on the list, this is coming from a novice, but so far, I love it.
Hope this helps,
Chas

[dana]

I have about 1500 miles on my 392 from Ford motorsports.
It has the gt 40 heads, victor jr intake( stamped ford motorsports), the installer said it was a victor jr.
I have the tko by tremec. Nice smooth trans, sometimes it does not want to go into reverse, i have to put it in third then slip it into reverse- seems to work better.
There is big difference between fourth and fifth, a close ratio might be better if you race it. For street driving drop to fifth and cruise at 70 right around 2000 rpm.
I had trouble with the distributer that came with it, it was a ford product. The timing kept slipping and the rotor actually popped off once and I thought I blew the engine. MSD's distributer is working fine now.
I think the motor has plenty of power. ( if you notice i have nos on mine, I really don't need it, but I like it.) I babied it in the beginning 1000 miles. Now I wind it out to 6200 ( rev limited) and it pull strong all the way up.
I highly recommend a choke, i do not have one, so my idle sucks when cold.
Overall i like the motor.
I had it chassis dyno'd and expected high numbers, didn't get them. The highest without nos was only 291 hp at the rear wheel, 307 ft/lbs torque. The guy said that everyone complains his is 'low'. It is a Mustang dyno. I have no idea if this is true or my motor doesn't put out the 438 hp it is rated.
I am thinking of porting the heads or changing to another that flows better. I am still looking for a head that I will not have to fly cut the pistons.
Any suggestions anyone?
Dana

[Mike Madonna]

MM: mine is similar to Charles. Same trans., tires, rear gear. Motor has GT-40X heads (as delivered) with an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake & 750 Vac. carb. Pulls great from any gear including 5th @ 1300 rpm. Pulls strong to 5500, haven't went past that yet. Idles well considering healthy roller Comp. Cam and sounds pretty evil. Never an overheating issue, due to highly efficient aluminum radiator by SPF. I would not advise a "T-5" but rather a Tremec 3550 or TKO. As for 70 mph, 2K rpm sounds right with the .68 5th. I could go on but, I'll say overall, I'm very pleased.

Dana: Your numbers sound a bit off. MM&FF magazine strapped one to Westech's engine dyno and got 456 HP & 469 Ft/Lb torque. GT-40X heads, Victor Jr. intake, 750 DP carb exactly what Ford recommends. Granted you were on a chassis dyno, I can't see that kind of loss (160 HP +/-) through the drivetrain. As for heads, I've read the posts here and on SCOF, and there have been some pretty good suggestions so far. Maybe we'll cross paths this Summer??

Later.....

[ThePidler]

Does anybody run Brodix or ARP heads? If not, why not? I've always been one of those guys that can fix anything, and I mean anything. But I don't keep up with what's the "latest greatest talking the stuff" stuff.

I notice a lot of the GT40 heads, or Eldebrocks, not much else, (my memory sux too, so keep that in mind. Baggage from my younger days )

greg

[gsharapa]

I would suggest you run the TKO with the 392 stroker. Ford also now puts a mallory distributor in the 392 vs the Ford distributor in the crate motors prior. The X heads that come on the 392 dyno the motor at 450 hp but better heads like Brondix, Canfield, Eldbrocks will take it up over 500 hp. Beware with the different heads, as you can get yourself into headers fitting problems with different heads. SPF does make headers for the Canfields and R heads in 2 inch tubes.

[mustangmendez]

Wow thanks for the responses !

I have built several engines but never a stroked .
So I can relate to things that you tell me as for Heads Pidler it has to do with eng. combos just like rear gear ratios .
When build a motor for a customer I like to sit down ask him what he wants it to do and how much he wants to spend then Trans ,gear, tire size ,and weight all have a place . I am looking at going another step farther with the stroked {Big Block Torgue /HP } Small block weight for a more balance F/R ratio .
I do believe in big Carbs and the right jetting ...
Mustang Mendez

[ThePidler]

Thanks MM,

So, let me run this past you. I'm building, (pick up my kit mid Feb), a LoneStar. I too want a stroked 351W for the Torque/HPvs F/R weight ratio.

I want to be able to drive it from DFW area to Austin if I want too, and probably will never stage it at the tree. But I do want the 'beast' in it. I'm looking for over 400 HP and fun to drive. I'm puttin the Ford 9" in the rear w 3.73's. (don't know which tranny, even considering an auto)

I've just picked up a 1969 351W that's never been touched and am shopping around for a rotating assembly as well as heads, valve-train, intake...yadda yadda yadda. To me, most of the fun is in the build!

I've got a long way to go and welcome any suggestions/hints/or 'hey stupids' from all!!

greg

[CMansfield]

Greg,
The advantage you have with edelbrock heads is that their ports match the crate engines(no modifications). The Ford 351 stroker crate comes with the GT40 heads. The Edelbrock Victor Junior heads are supposed to give you about 30hp and about 20ft/lbs more torque (can you tell 460 vs 490 hp?)

As stated above, the crate 392 will deliver about 460hp once broken in and about 480 ft/lbs of torque

We went with the Edelbrock performer intake because if you use the Victor heads and intake you have a hard time idleing below 2krpm. The carb on mine has an electic choke, based on earlier comments I highly recommend it.

My car also has the MSD distributor

I ened up with the Tremec 3550 vs the TKO because if you look at the two transmisions, they have exactly the same gearing, I understand the only significant mechanical difference is the # of splines on the drive. I guess the selling point for me was that the distributor told me they have never had a torque related failure of a 3550 with a stroker and he is standing behind it.
Good Luck
Chas

[Cobra Dude]

Mike,

The stock T5 is now where near as solid as the 3550 or TKO, but the WC-T5Z is an excellent choice -- if the car will not be drag-launched or powershifted regularly. A lot more solid than the T5, 2.95 1st and 0.63 5th! Approx 1850rpm at 70mph with my 3.08 tail and tire combo. Sweet!

The real reason to use one of the T5 series (incl the T45) is that they shift much smoother than the Tremecs. Most folks I know who use a Tremec on the street hate it, and wouldn't do it again if their car was all street.

Cheers.

[392cobra]

lone star is building me a turnkey ls427 with the 392 , hope to be ready in 2-3 weeks . i am having the dist. that comes with it switched to a msd with a 6al box .
i have read this website about steel dist. gear w/ steel billet rollers . and comp cam mentions that not all rollers are steel billet and require replacing the iron dist . gear .

now my question , what about the roller that comes in this engine ? does anyone one what the dist. gear is on the ford dist. that comes on the engine ? i would like to think that since ford has a warranty on the engine they wouldn't make the mistake i'm trying to avoid . chewed up gears and/or replacing bronze gears very often . would like to have the correct gear the first time .
i'll take any and all info and advise .

thanks,
fred

[scr11]

I'll chime in here as well. As most know, I did not buy a 393 crate, but instead had Houston Performance build me a short block, I built the rest. Here's the combo:
Scat steel crank, steel H-beam rods, Forged 10.2:1 SRP pistons, and a very custom hydraulic roller cam (.585 intake and .596 exhaust). Also on the motor: Edelbrock Vic Jr. heads, Vic. Jr intake, a Holley HP series 750DP, and MSD pro billet distributor coupled with a 6AL ignition.
I've 1550 miles on the motor now and all I can say is WOW! I'll be heading to the chassis dyno at Houston Performance in a few weeks to get everything dialed in. I'll end up between 530-540HP and about 510lbs of torque. I'll post the results when I get the dyno.
A few points of clarification. As noted, I've Vic Jr. heads and a Vic Jr. intake. My car will idle all day at 1050rpm. I could probably lower the idle down to 950 and still be fine.

As for the trans, I've a Tremec TKO. I did use the GM syncromesh (I think that's what it's called) and my TKO shifts like a dream. It's not notchy at all. I had a T5 in my old 92 Mustang and that was easy to shift to, but not in the same class as the TKO for strength. As for using a T5 with your 393, you could probably get away with it for awhile, but in the end, it will break. The T5 can not handle the torque of the stroker. Spend a few hundred $ more upfront and get the 3550 or the TKO.

And most importantly, have fun!

Scott, SPF #1230

[Mike Madonna]

Scott,

I was wondering how many qts. did your TKO take when you changed it?

Thanks!

[scr11]

TKO fluid capacity- it's either 2.75 or 3 qts, I can't remember. I added all 3 and haven't had a problem.
I've experienced none of the notchiness that some others have talked about. I heard one Mustang guy compare shifting a tractor to his TKO. I've had none of that.

Scott

[mustangmendez]

Well The Engine is here cant get there till Wednesday .
I think I am more excited bought my engine than picking up my Cobra .I really think its the excitement of just knowing things are coming together little by little .
I did not mean to start a war on who's engine is better or tranny T5 vs. Tremmec or any other issue I just wanted some info .Thanks for the info guys ....
Any updates on your engines ?????

{ Does anyone have the hp / torque specs for this engine ??}
Mustang Mendez

[scr11]

None of us are at war with our words. We each like to simply voice our opinions as to what will help you the most.
Have fun with the new motor!!!!!

Scott