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Originally Posted by Flygirl
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Dan, thanks for the input. I would go with the scoop, riveted. I like the way it looks from the driver's seat.
Not sure about the narrower wheels in back. I've seen some cars where the fenders don't seem to be filled by the rear tires, and that doesn't look so good to me. Would have to get more information on that and see pics.
The 390 or 428 would not be stroked, and I think a single 4bbl would be fine, like I said with the turkey pan. This isn't going to be a high RPM, race engine. If I lose some top end horsepower, I don't think that'd be a huge issue. And it'd be even more okay the first time my mom gets into the car and doesn't burn herself on the side pipes..
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Missed the part about the hood scoop. That would free up your engine top end part options quite a bit. You don't need it with a Police Interceptor or Cobra Jet intake but it would free some space up for a one inch insulator under the carb which helps hot weather performance and starting and torque.
Don't completely rule out a stroker crank. I have no idea about Danbury but in the case of Keith Craft he seems more interested in installing a new crank rather than mess with finding a good old one, inspecting it, machining it for re-use, and reconditioning the rods. Once you go to a new crank you can basically go for any stoke you want. But there is undoubtably some additional cost buried in there. Thats why some guys can put together a nice, mildly built up and overhauled , stock crank 428 for $5 to 6k and the major FE builders are selling their 390/428 block motors with new crank, Chev rods, new pistons, custom cam and valvetrain, and lots of attention to assembly detail for more like $10 to $11K.
If you do go with a relatively stock 390 or 428, in which case you don't need to go to wild with the cam, the ERA undercar exhaust system may work fine and it would simplify things. Street428 built his ERA to a high degree of orginality right down to the 428 Police Interceptor motor with all correct parts and he says it performs very strong with the ERA exhaust. He would be a good person to contact as he had his car built as a painted, roller other than I believe he installed his engine and transmission himself. But beware, he's a slave to originality - no matter what the expense or effort.
If you get interested in ERA's optional rear suspension with outboard brakes, they don't recommend undercar exhaust. But, after a little study I think it would work if the loop in the tailpipes over the halfshafts were extended a little further up in the wheelwells.
Here is a good build site for an ERA very much like you are discussing.
Chuck Brandt
Good luck