dependability ?

[fordracer]

I think I'm just going to go with the 514 FRPP crate motor. I am planning on using the car mainly for street driving with occasional autocrossing road racing events. What kind of durability isuues if any does this motor have ? I'm new to the big block. My experience has been with the Windsors. The 347's had some oil control problems because of the pin going up into the oil ring. Hate to ramble I'm just looking for something that will last maybe 50k miles before needing any major work

[Tom Wells]

fordracer,

Caution: the items below are opinion only! I did build the engine but it hasn't been started yet, so I did bet money on the opinions....

Cam/valve train: The 514 comes with a .647" lift cam and valve train. I was advised that the valve springs needed replacing every other adjustment cycle, or about every 3,000 miles. I switched to a Crane hydraulic roller setup for what I hope will be trouble-free, maintenance free longevity. We'll see, I hope!

Rods: My 514 came with the "truck rods". When we took the new engine apart one rod was visually defective and no doubt would have failed in service taking the rest of the engine with it. After applying a small amount of pressure, Ford replaced them at no charge with the new "Eagle-like" rods, which are standard on the new, increased price crate motor. These rods are expected to be fine for durability.

Intake: the 514 comes with a tall (6.30") Victor single-plane manifold. I switched to an Edelbrock Performer 460 RPM (5.48" tall). If you need a shorter manifold you can use the Torker II at 3.875" tall, but it is a single plane unit. I elected to increase the height of my scoop to accept the Performer.

Pan: Canton Road race in place of the stock pan. Where was my 10% discount when I needed it???

So the good news is that the engine may be quite durable and I was able, with the help of a very grand engine builder, to sell the removed parts to drag racers to help pay for the changes.

The bad news is that I'm guessing the engine probably lost a hundred HP due to the changes. We'll see.

Regards,

Tom

[millennium200]

I have only had my replica a little over 30 days however the first 8 days my wife and I drove a little over 3500 miles. Execept for a cracked distributor cap my 514 ran great. The engine does have a Preformer RPM intake with a Holley 850. The cam is stock and seems to run great and make all the noises a cobra should make. I am in the process of adjusting the valves which I understand will need to be done at 3000 to 5000 miles. As for the valve springs I plan to run them untill the engine tells me to change them, which I expect to be once a year or so. If I planed to go over 6000 RPM a lot they might have to be changed more often, But I really do not plan to rev that high very often. If I were to change cams it would be to move the power band down about 1000rpm not because of excessive lift.