New Ford Crate Big Block

[BDHE]

Greetings;

Has anyone heard anything about the new Ford Big Block crate motor?

Ford Racing Performance Parts [Big Block Engines]

It will be interesting to see how this thing performs in one of our cars!

Bryon

[Silverback51]

What I found interesting is the HP is down, and the Torque is up from the old engine.

The old numbers were 625 HP @ 6250 and 600 LB/FT @4800

[Tom Wells]

Interesting web page!

Looks like the same engine with two different oil pans, otherwise identical specifications.

Seems to be the old 521 crate motor with an A460 block.

Price "TBD". Wonder what that means?

At PRI, the Ford engineer said this would likely happen; there are a limited number of A460 blocks still at Ford. He is developing a replacement block which would be ~30 lbs lighter and have a few small advantages over the A460 - I forget the details. Delivery on the new block is, um, RSN (from Jerry Pournelle of Byte magazine: RSN = Real Soon Now). A nylon casting of the block was on display.

Since These are advertised as solid roller lifter engines with bronze distributor gears it would appear to be primarily a low-mileage race-oriented engine, same as the prior 521s. One would need to replace the lifters, valve springs and distributor gear on a pretty regular schedule - say every 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on how lucky you feel and how much idling the engine does.... Or put hydraulic lifters, the correct valve springs and distributor gears in these to get significant streetability.

I'd like to build another engine - say a 604 when the new block appears - and use Kaase's new Boss 429 street heads. With a hydraulic flat tappet or roller cam and the right valve springs and distributor gear, one could have say 800HP whenever it is desired, and run 50K or so miles before having to do any maintenance. Maybe by the end of this year????

Tom