Lykins Motorsports 427FE Build, Alan Carter

[xb-60]

Hi Alan, and welcome.
So....old school engine....and an old school gearbox maybe?
Cheers
Glen

[Gasdoc]

Thanks guys! I went ahead and created a build thread to answer some of the car specific questions so we wouldn't derail Brent's engine build thread. I would post a link to it but not sure how to do that yet. It's easy to find.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Gasdoc

Thanks guys! I went ahead and created a build thread to answer some of the car specific questions so we wouldn't derail Brent's engine build thread. I would post a link to it but not sure how to do that yet. It's easy to find.

Build thread is at Gasdoc's ERA build - #813

[blykins]

Heads cleaned up really nice. New bronze guides, getting ready for valve job and clean up the deck surfaces.



Taken next to a greasy Burger King bag for reference.

[lippy]

How much do those bad boys weigh? And the intake?

[blykins]

Never put them on scales, but I would guess 30-35 a piece. Intake isn't any heavier than your normal Performer RPM.

[Bernica]

Nice. Are you doing any port work on them?

[blykins]

Yes, we are going to have the heads and intake ported.

[DanEC]

Orig heads aren't too bad for weight - it's those cast iron intakes that are a killer.

[Detroit Bill]

Brent is this moving along? Any update?

[blykins]

Just now getting the cylinder heads and intake back from my head guy. He had a nasty bout with kidney stones and then his wife had some surgery for her breast cancer. Hope to put a really big dent in it this weekend. Will post pictures and information later.

[blykins]

As promised....

Would have had the heads assembled but I was out of the valve spring locators I needed.... The heads are primered and painted and I'm waiting for the warehouse to send me the parts I need so I can assemble them.

Everything has went together pretty much without fuss, with the exception of the oil pump pickup. I used a Canton oil pan with Alan's build and the pickup that is recommended for the pan showed 9/16" of pickup clearance when I mocked it up and measured. Luckily, I had a Moroso pickup on the shelf that showed a more desirable 5/16" when I tried it. So, it has a Canton pan with a Moroso pickup. I also had to dimple the oil pan around the rear rail so that it would sit on the block without contacting the rear main cap bolts.

[Detroit Bill]

Nice, excuse my ignorance but were spacers on the main cap side bolts standard on factory blocks? I believe my repro aluminum block does not have any?

[blykins]

Yes sir they were.

Your aftermarket blocks are all rough CNC machined and have billet caps that are produced at a much higher tolerance too.

[Tim7139]

Originally Posted by Gasdoc

Hello everyone, I'm Alan Carter the soon to be owner of this beast. I've been drooling over Cobras ever since I can remember and can't believe there is finally one in my near future! I'm super stoked! I've been a bit of a lurker on this forum for a long time and that is how I found Brent. He's been great to work with and I can't wait to see this engine completed!

I put my order in with Peter at ERA a year ago in May and they told me then the lead time was at least a year. My car is Chassis # 813 and hopefully will be going to the paint shop soon. I'm not sure if I'll have time to do a detailed build thread but I'll definitely start a post and give updates on my progress along the way. I have to say I am very impressed with some of you guys and your builds. I hope mine turns out half as good as some of yours!

Alan

Gongrats, looks like a really nice lump going into the car. What colors are you going with?

[LoBelly]

Originally Posted by blykins

Heads cleaned up really nice. New bronze guides, getting ready for valve job and clean up the deck surfaces.

>pic<

Taken next to a greasy Burger King bag for reference.

I stared at that picture of the head for ages trying to work out where the pushrods came through...

>doh<

LoBelly

[olddog]

Originally Posted by LoBelly

I stared at that picture of the head for ages trying to work out where the pushrods came through...

>doh<

LoBelly

That is because the push rods come through the intake manifold on an FE engine. Yes that mean to remove the intake, you must first remove the valve covers, remove the rockers, and then the push-rods. Since the intake contains about 1/3 of what is typically the head on most designs, the intake is one heavy beast in cast iron.

I had a 1986 Ford Bronco II with a 2.8 or 2.9 ltr V-6 that was a similar design.

[buddyg]

Very cool! How much power will it make and what is the approximate cost to build?

[blykins]

I think we'll be in the 500-525 hp range. With the port work and all the original parts (plus custom pistons, roller camshaft, etc.) we're almost to the $20k mark for a turn-key engine....starter, coil, pulleys, carb, turkey pan, repop pentroof valve covers, etc, etc.

[blykins]

Heads are assembled. Rocker assemblies are assembled. Balancer is on and timing pointer position checked.

Custom pushrods are here (3/8" ball on one end, 5/16" ball on the other, custom length from Trend). Head gaskets will be here on Monday and having intake manifold refinished today. Getting close to making noise...