Who is a good engine builder in the NE

[Nantucket427]

I have a great 427 SO from one of the best builders on the Planet but he is in GA and I am in MA. Is there anyone with FE experience in the North East?

[Bob In Ct]

I've heard that Danbury Competition Engines in Danbury, CT is familiar with them. Ask for Joe.

Bob

[stush]

Joe Lapine of Danbury Competition Engines is supposed to have a great reputation. He builds something like 90% of the engines for the ERA turnkeys. Prices seem reasonable. He is doing a 351 for me.

Stu

[thorconstr]

Pat Burke @ Ocean State Performance 1-401-737-1495

[REDSC400]

Joe Lapine in Danbury has a great reputation in New England with Ford big blocks. He has forgotten more than most know. Nice fellow, good listener.

[Nantucket427]

[PatBurke]

Cruising a 427 Cobra around the island has to be one of the best ways I can think of to spend a sunny summer day on Nantucket. Of course, I'm sure my wife would insist on matching it with an equally long day browsing (read dragging me through) the shops downtown looking at nick-nacks and trinkets. It would still be worth it. But enough day dreaming.

We can definatley help you out with your 427 SO and we speak fluent FE here at Ocean State Performance. Our shop race / test car is powered by and 850+ HP, 434 ci, all aluminum FE detailed over to the left and we have several FE projects in the works for customers right now.

We are currently building and all aluminum 496 ci EFI FE for Al Wolstrom's Kirkham bodied Cobra. BTW, thanks for the plug up above Al. It has a Shelby block, Edelbrock heads, billet crank, Oliver rods, and a TWM intake / throttle bodies controled by a F.A.S.T. ECU. It should make in the 650 HP range and will be backed up by a McLeod clutch and TKO II 5 speed. We're also doing a 427 / 454 FE stroker engine with Edelbrock heads, Eagle rods, T&D rockers, offset ground steel truck crank, and Edelbrock Victor intake going into a '69 Mustang drag car as well as a 428 CJ NHRA stock eliminator engine for the same customer, and a 410 for a '66 Galaxie street cruiser.

Give us a call if there is anything we can do to help. Also check out the web site for some of our other projects, just don't hold the Mopars and Chevy's against us, they help pay the bills. LOL.

Thanks,
Pat Burke
Ocean State Performance
www.oceanstateperformance.com
(401) 737-1495

[Nantucket427]

Thanks for the reply I have already been to your Web site (this Morning) and I will give you a call if I can't work out my problem.

[COBRAMAN 484]

Hey n Nantucket, I also had a motor like yours except it was a 484 from the same builder, which I had to get redone. I used Phil Miller aka miller machine in haverhill MA. 978-372-6212. Phill has been doing performance work for 40 plus years. We both used to race top fuelers back in the sixties and he did all my machine work back then. He has been doing fe motors since they came out. Mark. his engine assembly man is a fe motor maniac having built and own them including cammers for many years. They are both honest and reliable. I would suggest you call and talk to them. As for the builder in GA. if he was in the next town from me it would still be to far to go. Read some of my eariler posts and you will see why.

[era427tp]

I have great reliability and power in my 427 tunnelport which was built by PrecisionAutomotive in Simsbury,CT

[Nantucket427]

Thanks for the info. I wanted an engine from Southern Automotive but after I got it, the reality of service from the engine builder sunk in. Bill Parham has been more than helpfull but he is very busy and so far away.
Where in Haverhill are they located ? I worked in that area for several years and my kids went to catholic school in Haverhill. The car is in Franklin NH most of the Summer. What did they do to your engine ? What do you do with your car in Lynn ?

[COBRAMAN 484]

Nantucket 427, he is located at 500R grovland st. that is where the bridge crosses the merrimac river from haverhill to groveland on rte. 97. I usually do my own motors, so all I had him do was sleeve one cylinder order me new pistons, hone the cylinders a few thousandths to fit the new pistons and redo and flowtest the heads. Iwent with a custom roller cam from comp cams that was a lot wilder and would be more friendlier to my fuel injection. I use the car mainly in the spring and fall. I love doing long weekend cruises in the fall in ME. NH. and VT. The car has been to the top of mt. Washington three times (once even in the snow). I have a top and a heater which does make the journey a little better sometimes. I summer in Scituate and take the car there for only acouple of weeks in the summer. I would be interested in knowing why you need the motor redone. If you want will give you my number or you can give me yours or we can just talk here.

[ackjlo]

Hiya !!!
Too bad I'm not on the Island now, I've built a few FE's in my time. ). In fact I'm building one now. I've seen your cobra on the Island.

Joe

[Nantucket427]

My Story; We are the third owner of #1325 but the car only had 1440 miles on it when we got it. It was sold new by Southern Automotive when they were a Superformance Dealer. It never really had been taken care of or sorted out. We could not tune the carbs at all and finally replaced them. They were rebuilds dated 1988 and 1990. The oil pan was on finger tight and the car used oil ( a quart every 100 miles). The PVC valve was not baffled in the valve cover and sucking oil, fixed that, too. Still using oil. Compression check showed two cylinders with only 115 psi and they are the cylinders with carbon fouled plugs. The rest of the cylinders have 130 to 145 psi. The weather turned colder and I have not been able to drive the car much lately but I hope that we will not have to pull the motor to get at those two cylinders. I am thinking rings ??? What is your best guess and is there anything we should be doing ?

[ackjlo]

Rings are a possibility. The carburetion problem could have effected those cylinders ie: washing down the cylinders and wearing the rings. You could also have too much oil going to the rockers, depending on the type of block you have and the mods that have been done. Heads may be flooded with oil, and if you have a high lift cam, FE's are very prone to valve guide wear. The pcv shouldn't suck oil even without the baffles unless you have too much oil up there. Just a few things to think about, there are lots more Which cylinders are low on compression ???

Joe

[igofast]

There is no question Danbury engine...............

[COBRAMAN 484]

Nantucket427, I am not that fast at typing so it would take me about three days to ask you about your problem. The easiest and quickist will be to call you. I have your number and will be in touch.

[Nantucket427]

work 8:30 am to 4:30
800 425-0344 Ext. 20
Happy Thanksgiving !

[igofast]

If you look around at all the guys that have built FE motors for the last 40 years you have to look at Danbury engine and Miller Machine they have probably produced more motors than most shops in the country.Experience is what we look for and always pricing is always important,i do know that they are in a group with Flatlanderracing which we get our parts from at really good prices and they have the tech info that Danbury and Miller have to offer.

Joe

[stush]

Joe Lapine at Danbury has finished my 351W. 397 hp on the dyno. He is very happy with it so I trust I will be too.

Stu