Godzilla 7.3L Swapped Cobra

[twobjshelbys]

Does anyone actually make what would be a modern "big block"? I would think the physical size would make it not practical. Economically, from both engine physical size and the space it would take to mount it, it would increase the size and weight for little gain over an equivalent small block...

[sunman]

Chevy ZZ632. Big block Chevy crate motor. 1000 HP.
We even got em in old pickups here in the 405

[jbmatth]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Does anyone actually make what would be a modern "big block"? I would think the physical size would make it not practical. Economically, from both engine physical size and the space it would take to mount it, it would increase the size and weight for little gain over an equivalent small block...

I'm not aware of anything going in a consumer based vehicle that would really be considered a big block, the Godzilla is probably the closest one. Once you get into medium duty trucks and larger they get huge but also tend to go to diesel. As Sunman mentioned below there is the ZZ632, and many other new big block engines being made for aftermarket setups.

Originally Posted by sunman

Chevy ZZ632. Big block Chevy crate motor. 1000 HP.
We even got em in old pickups here in the 405

I'd love to have one of the ZZ632's, or even the 572 but wouldn't put it in my Cobra, they are very cool and sound amazing. That price tag on the 632 is a bit scary though.

JB

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Does anyone actually make what would be a modern "big block"? I would think the physical size would make it not practical. Economically, from both engine physical size and the space it would take to mount it, it would increase the size and weight for little gain over an equivalent small block...

Ford Performance catalog still lists big block crate engines. 572 CID. 655 Horsepower @ 5500 RPM. 710 lb.-ft. torque @ 4500 rpm. Pump gas.

Front sump: https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-572DF

Rear sump: https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-572DR

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

Ford Performance catalog still lists big block crate engines. 572 CID. 655 Horsepower @ 5500 RPM. 710 lb.-ft. torque @ 4500 rpm. Pump gas.

Front sump: https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-572DF

Rear sump: https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-572DR

I'm not surprised and maybe was even aware of the crate engines but the original query was directed at modern production vehicles.

[jbmatth]

I've been working on the wiring some now that I have the harness and controller in, harness fit under the intake, everything fits except for the knock sensor on the driver's side, it is about 2" too short. I'll also have to weld on a new O2 bung, the one on now is just a little too high and the sensor hits the body of the car. Engine bay:


I'm also correcting a few past sins in the wiring behind the dash, some were me, some were the original builder, ignition switch before:


Ignition switch now with some ties to make it a little more managible:


Slowly getting there, but the temps have been just too cold to get much done this week, but hope to get most of it completed this weekend. Then all that is left is getting the intake.

JB

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I'm not surprised and maybe was even aware of the crate engines but the original query was directed at modern production vehicles.

I was of a similar opinion until just recently Tony. I somehow missed the car below in Ford's 2003 SEMA Show booth. It qualifies (in my book) for the tightest engine fit I have ever seen.
FRPP unbelievably built two of these RS8 Focus vehicles using their FR500-C Modmotor racing engine for power. Dimensionally (width and height-wise), Modmotors are actually larger
than a 427 SOHC! Here is a pic of the lone survivor;



The other car was crushed, as Ford so often does when they don't want the item circulating in the real world. Amazingly this copy escaped the crusher and is now residing in Scotland.

Ford commissioned McLaren to do both builds and the workmanship is typical over the top McLaren.

Here is the car in the driveway of the current owner residing in Scotland;



Definitely waay cool and my bet is that, today, it is likely worth a king's ransom.

p.s. Here is a closer look at the underhood fit;

[Tom Wells]

Ed,

To add to what you were describing, here's a link: https://kugelkomponents.com/focus-v-8/

Don't really know whether it is still viable...

Looked at these before I built my 1981 Mercury Zephyr wagon with the 557, but that's another story.

There was a dealer for these near me in Tavares Florida who had a couple of them built and could supply parts when I visited him around 7-8(?) years ago. I almost put the 557 into a Focus wagon instead, as it clearly would fit, along with the automatic and 8.8 axle. Would have been a fun car, then and now.

Sorry for continuing the hijacked thread,

Tom

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by eschaider

I was of a similar opinion until just recently Tony. I somehow missed the car below in Ford's 2003 SEMA Show booth. It qualifies (in my book) for the tightest engine fit I have ever seen.
FRPP unbelievably built two of these RS8 Focus vehicles using their FR500-C Modmotor racing engine for power. Dimensionally (width and height-wise), Modmotors are actually larger
than a 427 SOHC! Here is a pic of the lone survivor;

I think the tightest fit I ever saw was a cammer in a Cobra. Or for that matter, a Cammer in almost anything.

[Grubby]

I just had a 496 built that was based on a BBM 427 block. The shape of the combustion chambers looked modern and Lykins used thin rings like a modern engine.

The result is an engine that looks like a 60's side oiler but has the performance of a modern "big block". 640 HP for a mild build with great street manners.

John

[jbmatth]

Originally Posted by Grubby

I just had a 496 built that was based on a BBM 427 block. The shape of the combustion chambers looked modern and Lykins used thin rings like a modern engine.

The result is an engine that looks like a 60's side oiler but has the performance of a modern "big block". 640 HP for a mild build with great street manners.

John

John,
Now that looks like a ton of fun, any way to make good reliable power is a win, good luck with your build.


All,
In other news I did some more wiring this weekend and only have 3 circuits left, main power to the controller, extend the drivers side knock sensor, and finish installing the O2 sensor. I installed the new bung this weekend and was called away before I could finish. I went through a ton of connectors and shrink tube, ruined the starter coil by trying to stack too many terminals on it so I ordered a power distribution block that should help out with that.

JB

[jbmatth]

I received my intake on Tuesday from DCE out of Connecticut, I should have received it Friday but UPS had other plans. I finished up everything needed to install it, I did have to move my fuel pressure regulator up a couple inches, but after that it bolted right on:


After that I finished the last few connections for the gauges and alternator I wanted to wait on until the intake was installed, I'm stoked about the way it turned out:


I then tried to start the car, it would only crank but not fire. I ended up finding out the battery in the car would charge to 12.3ish volts, key on the fuel pump kicks on, voltage drops to 10 something volts and wouldn't recover once the pump was primed. I changed the battery out and it fired right up. Here is a short video: First Start Video

Sadly my tach got filled with water, likely because I have a few leaks in the shop but thought it was in a "save place", that was not the case, that caused the glue to go on the needle. The tach was acting up last year so it was time to be replaced anyway. These are no longer in production so I went with Autometer this time, not ideal but I'll switch them all out eventually.

I have a bit more to put back together and it'll be ready to drive around in just a few days. Woo Hoo!!

JB

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by jbmatth

I received my intake on Tuesday from DCE out of Connecticut, I should have received it Friday but UPS had other plans. I finished up everything needed to install it, I did have to move my fuel pressure regulator up a couple inches, but after that it bolted right on:

After that I finished the last few connections for the gauges and alternator I wanted to wait on until the intake was installed, I'm stoked about the way it turned out:

I then tried to start the car, it would only crank but not fire. I ended up finding out the battery in the car would charge to 12.3ish volts, key on the fuel pump kicks on, voltage drops to 10 something volts and wouldn't recover once the pump was primed. I changed the battery out and it fired right up. Here is a short video:

Sadly my tach got filled with water, likely because I have a few leaks in the shop but thought it was in a "save place", that was not the case, that caused the glue to go on the needle. The tach was acting up last year so it was time to be replaced anyway. These are no longer in production so I went with Autometer this time, not ideal but I'll switch them all out eventually.

I have a bit more to put back together and it'll be ready to drive around in just a few days. Woo Hoo!!

JB

Congratulations!

Intake looks good, BTW.

[PDUB]

The welds on that intake are incredibly consistent! Great progress!

[jbmatth]

Originally Posted by PDUB

The welds on that intake are incredibly consistent! Great progress!

I was very impressed with them, they look nothing like the last time I tried to TIG aluminum.

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

Congratulations!

Intake looks good, BTW.

Thank you, it was a great feeling, sad that I've been working on this thing for so long and have so much tied up in it and just now hearing it run.

JB

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by jbmatth

... sad that I've been working on this thing for so long and have so much tied up in it and just now hearing it run.
JB

Well... we need to hear it run, too! Please post a vid!

[jbmatth]

Originally Posted by PDUB

Well... we need to hear it run, too! Please post a vid!

There is a video in post 83 above, I'll throw a link in here too for ya.

First Start Video

JB

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by jbmatth

There is a video in post 83 above, I'll throw a link in here too for ya.

First Start Video

JB

Sorry, I missed that... in post 52! Sounds healthy! Congrats and great work!

[jbmatth]

Originally Posted by PDUB

Sorry, I missed that... in post 52! Sounds healthy! Congrats and great work!

Not sure how I messed up the numbers, with that attention to detail I can't believe this car ever came together.

JB

[jbmatth]

I knocked a few things off of the punch list this weekend while waiting on the oil pressure regulator, new tach is installed and really makes the old gauges look grungy:


I also checked and adjusted pinion angle, put in a new exhaust seal at the side pipe to header flange, final mounted the TB, and installed the hood which surprisingly fit like a glove:


A very tight glove but no contact, I have a very small amount of clearance as you can see, very small but it fits, with the poly motor mounts I don't think I'll make contact but time will tell. That is all I could get photos to upload to show sadly but small steps.

JB