427 (351W stroker) opinions...

galaxy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 04:37 PM

Anyone have any experience or info on running a 351W stroker 427 as far as the typical 'stroker' concerns like, rod ratio, oil control, etc?? Is this a good way to go?? Dependable?? RPM range??

Any inputs or opinions/experience would be great. Thanks...

Todd Baumann · #2 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 05:09 PM

Do a search there are plenty of replies on this topic already. Search on the different companies also.
Todd

Tony Radford · #3 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 07:02 PM

Galaxy, I have one under construction as we speak. I've been running a 400 HP stock stroke Windsor for the past year and a half. My new stroker should make 500+ HP and considerably more torque. My engine builder, Southern Automotive Engineering in South Atlanta is a "bottoms up" engine designer/builder and has it almost finished. I am excited.

ToyCollector · #4 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 07:48 PM

Tony, I was at Southern the other day and could not see your motor. I did try to look at something that should have been a Cobra motor but just saw my reflection. Actually, if I stood at the right angles it was like a funhouse mirror and made me look skinny

This mirror thing has some nice alternator mounts that we put on my Hemi motor, fit like a glove. I am sure you will cherish the authentic 1950's era brackets we swapped with you

.

BlackBDR · #5 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 08:39 PM

Galaxy (as in C-5A?),

We ended up buying a car that had a non stroked 351W in it but prior to buying it I was looking into a stroked 351. The combinations that everyone seemed to be voicing preferences for were 408 or 417. The warning I kept hearing with the 427 combo was the piston pin is very high in the piston and effects the area left for rings. Oil control can be a problem. Roush is using a 402 combo with over 500 hp. You don't say where in California you're located but if you're at March, you're very close to Speed-O-Motive in Pomona.

galaxy · #6 (**permalink**) 10-03-2003, 08:53 PM

Yes, as in C-5. Very good. You're the first one to guess correctly. B though...All the A's are with the guard in Westover MA, or converted. I'm at Travis, Sacramento area.

That's what I was thinking about with the 427 so probably not the best choice to go with for longevity??

Do stroker motors, even like a 347 (302 based) give up upper RPM for that low end grunt? Does one stroker size have any benefits over another or is it just the all mighty quest for cubic inches?? Does the 408 have any rod ratio/piston concerns like the 427? This was a big deal in the early 347 days and I think that's why alot of people like the 331. I know the 393 is a good set up, but hey, doesn't everyone want to go as big as they can??

wilf leek · #7 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 05:21 AM

I claim to be no stroker guru, but the piston speed calculations (done by the Butcher a while ago) would seem to indicate rev limits of the order of 6000 for a 408 or larger stroker. If you want an 8000rpm screamer, a stroker is not the way to go. For pure track use, the screamer may well be better.

I stuck with the 408 rather than go to the 427 in order to keep the piston rings out of the wrist pin area, and so I could use the longest rods I could to improve that rod ratio (6.2" as I recall, giving a rod ratio just over 1.5 with the 4" stroke).

Due to height limitations under the hood, I can only fit a dual plane Performer RPM, so the engine naturally starts to breath less well from 5500rpm up. If I could fit a Vic jr intake I guess the rpm limit could move up, but I do like the sheer drive-ability of my current set up - it's docile in traffic, but pulls like a demon from 3000 rpm up (would run better low down with a smaller carb). Of course, all this is dependant on the choice of cam as much as anything else.

HTH

Tony Radford · #8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 05:37 AM

Mike, no problem on the brackets as long as they're shiny. Please remind Lewis he needs to install the valves before he torques the heads. I figure, since I'm so lazy about detailing, I needed something dirt wouldn't stick to. I just want to get a "best engine" award at one of the shows so I can hang it in the SAE showroom.

Ron61 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 06:58 AM

Galaxy,

I live in the Redding area and mine is stroked to 416 and I had it built in 1997. Power peaks at 5900-6100 RPm and torque is around 5000-5300. I have had it hit 7,000 RPMs a couple of times when I hit a slick spot or such but have never had a problem with it. I have a friend who has his stroked to 410 and he has much more power than I do and regularly runs it around the 6500 range and he has never had a problem except for the small tree that jumped in front of him several years ago.

Ron

galaxy · #10 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 10:46 AM

I know cam selection is crutial but, are AFR 185's and Performer RPM Air Gap enough to feed a 408 in something up to around 6500 rpm? I guess the point of strokers is you don't need all that much rpm. That's my plan anyways, and 10.5:1.

machineman · #11 (**permalink**) 10-04-2003, 07:34 PM

check out perfeng.cc they build a dart engine w/4.000stroke/4.125bore/w/6.200rodsw/205afr heads w/mild cam will make over 525HP.

STCinc · #12 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 07:58 PM

Just finished a DART 427 stroker. 4.185 bore x 4 stroke with 6in eagle "H" rods, mild cam (16in vacuum at 1000rpm, 21in at 1600rpm).
Running a Holley 4150 carb (750cfm) and Brodix heads, MSD ign.
75 square jets for a bit more fuel, mechanical advance in the MSD (18deg max movement) base is at 16deg wot 34deg. I will give up a bit of HP for reliability.

Dyno showed 502hp at 5600rpm. 521 ft lbs at 3600rpm. Torque curve showed aver 500ft lbs from 3000rpm on up....
Yes, the engine produces over 500hp, but more important to my requirement is that the engine will idle and be very drivable. I will have my 500hp, a very strong bottom end of both the engine and acceleration, but I have a reliable, driveable package that should give many happy years of service!!!!!!

MANY THANKS to Lee and the guys at Lab Machine in NY for building such a package!

galaxy · #13 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 09:16 PM

What are you guys doing for crankcase ventilation?? PCV valves, breather caps in the valve covers, breather tank set up, what????

Keithc8 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 09:29 PM

There are several ways to build a 427C.I. stroker 351W engine. Will you ue a stock block or aftermarket block. If you use stock block you have to use a 4.187 stroke with a 4.030 bore, with the aftermarket block you can go 4.125 stroke and a 4.000 stroke. The larger bore and the 4.000 stroke works great. We have built these with 10.75 compression that run on pump gas and make over 600HP with 575 to 600ft/bls torque. The main thing is how much do you want to spend. The stock block way I recommend a 408 or 410 or a 418 which has a 4.100 stroke. We just finished a 4.100 stroke 4.30 bore 351W for a customer that made 600HP and 575ft/bls torque. this engine was done with a Ford Racing sportsman block, hydralic roller and will run on pump gas. This engine ran about 11,500.00 of the dyno. We do 408/410 stroker that make 525HP and 550ft/bls torque for about 5500.00. These 351W are the best buy going for performance for the dollar. Oh they will aslo turn 8000rpm's with a solid roller if that is what a guy wants. The pin does not go into the oil ring on any of these combinations and oil usage is not a problem. We have been doing these for over 10 years with great succes. Good luck, Keith Craft

galaxy · #15 (**permalink**) 10-05-2003, 09:39 PM

Hey, thanks for chiming in. After all the recommendations in here, you were definately at the top of my list. Do I call and ask for you when you have time to go over this??? Thanks

Keithc8 · #16 (**permalink**) 10-15-2003, 11:11 PM

Galaxy, just give me a call at the shop and tell them you have been talking to me on the cobra web sight because it is hard to get every call. we can talk about all sorts of options for your application and needs. Thanks