Should I sell my 347 and go for 393 windsor?

[hi-tech cobra]

I've got the Eagle all forged 347 stroker kit, a machined 302, and a billet steel flywheel. Nothing assembled yet. My goal was low budget power. Now I'm starting to think before going any further $ wise, I should ebay that stuff and go with a stroked windsor (393). Anyone else been in this dilemma?
The 347 will give me at max 375-400 hp. The 393 - maybe closer to 500.
Would the 347 beat the windsor on a road course? Is it incorrect to think the 347 would wind up quicker and be zippier?

[Clois Harlan]

I have a friend in Phoenix that has a 331 stroker and he turns some very good times on a road course and in fact came in second in the sb class modified at Run and Gun. I also have another friend in St. Louis that has a 289 (worked a little) that turns out over 500 hp. Both are very competitive on the road course. Sometimes it's not all about Cu inches.

Clois

[hi-tech cobra]

Thanks Clois,
Yea, I'm probably going to be fine with the 347. I love the sound of a screaming, free revving small block.

Does anyone have links / diagrams showing a 347 build. I am particularly interested in the procedure to notch the block.

Tell me if I'm wrong but this is how I'm going to do it:
*Get some cheap main bearings lube them up, lay the crank in.
*Insert piston/rod into an oiled (motor oil?) cylinder. (no rings on pistons)
*Rotate crank and mark the areas on the block and oil pump that need to be shaved.

Or if someone could give me an alternative, I'm listening.

[Buzzmobile]

well, you are gonna need some duct tape, vasoline, bungie cord and a midget. trust me on this, I built one just like yours!

(just couldn't resist...it just reminded me of some of the answers to tech questions I have seen on CC before.....smiles)


good luck on your motor, I love wrenching on new stuff

Buzz

[hi-tech cobra]

Buzz,
Thank you for the info, I am currently assembling your list of needed items. I am overcome with a strong sense of assurance from you post, knowing exactly what I need to do!

[Clois Harlan]

Hi-Tech

Give Keith Craft a call he could tell you how to do it. And then buy your heads from Keith Craft and you will be a very happy camper.

Clois

[pmfranke]

I did the stroked 351 ,came out to 402.with 60 over forged pistons. sometimes it is a little too much for the street ,hard to drive in parking lots.it has taken me 500 miles to learn how to drive it and my 15 year old son won't drive with me any more. but you know what they say "too much is'nt enough". It's scary to think i'm getting used to it.

[hi-tech cobra]

Clois,
I already have GT-40x alum heads ported by a NASCAR shop in NC. I hope they will not hold my engine back (valve size).

[69 Mach I]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

I've got the Eagle all forged 347 stroker kit, a machined 302, and a billet steel flywheel. Nothing assembled yet. My goal was low budget power. Now I'm starting to think before going any further $ wise, I should ebay that stuff and go with a stroked windsor (393). Anyone else been in this dilemma?
The 347 will give me at max 375-400 hp. The 393 - maybe closer to 500.
Would the 347 beat the windsor on a road course? Is it incorrect to think the 347 would wind up quicker and be zippier?

you can do better than 400 hp with a 347. Ford Racing sells a stroker crate engine with the Z heads that puts out 450 hp. If you swap your ported GT 40 heads for the Zs or some AFRs or Trick Flows and get a matching cam, you can easily surpass 450 hp and get into the 475 hp range. How much do you need for a street car anyway?

[Michael P. Wole]

For the street: never enough....more is better

[Lowell W]

Sometimes it's not all about Cu inches.

Entirely true, but it seems to me (and the "Cobras for Sale" ads seem to bear this out), that many guys go for radical, big horespower packages and then sell their cars with few miles on them as they're such PIA's to drive.

With more displacement, you can make as much power in a milder state of tune, therefore giving you a more dependable motor that's easier to live with.

Not trying to make your mind up for you; it's just another item to consider...

Lowell

[dlampe]

I think it is a stretch to assume they sell there cars as a result of the engine build. It is more likely the rough ride, leaky roof, cramped quarters, loud pipes, or a number of any other reasons. The 302 is going to be much lighter. The 351 does have more cubes. Here is what it comes down to with HP, Your enigine is an air pump. Bigger cubes will move more air at lower RPM's. But it has little to do with the HP of the engine, just where the HP is. If you have small pipes or the wrong carb your air flow will get screwed up regardless of the cubes. Smaller engines need to rotate faster to to move the same amount of air. That means it will find its power later in the curve. Your speed on a road course is not going to be determined primarily by your engine. Instead by your chassis set up and the size of your stones!

Most of use are guilty of focusing to much on the engine. Build what you have. You will still have more car than you need, but it will always be less than you think you want!

[hi-tech cobra]

I've had a 427so car and a 289 car. Enjoyed the 289 much more...better on the street and on the track. The car enjoyed as much admiration as the big block car.

Having driven Formula Fords, the lack of power can actually be a good thing. I just want it to pull hard out of a curve.

I've decided to stick with the 347. If the block cracks in half, I go with a Dart block.

[trctrdrvr]

This should help you with notching you're block, I've been thinking of doing the same thing

Mike

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...46573530QQrdZ1

[hi-tech cobra]

Thanks Mike...just ordered it.

[Philm]

I have built a new small block engine for my cobra. I started with a new 302 dart block with the 4.125 bore. Stroked it with a forged crank, rods and pistons. Solid roller cam, dart pro heads and an aussie made 8 throttle body efi system. I have a Motec M48 running the thing and i could not be happier with the engine.

It is very well behaved on the street, my wife actually drives and races it more than I do.

I had it on the dyno today for a check up and to tweak a few things, the engine had 410RWHP at 6500rpm and a torque curve that flatlined straight away at 350 Foot pounds. We can get more out of it but I don't really have to.

For the weight of the car the power is a little over the top, but I am sure I will get use to it.

For me you cannot beat a stroked 302 windsor.

Phil

[hi-tech cobra]

Phil, thanks for the post. I saw your gallery...great looking motor! I just read an article in 5.0 magazine. They did the same 4.125 overbore on an 'R' block. The article stated the larger bore and longer piston skirt would eliminate the piston rock problem regular 347's have.
I am weighing my options now, and considering going with a similar setup-maybe the new Ford 302 boss block. Friends are telling me it's overkill. What do you think?

[Philm]

The new aftermarket blocks are so much better than any ford production block. The relatively low cost make them very attractive.

We have receintly seen a 302 windsor split completely in half. The motor was only a few hours old after a complete rebuild which included a stroker kit. Warren now runs an SVO block and has had no problems.

It all depends on your budget, I would go for a dart block or similar as when pushing the limits on power you will know that the block will not let you down.

Good Luck

Phil

[hssss]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

Should I sell my 347 and go for 393 windsor?

Yes...........

[hi-tech cobra]

Too Late hsss...already committed. 302 roller block, forged Eagle rotating assembly, SRP pistons, ported GT40x heads, 650 Holley carb, CC Pro Magnum rockers, billet flywheel, MSD dist, alum fab valve covers, and a TCI harmonic balancer. All I need now is a Edelbrock Air Gap, water pump, roller lifters, timing chain, push rods (length yet to be determined), and Lakewood bell-housing. Not a big block but it will do the job.

Still deciding if the new Boss 302 (comes out Jan 07) will get thrown into the mix. But I'll need diff pistons (.125 overbore), diff heads (AFR 205's) and a diff carb.

But thanks for the input.