CHP 347e Street Fighter

[Dangerous Doug]

Anyone running the Coast High Performance 347e Street Fighter? The "e" is for "Emissions" and this short block carries a C.A.R.B number, as it is designed for emisions compliance.

I am considering this engine for my 289FIA, and am wondering if there are any other Cobra's (or Mustangs, or Falcons, or Ranchero's...) running this engine.

I had them quote a 347e short block, hi-vol oil pump w/shaft, canton T pan w/pickup, flywheel, balancer, timing cover, AFR 185 heads (stage 1), roller rockers, push rods, ARP bolts throughout.

I like the idea of being "emissions responsible" (perhaps I live too close to Santa Cruz...). I don't think it's absolutely necessary though, given SB100.

Any satisfied/dissatisfied CHP customers out there?

Cheers,
DD

[wtm442]

Took a picture of the side of a Cobra at the FFR Open House. I liked the emblem. Do not know his name.

[Pete Munroe]

From what I remember reading about the 347" CHP the "E" version is optimized for favorable piston/pin placement to minimize piston rocking due to the low rod ratio, and a less compromised oil-ring placement than you get in a typical 347" stoker.

Something about cylinder wear/ring wear being low enough to keep from getting more blowby, whatever, for at least 50,000 miles...whatever it takes to meet CARB certification.

They ran the tests and got the CARB certification to prove it.

I do not think there is anything inherently cleaner in the combustion chamber size/shape. Mainly, it is a C.A.R.B. LEGAL way to get a stroked 302/347 in a smoged Mustang 302.

The low emissions is due to retaining the stock cam, fuel-injection, cats, etc that came with a smog-legal engine, and MUST be reinstalled to be legal.

You just get a legal way to stroke the engine for more cubes.

Really, CALL CHP and ask what the intended purpose of that configuration is...they have lots of engine configurations, see what they recommend for a performance oriented, low annual miles replica.

Is Scotts Valley across from Shasta? Living in the shadow of Mt. SHASTA...if that baby ever blows ala' Mt. Saint Helens, it will really make Cobra emissions seem...silly.

Teasing...sort of.

You could avoid a "racing rich Holley double pumper" if you want to make a token effort.

Pete

[woody1]

Call eric at CHP talk to him

[Rick Parker]

If its emissions legal it will be too tame, Santa Cruz or not. Get it on the raged edge! Thats when it RUNS!

[Pete Munroe]

Woody,

At the Coast High Performance website they have a press article explaining the reason why for the 347 "E" stroker rod/pin/ring/ combo:

"...George Klass of CHP explained to us their year-long effort to get the 347 "E" Street Fighter short-block legalized. Beyond applying with the difficult and necessary paperwork, getting assigned a CARB approval station, and getting the car tested (before and after), there was the actual process of reconfiguring the 347 Street Fighter for it's new "Emissions-Legal" status.

Remember, CHP already has an excellent 347 Street Fighter short-block (also available in kit form) so they didn't have to start with a fresh sheet of paper. Klass explained that one of the best advantages CHP had with the 347 in the smog fight was the Blue Thunder 5.315-inch rod, versus the 5.400-inch rod normally sold in 347ci stroker kits. With the shorter rod, Coast was able to place the wristpin underneath the oil-ring land, allowing better oil control--an important factor when you have a sniffer checking for burnt hydrocarbons. Klass explained that Coast still sells the 5.400-inch rod for non-emission-conscious applications, and that it's a good, strong, viable combination.

However, the shorter rod will provide better oil control, thus increasing engine longevity and ring seal. Another less visible advantage of the shorter rod is that a longer, fuller piston skirt design was possible.

The 347 "E" short-block is only available with 9.5:1 compression, giving the piston a slight dish.

Of course, the really interesting thing about EPA and CARB legality is that a person can't see past cast-iron--meaning, how could anyone possibly know what kind of stroker or stroker short-block you really have under your hood? Well, a police officer, or visible inspection won't reveal the truth--but a smog test after 10,000 miles certainly can. The CHP 347 "E" has been tested and approved by CARB to be a smog-legal replacement for '88-to-'95 5.0-equipped vehicles.

When you buy a 347 "E" short-block, you also get an exemption sticker/certificate that you can present to anyone doing smog testing. As explained by Klass, there are some interesting aspects to the 50-state smog testing. Even if you purchase Coast's 347 "E" short-block, and bolt-on a set of 50-state legal TFS Twisted Wedge heads, GT-40 intake manifold, and smog-legal headers---the combination may not pass a smog test, although it's very likely that it will. The reason for this is because when CARB tests a part for smog legality (such as an intake manifold), it leaves the rest of the engine stock. So, by adding together combinations of emissions-legal parts, you are legal by the letter of the law, but it is no guarantee of actually passing a sniffer test."

On the 347" I built, I used the 5.40 inch rod.

Pete

[woody1]

George Klass, holy cow, that atleast 10 years ago anywho, I dont know much about cali in particular, but judging from the several dozens of 5.400, 347 kits I have sent there, I am under the assumption the problem with passing is greatly exaggerated, take it at face value I guess. In my 17 years of building nothing but small blocks, I have seen quite alot of weird stuff go on.