New Keith Craft Motor - Page 2

66 snake · #21 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 05:04 PM

Gary,
I think you're right about he solid roller cams. No more time than we put on these motors, adjustments shouldn't be an issue.

What do you think about idle? Hydraulic vs. solid. I want to idle in the 800 RPM range. I don't care if it's rough.

Also, I may need the HP increase due to the fact that we had to scrap the 1" spacer under carb. (a 5-15 HP loss) and cut 13/16" out of the motor mounts for hood clearance. This lead to trimming the Canton pan and pick-up 1/2"

Do you think I might could get with you and Drew to get some final measurements on top end hardware? (I think Drew's has almost the same equipment on top.)

66 snake · #22 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 05:09 PM

I bought my Lonestar already built. But did some checking around before I chose a manufacturer. I had planned to build one myself and happened across the one I have now. The guy had finished it a few months before and had to let it go. He built it on site at Lonestar. He seemed very pleased with them during the process. I've dealt with them several times since I bought it and have been very happy with the tech and customer support. No problems with the car. I just want more HP!!

The person you should probably check with is Jim Woodard. He seems to be the ultimate Lonestar expert. And has a car that is just beautiful.

66 snake · #23 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 05:12 PM

Sorry think I'll stay with the stroker. I have a feeling this ones going to be a beast.

JBAIRD · #24 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 05:40 PM

No one has a prettier and more finely refined and cared for Lone Star than Jim Woodard's. Do check with him, because he definately knows what he's talking about, and Jim is a super guy and a great person.

gsharapa · #25 (**permalink**) 02-06-2003, 06:47 PM

66Snake,

Drew's car idles all day long at 800 rpm and has the sound and thump of a big block. I also love the sound of lumping cam but more importantly the instant throttle response. I've driven a lot of Cobras and even my Paxton Supercharged car did not have the streetable feel and throttle response that Drew's 418 stroker has. I commented to Drew last Sunday that I was more impressed with this 418 than my 514 big block stroker I had in my last car. Both were over 600 HP but I couldn't get the power to the ground on the 514 as the tork curve was down too low. Drew's 418 has the tork curve coming in higher and it actually gets most of the power down to the ground. I'd love to put a set of Drag Radials on it and see what it really would do. Car would have to be in the mid to low 9s...........

TerrySPF,

What part of Chicago do you live in? That's my home town, born in Berwyn and grew up in Downers Grove and a high reving light car, is what you want stop light to stop light. When I lived up there I had everything from Boss 302, 351, Boss 429, Blown 34 Coupe, even a few vettes, sorry even a Ford guy makes a few mistakes...etc. and all our fun was stop light to stop light. These SPFs are perfect with the 3:73 gears and high reving small block stroker and no one will touch you. Trust Me!
You know, it's funny I keep pushing Drew's motor and car. I should be telling you all that it's not streetable, the solid roller stinks and if I were you I'd build a big block. Then if my Ford Stock comes back I can buy it and blow all of you off the road!!!!!!!!

ThePidler · #26 (**permalink**) 02-07-2003, 06:50 PM

This rocks...

I have been talking to Jimmy at Keith Craft's about building their 408. Man, there aint nothin' like the g's from a sb ford stroker pumpin about 100 hp shot of nitros. How about that 418!

Wow! 600hp, 66 snake, you ever point one of those North? Not me, low 12's 'bout all I been, takes a special kinda person to handle the 10's...let alone 9's. I dunno if you'd ever get a kit cobra to do 9's w/out major mods to get 'er to hook up??? I guess my Lonestar will weigh about 2200 WITH my fat a$$. hello...

Anyway, Keith Craft, I guess that you really liked their set-up? I'm thinking 'bout putting one of their rotating assby's in my '69 4 brl 351w, doin'a 408 with Brodix heads. I guess block height is a problem so I need some 73 cc heads to keep the CR dowm 101/2:1 or less... Oh well..

As we speak I am waiting on a quote from Jimmy on the 408. I can't wait!

66 snake · #27 (**permalink**) 02-07-2003, 07:44 PM

hook up might be a problem so I'm changing rear rubber to those fat 315-35-17s, should be a veeerrry scary ride

jbaird's SPF hooks up just fine from what I hear and his 418 is pushing more HP than this one will have.

ItsOnlyMoney · #28 (**permalink**) 02-07-2003, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James Baldwin

This thread makes me want to buy a smallblock stroker..

Anyone want to trade me for a measley little Aluminum Shelby motor?

James,

I'm still thinking about it .... how much $$$$ are you going to add to sweeten to pot

David ( Just a Little 392 Stroker. Was that little Gary Morris I just passed?)

James Baldwin · #29 (**permalink**) 02-07-2003, 09:28 PM

David,

sweeten the pot???

Well that is a tough question to answer...

For one, I actually really like my little 200 hp sleeper motor so it is hard to part with it.

and two... I would have to add such a premium to the price for allowing it to end up in a RED Cobra that you probably wouldn't want it anyway!!!

ItsOnlyMoney · #30 (**permalink**) 02-07-2003, 09:41 PM

James,

Let me sleep on it. I'll get back with ya.

David

TerrysSPF · #31 (**permalink**) 02-07-2003, 10:36 PM

gsharapa: I moved to Chicago in the late 80's and lived in Lombard for awhile, then moved to Glenn Ellyn, and now live in Naperville. I head out to Downers alot on friday nights in the summer because they have a car show almost every week! They cruise and park all along Main Street. I also buy most of my clothes at Herberts right there on Main St. I like that town a lot(Naperville is getting too crouded - 140K people!) and we go there quite often for dinner as well. Looking to get out of Naperville and head further south. Wife likes Oswego Ill........... I'm thinkin' more in the lines of Clearwater Florida!!

Ok you guys in Texas.............Let's line 'em up - No B.S.
Who would come out on top 0 - 60 and 1/4 mile :
Drew's Keith Craft 418 Stroker (or) Baldwin's 468 Shelby alum. ??

....and Drew, what are you building NOW? Is it a secret??
P.S. Did you get your pictures in the mail?

James Baldwin · #32 (**permalink**) 02-07-2003, 11:12 PM

Terry,

Give me half a track headstart... it is no 650 hp monster but I can pass cars on the freeway from time to time.

..

Naperville is quite nice. I worked in Wheeling/Northbrook for 5 years and almost moved there.

JBAIRD · #33 (**permalink**) 02-08-2003, 05:09 AM

Terry, No i didn't get my pics. And I'm not building anything at the moment. I told you why I'm selling. I also have an alum shelby block in my possession that has been sitting at Keith Craft racing for months now.

CCX33911 · #34 (**permalink**) 02-08-2003, 09:05 AM

My 0.02 worth.

In case some of you missed it. I had my motor built by KC. Looks good so far, but car will not be on the road for another 1.5 months. You can look at my web site www.2gmotorsports.com to see the specs on the engine and dyno pulls compared with a dyno 2000 simulation (under Dart 427W button). It has a hyd. roller setup and made 615 HP and 619 ft-lbs of torque. Concerning my decision to go with a hyd. roller, I will not need or want to run the motor above 6500 RPM (still making ~600 HP, 500 ft-lbs at 6300) as I can just shift and go back to the 619 ft-lb torque peak. If I would have built the engine with billet crank and rods (not 4340 Scat stuff) then I would be more tempeted to spin it up. With the package that I have I do not need to spin it above 6500 as it makes peak power at 5600. With the big displacement and AFR 225's it makes good torque (550 ft-lb at 3400 RPM) down low, etc.

Thanks

gsharapa · #35 (**permalink**) 02-08-2003, 09:20 AM

TerrySPF,

Herberts! That place has been there since the 50s. My parents use to buy our school clothes there. Of course that was before shopping malls and all the current high end stuff now.

I actually graduated from Downers Grove High School South in 1970 and was part of the big car scene there. We use to have a car club (BTRs) Big Time Racers.... I have a bunch of freinds and relatives there still, with some pretty neat cars. Many go to the cruise night down town in the summer. No cobras but Hemi GTX, Blown Street rods and even a 64 Sox and Martin Dodge! Went to college in Wis and move back to Naperville for about 8 years and then left for Detroit in 1987.

Hope we haven't confused you too much in these threads, but what everyone suggest, is what you need to do. Go look and drive the car you are interested in. Many of us have had several of these Cobras (this will be my 4th) and we have been through the big/small block questions, strokers, high HP vs. streetablity
etc. It really comes down to what you want to do with the car and what kind of bragging rights you are looking for.
I can tell you that, you would not be disappointed with Drew's car if that is the direction/combination you are looking at, as Drew did it right!

gsharapa · #36 (**permalink**) 02-08-2003, 09:24 AM

Gary,

So what's going in the GT40 the Dart427W or the FE 427?

CCX33911 · #37 (**permalink**) 02-08-2003, 11:08 AM

Gary,
The Dart is going in the GT40, and the 427 FE is in a Contemporary Cobra that I have been building for quite some time. I am going to have the GT40 finished soon and can get back to the Cobra.

Thanks
Gary