FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: blykins on May 21, 2025, 02:18:58 PM
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....out of a wedge headed, naturally aspirated Ford FE?
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Both Kuntz & Co. and Thor have produced over 1000hp NA. Can't remember who did the work on Thors engine, but pretty sure he did the majority of it.
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The engine that Thor did dynoed at 1100 HP, if I recall correctly. This was with heads that flowed about 450 cfm, again IIRC. My conclusion at the time was that was a VERY happy dyno. The engine's owner told me (before he passed away) that the car's performance at the race track did not back up the dyno number.
My 585" SOHC, with heads that flow 465, made 1003 HP. My car went 8.88 and 150 MPH at 3250 pounds, which is about right for that power level.
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Just a guess, but my guess on HP/CI would be Ray Paquet’s Super Stock T-Bolt, since he’s limited by the rules to a little over 427 Cubic Inches.
A guess because I don’t know that Ray is going to tell us the real HP number ;)
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The FE in Jim Gonias 66 Fairlane dynoed at over 1000 HP, and ran 8.80s in his shock tower equipped , non tube chassis car.
No idea how much power the FE in Jim Van Cleves 67 Fairlane is, but it ran 8.31 at the recent FE race at Muncie recently, and is also a non tube chassis , shock tower equipped car, and believe it still weighs over 3000 pounds.
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im hoping one day i can get one of the top Fe engine builders in the world to build me a max effort street race engine. no need to mention any names we all know who they are!
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https://youtu.be/OF6yJscOp58?si=K4cHNGiddiqgHRZ_
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https://youtu.be/OF6yJscOp58?si=K4cHNGiddiqgHRZ_
Is that a "real" FE head?
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https://youtu.be/OF6yJscOp58?si=K4cHNGiddiqgHRZ_
Is that a "real" FE head?
It was a billet head, if I recall correctly. Still a wedge though, unlike Jay's SOHC.
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It looks like it’s not designed like a normal FE head, the intake doesn’t make up part of the valve cover flange.
I guess I should have been more picky on my “wedge” comment. That’s essentially like a BBC or BBF head on an FE block, right?
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Just a guess, but my guess on HP/CI would be Ray Paquet’s Super Stock T-Bolt, since he’s limited by the rules to a little over 427 Cubic Inches.
No argument there. With the rules and CI limitation, I don't think anyone could beat Ray's numbers.
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Yes, those are the Visner billet heads I believe. I actually sent the wrong video.
These are cast FE heads highly worked by Jim and Jeff. Either Blue thunder or pro ports I would imagine
https://youtu.be/OKfWGll-Umw
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Randy Spohn's Falcon sure does ok.
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It looks like it’s not designed like a normal FE head, the intake doesn’t make up part of the valve cover flange.
I guess I should have been more picky on my “wedge” comment. That’s essentially like a BBC or BBF head on an FE block, right?
Brent it's like those SBF heads Kaase had (P38?) where the intake valve lays over sideways ,
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Randy Spohn's Falcon sure does ok.
Randy's Falcon engine dynoed at around 950 according to one of his friends. The car can run 8.30s, but it is a very light, tube frame car.
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I know of at least a couple BT high riser packages that went over a thousand - the Kuntz engine and the one Thor worked on for Gonia.
Both of those are a long time ago now, and I am certain that others have gone further - but they are not promoting their results.
I also hold the billet heads to a different standard.
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Jay Zolko has a set of those Visner billet heads sitting at his shop right now. I believe they are the only FE set that Visner has ever produced. All the other billet heads come from Ultra Pro. I'm assuming Jay is planning on taking a swing at that highest horsepower mark with those Visner heads.
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I’m getting ready to give it my best shot with a build featuring Jays heads. Ordered valves and the heads will go to the porter soon.
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I’m getting ready to give it my best shot with a build featuring Jays heads. Ordered valves and the heads will go to the porter soon.
How many cubes?
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Ray Paquet has been 8.42 @ 159mph at around 3,070lb. Has to be over 1,000hp or really close.
https://youtu.be/V7_kZyMoagk
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I’m getting ready to give it my best shot with a build featuring Jays heads. Ordered valves and the heads will go to the porter soon.
How many cubes?
Won’t be determined until we see what port volume and head flow ends up being.
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I also hold the billet heads to a different standard.
It would also stand to reason that Jay's heads would be in the same category. Moved intake ports, relocated valves and valve angles that require a completely revised valvetrain, raised exhaust, unable to use any stock type intake....all things associated with the billet heads, and that, for the most part, can't be accomplished on any stock type architecture, at least to the degree these heads go to. Even Pro Ports start with, and are limited to, port limitations based on stock architecture. Yes, it's splitting hairs, but that's where we're at with designs that push beyond the limits of what's possible with a "stock" type casting.
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The difference with my heads, which is why I built them, is the price. The billet heads are $10K just for the heads. Cost for my heads, intake adapter, and rocker arm system is a little over $6K. For under $10K you can put together the complete top end of the motor less carbs, including a single 4 or dual 4 intake, competition valve job, valves, springs, etc., and its good for 900 HP with no significant porting. Pretty sure Brent will get 1000+ with a major porting effort. The whole idea behind my head package is to get that kind of performance at about half the price of doing it any other way.
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Pretty easy to see……..Van Cleve’s has the most power, and Paquet’s has the most power per inch. Both of those engines have conventional FE cast cylinder heads. At 440-ish inches, and Super Stock legal, with 715 carbs, Ray’s car is awesome, and unmatched in terms of power per inch.
We didn’t go overboard on camshaft in Jim’s engine. It is 501 inches, but intended to be low maintenance. A Super Stock camshaft would make his car even faster, but would require very frequent valvetrain maintenance.
The non traditional heads should make more power than the inline, stock configuration, 13 degree valve angle heads. I’ve done one engine with four digit power. Numerous with 900+ power. About 15 years ago, I did a Super Stock 427 that went 8.60s, which was fast at that time. That “legal” engine made 892 hp at the time. Ray goes 8.40s now, so it’s safe to say his probably makes 940-ish power these days.
We are getting ready to run a 540 inch FE with billet heads. I am sure it will make really big power, but not apples to apples with conventional design heads.
The Cammer is king on OE design FE heads, in terms of flow, but the rocker ratio hurts the potential of the engine. There are really three categories of FEs now. Conventional wedge, SOHC, and modern redesigned stuff. The modern redesigns should dominate, but so far, the quickest FEs on earth in 2025 have conventional wedge heads.
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The difference with my heads, which is why I built them, is the price. The billet heads are $10K just for the heads. Cost for my heads, intake adapter, and rocker arm system is a little over $6K. For under $10K you can put together the complete top end of the motor less carbs, including a single 4 or dual 4 intake, competition valve job, valves, springs, etc., and its good for 900 HP with no significant porting. Pretty sure Brent will get 1000+ with a major porting effort. The whole idea behind my head package is to get that kind of performance at about half the price of doing it any other way.
My statement wasn't a jab, or meant to take anything away from your designs, just pointing out that they are in the "other" category as far as conventional FE heads are concerned.