FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: JohnN-1BADFE on February 22, 2021, 09:03:37 PM
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With the parts Jay is doing (heads, intakes, water pump adapters, etc.), the TFS heads/intakes, etc., what other FE engine components, drive-train components, etc. does the forum feel there is still a void for?
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A low cost 427 cylinder block. Currently guys look high and low for factory blocks which all too often turn out to be a waste of money, many times $2-3k and find out it is junk. Aftermarket you have BBM and Pond which are around $4-5k by the time you have the block and machine work done. A block in the $2,000 to $2,500 range I'd think would get a lot more takers, but I could be wrong. Beyond that some low cost forged 4.375" stroker crank to fill the void left since RPM stopped making them.
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You can build an entire FE without one single factory part. On the near horizon are Jay's hot heads, and the very real possibility of a new Tunnel Port head. Blocks are available but not plentiful. With Jay's intake adapter, you can run intakes you could only dream of a couple years back. We could use more variety in cranks. It's either poverty cast and a few forged cranks from Scat, or you have to go with what the fat cats run in billet.
We live in great times, no? Roll back the hands of time 20 years ago and it was pretty much factory stuff.
The only shortfalls with the FE are in the cammer world. That may be too exotic to support a viable aftermarket.
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I'm with 67xr7cat. A new 427 based iron block at a lower price point would be nice. It's just that we don't have the volume like the LS crowd to bring that cost down. IMO
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Maybe some cost effective FE bell housings that fit modern 4 and 6 speed automatic transmission
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A low cost 427 cylinder block. Currently guys look high and low for factory blocks which all too often turn out to be a waste of money, many times $2-3k and find out it is junk. Aftermarket you have BBM and Pond which are around $4-5k by the time you have the block and machine work done. A block in the $2,000 to $2,500 range I'd think would get a lot more takers, but I could be wrong. Beyond that some low cost forged 4.375" stroker crank to fill the void left since RPM stopped making them.
x2. I'd buy a new iron 427 block. I'll add that I want it American cast, and while $2500 would be awesome, I'd expect to pay more than that. I doubt the size of the FE market can support low cost blocks like SBC and SBF's. Personally I'd say $3000-3500 would be reasonable.
pl
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Really just joking, but why not buy a $200 105 block then bore it way over and sleeve it with 427 sleeves? Of course do some furnace welding/brazing. .
Then watch it leak and have no deck strength all for the "low low" price of $1800 + . AKA "poor mans 427" . Wes not taking a shot at you but you do things that no one else should try (in their right minds).
In reality I would like to see an exact replica of both C3 and C5 long tube CI exhaust manifolds for near $900.
Richard >>> FERoadster
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Really just joking, but why not buy a $200 105 block then bore it way over and sleeve it with 427 sleeves? Of course do some furnace welding/brazing. .
Then watch it leak and have no deck strength all for the "low low" price of $1800 + . AKA "poor mans 427" . Wes not taking a shot at you but you do things that no one else should try (in their right minds).
In reality I would like to see an exact replica of both C3 and C5 long tube CI exhaust manifolds for near $900.
Richard >>> FERoadster
I personally think a reproduction of the 352/390/406HP shorties in both original configuration and with outlets tweaked to fit other chassis(pickups and if possible Fairlane and Mustang)would be exposed to a much larger potential market.Minor changes to the outlet flange would allow them to be offered in both 2.5 and 3.0" outlets.
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Big bore FE block .....
Ricky.
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Since the 3.984, 428 cranks, only come in 2.438 journals, I think there might be a market for good rods (7/16 ARP, I or H beam or both), with a C/C length, of 6.61. With that rod length and .927 WP, you could use the common SBC piston type and compression height of 1.565. Of course they would work with 390 and 352 cranks, too. That length rod, with 410 pistons would work in a 390 with 975 pins.
For the .927 pin, there would be lots of relatively low cost pistons available.
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As everyone is stating, cheaper 427 blocks in the $2500 range would be nice. I'd say more readily accessible 2x4 MR intakes as well, as far as I know Blue Thunder is the only one making them. I have one but had to scrounge to get it, and they're not exactly cheap (although it was no more than the crop of Tunnel Wedges out there now so suspect $1000 is going to be the price).
I'll throw out, long branch 427 type manifolds. Not really sure why they did the shorty repros and not the long tubes, I see shorties all over the place at Carlisle but the long tubes are still fairly rare and market right now is $1200 or so.
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Since the 3.984, 428 cranks, only come in 2.438 journals, I think there might be a market for good rods (7/16 ARP, I or H beam or both), with a C/C length, of 6.61. With that rod length and .927 WP, you could use the common SBC piston type and compression height of 1.565. Of course they would work with 390 and 352 cranks, too. That length rod, with 410 pistons would work in a 390 with 975 pins.
For the .927 pin, there would be lots of relatively low cost pistons available.
As cheap as full custom pistons are, it's easy to get any compression height that you need, any wrist pin bore, volume, ring pack, bore size, etc. I wouldn't want to be tied down to a SBC style piston, even if you could find a 13° piston that would fit all your specs.
I'm always in favor of a longer rod though. If I could get enough guys together, I could have Molnar run us up a set of longer FE rods.
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Blocks are the obvious, but one little significant item I would like to see is a 31 spline Galaxie clutch fork. Also as mentioned above, a good reasonable correct steel replacement bellhousing.
I just made a Galaxie clutch fork from a Mustang fork. But an aftermarket piece would be a hot seller if under $150.
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As cheap as full custom pistons are, it's easy to get any compression height that you need, any wrist pin bore, volume, ring pack, bore size, etc. I wouldn't want to be tied down to a SBC style piston, even if you could find a 13° piston that would fit all your specs.
But, you for sure don't need the .975 wrist pin size, for bores under 4.16. The valve relief is a problem and expensive to recut, for most but, they could be ordered with 13 or 14* reliefs with FE spacing.
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As cheap as full custom pistons are, it's easy to get any compression height that you need, any wrist pin bore, volume, ring pack, bore size, etc. I wouldn't want to be tied down to a SBC style piston, even if you could find a 13° piston that would fit all your specs.
But, you for sure don't need the .975 wrist pin size, for bores under 4.16. The valve relief is a problem and expensive to recut, for most but, they could be ordered with 13 or 14* reliefs with FE spacing.
Well, if you're going to custom order SBC pistons, you can just order FE pistons. I like the .927" or .990" wrist pin diameters as there are a lot more to choose from. You can get into the inboard pin boss pistons with 2.250" wrist pins if you use those. Not much available in the .975".
Full custom FE pistons are a lot cheaper than you'd expect. I sell full custom Racetecs for a little over the price of a shelf Icon/JE/SRP and a hair less than a full Mahle Powerpak set. You get any ring pack size you want, any volume, any pin bore, any bore size in .001" increments, etc.
I'd love to have a long FE journal rod (like 6.700-6.800-7) but it would take a lot of orders to have some made up.
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Like Brent said order a piston like you need and not one that you have to modify.
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Myself, probably the same as most
1 - Consistently available, consistent quality, hyd big bore capable iron block. Doesn't have to be the 1000 HP block, just something you can order and get in a reasonable time with minimal hassle
2 - FE long rod, like Brent said, we buy custom pistons anyway, would allow a lighter piston. I would add that in most cases an I-beam would be really nice for weight. If a long rod isn't available, how about a quality 6.49 budget cap screw I-beam