Have'nt used one.
Seems like a good idea.
Obviously not necessary, but is it a good idea for drag racing? Does it solve a non existent problem?
Have seen all the sales vids etc. but would like real world experience from you guys.

Thanks for starting the Dyno and 1/4 mile results child boards Jay.
The posts are very interesting.
One question I have is, I don't see any combos with 6.8 rods ( save one on the TP by Brent )
Matter of fact I don't recall seeing one at all in the last few years (except mine for my truck  and the one by Brent).
Is there a reason for that?

As some of you know, my brother (Ryan) owns SCE and SPM gasket companies.
He has wanted to contribute to the FE cause because his brother (me) is a dyed in the wool Ford guy and he loves old junk too. And if he can make a buck or two, all the better.
We recently brain bashed on a new FE head gasket, made out of new materials which some of you guys gave input on and have seen and or felt in your hands. The gasket was a smaller bore deal (4.250). I have the first one running on my truck now.
He knows that he has to have a bigger bore set (4.40) after talking to Barry, Jay and many others.
I kept after him wondering when he was going to order the tooling to be made. For a while he just gave me a grin and a "wouldn't it be nice if......".
Well today he received the "if". A beautiful new Haas tool making deal (I don't know what the heck it's called, I'm a stupid camera operator). So now he doesn't have to order tools to be made from another company and wait. He can just make them himself and poof, FE fun.
Upshot is that a big bore FE head gasket will soon be made. As well as other stuff.
Here's a couple shots of it arriving and getting set.

Pretty soon I'll be paying my pesos to have a roll bar and the subframe connectors installed in the Fairlane.
Figured I should have a pro do it as I know my limitations.
Trying to be smart  about which material to use for the roll bar.
From what I know chromoly is stronger lighter and more expensive.
Do I need it? Will I run into certification trouble if I don't have it?
Pros and cons?
Also 6 point vs 8 point. Thinking about the future and the car getting faster and ease of add ons.
From what I remember in the rules they are pretty lax (qualified) until you get into the 9s. I'm thinking 11.0 for now.
I'll search the rulebook again but would like real world experience.
Thanks for your time.

Not Ford but that's not the point.
Beautiful photography (yes I'm a camera operator).
Thought you might find the foundry section interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bT6txm4RpA

Sorry guys, more questions.
Why do FE pump drives come in two sizes (1/4, 5/16)?
I ssume 1/4 is standard, what were the applications for the 5/16?

Hey Guys
Thought I'd introduce myself with a thread on my current project.
My name is Marc and I am a Fordaholic.
I've built a few Windsors and a Y block but never an FE from the ground up. Even though I own three. Four if you count the FT in my fire truck.
My current project is a new engine for my '74 F100 4x4 short bed.
I found this truck as a non running heap. Bought it and after a few weekends got it running and road safe.
It's been running like a top ever since.
When I first took the valve covers off a whole bunch of oil spilled out of each one, so I knew I may have some starvation issues in the lower end.
So I found a D4TE block and it is out getting sonic checked as I write this.
The plan is a 445 that will be a solid, lug able hunting truck. So I'm not going for a lot of compression and will run a very street able cam. I've had the heads done already. They are a set of D2T's. I did a nice valve job, cleaned up the intake ports and chambers but kept the stock valve diameters.
Edelbrock performer manifold the has been port matched. A set of Maddog fender well headers.
I think I'll run a complete roller valve train.
And thats about it.
Have very much enjoyed lurking for the past few days.