410 Build up - Questions and Research.

[Yellow Truck]

Turns out my buddy has a Holley Street Dominator, not a Streetmaster. What is the difference in dyno terms?

[My427stang]

I like the SD better than the SM, if for no other reason other than the casting is stronger at the second bolt back from each corner

I think performance is about equal.  Go for it, I loved mine on my 390 in my truck and honestly should have ported it for the 445 instead of the RPM intake.  I still believe part throttle tuning is easier on the SM/SD than the RPMs

[Yellow Truck]

Thanks Ross, and especially for the quick reply - he was asking if I wanted him to pull it off an engine tonight.

[ScotiaFE]

Please don't use Steve Christ's book.  It has many errors.

Use the one from Survival Motorsports.  It is up to date and has excellent advice in it.

Bob

I have to disagree Bob.
I think Steve's book is a great piece of FE history and should sit right along side all the other FE books.
So a couple of part numbers are off.
It's still a pretty good story. jmho
 

[Yellow Truck]

I did find Steve Christ's book helpful for pulling the motor and the tear down, particularly since I had limited experience with it. Once the good people here convinced me that a cam swap was not the right approach, clearly a more performance focussed book was needed, and I got and closely read Mr. Rabotnick's book.

I do have a Street Dominator coming my way, and I have found a machine shop that seems capable so I'll get them my block next week. Now if only I could get someone at Survival to talk to me I might order some parts.

[Yellow Truck]

My buddy is suggesting that he has a "virgin" (meaning never machined) C8ME-A 390 block, and it might be a better starting point than my C6ME-A. Mine has been machined once before, his is a bit rusty in the bores, but it is at 4.05.

Mine didn't have any issues I could see, and it will be magna-fluxed. Is there any advantage of a C8 over a C6 block?

Is there any value in keeping the 1U crank with the C6 block? In other words, am I breaking up a significant pairing by separating the original 1U crank from the C6 block?

[Joe-JDC]

Now that stroker kits are available from so many parts suppliers, the 1U crankshaft has lost a lot of its appeal.  It is still a good piece, but not anything special as far as restoration.  If your block was bored minimum the first time, it should be as good as the later block, and might actually be better if the previous owner used water without anti-freeze.  Rust inside the water passages can be worse than the worn bores when looking for a good block to sonic test. Joe-JDC

[Yellow Truck]

I got the Street Dominator today, and a second 390 block - a C8ME-A that my buddy had. Bit rusty by never been machined. I'll get it and my C6ME-A block cleaned, fluxed, sonic checked, and measured, then pick one to move ahead with.

Two things about the Street Dominator stood out - first there is no rear water passage. The front of the intake is heated but not the rears. I assume it is fine since no one mentioned it, but it seemed odd.

Second are these three square projections on one side, only two on the other. Any idea what they are for? Circled in red.

[ScotiaFE]

The water jacket on the FE only crosses over on the front.
The little tabs are for the machining process.

[Yellow Truck]

Thanks Howie.

I already gave my stock intake away so didn't realize the water jacket for it didn't cross over. Curious then why the block has a rear opening (the intake has the corrosion marks on the rear from a water inlet).

What machining would the tabs be used for? I've not seen them on any other make of intake, but when I looked up Street Dominators for other engine types, most had them.

[thatdarncat]

The heads can be used on either side, there isn't a "left" & "right". Only have to have one casting, half as much inventory, etc.

[Yellow Truck]

Kevin - of course! That called for a head slap. I think I mentioned that I'm entering, for me, new waters.

I have two blocks in the back of my truck ready to go to a machine shop on Monday.

[thatdarncat]

No problem. Just an FYI, one thing to keep in mind on FE's is Ford added more accessory bolt holes to the end of the heads as the years went on and there became more things to mount. For example, using early heads may leave you with no threaded holes on one end or one side. That's one downside to having the same casting used for both sides. Just something to make a note of.

[ScotiaFE]

What machining would the tabs be used for? I've not seen them on any other make of intake, but when I looked up Street Dominators for other engine types, most had them.

They are for supporting the intake as it is production machined. I had a look at a C6 "Big S" intake and it has locating tabs on both sides.
I think you will find that most intakes have some sort of locating tab for holding it in place for the machine operation.
Cylinder heads, blocks, and for that matter pretty much any casting will have a register tab for setting it in the holding fixture.

By the way, there is a procedure for opening up the plenum on your new intake which is good for an extra 500 hp and a $1000 in the wallet.
But if you show a picture of the big hole we can figure out if someone has already done this and you won't be cashing in.   

[Yellow Truck]

Howie,

I gave it to a buddy to take to work to pull a stud out of one of the threaded holes at the carb mounting surface - it was broken off flush to the surface. He is a heavy diesel mechanic and they have a machine shop. He is going to put stainless helicoils in all the threaded holes to avoid future issues.

I didn't take a picture, but I can say that the plenum, and specifically the dividers between the runners, has not be disturbed. I do recall some discussion about the Street Dominator benefiting from the same mods as the Streetmaster, but I couldn't remember if the mods helped a street build or only a high rpm race build. If it will help my build I'm up for it.