New FE Block, Heads, and Intakes on the horizon...

[cjshaker]

We can make all the power a sane person needs with the current FE pieces that are available.

Sane? When did sanity enter into this equation? Might as well chuck the whole idea if that's the criteria.
Everyone here who is sane, let's see a show of hands...


*crickets*


That's what I thought

[jayb]

So when you say "tooling", you're referring to the casting cores? I was picturing the machining tools. The guys who make the casting cores are the true artists here.

Does the Pond block have replaceable liners? I think they have to be bored out if I'm not mistaken.

Yes, sorry I was imprecise, I was referring to the foundry tooling.  These are the forms that make the sand cores that the aluminum is poured into.  The foundries refer to them as tooling.  The CNC guys refer to their cutters as tooling.  I'm used to switching contexts mid-stream now, but I used to be pretty confused by the same terminology for different "tools" also. 

The Pond aluminum block does have replaceable liners; as far as I know all aluminum blocks do.  To remove the liners you put the block in an oven at 300 degrees F and they pop right out; no boring required.  Press fit at room temperature is only about 0.001".  As far as I'm concerned, having an aluminum block with replaceable liners is a huge advantage over a cast iron block.  Of course, maybe I wouldn't feel that way if I didn't wreck so much stuff 

[fekbmax]

Pond block has replaceable sleeves.
I think that if Jay's Fe power blocks are similar in strength and quality as a pond block ,then he will have no troubles selling 25+ a year. Infact I think that once it's determined to be a nice quality piece that the first 40 or 50 would move pretty quick. I'd for sure be on the list and I bet a few engine builders would have more than one or two with there names on them.
JMO. 
I do like the idea of one block that could be used as a standard FE or as a monster cube..

[blykins]

I'll use anyone that has quality stuff....in stock. 

Right now I have 5 FE builds in queue....2 of them the customer requested new aluminum blocks.  Pond and Shelby are the only two you can buy new aluminum FE blocks from right now.  Last time I checked, both were out of stock and I really wouldn't advise my customers to pay $7500 for a Shelby block anyway....

Between blocks being out of stock and having to wait on Scat to make cranks, it's a wonder anything leaves here at all. 

[Tommy-T]

Being the kind of guy that I am...a giver...I will be willing to complete the "other" end of Jay's manufacturing deal.

For all you guys nationwide (and Canucks too) that upgrade to this new fancy stuff, I'll come and haul away your Pond, Shelby, Genesis, and BBM blocks so you don't have to. At the same time I'll try to make room for your Edelbrock, BBM, Survival, and Blue Thunder heads...if I still have room on my truck.

All this at no charge to you, my FE brethren.

[FElony]

We can make all the power a sane person needs with the current FE pieces that are available.

Sane? When did sanity enter into this equation? Might as well chuck the whole idea if that's the criteria.
Everyone here who is sane, let's see a show of hands...


*crickets*


That's what I thought

And even more insanity... What astronomic figure spent on valvetrain components that can feed a 600+- inch engine? One-inch lifts there, people. That stuff doesn't exist now, does it? That 50k figure Dougie threw out is not that far out. I think big inchers are better served by the 385 camp. And for the record, I'd much rather have TP heads and new intake(s). But then again, my drinking partner is a toad named Shaman...

[FElony]

Being the kind of guy that I am...a giver...I will be willing to complete the "other" end of Jay's manufacturing deal.

For all you guys nationwide (and Canucks too) that upgrade to this new fancy stuff, I'll come and haul away your Pond, Shelby, Genesis, and BBM blocks so you don't have to. At the same time I'll try to make room for your Edelbrock, BBM, Survival, and Blue Thunder heads...if I still have room on my truck.

All this at no charge to you, my FE brethren.

I don't care what every two-bit train-hopping hobo from here to Joisey says about you, Tommy, you're a swell guy.

[blykins]

We can make all the power a sane person needs with the current FE pieces that are available.

Sane? When did sanity enter into this equation? Might as well chuck the whole idea if that's the criteria.
Everyone here who is sane, let's see a show of hands...


*crickets*


That's what I thought

And even more insanity... What astronomic figure spent on valvetrain components that can feed a 600+- inch engine? One-inch lifts there, people. That stuff doesn't exist now, does it? That 50k figure Dougie threw out is not that far out. I think big inchers are better served by the 385 camp. And for the record, I'd much rather have TP heads and new intake(s). But then again, my drinking partner is a toad named Shaman...

FElony, you can use the same .500-.550" hydraulic roller cam in a 600+ inch engine that you use in a 428 (or 390....or 427....or 482...) inch engine.  You just bump the duration up a tad. 

I have 600 inch BBF (385 series) packages that will idle at 800 rpm and are very easy on the valvetrain with moderate lift. 

[FElony]

FElony, you can use the same .500-.550" hydraulic roller cam in a 600+ inch engine that you use in a 428 (or 390....or 427....or 482...) inch engine.  You just bump the duration up a tad. 

I have 600 inch BBF (385 series) packages that will idle at 800 rpm and are very easy on the valvetrain with moderate lift.

Personally, having mentioned chassis limitations, I wouldn't spend the money on an engine that big without putting it in a race car. Nothing like battling against the 632 Chevys with a .550-lift cam.

[blykins]

Well, lift generally doesn't dictate how much horsepower you make.   A 600 inch BBF with good heads (TFS, P-51, etc.) and a .550-.600" hydraulic roller will make around 800 hp at around 6000 rpm.  You will actually find that a really good cylinder head with a lot of cylinder pulling hard on it will require less camshaft than what you would think.  Last Boss 9 I built was 529 inches and used a "little" 246 @ .050" duration camshaft, .620" lift, 112 LSA.  740 hp. 

[FElony]

Well, lift generally doesn't dictate how much horsepower you make.   A 600 inch BBF with good heads (TFS, P-51, etc.) and a .550-.600" hydraulic roller will make around 800 hp at around 6000 rpm.  You will actually find that a really good cylinder head with a lot of cylinder pulling hard on it will require less camshaft than what you would think.  Last Boss 9 I built was 529 inches and used a "little" 246 @ .050" duration camshaft, .620" lift, 112 LSA.  740 hp.

Not enough. Lookie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NBe3ceIn7I

[FElony]

We are essentially bouncing back and forth between street and race with no clear definition of application here. I have no chassis that will withstand 800 or 1200 horsepower, so it's a moot discussion for me. Better to work on all the gaps that the FE still has than gamble on a tiny niche, IMO.

If somebody wants...  http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/5562640102.html

[Chrisss31]

Kind of off on a tangent here, but...  I was reading an interesting article in one of the Ford magazines last month about sprayed on cylinder liners.  Instead of pressing a cast iron sleeves into the aluminum block, Ford came up with a process of spray welding a hard liner into the bare aluminum casting, sort of like the chrome liners they have been using in atv's forever.  As I was reading the article I was thinking it would be nice to have an FE made that way.  It would eliminate any potential problems associated with cylinder liners.  Any thoughts on something like that?

[fekbmax]

Im on the other end and in it for 100%  racing.
I still long to see someone with deep enough pockets to have a mid to low 7sec FE.
I know it's possible in a full tilt race chassis. If a 990hp Lima with a lenco can push a 2500 pro stock/top sportsman to 7.68's at 177 plus then surely a 1050hp FE could do the same.

[jayb]

Being the kind of guy that I am...a giver...I will be willing to complete the "other" end of Jay's manufacturing deal.

For all you guys nationwide (and Canucks too) that upgrade to this new fancy stuff, I'll come and haul away your Pond, Shelby, Genesis, and BBM blocks so you don't have to. At the same time I'll try to make room for your Edelbrock, BBM, Survival, and Blue Thunder heads...if I still have room on my truck.

All this at no charge to you, my FE brethren.

Tommy, you are the man!  I have a Pond block sitting out in the driveway, just for you!  Needs minor repair