I think it is cool that there is interest in small cube FEs. I thought I would share a neat combo with the group. I have two of these in-process at the moment. One with H304P budget pistons, and one with my custom CP Bullet "390" pistons. I used 351M-400 rods. Strong, available, and inexpensive. They are safe to 600 hp in past testing. The width is very close. The 3.5 stroke crank is turned down to 2.310, and offset ground to 3.625 stroke. A touch-up at the cheeks for the width, and a nice radius, and really a nice combo. It uses a 1.760 c/h 390 piston, 6.58 rod, 3.625 stroke. 380 high rpm-capable, all economy and available stuff, and it comes out 10.152 deck height. I am working on a Small bore Pro Port head, that may end up being a small bore casting collaberation with BBM down the road, after some R&D. I have one already with a CNC program for Super Stock 352s, but I need to adjust the flange location to a stock MR much like my "Street Pro Port". The head will have 145 CC runners, 2.09 intake valve, and 315 cfm. The exhaust will be the exhaust I already have with a 1.57 valve and 230 cfm capability. Money saved on the shortblock, without having to buy " custom" pistons and costly machining of BBC rod adaptations can be spent on a killer bolt-on head for small bores. At 2.09/1.600 valve sizes, and an efficient chamber, my plan is an affordable, killer performance, small bore head, and an economical and efficient 380-ish cube combo with parts that don't break the bank, or confuse the machinist!
The small head will also be VERY good for 4.125 and 4.250 strokers in street duty cars, trucks, and 4x4s. Lots of FEs out there that all these big-ported cylinder heads have forgotten. The small head will make a torque beast out of any 352/390 based engine, strokers included. I will post in the dyno section when these are done. One will get a mild hydraulic roller, the other a solid roller bumpstick and 11:1. Stay tuned!
