CJ love

[turbohunter]

Couple questions for y’all.
After reading Jays book I’m thinking of keeping the Streetmaster on this engine. I’m not worried about any numbers correct deal. That and the right cam will make a nice little runner.
So, my questions.
See pics below. The manifold is a HUGE mismatch. Small runners into a large head port. I know that matching runners to port for street engines is not necessary. However this mismatch is so large I can’t see the harm in at least rounding out the manifold to match and maybe take a bit out of that floor. Thoughts?
Next question, cam.
I feel like putting a hydraulic roller in it. I’ve thought about solids and could be convinced to go that way but I don’t see anything above 6000 rpm for this thing. I love the way the old CJs sound. It’s going to be an automatic. It has a 4:30 gear in it now.
I’m feeling more and more like my old plan for the Fairlane is in the trash can and it’s now going to become an automatic CJ car. I could put it together pretty quick.

[68fecyclone]

  My suggestion for that manifold, would be see if Joe Craine will work his magic on it. He does a good job with them. Rob

[Tommy-T]

Valley Head Service can fix any head. They welded up a chamber in a Hi Riser head for me.

Looks like you got some nice parts. Internal balanced 428 rotating assembly with Le Mans rods.

Mag everything and look at the block closely. Then decide...cheaper or snowball expensive build.

I still think hydraulic lifters in an FE is icky. But hydraulic rollers are tempting.

Have fun!

[turbohunter]

I just looked through my parts and I have a set of roller solids I bought off Brent in one of his sales.
Think I’ll stay relatively inexpensive. Of course I did say, relatively 

[jayb]

Marc, in my book there are some comparisons between leaving the Streetmaster ports stock and port matching them to the heads.  If you are looking at 425+ HP, I'd port match it.  But, only the top and sides, leave the floor of the intake alone.  And Joe does indeed do a heck of a job on those manifolds, if he is still willing to do it...

[turbohunter]

To me 425 hp sounds perfect for this deal.
I’m going to leave the bottom end pretty much as I received it just better. Of course I need new pistons so I’ll get a nice set. Going to leave it on the LeMans rods and the 1UB crank.
The cam I’ve been going back and forth with. I even gave FElony a call and batted choices around just to say hi. I’m not sure how far I want to go away from stock but I’d like to do a roller and don’t know how small cams jive with that choice in today’s offerings. But it will have to work with the Steetmaster. I stuck a caliper in the bore and measured 4.155 so I’m at about 432 cubes. It would seem 425 hp is in the realm of possibility with this setup.
A question just entered my head. How will a roller play with the springs on these heads. I’m having them checked so I’ll know what they are soon.

[turbohunter]

But, only the top and sides, leave the floor of the intake alone.  And Joe does indeed do a heck of a job on those manifolds, if he is still willing to do it...

I have a feeling he’d tell me what you did. I know he’s retired ish and only doing interesting projects (hope that’s correct info Mr. Craine). I tell ya I wouldn’t mind just doing a little port match myself and don’t go more than an inch in.
Why leave the floor alone? That’s a big step.
Edit
Thinking more about it, it would probably mess up the good idle aspects of the manifold and slow the velocity.

[turbohunter]

Still chuckling about this.

[blykins]

A 428CJ with no head work, 9.8:1, a factory iron CJ intake, and a fairly mild hydraulic roller (227/235 @ .050") makes 425 hp @ 5500 here. 

A hydraulic roller will sometimes play fairly with solid flat tappet springs.  You'll need somewhere around 140-150 lbs seat and 350-375 open depending on the goals.  Obviously a solid roller will require pressures much higher. 

[turbohunter]

Thanks Brent.
After sleeping on it I think I’ll have the heads flowed so I’m not just flailing in the wind about cam choice.
I’m sure that stock flow numbers have been posted before but I couldn’t find them this morning yet.
I’m trying to remember with this thing that I don’t want to go crazy. I want to preserve this engine as much as possible.

Found it on Stan Weiss’ site
Starts reversion after .500 lift from what I see there.

[blykins]

They’ll be in the 240’s/250’s.

With a Ferrea valve and good valve job I usually see low to mid 250’s.

I think I have flow numbers somewhere, maybe in the dyno section.

[blykins]

https://www.fordfe.com/viewtopic.php?p=880903#p880903

[turbohunter]

Interesting
Here’s the link for Stans

http://users.erols.com/srweiss/tablehdc.htm#Ford_Big_Block

You have to kinda go between Keith Craft and Bill Ballingers info but it shows reversion and yours and others did not.

[Heo]

They’ll be in the 240’s/250’s.

With a Ferrea valve and good valve job I usually see low to mid 250’s.

I think I have flow numbers somewhere, maybe in the dyno section.

Is that with a 45 degree seat?

[blykins]

They’ll be in the 240’s/250’s.

With a Ferrea valve and good valve job I usually see low to mid 250’s.

I think I have flow numbers somewhere, maybe in the dyno section.

Is that with a 45 degree seat?

Yes sir.  45° seat with a 30° back cut.