finally got into my new apt and got the money to get my new shortblock. Done a bit of research and I know this is basically the application im looking for (streetable 500hp, drive it around like any other car but can take it to the track every once in awhile) and i know the owner woody is on this site quite a bit.

http://www.fordstrokers.com/fordstro...ort-block.html

I was talking with my boss however and he said that usually you wanna pick out your heads even before your shortblock. I have been looking at AFR or Trickflows, Looking for, as I said up to 500hp and maybe a 10.5:1 compression ration (tho that still may be a little high). If anyone has a good set of heads that may work with a medium sized roller cam i'd like some ideas. Thanks!

 

fwiw i think you're asking the right questions - it will be how the individual components combine to produce the desired results.

what rev range do you intend to operate in?
what parts of the current engine are you intending to re-use? Eg Carb may be on the small side. Inlet manifold may not suit certain heads.

one often overlooked is the style and size of the exhaust ports. My AFRs were so much bigger than the previous heads I ended up having to get custom headers made.

 

i'm thinking if you buy from them talk to them.
i'd say 1hp per ci should be no problem with aftermarket heads and cam, but 500 is a different story from a 347. without forced induction I feel you can only do that if it's a very high revving engine and that usually kills streetability when the powerband moves up.

 

I agree with what Kalli said. I think that around 400 hp is more feasable with a 347. Thats still plenty of power for a classic Stang though. The car isn't nearly as heavy as the newer cars. My 65 makes close to 350 hp at engine, and I think its got plenty of get up and go.

 

Kalli is right to suggest you're going to need to ring it harder and further up the rev range. But a 347 in a 66 is all about torque and unless you make a real mess of it, the thing will rate highly on the grin meter no matter how you build it.

having said that 500 is doable with a roller cam and the right combination for a 347. mine is shooting for 430 - 450 and is a fairly mild build.

 

I bought my long block from Fordstroker.com last year and am happy with the motor. I feel I got a great deal going through them. I had a 347 built but used gt40 heads b/c i was expecting my first child and didn't have the extra grand to blow on nice heads. I have to say, with the gt40 heads I can lay a patch all through 3rd gear without a problem and am happy with the torque and power. My only gripe was they didn't install the water pump or the harmonic balancer that I paid before. They forgot. The balancer came in a box w/ the engine, but they forgot to install the pump and to even send it to me so they had to order one and send it to me. It's not that it's hard to install these things, but getting the harmonic installer tool from the store, and making multiple trips to Lowe's to find the right bolts for the water pump quickly started to **** me off. Fordstrokers was good about me making payments on the motor while they were building it so I didn't have to make one large payment, and they shipped it to the commercial building behind my house which I spoke to those guys first to save on shipping vs. home delivery. I have a friend who bought a 347 from them that lead me to them in the irst place. He hasn't had any probs and he dragged the car all the time. All in all, I saved a couple if not a few grand using Fordstrokers all while it was the same equipment. Fordstrokers just doesn't have all the overhead as my other shops here in GA. I would use them again but I would just double check the build sheet before final shipment. It might have been an honest mistake, but they made it right and admitted it so I don't hold it against them. I was just in a hurry to get my engine installed so it added to the frustration but still would use them again.

 

Your going to have to change your screen name, you can't be 'long live 289's' with a 302 roller in your car

You're on the right track, talk more in detail with the builder to pick matched components and don't forget all the 'little' tricks like having the intake port matched to the heads, etc. you don't want to leave any free HP on the table. They should be able to give you feedback on what other engines they've built have performed like or references like other buyers of the same setup you're looking at. I think the heads are the key to these sbf, the stockers are restrictive so a good head really wakes it up.
Jon

 

Bought mine from Fordstrokers also. Talk them about the other components - I ended up going with Tricklows based on their recommendation. Very happy overall with motor and set up - running trickflows, xe274hr comp camp, comp roller rockers, RPP performer intake, 650 Holley DP. May change the DP out of vaccuum operated - tuning DP is an art that I don;t have the patience to perferct.

 

Having gone through a similar debacle last summer, may I suggest you order a crate motor? You can get one with a proven combo and even a warranty is some cases, and in the long run, it is often cheaper.
If you must build the motor yourself, I have heared great things about both brands of heads, though AFE is the more popular one among racers. I think they have bigger ports. Good luck!

 

I heard the Ford aftermarket crate motors has a huge failure rating to them. I can't remember what it was when I was researching engines a couple years ago, but it was enough that kept me from buying one. Somewhere between 30-40%