AirRide..... Ford comments and questions

[Raceman]

....................as I have channeled my time to other interests. See my profile.

So I did. I noticed all the Ford stuff. I'm currently building a 427 Hi Riser (bored 30 and stroked to 472 inches if the math is correct) for a Thunderbolt clone project. What a challenge. There's a lot of stuff different in the old FE motors than the big block Chevies I'm familiar with, like internal oil bypass instead of in the pump itself, and thrust bearing in the middle of the block instead of rear main. One thing I've learned about high perf Ford stuff, ESPECIALLY High Riser, is that it's super hard to find and expen$ive. Also, it seems like a disproportionately high percentage of available 427 blocks and heads ESPECIALLY High Riser have been cracked and repaired, or either cracked and sold as is.

I noticed you made mention of the dual overhead cam Ford. I was thinkin' that Ford did that in the 60's, maybe for Indy or something, but a local Ford head told me recently that it never happend. He said that in my failin' memory I must be remembering the SOHC motor since it had one cam per head and thinkin' of it as dual overhead cam since there were two cams total. I was thinking that the old dual overhead cam motor looked something on top like the top of an inline 6 E Jag type motor. (but of course shorter and on each cyl bank. Any DOHC pictures anywhere?

[jphii]

Hey Norris, what do you need? A buddy of mine has some hipo Ford stuff just sitting around. I'm thinkin block, heads, intake at least.

[Hottrucks]

Some of ther newer aluminum block V8 fords are true dual over head cam engines I have one in the 1993 mark 8 thing makes tons of power and will squeeze evry drop of fuel...also did I mention 258000 miles only small oil consuption..... I believe that they call this there modualr motor....also use in the mustangs I believe

[BarryStrawn]

The Ford four cam V8 was made for Indianapolis. It was based on the aluminum version of the small windsor block. When Ford was finished with it, it was rebadged as a Foyt. Easy to spot, it had the intakes between the cams and exhaust on the valley side.

[Fast Fred]

I'm currently building a 427 Hi Riser (bored 30 and stroked to 472 inches if the math is correct) for a Thunderbolt clone project


Thunderbolt

WOW:eek: :cool:

[Raceman]

That's the one I was thinkin' of Barry. I remembered the injector stacks being in the middle of the heads, but forgot about the exhaust being in the center.

As far as what I need, I finished building the shortblock several weeks ago except for the camshaft. I don't have a set of HighRiser rocker arm stands (highriser stands are shorter because the heads are taller than MR & LR stuff. Also need HR intake gaskets and the oil baffle/deflector things that bolt on under the rocker stands, and a NICE set of chrome Pentroof valve covers would be nice. Maybe I'll shoot a pic. of the motor on the stand next week and post it if I can borrow a digital. Mine's broke.:(

[Fast Fred]

Maybe I'll shoot a pic. of the motor on the stand next week and post it :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[BarryStrawn]

You want the high riser stuff for looks? If you are going to flog it, I think medium riser is preferred. Or was 20 years ago. Since it is a clone, how about a tunnel port?

[Raceman]

I was trying to make it as close to authentic as possible cosmetic wise. Actually I didn't want the stroker motor, but in looking for nice 427 HR stuff I ran across this guy that had some stuff still in the machine shop that he had a ton of money in and an ex wife and her lawyer that were all over him, so bought what he had. His block hadn't been repaired and the HR heads hadn't either. It's amazing to me, based on my BB Chevy experience how many of the HR heads that are advertised have had cracks welded.

Anyhow, I've got all the stuff except for incidental head hardware, including intake, carbs, heads, valves, etc, etc. I even bought the Crites Thunderbolt headers and had em ceramic coated and it's all ready to go in the car when I can get around to cutting the shock towers.

It probably won't ever see much floggin'. Damn Ford motors are too complicated, expensive, and hard to find parts for to get much abuse.

I am curious though, why is Medium Riser stuff better if I was gonna flog it? I'm not even enough of a Ford expert to know if the 63 R code is medium or low riser. (I'm guessin' low?????????)

[mr.clean]

One thing I've learned about high perf Ford stuff, ESPECIALLY High Riser, is that it's super hard to find and expen$ive. Also, it seems like a disproportionately high percentage of available 427 blocks and heads ESPECIALLY High Riser have been cracked and repaired, or either cracked and sold as is. FORD :rolleyes:

[BarryStrawn]

Well there are multiple variations on the medium riser. Sorta like saying you have a big chevy with rectangular ports, not enough information. My recollection is that Ford did some redesign work for the drag racers in the mid sixties based on the medium riser. I think these were over the counter heads. Supposed to be the best FE heads they ever made.

I think I read something a few years ago about someone reproducing them in both iron and aluminum.

[AirRide]

Anything, and I do mean ANYTHING...you've ever needed to KNOW, or get parts for any 427 Ford engine, you could possibly need...can be had simply by calling John Vermeersch @ Total Performance @ 586-468-3673 in Michigan. You name it, he has owned & personally built hundreds(yes, HUNDREDS) of EACH MODEL, Ford 427 engine, in their original form. If aluminum 427 blocks, etc., are your fancy, go to Genesis Performance Castings, LLC in Indianapolis, In. @ 317-357-8767. They also cast iron block 427 side-oilers for $3,410.00 each. :)

[Raceman]

Here's one of the engine so far: (click on it to enlarge)

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/8164/dsc02253cl7.th.jpg (http://img490.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02253cl7.jpg)

[Raceman]

From the rear: Notice the #4 & #8 header tubes cross to collectors on opposite sides of engine. These are Crites Headers for the Thunderbolt.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9719/dsc02255ln6.th.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02255ln6.jpg)

[Raceman]

And what it's going in:

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/9264/dsc02256mr3.th.jpg (http://img482.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02256mr3.jpg)

[Fast Fred]

:cool:

[LittleProps]

very nice. Are those 1-7/8 headers? Where in GA you from?

[Raceman]

very nice. Are those 1-7/8 headers? Where in GA you from?

2" headers from Crites.

Dead in the middle of Ga. Where're you? Need to fill in that profile.;)

[LittleProps]

2" headers from Crites.

Dead in the middle of Ga. Where're you? Need to fill in that profile.;)

ah ok, was gonna say...id at least had 1-7/8 stepped to 2" on a big cube motor like that. Had 1-7/8 to 2" with 3.5" collector on my little 347 :p

im at the top of ga in the middle of nowhere (blue ridge).

[Raceman]

The Fairlane body I'm workin' on came from up that way somewhere. It's been several years and I don't recall the owner's name, but Blue Ridge sounds familiar. He delivered it, so don't know for sure.