Anyone read "Down-Low 5.0" in MM&FF?

rdharper02 · Sep 1, 2009

I was flipping through this and didnt even finish. They bought a 5.0 from a t-bird, slapped some Pro comp heads, Track Max cam and a funnel wen intake on it and produced 399 at the crank. Honestly, this article has me thinking about building a budget engine before building my next motor for the fox. Whatever I build, I think I will re-ring and bearing it just for comfort. Anyone built a similsr combo? Any suggestions on a budget build? I do want to keep it 302 based. Its only for experience, so let me know your ideas.

Chrome_Rust · Sep 1, 2009

I have been looking at those heads for a while. Along with the patriot freedom 185's. I think that it would be a great idea to do something low budget that makes filthy power...

rdharper02 · Sep 1, 2009

Around 400 horses on a cheap motor sounds like fun to me. Find something to slap it in and go racing. The pro comps look like a good option but I havent heard anything about them either. Another Ebay seller has some Australian heads that might be another option. Dont know yet.

Jeffs88 · Sep 1, 2009

I read the same story. Very interesting......

I wonder how the power curve would look with a gt-40/explorer intake on
it? For us EFI guys ya know.

I'm all over a budget build like that......

rdharper02 · Sep 1, 2009

What are the flow limits of the explorer intake? Would definitely make an interestingly cheap build.

Dino Dino Bambino · Sep 2, 2009

rdharper02 said:
Around 400 horses on a cheap motor sounds like fun to me.

Near 400hp on a cheap motor sounds to good to be true to me.

stykthyn · Sep 2, 2009

if it was that simple we would all have 400hp cars

1990Coupe · Sep 2, 2009

I read somewhere that patriot heads were not so good quality?? not sure though

rdharper02 · Sep 2, 2009

I won’t disagree completely. I don’t believe making (close to) 400 horses at the crank is that difficult. Making 400 horses at the crank, doing it right, having it in a usable curve and making it last...well that’s another. The power band on this motor peaks toward the 6,000 RPM range. It doesn’t gradually curve, it’s a "Hillside" (little power down low) graph vice the nice even looking "plateau" power curve most like to see. Example would be the 331 they built in the same magazine (produces over 300hp @ 3k vice the budget motor’s ~170hp @ 3k).To further complicate things, does the motor have any street manners at all? Idle, vacuum, gas mileage and reliability. Most of us like the fact we can drive to the strip, run and cruise afterward. May not be the most pleasant thing with their build. I’m not an engine builder, a carb guy or a master mechanic, but I am still interested.

NIKwoaC · Sep 2, 2009

rdharper02 said:
I won’t disagree completely. I don’t believe making (close to) 400 horses at the crank is that difficult. Making 400 horses at the crank, doing it right, having it in a usable curve and making it last...well that’s another. The power band on this motor peaks toward the 6,000 RPM range. It doesn’t gradually curve, it’s a "Hillside" (little power down low) graph vice the nice even looking "plateau" power curve most like to see. Example would be the 331 they built in the same magazine (produces over 300hp @ 3k vice the budget motor’s ~170hp @ 3k).To further complicate things, does the motor have any street manners at all? Idle, vacuum, gas mileage and reliability. Most of us like the fact we can drive to the strip, run and cruise afterward. May not be the most pleasant thing with their build. I’m not an engine builder, a carb guy or a master mechanic, but I am still interested.

Do you mean "versus"?

But I agree. I've seen a few magazines build 302s to make 400ish at the flywheel, and it definitely makes you wonder. Granted that thing was bare bones, but that ends up being 355ish at the wheels on a stick car.

Hod Rod did an EFI build a few years back that made about 390, but of course that didn't have any accessories on it either. But that was with ootb parts and 9.x compression ratio, too.

It always sounds good, but once you bolt on the accessories, a real exhaust and intake, and account for drivetrain losses, that 400 starts to disappear real fast.

rdharper02 · Sep 2, 2009

Good catch, yes. I think your right. Trying to make it a street motor would likely be worthless. My thought is that it might make a decent bracket motor. I consistently run across fox cars without titles around here. (Usually a guy deploying sells it to a friend, doesn’t give him the title and that guy goes to sell it). A budget might be a lot of fun. Further thought is that I paid around 2k for my kid's 4 wheeler (dumb purchase) and wonder if I can’t build a bracket racer for the same type of money.

Chrome_Rust · Sep 2, 2009

1990Coupe said:
I read somewhere that patriot heads were not so good quality?? not sure though

Patriot based their designs off of AFR. A buddy of mine built a 406 SBC with their 235cc CNC ported freedom series heads. the quality was very nice. and the ports were huge!

Plus they're at a price point that makes them affordable. I think he has around a grand in those heads.

Shaolin Crane · Sep 2, 2009

pro comp is local to me and everytime ive been their everything seems tip top

dls322 · Sep 2, 2009

stykthyn said:
if it was that simple we would all have 400hp cars

+1

You can pick 2:
Fast / Reliable / Cheap

dls322 · Sep 2, 2009

dls322 said:
+1

You can pick 2:
Fast / Reliable / Cheap

Wait that doesn't sound right........

cenok is family · Sep 2, 2009

the article is pretty good, good numbers for low cost, but IMO, slapping nice, new, aftermarket parts on an untouched, unknown mileage shortblock like that is just asking for something to fail. everytime i drove it i'd be praying for it to hold up. if it were me, i'd rebuild the bottom end regardless.

NIKwoaC · Sep 2, 2009

cenok is family said:
the article is pretty good, good numbers for low cost, but IMO, slapping nice, new, aftermarket parts on an untouched, unknown mileage shortblock like that is just asking for something to fail. everytime i drove it i'd be praying for it to hold up. if it were me, i'd rebuild the bottom end regardless.

Tru dat. I picked that magazine up in hopes that they would talk about how much it cost to have the shortblock freshened up. I was a little shocked when I saw that they just slapped new parts onto that grimy junk yard motor.

I wonder what happens to magazine projects like these... You know that motor will get run 4 times, start consuming oil or smoking or something, and get stuck in a corner of a garage somewhere.

rdharper02 · Sep 2, 2009

I agree guys. I dont like the idea, budget or not. Refreshing the lower end would need to be done. No illusions though, it wouldnt be a long life motor. It would be a project, an uneeded one, but a project. If the heads worked out, I may even use them on the motor for the fox. Keep seeing positive feedback on Pro-Comp. Does anyone know what heads they are copied off of? Honestly dont care if they work. I hate paying for a name on the side, but sometimes its well worth it.

funford89 · Sep 3, 2009

i find it hard to believe that but it is possible i run that cam in my car with explorer upper and lower on gt40 heads really dont know what it puts out still working on car ebay has pro comp heads bare for 425 all day long

rdharper02 · Sep 3, 2009

I would really like to hear directly from someone that has purchased and used the pro comps. It may end up being another "I spent enough getting them together to buy some AFRs" type story. Hope not. I would like to see some more Fords make good power on a budget. Been thinking more about the power curve on the motor. I honestly don’t have enough background in motors to tell if any of it would be usable. Spoke with my father about it (fairly knowledgeable engine builder) who thought the heads were a bit much for the motor and that there would be more usable power in a smaller flowing head. Chime in if you have the knowledge. Honestly, I can duplicate anything I read or see done, but will never say I have a thorough knowledge base from experience.

Anyone read "Down-Low 5.0" in MM&FF?

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