Ford Performance/Ford Racing Shortblock- Who assembles these for Ford?

On accident I ended up with another 396 - that is the right suffix code for a full size 65-66 belair

.030 over / scat rod / steel gm crank
063 heads with bigger valves all fresh
All arp hardware
Edelbrock 2-0 intake
Roller rockers
.581/585 240/246 110lsa comp cam

Should run decent for what it is behind the 3000 stall and 4l80e
Thanks... I would be looking for a more stockish/ Low HP engine.... but again thanks...
 
I wonder because I have a more than $10k in my engine and that's from [years] ago.

$7K for an engine and swapping out the rotating assy in an already machined 4-bolt, cast block... :chinHmmm...

What's cost out-the-door from "The reputable engine builders"?
Back in 2014 I had my race engine built.
8.2" deck
Dart Iron Eagle Block
At that time 358 cid (3.4 X 4.090)
Callies crank
Oliver rods
JE coated pistons (9.2:1)
AFR Renegade 220 heads
Jesel shaft mount rockers
Jesel belt drive
Custom solid roller cam
Canton kick-out oil pan
Obviously zero balance, ATI damper, double key on the crank
Assembled long block was right at $25K

Fast forward to 2020 (cliff notes)
Take to local machine shop for refresh.
Bored to 363 cid (3.4 X 4.125)
Asked for 11.0:1
New JE coated pistons, installed with standard duty pins, not the severe duty pins like the original pistons had
Turns out compression was 10.2:1
"Comp valve grind" Never touched the valves, just new springs.
Asked for new oil pump, oil pump reused.
Asked for new SFI flex plate, said he could not find one. (I bought one from Sumitt Racing next day)
They stripped out a head bolt hole in the block, had to take it back to get it repaired. (Helicoil)
Bill was $6,200
Obviously not happy.

Take engine to a different machine shop 70 miles away
Have engine inspected.
Cylinder bores have LOTS of taper
End up taking the block out to 4.135 (now 365 cid)
New coated pistons (again)
Correct pins, correct 11.0:1 compression
Pistons are from Diamond, getting parts during the Covid Hoax is a problem. Takes over 1 year at this shop to complete everything.
Obviously new balance job, add getting camshaft double pinned.
Cylinder head inspection results in finding a crack in a intake runner to coolant passage.
New AFR Renegade heads (heads as delivered did not have HD valves)
New valves, Stainless Intake, Inconel exhaust,
Bill out the door $10K

Self inflicted gunshot wound:
Decide to change from FAST XFI to Holley Dominator
Decide to change to Coil Near Plug Ignition.
Add $4,500

All of this for a "refresh"
Lol.

Your results may vary...
 
I wonder because I have a more than $10k in my engine and that's from [years] ago.

$7K for an engine and swapping out the rotating assy in an already machined 4-bolt, cast block... :chinHmmm...

What's cost out-the-door from "The reputable engine builders"?
IMG_0410.webp
This is for a dart shp as the standard block for the 8.2 and 9.5

Long block is 11,7

Point is - by the time you buy a blue print and make that change with balancing etc it’s the same thing only this is done by a ford only guy and good too over 1000 hp
 
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Back in 2014 I had my race engine built.
8.2" deck
Dart Iron Eagle Block
At that time 358 cid (3.4 X 4.090)
Callies crank
Oliver rods
JE coated pistons (9.2:1)
AFR Renegade 220 heads
Jesel shaft mount rockers
Jesel belt drive
Custom solid roller cam
Canton kick-out oil pan
Obviously zero balance, ATI damper, double key on the crank
Assembled long block was right at $25K

Fast forward to 2020 (cliff notes)
Take to local machine shop for refresh.
Bored to 363 cid (3.4 X 4.125)
Asked for 11.0:1
New JE coated pistons, installed with standard duty pins, not the severe duty pins like the original pistons had
Turns out compression was 10.2:1
"Comp valve grind" Never touched the valves, just new springs.
Asked for new oil pump, oil pump reused.
Asked for new SFI flex plate, said he could not find one. (I bought one from Sumitt Racing next day)
They stripped out a head bolt hole in the block, had to take it back to get it repaired. (Helicoil)
Bill was $6,200
Obviously not happy.

Take engine to a different machine shop 70 miles away
Have engine inspected.
Cylinder bores have LOTS of taper
End up taking the block out to 4.135 (now 365 cid)
New coated pistons (again)
Correct pins, correct 11.0:1 compression
Pistons are from Diamond, getting parts during the Covid Hoax is a problem. Takes over 1 year at this shop to complete everything.
Obviously new balance job, add getting camshaft double pinned.
Cylinder head inspection results in finding a crack in a intake runner to coolant passage.
New AFR Renegade heads
New valves, to many cycles on original valves.
Bill out the door $9,500

Self inflicted gunshot wound:
Decide to change from FAST XFI to Holley Dominator
Decide to change to Coil Near Plug Ignition.
Add $4,500

All of this for a "refresh"
Lol.

Your results may vary...
Had a refresh done in 19 was around 52-5500 out the door

Hurt the motor - few causes suspected but never had a smoking gun

Did the EXACT freshen again by the time I got the motor back from
The first time I hurt it to the second time was almost a year total . It was 6200 or better I was like come on. We agreed at like 5800. Again full freshen , new pistons etc

I feel your pain. I’m 18k ish into this engine but it’s been good to me since.
 
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Couple of things I don’t like about the Blueprint long blocks.
1) standard rotation timing chain cover - most likely they do not stock reverse but you could ask.
2) 10:1 compression. I like 11 to 11.5:1 on pump gas.
3) Cam is not what I would run
4) From what I understand the heads are the same casting as the ProComps
5) Do not know what rockers it has, what type or brand of valve, or what push rods are in it. All this is a phone call away.

It’s a solid motor for what it is so if it meets your needs then it’s a good deal.

For me a 347 making 415 hp is not what I would expect. My 331 makes right at 460ish on an engine dyno. I would want a 347 making north of 500 hp on an engine dyno.

Again it’s all what you are looking for and their block does have 4 bolt mains on 2, 3, & 4 and is cast heavier than the stock Ford roller blocks.
 
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Well the are custom built by someone that is trying to get the most out of the build where Ford is cookie cuttering it. The Dart block is a better block than the Ford Boss block due to it being a true four bolt main block where the Boss block is two bolt on 1 & 5. I say this because if I am going to shell out $3K on a block I am going to get the most for my money even if I do not have plans to build more power than the Boss block can take. This is due to two things, scope creep and later down the road.
 
Pretty sure the Dart SHP is not 4 bolt on every main journal. You may be thinking of the Iron Eagle, and that's almost twice the price. Power wise, the SHP will take more, I think I've seeen 1500 quoted with the Ford around 1k. I think I have a line on the Ford 347 for under $6650 shipped with tax, seems like a good value, IDK for sure. This build will shoot for 430-450 ish hp at the crank and wind up choked off by my "old man" exhaust choices.
 
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Pretty sure the Dart SHP is not 4 bolt on every main journal. You may be thinking of the Iron Eagle, and that's almost twice the price. Power wise, the SHP will take more, I think I've seeen 1500 quoted with the Ford around 1k. I think I have a line on the Ford 347 for under $6650 shipped with tax, seems like a good value, IDK for sure. This build will shoot for 430-450 ish hp at the crank and wind up choked off by my "old man" exhaust choices.
You are correct on both the bolting and the hp. I have the iron eagle saved for the 393 inch motor we are building for the '69 and I just clicked on that.
 
Dart shp short block is about 7k from most shops.

Blue print uses stock replacement internals on the 302's. Strokers get run of the mill forged stuff but comes with their china dart pro1 cloned heads. Probably be wash after buying a rotating assembly and pistons, having it balanced and touching up any machine work. Too bad they stop selling short blocks and bare blocks.

Whats funny is the 302 engine the aluminum heads are only a $50 up charge over what look like rebuilt e7 iron heads
 
Couple of things I don’t like about the Blueprint long blocks.
1) standard rotation timing chain cover - most likely they do not stock reverse but you could ask.
2) 10:1 compression. I like 11 to 11.5:1 on pump gas.
3) Cam is not what I would run
4) From what I understand the heads are the same casting as the ProComps
5) Do not know what rockers it has, what type or brand of valve, or what push rods are in it. All this is a phone call away.

It’s a solid motor for what it is so if it meets your needs then it’s a good deal.

For me a 347 making 415 hp is not what I would expect. My 331 makes right at 460ish on an engine dyno. I would want a 347 making north of 500 hp on an engine dyno.

Again it’s all what you are looking for and their block does have 4 bolt mains on 2, 3, & 4 and is cast heavier than the stock Ford roller blocks.
There drop in builds for the car show cruiser buyers, cams mild for emissions and driveability , heads are there casting nothing like pro comp, they are the ones who paid China to copy the dart pro 1s a decade ago, so same casting afr is selling as the enforcer and everyone one else hawks. Blueprint also offers them in pedestal mount and use 11/32 valves. For 650 ish hp typical power adder build or less build I'd run it, probably swap cam, and valvetrain though, any more I'd want to spec the ring gaps and probably run a better rotating assembly. The blocks as good as the shp, rest of it is typical sbf stuff these days.
 
There is a video from SEMA where they state that the block is good to 700 hp so I would not say as good as and SHP. I am pretty sure they never sold the 4 bolt main block by itself. I have been hitting them up for a couple of years to sell a block and get the same answer which is they only have enough for their complete engine builds.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC0SNoET2E8
 
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I asked them if they would build an internally balanced short block and they declined to do so. I did however buy their air gap dual plane intake. I'm about to start a thread which links to video that shows what the guy who ported my X307's flowed them at along side of a Edelbrock RPM Air Gap. Very interesting to say the least.
 
I exchanged emails with Ford Performance about their 347 and 363 short blocks a couple years ago. Pistons are for 20 degree inline heads like AFR. A builder like Fordstrokers has piston options for twisted wedge heads also.