427 is gone

[WR Moore]

Looooong ago during a weird parts shortage, I used a restrictor plate to replace a thermostat that failed closed. Worked fine until I eventually found a thermostat.

In my case, I simply removed the valve in the failed thermostat. The go fast types generally used plates with different size openings until they got the desired results.

 

[Autonomous]

The FE is a tough nut to crack. Ford made many running changes, and it takes an expert engine builder that hasn't retired or died yet, a big stack of money and a detective to find the right parts.

 

[WR Moore]

Re-reading a couple of entries has me puzzled. Particularly about the idea of packing the engine block with something to stabilize it? Granted this is way back when, but the best practice at that time was to bolt plates to the tops of the cylinder banks to place the block under the same strain it'd be under when assembled. The real particular types would also do something similar to the main bearing area.

 

[Ghost Magnum]

Re-reading a couple of entries has me puzzled. Particularly about the idea of packing the engine block with something to stabilize it? Granted this is way back when, but the best practice at that time was to bolt plates to the tops of the cylinder banks to place the block under the same strain it'd be under when assembled. The real particular types would also do something similar to the main bearing area.

What entry are you referring too?

 

[WR Moore]

#15 "My 289 saga continues. We are still fighting the overheating issue. About 18 months ago we put a 302 in the Mustang and sent the 289 up to NE Iowa to have it xrayed and clean out the gunk they found in the block. Late last year we put the 289 back in and the overheating issue is not as bad but the outside air temps are still in the 70s and 80s. This summer will tell the story."

#19 "We think the company that bored out the 289 back in 2014 packed the block with some substance and didn't get it all cleaned out."

Wonder if anyone makes an ultra sonic cleaner tank big enough for a block?

 

[AZ Buckshot Bill]

Woohoo! Take a close look at modern alimunum intake designs if you go carb, over a vintage intake. Some of the latest designs are huge improvements. When Edelbrock brought back the classic Buick B4B, they made some subtle changes that make a big difference. I'd see if there is a Performer RPM version for the Cleveland, or something like that, that breathes well at higher rpms, like the Cleveland can with massaged 2v heads and the right cam.[/QUOTE

Ghost Magnum, it sure sounds like you're on the right track with your small block plan, and Racer X has, IMO, come up with some great suggestions for intakes. You're probably already aware of this ,but
Edelbrock has done a lot of research and the dyno time is already done for you in their manifold and carb kit packages, and usually they recommend a cam and lifter package that'll make everything work well together. I think they make really good stuff.
I hope all my ramblings help, and keep us updated how it all turns out.
Good Luck,
Az BB.

 

[Racer X]

We think the company that bored out the 289 back in 2014 packed the block with some substance and didn't get it all cleaned out. Hopefully that has now been rectified. We have put a GM distributor on it, installed a heavy duty water pump, bought a new radiator that takes water in the top right of the radiator and expels it out the bottom left (to force the water through the cores). It also has an electric fan. But even the 302 we put in last year ran hot as well. It now has 190 degree thermostat and is running between 190 and 204. But I haven't driven it in 90+ degrees, 90%+ humidity with the a/c running yet.

another thing you can do, which is dirt cheap, and takes about 2 minutes, is to add 2 bottles of Redline Watter Wetter. It lowers the surface tension of the coolant, allowing the coolant molecules to hug the metal more closely. My buddy is a thermal engineer, and told me about it. He uses it in his old '70 F250 camper special with a 390 in it. Helps a lot when it is under load. It really helps pull heat away from the heads.

I use it in my 3 Buicks, and my partner's Mountaineer. It has the Interceptor 4.6 V-8 in it. HUGE help in the Stage 1 motor in the GSX. It has an opriginal recored 3 row radiator. So if THAT cools it with the A/C on... The Redline dropped the temp between 10-15 degrees, and the heads are cooler. Less pinging under WOT on just super.

 

[ErnieDeBord]

On the overheating issue, when all said and done, woundt be surprised at all if it dont turn out to be the water pump, even if it already has exchange on it. Regards, Big E

 

[Racer X]

On the overheating issue, when all said and done, woundt be surprised at all if it dont turn out to be the water pump, even if it already has exchange on it. Regards, Big E

sure. Some applications had different water pump impellers for A/C or HD cooling options, and rebuilders don't usually pay attention. BBB with A/C have 6 or 7 fins on the impeller vs 5.

Check out Flow Kooler Hi Flow Water Pumps






– FlowKooler Hi Flow Waterpumps

there are also high flow thermostats that will pass more coolant. Either open further, larger diameter, or both.

 

[Ghost Magnum]

I am going to remember that. I didn’t know about water pump issues

 

[Targets Guy]

#15 "My 289 saga continues. We are still fighting the overheating issue. About 18 months ago we put a 302 in the Mustang and sent the 289 up to NE Iowa to have it xrayed and clean out the gunk they found in the block. Late last year we put the 289 back in and the overheating issue is not as bad but the outside air temps are still in the 70s and 80s. This summer will tell the story."

#19 "We think the company that bored out the 289 back in 2014 packed the block with some substance and didn't get it all cleaned out."

Wonder if anyone makes an ultra sonic cleaner tank big enough for a block?

They imaged inside the block and then cleaned out inside with some sort of "acid".


This is what we saw at the front of the block. There was more of it at the back of the block the camera picked up.





it is hard to see in this photo but it is just inside the lip of the opening and to look at it it looked like wet, packed sand but it was as solid as concrete. Apparently worse at the back of the block.

 

[JudgeColt]

That Targets Guy picture of the rusty engine is not a 289/271 because the HiPo 289/271 did not have a vacuum advance distributor.

 

[Racer X]

That Targets Guy picture of the rusty engine is not a 289/271 because the HiPo 289/271 did not have a vacuum advance distributor.

It's not like most 50+ year old motors weren't touched over the years. Just about the first thing I did to my '69 Buick 350 back in '86 was to put in a recurved HEI distributor and rebuild the carb.

 

[wbraswell]

I feel the same way you do. I have always wanted a dual quad 427FE. But, now they are so valuable, they usually end up in restored R code cars. But now, you can get stroker kits for 302s, up to 347 C.I., aluminum heads, and all kinds of goodies, currently available, and it's not hard to have a 450 HP, pump gas, drivable, little henry! And you can change plugs fairly easy!

 

[Ghost Magnum]

They imaged inside the block and then cleaned out inside with some sort of "acid".


This is what we saw at the front of the block. There was more of it at the back of the block the camera picked up.





it is hard to see in this photo but it is just inside the lip of the opening and to look at it it looked like wet, packed sand but it was as solid as concrete. Apparently worse at the back of the block.

This might be a dumb question. But was this engine used as a dedicated race engine? That concrete like material was probably put in there on purpose to strengthen the block. What was it pulled out if?

I feel the same way you do. I have always wanted a dual quad 427FE. But, now they are so valuable, they usually end up in restored R code cars. But now, you can get stroker kits for 302s, up to 347 C.I., aluminum heads, and all kinds of goodies, currently available, and it's not hard to have a 450 HP, pump gas, drivable, little henry! And you can change plugs fairly easy!

I got my hands on a complete 351 Cleveland with standard bores. Going to do a tear down this week and post pictures. It’s a real diamond in the rough

 

[Targets Guy]

This might be a dumb question. But was this engine used as a dedicated race engine? That concrete like material was probably put in there on purpose to strengthen the block. What was it pulled out if?



I got my hands on a complete 351 Cleveland with standard bores. Going to do a tear down this week and post pictures. It’s a real diamond in the rough

The engine came out of a Ford Ranchero.

 

[Targets Guy]

That Targets Guy picture of the rusty engine is not a 289/271 because the HiPo 289/271 did not have a vacuum advance distributor.

It is a 289/271hp. It wasn't when we got it. It is now.