Am I on the Right Track; Budget Lightweight 289 SBF Short Block Build…

[289nate]

Oops

[289nate]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dGeNYc ... G-F1zG2Zfw

Here is the paperwork that came with the set of rods I bought which are the exact same thing Ed Curtis will be using.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0LWyR_F ... cjQLPj9zdA

Here are the pistons I bought to use with the build way back one from piston dude a.k.a. Mark O’Neill. Advertised at just over 400 but since mine are 60 over they are probably a tad heavier. 1.6 compression height I’m not that heavy.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0ILegG6 ... QcnbtTK86A

Oddly these are the old cylinder heads I plan to use down the road in the next version of this build. Rob Mallets old fun ford weekend twisted wedge heads hand done by Brian Tooley with titanium valves. No doubt similar to what Ed will run. I just need Ed to hook me up with a piston and a complete valve train. Maybe a ported intake as well. 40 cc combustion chambers will help with the compression.

[1972ho]

https://youtu.be/Sx8RLPOQ-0M Enough said 490 hp 403 torque

[1972ho]

https://youtu.be/NuNQp5ixWW8 Are do you want one that sounds and runs like this one

[289nate]

Nope. Thats Ed Curtis’ play box. A subdued E 85 version and I have yet to decide on the stroke of the next build. I have them and they were cheap. Might as well give them a try.

[crazy_caseys_customs]

Counterintuitive, yet proven by his experience.

And "heavier" by not enough to cause any problems. Chasing light weight for its own sake can have unintended consequences. The 289" stroke is so short, the pistons so light, diminishing returns set in quickly.

That makes sense. Thank you.

[crazy_caseys_customs]

EZ on parts @7,500 all day long.

That’s the goal for this build.

[crazy_caseys_customs]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dGeNYc ... G-F1zG2Zfw

Here is the paperwork that came with the set of rods I bought which are the exact same thing Ed Curtis will be using.

So those are stock length 5.155”? And do you know if they were the “ultralight” version?

40 cc combustion chambers will help with the compression.

How did you get to a 40cc chamber? Angle mill?

[frnkeore]

It looks like, from the part #, that they are 5.090, 302 rods.

[crazy_caseys_customs]

It looks like, from the part #, that they are 5.090, 302 rods.

You’re right. I missed it. They are the “IQ” Superlight I-beams, also. Those Molnar 5.7” h-beam rods are 20 grams lighter, at more than a half an inch longer…and arguably stronger, though 2x the price. I’m WAY torn after reading this thread…

[BILL-C]

Decreasing the rod journal size from stock 2.123 to 2.0 or better yet 1.888 will have a more posative impact on engine oil temp and high rpm durability than any fooling around with rod lengths.

[af2]

Decreasing the rod journal size from stock 2.123 to 2.0 or better yet 1.888 will have a more posative impact on engine oil temp and high rpm durability than any fooling around with rod lengths.

The weight of the pistons and the rod length are way more important than the diameter of the rod bearing. Long rod light piston with a small journal is the best..
Long rods have the weight at the crank.

[iadr]

My experience leans more toward Bill-C being correct than AF2, here.

[rustbucket79]

I’m amazed at how complicated a boring old small block Ford can become. A 331 with the cheapest of parts and reasonable heads will do the job here, it’s not like this is a Super Stock or Competition Eliminator short block.

[289nate]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0dGeNYc ... G-F1zG2Zfw

Here is the paperwork that came with the set of rods I bought which are the exact same thing Ed Curtis will be using.

So those are stock length 5.155”? And do you know if they were the “ultralight” version?

40 cc combustion chambers will help with the compression.

How did you get to a 40cc chamber? Angle mill?

I told you they are the exact same thing that Ed posted. Of course they are the Probe AKA RPM ultralight rods. And they are the stock 5.090 inch length.

I did not mail the heads. Brian Tooley did back in the day. You’re not going to just drop a manifold on this thing and expect it to fit. It’s going to take work