is my engine builder on drugs?
 

well i pulled the motor/tranny from my car and took the block to a machine shop ...he is going to turn my lil 302 into a 347 - so i ask him ...what kind of numbers would i be producing from this 347 with a set of TFS heads, im thinkin in my head of an hp number higher than what he told me ...i was kind of disappointed

my setup is going to be something along the lines of
347
TFS heads
some badass cam
edelbrock RPM air gap intake
compression should be like 10:1
and a barry grant carb ..dont know what cfm im lookin at but im thinkin 650-750 im not too sure

anybody have any guesses on what kind of power i should make
..after a few guesses ill tell you the hp number he told me

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

Your setup specs are a little vague. The only thing you're positive about is what heads and intake you'll have.
Your cam selection is either going to have a huge impact on how your engine performs so I would do some research first before grabbing the biggest "badass" cam you can find
Bigger is not always better..especially when it comes to cams.
If you choose your parts wisely, you could make close to 400hp

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

BTW, we won't know if your engine builder is on drugs or not until you tell us his HP guess.

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

400 hp or so sounds reasonable.

But agree, you set-up is awefully vauge.

What kind of cam? What kind of TW heads?

Ditch that performer RPM intake and get a Vic Jr.

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

Engine builder is probably right, you're probably wrong. I don't mean that to be offensive, it would just seem that your engine builder probably knows more about this type of thing than you do.

For an engine slapped together from off-the-shelf, out-of-the-box components, the best estimate is probably around 1.15-1.25 HP per cubic inch, normally aspirated. If you listen to your experience builder and take the advice of other experienced racers, you could probably hope for 1.5 HP per cubic inch. Go all out, break the bank and do some R&D and 2.0 HP per cubic inch is not out of the question. My best guess give the little information above is 450-465hp at the crank.

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

With TFS heads, 10:1 compression, a decent set of longtubes, an Air gap, and a properly specced hydraulic roller cam ~425+hp, thrown together with off the shelf parts, 375-400.
Also, how much experience does your engine builder have with stroked small block fords? My machinist doesn't do a lot of small block hi-po fords, but is a capable machinist-I'll give him the specs, he'll do the machine work, I'll put it together.
My machinist wasn't even aware that with a 3.85" stroker crank, stock length 351W rods, and 302 comp. height pistons, you can build a nice windsor stroker. I'm betting that after doing all the 383 chevys he's done, he'll be pretty surprised to find out what these windsors are capable of.

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

he said he would find the cam to best suit my needs
the heads are untouched straight out of the box TFS twisted wedge heads

this is exactly what he said - "these heads on a 347 you will see all of 350 horsepower" he also said he forgot the dyno numbers from the last 347 he did but that was his guess ...im not sure if he was talkin about at the wheels or flywheel hp

what i was thinkin was to make about 400 with that setup ..anybody have a cam suggestion
ive messed up enough as it is and i want to do my motor right this time around

ive yet to order the rest of my parts - the only thing im certain on is that i have the TFS heads and he is building the 347 up for me
i can still make changes to my intake/cam/carb selection at this point

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

BTW thanks for the responses guys

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

My guess is for a good street engine with the components you listed, 1.1-1.2 HP/CID. That's if it is tuned well with electric fans, crank scraper/windage tray, under drive pulleys, good electronic ignition, etc.

That would be in the neighborhood of 400 HP. I'm assuming something like a CC Extreme Energy cam or equivalent. So I agree with everyone else, say 375-425 HP.

Rev

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

What exactly is a 'properly specced' cam anyway? The fact is if you talk to 4 different cam designers, you are going to get 4 different cams. They all have their ideas on the best way to fill the cylinder. I know this for a fact because right now I have 3 cams sitting on the shelf that are all 'properly specced', and 1 in my engine that supposedly is. I even took a huge variable out of their equation as my class rules limit me to a maximum of 1/2 inch of lift, but yet all 4 'properly specced' cams are entirely different. The one that is actually 'properly specced' is the 1 that goes the fastest at the track.

Theres plenty of shelf cams out there that would work great with an unported TFS Twisted Wedge. Most of the variables rely on how you are going to use this car. Is it a quarter mile only car, mainly strip with a little street driving, mainly street, etc... A 270 degree at .050 cam might work great at the track, but requires alot of valve spring pressure which doesnt necessarily make it the best street cam. Unless you are in to replacing springs and lifters often.

For the service you get before and after the sale, Anderson Ford Motorsport has the best shelf cams available. They also have matching springs for their cams. They have tried this stuff and they know what works. Unlike some people who find ways to make horsepower and keep in to themselves, AFM markets and sells their findings.

Andy

Re: is my engine builder on drugs?
 

What I was saying is a cam that is not a mismatch to the rest of the combo, I agree that different people will spec a completely different cam for the same combo with the same requirements but the bottom line is that a properly selected cam is going to make more power than an inappropriate cam. I was just trying to point out to him that picking a big cam isn't always the right solution, no need to read anymore into it.