quote:
Originally posted by SteveD:
... I would be very interested in finding a builder with Cleveland experience without having to crate up the motor. Torrance is not too far away. My wife's family lives in Camarillo and we frequently make a trek south and frequently I'm looking for a mother in law diversion ...
Valley Head Service still runs a full engine shop, they can do the head work and build the engine.
Valley Head Service
Northridge, California
Owner: Larry Ofria (the old man)
(818) 993-7000
Larry was part of the golden era of Pro Stock and Comp Eliminator Clevelands.
They developed engines for both Shelby and Ford during the 1960s.
Its a shop with history going back to the Total Performance Era.
Larry trained Mark Degroff, the legendary M/P and Comp record holding Cleveland builder.
The guy in Torrance is Ron Shaver.
Shaver Specialties
Torrance, California
Owner: Ron Shaver
(310) 370-6941
Ron is highly respected engine builder.
He has an employee named Manny who may be the best machinist on the West Coast.
Another choice, but a bit farther away is Troy Bowen.
Ford Performance Solutions
Anaheim, California
Owner: Troy Bowen
(714) 773-9027
Troy is a protégé of Dyno Don Nicholson and has built some very stout Cleveland’s.
Also in Anaheim:
Russ Fulp Racing Engines & B.L. Machine
Anaheim, California
Owner: Russ Fulp
(714) 870-8570
Russ has built engines for several Pantera owners
quote:
Originally posted by SteveD:
... A new set of questions; do I need to finalize my camshaft choice before the heads are assembled? I not sure how much lope I want the cam and don't think I've heard a 351c with a 505 cam. Does it sound similar to a hydraulic version of the Boss 351? If the idle is set up to say 1000 rpm, does it smooth out? Or would I be better off seeking out a custom grind that may offer similar performance with a smooth(er) idle and still have the durability of a factory grind ...
As long as you stick to a flat tappet street cam there's no need to wait on the head work.
A 351C 4V with the 505 cam does have about the same idle as a Boss 351. The 505 cam has 4 degrees more overlap than the Boss 351 cam, a little more valve lift, and usually makes a few more horsepower all else being equal. The idle has a bit of lope to it, but not too much. Its kinda sinister sounding, like you know something mean is hiding inside. Everybody likes the idle of that cam. Its not an ultra-rough idle, which I find out-of-place in an Italian sports car. I guarantee the idle is as rough as it could get and still pass California smog inspection. The low rpm is just a tad softer than a 351C 4V with a cam having less overlap. But vacuum is still good enough. Yes the idle does smooth out if you raise the idle rpm.
Whether or not you want a better idle, or an idle with more lope, well that's up to you.
quote:
Originally posted by SteveD:
... Or do I need to worry about this yet and just use the the Crane 99839 springs?
The Crane 99839 valve spring is the proper diameter & installed height for a Cleveland. Its a single spring plus damper. It coil binds at 0.660" lift. The seated force is 121 lbs, and the spring rate is 354 lbs./inch. The over the nose force with a 0.500" lift camshaft is 298 pounds, the over the nose force with a 0.600" lift camshaft is 333 pounds. Its dead-on perfect within the limits of where it needs to be for any street application I have come across. If you can find a better spring for flat tappet street applications, hydraulic tappet or solid tappet, let me know because I haven't come across it.
