390/428 FE Strokers

General engine tech -- Drag Racing to Circle Track

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blykins
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Re: 390/428 FE Strokers

Post by blykins »

I don't know how many 4.250" cranks I've used in FE's.....uncountable. Never had a rod/cam issue. It starts getting close with a 4.375" crank, but with the right rod, there's still enough clearance.

I think you have something else going on. Some of the older Scat cranks had counterweights that were misshapen. They were contacting the wrist pin bosses on the pistons. Check that first...
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Re: 390/428 FE Strokers

Post by bigjoe1 »

GIVE THE MAN A CIGAR ! That is what it was==



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Re: 390/428 FE Strokers

Post by blykins »

Little harder to fix, but glad you got it nailed down.
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Re: 390/428 FE Strokers

Post by PackardV8 »

Glad you got good advice on exactly where to look. That counterweight to piston clearance thing once nearly drove me nuts on a Packard V8 being run in before being shipped to England. Good thing we did run it, as there was a noise which got louder as it warmed. Pulled the pan, pulled the rod bearings and rechecked the bearing clearances. Stock cam and crank, so no interference there. Finally, I saw a smudge of aluminum on a counterweight. These were aftermarket cast stock replacement pistons and had always cleared before, so I had looked everywhere else first for that little knock. The piston skirts were left as cast and one edge was barely ticking against one counterweight. Six extra hours of shop time, two minutes with a half-round file, a new pan gasket and the Packard V8 was on the way to England.
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Re: 390/428 FE Strokers

Post by bigjoe1 »

A good friend at SCAT told me where to look-- Thanks guys !



JOE SHERMAN RACING
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Re: 390/428 FE Strokers

Post by My427stang »

Good stuff, Brent sure has lugged a few SCAT FE cranks across the shop!
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Re: 390/428 FE Strokers

Post by blykins »

If the aftermarket FE block quality doesn't go up, I won't be lugging any more. 'Bout done with them.
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