Frequently Asked Questions

• Frequently asked Cobra Kit Engine Questions
• Which Engine Combination is right for my Vehicle?
• Will my factory Transmission withstand the added horsepower?
• Can I swap to a different or larger engine than what I presently have?
• What are the advantages of buying a Ford Crate Engine from Engine Factory
• What other Add-ons will be needed with my engine purchase?
• What are the advantages of a "Stroker engine"?
• Can I switch over from Carbureted to a Fuel injected engine?
• Do I need a high priced Ignition System to go with my performance Engine?
• What are the advantages of using an Aluminum Cylinder Head?
• Do I need Forged pistons, Crankshaft or connecting Rods for my performance Engine?
• What's the Difference between a Short Block, Long block and Turnkey Engine ?
• What's the difference between a 289, 302, 351w, 351c, 400m, 460???....
• Can you get 400 Horsepower out of a 289?
• What's Makes Engine Factory Different from the Other Mass Market Engine Suppliers?
• How do I identify what my year engine block is?
• What are the benefits of a "Stroker Engine" Vs. a Non Stroked Engine?

Which Engine Combination is right for my Vehicle?

This is one of the most common questions our technicians answer. We will ask you a list of questions that will help point you in the right direction.

For example:

• A. What is your car or truck being used for?
• B. How often do you drive your vehicle?
• C. Is idle quality important to you?
• D. Do you have a budget your working with or dont want to exceed?

These are just a few of the questions we will address to make your buying decision the proper one for you.

Lets say for example you have an early Mustang with a 5.0 liter that has high mileage and is tired. You are looking for something you can use as a daily driver with good low end torque plus midrange horsepower for highway use and your budget for a complete turnkey engine is under $5,000.00.

Engine Factory offers several variations of the 302:

• 302 / 200 HP Stock
• 302 / 300 HP Stage 1 - One step up from stock engine
• 302 / 350 HP Stage 2 Two steps up from Stock engine
• 302 / 375 HP Stage 3 Three steps up from Stock engine
• 347 / 425 HP Stroker Stage 4 Four steps up from Stock engine

We would recommend the 302 / 350 HP version as being a good overall fit for this customer. It is worth mentioning though that all of our engines are very streetable. Just that some are more aggressive than others.

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Will my factory Transmission withstand the added horsepower?

This is a concern for people wanting more power but are worried that their factory tranny is not up to the job. Most of our engines as are not for all out racing. That is why we usually say that factory transmissions will bolt up and work fine for cruising and occasional strip use. While the engine is pulled out of your vehicle it never hurts to freshen things up with a shift kit and / or slightly higher stall speed converter. As you get more and more radical with an engine it's probably worthwhile to upgrade your transmission. As with anything the weakest link is always going to go first. So lets say if you have an original engine putting out 150 HP and you are moving up to a 400 + HP street beast. More than likely your Transmission needs to be upgraded. Different Gear Ratios can also have a huge affect on low end power.

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Can I swap to a different or larger engine than what I currently have?

This is a yes or no answer. Whenever your swapping out to a different or larger engine some questions that would need to be addressed.

1. Will all your existing parts ex: Pulley, Brackets, Transmission, exhaust etc. switch over to the larger engine?
2. Are you committed to spending the extra labor time and expense to making the transition work if it is not a direct bolt in swap?
3. Will you see a significant gain in horsepower in making the change?

The good news is that there are some engines that can interchange very easily. One very popular upgrade our customers do with early mustangs having 289s or 302s is switch over to a 351w. This is pretty much a direct bolt in with the proper setup. Speak to our Sales Tech staff regarding swaps and they can give you some input.

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What are the advantages of buying a Ford Crate Engine from Engine Factory?

When you purchase a turnkey engine from Engine Factory you will receive a fully dressed assembly. Here is a list of what most of our engines come with:

BLOCK

RODS

CRANKSHAFT

HEADS

NEW COMPONENTS ALSO INCLUDED

DETAILING

Engine Factory knows the pride our customers take in restoring their cars. Thats why our engine builders pay special attention to detailing the overall appearance of your motor.

TESTING

To insure quality and performance, each engine is test run for approximately 1 hour. During this time the cam is broken in, all valves are adjusted, the carburetor is adjusted and the ignition is timed. All systems are checked to be sure that there are no water, fuel or oil leaks under running conditions. When you receive your engine, it is ready to drop in place.

VIDEO TAPE AND DOCUMENTATION

The following items are discussed in detail so that you know what we have done, and what you have to do, so that this engine will deliver years of driving pleasure:

• Customers name, year, and type of vehicle
• Type of engine that we are supplying
• Style of tin ware, oil pan, timing cover, valve covers
• Brand and type of cylinder heads
• Valve size, spring size, combustion chamber size
• Compression ratio, and recommended octane
• Details about your PCV system, breather, and baffles
• Style and brand of your intake system
• Carburetor brand and CFM size
• Type of fuel pump, and fuel lines
• Details on how to wire your electric choke 1 wire
• Details on 1 wire distributor set up
• Specs for initial, centrifugal, and vacuum advance
• Details on flywheel and harmonic balancer
• Details on water pump, and coolant flow
• Recommended items that you should replace
• Hoses that should be replaced, and air burping
• Explanation of how cooling system works
• Live running of your engine for one half an hour
• Test for oil leaks
• Test for fuel leaks
• Test for vacuum leaks
• Test for proper temperature at all 4 corners of engine
• Test for oil pressure cold, hot, and @ 3000 RPM
• Adjust carb, distributor timing, choke, and fast idle
• Perform a cylinder balance test
• Review thermostat housing, and coolant flow
• Review type oil to use, and change recommendations
• Review alternator, pulleys, and wiring procedure
• Explain heat indicators attached to block
• Explain proper break in procedure
• Explanation of owners and mechanics responsibilities
• A contact person that you can call if problems occur
• A list of parts that you should use to maintain engine
• A sincere thank you for your business

All necessary documentation are also included with the shipment of your engine.

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What other Add-ons will be needed with my engine purchase?

When you purchase the complete engine package from the Engine Factory basically everything is there for you. Some of your responsibilities would include:

• Exhaust System
• Engine Mounts
• Transmission
• Front Pulley System (Some exceptions Apply)

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What are the Advantages of Using an Aluminum Cylinder Head ?

1. Aluminum Cylinder Heads can together to save as much as a 100 lbs.
2. Have superior flow characteristics with larger intake & exhaust runners
3. Hardened interlocking valve seats which allow use with Unleaded Fuel
4. Stainless Steel 1 piece high swirl valves with 2 positive oil control seals
5. Have Bronze guide inserts for better heat transfer
6. Most are street legal and interchange with factory Cylinder Heads

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What are the advantages of a "Stroker engine"?

Stroking an engine is basically increasing the engines stroke length by converting over to a longer stroke crank. Take for instance the 302 Ford. A very popular conversion is to go to a 347. The factory stroke of the crankshaft is 3.0 inches to make it become a 347 the stroke is extended to 3.40 inches in length. You need to utilize a different length connecting rod also. Whenever an engine is given more leverage and cubic inches it is going to deliver more torque which is exactly what every street performing vehicle needs. Engine Factory can supply you a stroker with proper machining , balancing and notching of the block to make it trouble free. The nice thing about this set-up is that all the modifications are done internally so your mounting patterns and accessories will all be identical . On the technical end of things, we have some people ask us if there is any oil control problems on the stroker engines. There is a misconception that if the Piston Pin protrudes into the oil rail area that the motor will suck down oil. This is a totally wrong assumption. Most every top Piston Manufacturer designs there stroker pistons this way. They modify the pistons to be more rigid and there oil control is excellent with the correct Rings used.

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Can I switch over from Carbureted to a Fuel injected engine?

This is definitely a common question. Changing over to Fuel Injection has become easier than ever before. We offer a Complete Plug n Play EFI engine that has a classic look with Modern day performance. All the Harnesses and Sensors included. The ECU is actually built into the Throttle Body. More Details on the Boss EFI System Here. We test run the engine and make the adjustments necessary to get the engine up and running. What's nice about it is there is a limited amount of hookup, everything is clearly labeled and you don't need any special skills to get your engine up and running. Very similar hookup to a Carbureted engine as far as wiring goes. Fine adjustments with a Laptop can be done if you desire. The fuel line kit and fuel pump is also included. Engine Factory has tested several other Fuel injection kits only to find much more complex setup time, restrictions on the camshaft, distributor and a lot more wiring and harnesses and fine tuning. The Boss EFI engines we offer will run approx. $2,500 more than our Carbureted engines so this is something that you need to weigh out.  We suggest if you drive your vehicle only once in a while, maybe a weekend warrior then a Carbureted engine can work just fine for you and keep some cost down. The new Carbs are improved from the early years.  But if you put a lot of miles on your car, drive in different climates, elevations, get a little better gas mileage or just stand out from the crowd then converting over to the Boss EFI engine can be a great way of going.  Going over to a 87-93 Style Mustang Conversion EFI engine does require more time and expertise.

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Do I need a high priced Ignition System to go with my performance Engine?

We have found that most of the Aftermarket Distributors make elaborate claims of significant Horsepower gains. This is simply not true. Unless your driving consistently over 6000 RPMs it can be a waste of money. The electronic distributor we provide with quality coil will deliver plenty of spark to give excellent throttle response.

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Do I need Forged Pistons, Crankshaft or Connecting Rods for my Performance Engine ?

This depends upon the use of the car or truck. For daily driven grocery getters or even weekend warriors, most engines kept under 5500 RPMs will hold up very well without making the investment into Forged pistons, Rods or the Steel Crankshaft. So for most street performance enthusiasts we usually go with a Hypereutectic piston which transfer heat easily and you can still very tight clearances. ARP quality rod bolts used for added insurance. The factory crankshaft will not break unless there is a cause and affect circumstance like for instance a balancer bolt left loose, a flywheel not installed correctly or main cap bolts improperly torqued in place. The aftermarket makes cast steel crankshafts which are around 25% stronger than original nodular cranks which we generally use for engines delivering up to 500 HP. When engines are running a supercharger or nitrous we would recommend going with Forged components.

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Engine Block Dimensions

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What's the Difference between a Short Block and a Long Block ?

SHORT BLOCKS HAVE THE FOLLOWING INCLUDED.

Lower Block, Crankshaft, Connecting Rods, Pistons, Rings, Main Bearings, Rod Bearings, Cam Bearings, Camshaft and Timing Set occasionally. We prefer not to sell a short block mainly for the fact that it requires a lot of expertise to finish assembling. Proper Torque readings, Clearances, Alignment of Valve Train, Sealing, Matching of parts, Blueprinting etch.. The average shady tree mechanic will most likely encounter problems.

LONG BLOCK ENGINES HAVE THE FOLLOWING INCLUDED.

Lower Block, Crankshaft, Connecting Rods, Pistons, Rings, Main Bearings, Rod Bearings, Cam Bearings, Camshaft and Timing Set, Lifters, Gaskets, Cylinder Heads, Valve Train, Oil pump and sump. This also can require many labor hours of cleaning, rebuilding and reassembling of components like your oil pan, timing chain cover, valve covers, induction system, electronics, pulleys etch back onto the engine.

Our Turn Key Engines Include The Following:

1. NEW CARBURETOR
2. NEW ALUMINUM INTAKE MANIFOLD
3. NEW ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR
4. NEW SPARK PLUGS TORQUED AND GAPPED
5. NEW 8 MM SILICONE IGNITION WIRES
6. NEW IGNITION COIL
7. NEW CHROME AIR CLEANER
8. NEW VALVE COVERS
9. NEW OIL PAN
10. NEW TIMING COVER
11. NEW HARMONIC BALANCER
12. COMPLETE P.C.V SYSTEM
13. GROMMETS AND BREATHER
14. NEW OIL FILTER AND HOUSING
15. NEW DIPSTICK AND TUBE
16. NEW WATER PUMP
17. THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING
18. NEW FUEL PUMP
19. NEW FUEL LINES
20. HOT RUN TESTING OF ENGINE
21. THE VALVES FULLY ADJUSTED
22. DISTRIBUTOR TIMING ADJUSTED
23. CARBURETOR BEEN ADJUSTED
24.ENGINE HOT TESTED FOR LEAKS
25. OIL PRESSURE TESTED COLD & HOT
26. AUTOMATIC CHOKE ADJUSTED
27. NEW AUTOMATIC FLYWHEEL INCLUDED
28. INSTALLATION VIDEO INCLUDED
29. VIDEO OF YOUR ENGINE RUNNING

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What's the difference between a 289, 302, 351w, 351c, 400m, 460???....

The objective of this article is to distinguish the differences between the Ford Windsor, Cleveland, FE, 351M/400 and the Big Block . For starters the 289 was produced from '63-'68 and is almost identical to the 302 except for the stroke and camshaft which is either Mechanical or Hydraulic. A 289 has a 4.00 x 2.870 Bore and Stroke while the 302 has 4.00x 3.00. The 302 manufactured from '85 and up has roller camshaft which Engine Factory uses exclusively. The 302 is more readily available, has better internal parts and can generate more power for less money! We offer Horsepower ranges of 275HP, 350HP, 370HP and up to 425HP all on pump Gas.

The 351 Windsor is the biggest of the small block Ford engines. It has a Bore and Stroke of 4.00x.3.50. It was made at the Windsor, Ontario plant - which of course giving it's name. The 351 is a beefier block than the 302/289 but has the same bore spacing and bore diameter. The deck height is taller and the Main journals larger. The Windsor has been in production since '69 and still in production. Engine Factory offers a wide selection of the Windsor engines. We offer different stroke combinations (393,408,418w and 427w) making this a true Street Beast!

The 351 Cleveland is in a class by itself and entered the scene in 1970 until 1974. It has canted valves and multi-groove keepers, hydraulic cam, pedestal -mounted rocker arms that are retained with cap bolts. Two types of heads where made they were the 2V and 4V. The 2V heads have open chambers with rounded ports, while the 4V has quench combustion chambers with larger rounded intake and exhaust ports. A 351c Cobra-Jet appeared in '71 with 4-bolt main caps. A 351C Boss also came out in '71 with 4V type chamber head with pedestals machined to accept a 302 Boss type valve train and mechanical cam. In '72 open chamber heads were used with a flat top piston and the name changed to 351C HO. Being that the Cleveland is over 30 years old, they are becoming a rare find and hard to find parts. For this reason we interchange it with the 351w which share the same bellhousing and engine mount patterns. The Exhaust manifolds, Front brackets and Pulleys do need to be changed out. Engine Factory offers the complete March Performance Pulley kit as an option on a swap like this.

Windsor 351 V-8 Engine

Cleveland 351 V-8 Engine

The 351m and 400 have the same bore spacing as the 302/351C/351W but a taller block for a longer stroke and rods. They were considered the next generation of the 351 Cleveland. They share the same cylinder head bolt pattern as the Clevelands but most of the external bolt ons were different. The 400 started production towards the mid 70's where compression was dropped down to around 8 to 1 compression. This of course affected Horsepower numbers. They had the 460 big block bell housing pattern to use larger clutches for greater torque capacity, which is why some people opt to swap out to a 460 Big block. The exhaust bolt pattern, pulleys, accessories and Brackets are not the same though. The 351M was introduced after the 400 to fill production demand for a 351 size engine. They were not known for their big performance by enthusiasts but a good engine when setup properly for low end grunt torque.

Another distinction between the 289/302/351w engines, they use a front Aluminum Timing Chain cover and water exits the intake manifold face of the cylinder head through the intake manifold to the radiator. The 351C/351M/400 engines use a flat tin front cover instead and the block extends out to cover the timing chain. The water exits the block face.

The FE engines are the 352/360/390/427/428 engines and are different from all other Ford engines. The 390 is set up basically the same as the other engines but are balanced internally as oppossed to externally on the 428. Some of the 427 engines are overhead cam and are extremely powerful yet rare especially the side oiler versions. The 428 isn't much different but isn't an overhead cam plus a rare find. Engine Factory simplifies matters and offers the 390FE. It will interchange with either the 352,360 or even the 428. We provide this engine package with the Cobra Jet Aluminum Heads, these alone generate an awesome amount of torque. We also provide a Stroker version of this that comes to 426 cubic Inches.

The last of the Ford engines are the Big Blocks 429/460. 429's were available from '68-'73 and named Cobra-Jet, Super Cobra-Jet, and Boss. Basically the 429 was a wedge engine with hydraulic cam, 2-bolt main caps, and 2V or 4V carbs. The 460 is a stroked 429. The CJ had a hotter cam, larger carb, bigger port heads and valves. The SCJ had 4 bolt mains mechanical cam, adjustable non-positive stop rocker arm studs, stamped rockers arms push rod guide plates. The pistons are forged aluminum . The Boss had aluminum heads and hemi combustion chambers. Engine Factory offers the 460 Big block with the Edelbrock Aluminum Cylinder Heads. Good for running on the street where more broad power band is needed.

An easy to identify on the Fords is to count the number of retaining bolts on the valve covers. This should be the same for cars and trucks.

5 bolts = FE Block
6 bolts = 289/ 302/ 351Windsor
8 bolts = Cleveland / Modified

You can reference this as well:

2 bolts the engine is a: 239/256/272/292/312 (produced from 1954 to 1964)
5 bolts the engine is a: 332/352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428/ (FE engine)
6 bolts the engine is a: 221/260/289/302/351W
7 bolts the engine is a: 429/460
8 bolts the engine is a: 351C/351M/400

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Can I get 400 Horsepower out of my Original 289 Ford Small Block?

Squeezing a "legitimate" 400HP out of a little standard bore 289 means putting in some serious mods. The engine would need spin high to get 400HP which means cam, porting, heads, headers, flo and decent aspiration. Components like a steel crank; high end rods, carburetion, etc. preferred for a "legit" 400HP SB motor that will stay together . Here is a typical example......

Block prep (bake, tumble, magnaflux and chase all holes) - $120.
Bore & Hone with torque plates - $250.
Line Hone Block - $120.
Square Deck Block - $120.
Custom oil galley mods (grind/drilling) - $60.
Passage cleaning, plugs, paint - $80.
Cam bearing install - $40.
Balancing - $175. + $75. per piece mallory (used 4) = $475.
Intake Port Matching - 180.
Short block assembly with spec sheet and cam shaft degreed - $400.
Hot Run test Engine - $500.

Other parts:
Ported Heads - $1500.
Roller Rockers - $525.
Lunati Rods - $900
Steel Crank, pins, slugs, rings - $1600.
Cust. Roller Cam / S-Lifters/Pushrods -$450.
Blue Thunder 2x4 plus twin 750 holleys / linkage - $1600
Water pump - 160
HV Oil pump - 60
Billet timing Set - 200
Heavy Duty Damper - 250

That's $9,000+. in PARTS not including additional work to get up and running.

One of our 302 or 351w will be a more cost effective and efficient way of going. Your not dealing with a 40 year old block either. We utilize a Roller camshaft and Aluminum cylinder Heads which makes it lighter and faster.

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What makes Engine Factory different from the Mass Marketing Mail order Engine Companies?

1. Mass Marketed Engines are available in one size fits all.
This certainly makes life easier for the distributor but not to the customer. After reading the fine print there are frequently a lot of modifications to the engine needed to fit your vehicle. For instance: Oil Pan, Oil Screen, Dipstick and tube, Flywheel, Water Pump, Fuel Pump, Harmonic Balancer, Valve Covers, Intake Manifold, Distributor, Thermostat housing etc. What“s the purpose of buying an assembled engine if you need to disassemble it and build it again? When you order an Engine Factory we ask the right questions specific to your vehicle so the engine is setup right the first time!

2. Mass Marketed engine companies dont sell a truly Ready to run Engine.
Bear in mind they may come complete with the essentials but look at a typical list of parts needed to make it a truly Turnkey Ready engine: Carburetor or Fuel injection Kit (We provide the computer, Harness and sensors) Throttle return spring, Air Cleaner, Intake Manifold, Distributor, ignition wires, coil, spark plugs, fuel Pump, Fuel Lines, Pulleys with the Alternator, Power Steering or A/C compressor. Its important to make an apples to apples comparison.

3. Does your engine look any different from any different from anybody elses?
When you pop open the hood having an engine that has been tailored to your needs is a great feature. Engine Factory offers our engines in a range of different engine block colors, ignition wire colors, pulley kit options and polished packages. This isnt easy selling a customized crate motor but we know it really makes a difference to our customers.

4. Do they really know about engines?
Often times when speaking to a salesman over the phone you'll get a price and then often a reply Do you want the engine or not? Thats it!! Engine Factory deals solely with Engines so we dont try to be everything to everybody. With thousands of engines produced and sold over the years, we'll work with you to find the right engine combo, ask the right questions and offer suggestions. We'll spend the time to go in detail on what you'll get, not get and guidelines for an easier installation. Put our 40 years of experience to work!! Unfortunately personalized attention is considered more of a luxury to most companies these days.

5. Are you buying Horsepower or Heartache?
Weve read our share of articles in a Hot Rod Magazine about a 1000 Horsepower Supercharged Twin Turbo engine hooked up with a bottle of nitrous. For all intensive purposes these cars are useless for a daily driver. Be cautious of the lure for big Horsepower and Torque numbers. It can look impressive on a piece of paper but when youre spending more time under the hood rather than actually behind the wheel it loses its appeal fast! The fact of the matter is Low end power out of your car or truck is more important than what the horsepower numbers are @ 6000 RPMs. We setup most of our engines to achieve its torque & HP to kick in below the 4000 RPM range so you experience the power without mashing the throttle to 100 mph. Our objective is to provide an engine that is easy to install, fun to drive, responsive to the throttle and deliver years of driving pleasure.

6. Is the Engine Live Run Tested under Real World Conditions for 40 Minutes?
Most engines may be spin tested for Oil pressure but that's about it. When you buy an engine from the Engine Factory each Ready to Run engine purchased from us is Hot run tested. Checked for Oil pressure, vacuum problems, coolant leaks, Fuel leaks, Timing is Setup, Fuel Mixtures, Idle and another 25 other steps involved. Ask before your Purchase, It's your Money, Why take a chance? We have revolutionized the Crate Engine Industry and continue to do so.

 

Handy truck tool boxes are exciting additions to your truck accessories.

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