I've been researching power plants for my 68 fastback project and I'm leaning towards a Dove aluminum 427 side-oiler with tunnel port heads and a single 4bbl. I have a price from Dove and it's very competitive with other FE engine packages out there (Pond, Shelby, etc. - but none of them are tunnel ports). My target is 650+HP and 550+ torque. Does anyone out there in Shelbyland have personal experience with Dove engines and would like to share their opinion. PM me if you want to keep it on the down low. Thanks! ~Kevin
Have you talked to Survival?
http://survivalmotorsports.com/
http://survivalmotorsports.com/Machine-Shop.html
I haven't, but I've checked out their website. I'll shoot him an email and see what he says. Thanks!
Well, he wrote (the latest) book. 8)
I've emailed him. Let's see what he says.
I've had a 488 that has been in a car for almost 30 yrs. It has a Barry Grant carb and runs spot on.
Tremendous power and torque......about 600 of each.
The engine is old school from 1990.
We use the car at the track and beat the hell out of it.
Today one could easily add the roller cam set up and make it even more powerful and reliable.
A rocker arm broke once. Dove's service and knowledge was great.
Best of luck with your decision, Dove has a vote here.
Barry is the one who has been taking up the gauntlet for most of us FE guys. He constantly wins engine contest and certainly has more notable builds than Dove does. Dove is spotty, even in their ability to supply parts they manufacture.It's very hit and miss with Dove. Just keep in mind you may be waiting a year for an engine.
-Keith
I will wager a set of modern Art Francis heads will walk a tunnel port head all day long and twice on Sundays.
Barry did my 462 cu in stroker. First class.
Quote from: Rickmustang on April 10, 2019, 09:10:35 PM
Barry did my 462 cu in stroker. First class.
Stock block? What stroke did you choose?
Quote from: 2112 on April 10, 2019, 08:54:17 PM
I will wager a set of modern Art Francis heads will walk a tunnel port head all day long and twice on Sundays.
Hard fact! There are a couple of new offerings that are high flow that don't have the short comings of the Tunnel Port.
TFS just came out with a hell of a head. Barry's FElony heads are also a hell of a choice.
The common stroker is the 445 CI based on a 390 block, which are still plentiful. They easily produce over 500 HP all day long.
You might take a look at the FE power forum. Some pretty incredible products coming our way.
-Keith
Barry got back to me the same day and we discussed my build. 500HP in an FE is easy, 650+HP is a bit more involved. Fortunately for me, I'm not pressed for time so waiting a year is no big deal. Rebuilding the original 390 as a stroker motor was my original intent, but then I thought - why have both a heavy engine and a heavy wallet when I could go with aluminum and lighten them both significantly! 8)
Barry bored my date code correct block 10 over and installed the 4.25 stroker crank with the H beam rods and Diamond pistons with 10 to 1 compression and a mild hydraulic roller cam for me. I'm putting it in my 68 1\2. I wanted a relatively smooth idle so as not to give it away when I'm judged in MCA Concourse trailered.😉 I should have it finished in a month or two. I'll let you know how it turns out.
My 427 block and 428 crank were 447ci. What does a 428 block with a 4.25 stroke work out to?
In my case, the bore is 4.140 and the stroke is 4.25. This gives 459 cid. (Actually 458.6 or something) the Survival Motorsports website has a complete list of factory and custom bore and stroke combinations.
My 462 Barry did a couple years ago is my original block and heads and his recommended stroker kit. It dyno'ed at 462 hp and 508 torque with headers. Otherwise my car is stock, so I lost some with exhaust manifolds.
From Survival's site;
Quote from: Rickmustang on April 11, 2019, 05:32:27 PM
My 462 Barry did a couple years ago is my original block and heads and his recommended stroker kit. It dyno'ed at 462 hp and 508 torque with headers. Otherwise my car is stock, so I lost some with exhaust manifolds.
Which intake and carburetor(s) are you running?
Opps. I was off by 2.6cubes. :(