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94Flare -> Project 94 (8/7/2004 2:26:33 AM)
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Well I have begun a gradual upgrade project for my 1994 Flareside. The first step was to build a decent power plant. I purchased a running 302 engine with a C4 transmission from a friend who was parting out his 72 F100. I took the block and heads to Ag and Industrial Engine of Norfolk Nebraska to have it line bored, decked and punched .030 over. The motor has been balanced and blueprinted and the stock rotating assembly has been replaced with a 347 stroker kit. The crank is forged steel with “I” beam connecting rods and TRW “Black Skirt” Hypereutectic Pistons. A Comp Cams roller timing set spins a mild Comp Cams camshaft. The hydraulic lifters, roller rockers and pushrods are Comp Cams also. I took what I though were the original heads along to the engine shop but found out that they were off of a 1969 302 and they didn’t have the hardened exhaust valve seats. Well the cost for working the heads along with the new valve seats would have exceeded my desired budget. However, the owner of the engine shop had a pair of mustang 5.0 HO heads that he had already worked that he would sell me for $360…SOLD! The heads have been milled to a 60CC chamber. That will put the compression up around 9.75/1. Still low enough to run on pump gas. I purchased a ProForm HEI distributor from Northern Auto Parts out of Sioux City Iowa for $218.00 delivered. These are great distributors since they don’t require anything more than just a power wire from the ignition switch to make fire from them! From advance Auto Parts I purchased an Edelbrock Performer 289 aluminum intake (Part # 2121) and an Edelbrock Performer 600CFM Carburetor (Part # 1405). I also picked up a set of Flowmaster headers (Part# 12000 FLT). At this point we are looking at somewhere in the range of 350-375 HP. Not to shabby for a motor that only cranked out a maximum of 225 HP stock from the factory (on a good day). I am so use to the quite and mild engine that is in the Flareside right now that I can’t imagine what this truck will be like when it’s roaring down the track in Scribner Nebraska doing 5,500 RPM! However the engine shop assures me that with aluminum heads and the right valve train I can get 7,500 RPM out of it!
Although the bottom of this engine is strong enough to handle over 500HP the top half is being kept mild for now. After the motor is assembled it is going to be bolted into my 1984 F150 4X4 and ran until it has around 10,000 miles clocked on it.(About 4 months worth of normal drive time to and from my regular job.) Once the motor is well broke in and seated I am going to remove the motor and complete the top half. I am starting out with AFR aluminum heads with one piece Stainless Steel Valves and double springs. A computer roller cam and lifters, heavy duty pushrods, and stainless steel roller rockers are also planned. The 4BBL intake and carburetor will be removed and a new EFI intake will be installed along with a larger MAF sensor and supercharger. There are tons of aftermarket performance parts that will fit under the hood of this truck so I have not decided on what type supercharger I am going to end up with. I am even considering a Holley NOS system for that added passing power.(LOL) When the motor is ready to drop into the 94 Flareside it should be churning out somewhere around 450-500HP on premium pump gas.
The next phase is to determine what transmission to use. I currently am running a fresh 4R70W. I have not heard of anyone building one of these transmissions up for any serious power. If I stick with an auto I may try to locate a strong C6 that will bolt to a 5.0. Otherwise it may be a matter of looking into a new Ford Motorsport 5 speed. I hate having to install the linkage for that stuff. If anyone has ever built up or know much about the 4R70W let me know.
The 94 hits the body shop in September for new paint and customizing and then goes for a trip south to have Chuck Udell of J.C. Enterprises install a custom cherry wood floor installed in the bed of the box and a custom cherry interior. Out with the back seat and in with the subs wrapped in leather and cherry.
Now for those of you who are wondering why someone would do this to a truck? Well, this truck has seem me through 1 divorce, 2 ex-wives, and over 70,000 miles of work, recreation, relaxation, and self therapy, not to mention that it my favorite body style of pickup ever built. It just needs some help in the pony department. I am planning on letting the truck spend its remaining life chewing up bowtie and hemi power plants when the weather is nice and enjoying the cooler Nebraska months snuggled away in the garage.
Who else has a hotrod pickup out there?
Timmay
cauweav@plvwtelco.net
P.S. I will have some pictures to be added soon.
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