Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords – October 2019

The engine block was a fairly common 1987-1991 E7TE 302ci
Windsor small-block, featuring a hydraulic-roller camshaft
and two-bolt mains. These blocks are plenty tough and
should be able to handle both normally aspirated and limited
levels of power-adder performance.

Our JE Pistons were 0.030 inch overbore to match the
machining done to the cylinder bores. These lightweight
forged aluminum pistons generate a final compression ratio
of just under 10:1. These pistons worked perfectly with the
high-strength 4340 steel H-beam K1 Technologies connect-
ing rods.

Keeping it all in the family, we selected a K1 forged crankshaft with a 3.400-inch
stroke. When combined with the 5.400-inch-long connecting rods, the final dis-
placement is 347 ci.

The bearings we selected were from King and designed to

work with the factory crankshaft specs. Other than washing

them and wiping them dry, no special prep was needed.

After making sure each bearing saddle was clear of debris,

we tapped the bearing in place, making sure to align the

tangs to the notches in the saddles. Make certain that the

ends of the bearings fit flush with the surrounding edges.

We lubricated the bearing at this point

using a 20/50 oil with high zinc content.

Note here that the holes in the bearings

are lined up with the oil feed holes in the

saddles. If you put the solid bearings

here, there will be no oil flow to the

crankshaft.

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rez, for example. He originally felt that
for the 302ci platform he would opt
for the shorter-stroke 331ci engine;
the change to the 347ci engine came
about after discovering K1’s very strong
and very affordable forged crankshaft

that opens up the stroke to a full 3.

inches.

Gutierrez figures, “While the 331ci

engine would see peak rpm in the 7,

range, the 347ci engine would deliver

additional torque, which would really