H
A
N
D
S
O
N
We wanted to run this clear valve cover from FE Power, but it wouldn’t fit with the Comp
rocker-arm setup. Too bad; these clear valve covers are a great way to watch the valvetrain
on a new engine to make sure everything is working properly.Below: The big FE engine went on the dyno without any problems. Gray’s Automotive is an
expert with FE engines, so it had the correct dyno headers and other key parts required
to test these engines. The remote oil filter uses a screen-type element that can be quickly
checked for trash. The screen was spotless after the dyno test, which is always good news.A fuel rail was custom-built to supply fuel
to the dual FAST throttle-bodies. We also
needed to fabricate a throttle linkage.
Stock linkage kits don’t work, because Ford
ran the carbs backward. Spacer rings were
required to move the air cleaner up off the
distributor.This slick oil filter adapter block came
from Aviaid. The block has fittings for the
external oil lines and an oil-pressure port.need to get the 482 shoehorned into
the 1963 Galaxie 500 that’s waiting for
it and finish up some of the idle tuning.
After the dyno testing was complete,
we talked to a few guys who couldn’t
wrap their heads around an FE engine
making 700 hp on pump gas. It does
seem a little hard to believe at first, but
when we looked over the FAST test
logs, we saw some interesting data.
The barometer at the dyno shop was
101 KPa, and the MAP sensor inside
the intake manifold showed 100 KPa
during the dyno pull. So the dual
throttle-bodies provided almost zero
flow restriction. Also, the MAT sensor
shows air temp inside the throttle-body
at only 61 degrees. Cold, dense air is
key to making power, and this engine
had plenty of it. We ran the tests at
180-degree water temperature
and burned unleaded pump gas at
34 degrees of timing, so the dyno
results should translate just fine to
the street. There is no doubt we can
polish the tune a bit more, but for now
we are very happy.We double-checked all of the clearances at full lift. Our Comp XR292R camshaft has
0.388-inch lobe lift, which works out to 0.683-inch gross valve lift when using a 1.76:1-
ratio rocker arm. That’s enough lift that you need to carefully check for coil bind and
retainer-to-seal clearance. You also need to check for any binding or rubbing on either
side of the rocker arm.16 CAR CRAFT AUGUST 2019