Join Shelby Forums Today

concourse engine rebuild question...

Discussion in '1965-1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500' started by mach6972, Apr 21, 2011.

  1. mach6972

    mach6972 Member

    Posts:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    Holman Moody is ready to build my 69 gt350's engine.It's never been apart.My question is,if I was going for a 100 pt. concourse restoration would roller cam/roller rocker arms take off points.I don't want a hot/fast engine,just a good reliable one.Do any of you engine guy's have any suggestions on how I should tell them I want this engine built or what I want in it?
     
  2. gjz30075

    gjz30075 Well-Known Member

    Age:
    73
    Posts:
    87
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2006
    Location:
    Roswell, Ga
    If you can get the correct, oem valve covers to clear the roller rockers, you should be fine. Those two variables alone, ie, roller cam and roller rockers won't take points off.

    Judges should chime in shortly.
     
  3. BillH

    BillH Well-Known Member

    Age:
    76
    Posts:
    263
    Likes Received:
    7
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2004
    I have to ask; What makes you think that a roller engine would be any more reliable than the stock engine that came in the car from 1969? With the exception of the plastic upper timing gear, I have heard of no issues with any other components installed in these engines. (That's assuming that Ford used the plastic upper timning gear in this engine) I have seen stock engines with way more miles on them than I think you intend on driving your GT-350.
     
  4. OVERRIDE

    OVERRIDE Well-Known Member

    Age:
    68
    Posts:
    223
    Likes Received:
    4
    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2004
    Location:
    elgin il
    351 W engine are know for valve guides wearing out. So switching to roller rocker arms put less strain on valve train then stock rocker arms. So the valve guides will not wear out with them.
     
  5. Bob Gaines

    Bob Gaines Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    1,146
    Likes Received:
    37
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    I can't remember the last time I pryed the valve covers off of a concours entry :laf: . Now if the car has a non stock lumpy cam that I can hear then that is a deduction that can be expected. Bob
     
  6. roddster

    roddster Well-Known Member

    Age:
    72
    Posts:
    825
    Likes Received:
    3
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2004
    Location:
    Lansing, the one in Illinois
    Yep, I don't remember Bob asking me to "pass him the sockets" when assisting in judging either. I usually hold the clipboard.
     
  7. OVERRIDE

    OVERRIDE Well-Known Member

    Age:
    68
    Posts:
    223
    Likes Received:
    4
    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2004
    Location:
    elgin il
    Felpro makes a double thick valve cover gasket. I use them on my 65 GT350 so my posi lock nuts clear my sand cast Cobra Valve covers.
     
  8. BillH

    BillH Well-Known Member

    Age:
    76
    Posts:
    263
    Likes Received:
    7
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2004
    Yea, I guess that after 50,000 miles or so, you could have guide wear problems, if they weren't replaced with brass during the rebuild.
     
  9. zrayr

    zrayr Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    446
    Likes Received:
    11
    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2005
    Location:
    TX
    nothing wrong with wanting some clearance, but using thick valve cover gaskets would be obvious departure from stock, and may not be overlooked by a competent concours judge.


    Z.
     
  10. 2+2GT

    2+2GT Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    223
    Likes Received:
    2
    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2009
    I wouldn't use bronze guides, I'd use cast iron. Much more durable. Other than that, I'd go stock. Unless this Shelby will be your daily commuter car. If so, you probably will need to replace the guides again in 100,000 miles or so.
     
  11. 67200F5A02206

    67200F5A02206 Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    95
    Likes Received:
    2
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2006
    Location:
    Houston, Texas, USA
    Stroke it. Put in a mild roller cam. It will idle just like stock but the low end response will be much improved even with the stock carb.

    Advantage of a roller cam is no chance of wiped cam lobes. There has been a rash of them lately. Why take the chance?
     
  12. BillH

    BillH Well-Known Member

    Age:
    76
    Posts:
    263
    Likes Received:
    7
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2004
    The excessive cam lobe wear problem has been solved.
     
  13. 2+2GT

    2+2GT Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    223
    Likes Received:
    2
    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2009
    I would do it stone-stock but blueprinted. A bottle of ZDDP eliminates cam problems. Since we're talking about a real Shelby, IMHO original configuration is the way to go. (anyone can build an Eleanor) Of course, stress-relieving, balancing, and mild porting maximize power, while simply creating what the designers intended.

    About the only exception I've seen that I liked was a 68 GT350. Ford basically shafted Shelby by offering the relatively lame J code 302 as the top smallblock engine in 68. The J code had the same camshaft and exhaust manifolds as a 289 2V, a pitiful state for a GT350. The Holley carb and high-rise manifold Shelby installed corrected only the pitiful small carb Ford used, and made the cam and manifolds seem even more inadequate.

    This car was rebuilt from junk, and the engine was the stone-stock original, except when rebuilt it was fitted with the C9OZ-6250-C hydraulic version of the 289HP cam, and a pair of 289HP exhaust manifolds. The manifolds are rarely noticed, and of course the cam is internal. The results were surprising. Excellent power.

    [​IMG][/IMG]
     
    rshelby likes this.
  14. Helmantel

    Helmantel New Member

    Posts:
    3
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    You could consider roller tipped rockers. They should fit without issues and reduce friction and wear a little. Not that I think that valve guide wear will be an issue anytime soon with this particular (concourse correct) engine.
     
    rshelby likes this.

Share This Page