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TJBrace Stroker Questions

robert campbell

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
TJ,
Sorry I am late on this one! Some of this info may benefit others, so I took it out of the private area. Hope you don’t mind.

There are many stroker kits and complete motors out there. The 347 cu is very common and the largest normally offered from a 289/302 block. The 289 and 302 are physically the same size so all brackets and locations are the same. There are many kits based on a 351 block, which has a taller deck height than the 302/289. So exhaust stuff is different and minor fit issues come into play. They “stroke” 351 blocks all the way to 427 cu and with the motorsport block from Ford can even achieve 454 cu!!! All in a very compact lightweight package.

They built a 331 stroker based on the 289/302. It was early on the most durable of the kits. In order to achieve the 347 cu from a 289/302 block, you had to severely shorten the piston skirt and locate the piston wrist pin partially into the oil ring groove. This made the 347 susceptible to premature wear and premature smoking due to oil getting past the oil rings. They have now achieved a better design on the piston pin location and the oil ring and they are just as dependable in street applications as the 331. Coast High Performance seems to be one of the early pioneers for strokers as well as DSS, Probe, and Kuntz and Craft. Of course Ford offers its own line of complete stokers! And they come with a warranty!

If you are rebuilding your 289, many of the companies offer stroker “kits”. Certainly more spendy than a stock rebuild, but if you have line on some inexpensive machine work, you could build your own stroker. To make it effective, you will need after market “performance” heads. Headers, intake, and carb will also be required for complete performance. You can even have your stock iron heads ported and make a very effective "sleeper" motor.

One thing to watch for is most 347 cu strokers are built on “late” 302 blocks that easily accept roller lifters. They have the dipstick hole in the middle of the block on the left side just above the oil pan mating surface. You will need to plug this and use your timing case cover that has the forward dipstick in the 60’s/early 70’s location. This will allow you to use your stock water pump and pulleys. Or you can upgrade to a March pulley system and go for a serpentine belt!! Lots of choices out there!!!

Rob
 
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