Proven, dyno-tested, mild 408W combination - specs and pics inside

Paul · Feb 20, 2009

A very good friend of mine (also named Paul) has an '89 coupe with a very mild 408 windsor motor in it. He just made a few tweaks to the tune and dyno'd the car again. Since 351W swaps are a common topic here, I thought all of you might be interested in his combination. It is a very streetable and mild 408, with well over 20,000 miles on the combination. He tunes the car himself using an AEM ECU with wideband O2 sensors, and drives the crap out of it all over the place. He's driven it from Cincinnati Ohio to St. Louis Missouri for the World Ford Challenge with absolutely no concerns.

With that, here are the details:

Probe/Coast High Performance 408W shortblock
Approx. 8.5:1 Compression Ratio (originally intended for boost, but never got around to it)
Ported Canfield Heads
EFI Spyder Intake Manifold
90mm Accufab Throttle Body
AFM 4" Air Inlet Pipe
1 5/8" shorty headers with 2.5" full exhaust
Custom Cam: .536/.544 lift, 224/230 duration @ .050, 110 LSA (however, those numbers are with 1.6 rockers - he has 1.7s)
42 lb/hr fuel injectors, no MAF
Meziere Electric Water Pump
Power Steering, no A/C

Car makes 380 rwhp / 405 rwtq with a nice broad flat torque curve. The car doesn't see the track much, but consistently traps in the 115-118 mph range. Mostly he just drives it around and has fun.

Keep in mind, this combination would make 5-6% more horsepower by simply bumping the compression ratio to 10:1 which would be at or very near that magical 400rwhp mark. The car is reliable as the sunrise, has a great tune, and runs and drives very well.

Just something for you guys to consider when doing all your various buildups.

Paul.

Steven · Feb 20, 2009

good post. Alot of people tend to go overboard with a combo just to reach a number when you can make great power reliably and be just as fast with better driveability.

Paul · Feb 20, 2009

Everyone thinks you need some stupid arbitrary dyno number to have a fun car. That's retarded.

GearGambler · Feb 21, 2009

AWESOME! i love simple, and that combo works! thats 475 flywheel HP (going by the 20% drivetrain loss)

i bet if he went with 3 inch exhaust, it may cross that magical 400rwhp mark. 2.5 inch is choking it, especially if its not a flow-through muffler.

no MAF - i guess he tunes it speed density? thats a GREAT idea!

Venom351R · Feb 21, 2009

Good reference thread. What are the internals on the CHP Short block?

Im in the process of planning a 408 starting next year w/ 10:1 Compression. RNH Short block forged internals, Steel Scat 9000 crank, Ported AFR's 185's, Current FTI cam, Current Trick Flow R intake ported to the heads. Fox TB set up w/ an Accufab 90MM, Current DBX Meter, no smog, no A/C, Long tubes and 3" exhaust. Goal is 1 HP per Cubic Inch after the tune. Should be a fun project.

Nice to see another 408 w/ lower compression making good numbers

Paul · Feb 21, 2009

No idea what the shortblock is. Nothing fancy I'm sure.

2kblacksleeper · Feb 21, 2009

Did your friend use the stock radiator or an aftermarket? Thanks.

John

Venom351R · Feb 21, 2009

You can tell from the pictures its not a stock radiator

OnyxCobra · Feb 21, 2009

That's pretty stout, just seems to me if you're going through the trouble of all that you should go a little more aggressive. All depends what you're after i guess.

95-stang · Feb 21, 2009

Wicked looking intake, i'm surprised its not sucking up everything in sight.

GearGambler · Feb 21, 2009

Venom351R said:
Ported AFR's 185's.

i'm pretty sure you'd want the 205's or better with the 408? if Ed is going to do a cam for you, talk to him about the heads too!

Venom351R · Feb 21, 2009

GearGambler said:
Venom351R said:

Ported AFR's 185's.

Click to expand...

i'm pretty sure you'd want the 205's or better with the 408? if Ed is going to do a cam for you, talk to him about the heads too!

I already have a cam from Ed, Ive talked to the guys at Fox Lake for porting the 185's and the guys at AFR to see if ported ones will flow as good as 205's Answer on both ends is yes. 205's are $1,800 Port job on the 185's and to match the lower is $900

GearGambler · Feb 21, 2009

the guys at fox lake do good work!

i just saw a set of 205's that Ed worked over for a 418 windsor. MAN were they pretty! i just thought that the 205 would be a better starting point, thats all. i'm not knocking your setup, you'll make GREAT power with 185 flowing as much as a 205 head!

Rock on man!

Venom351R · Feb 21, 2009

I know what you mean, but if I can get the same results for half the price then might as well do it. Project is going to be pretty expensive over all so If I can keep costs down in some areas w/ out sacrificing performance then I will.