New Heart for juanone 289
After much thought over the last year and a half I have decided to give my 289 street Unique a heart transplant. I took a lot of abuse over the way my car sounded, performed and in short I decided to take action.
I have had a new DSS Racing 331 Stroker built and installed in my car. The difference is incredible. Now I have a real Cobra, to my way of thinking.
I think on my original engine Rick and Butch did a great job in both specifying and building but it just was not visceral enough for me. I thought I would be happy with a perky 302 Ford Racing Crate Motor but it just was not enough.
Attached are some photos of the engine before installation, folks it is a work of art. Plus it sounds and feels great. As soon as the weather cooperates I will post some photos of the engine in the car. I also redid the exhaust system. Before I had just 2' pipes all the way back, now it has 2-1/2" all the way back and ceramic coated black looks awesome. With the amount of new horsepower this baby puts out we needed the breathing room, not too much so as not to affect the torque that comes with it. Pictures will come.
Just thought I would give you an update since I have not visited the forum in quite a while. I will also post the specifics on the engine later on.
I love my 289, I don't get tired of looking at it plus the design of the car is just so beautiful, I think I'll keep it.
Enjoy,
Juan
Not a sewing machine anymore!
For the last two years I have driven to and from, with my Unique 289, to the London Cobra Show and I have to tell you that the more I take it to these kinds of events makes me so proud to own a Unique. The 289 body style is so sensual. Everything about the car I love. Yes there are differences of manufacture between brands but this one is a keeper for me. The next step for me is to do some work on the paint job that I am not satisfied with.
That is, in essence, the reason for changing the engine from a crate 302 to a DSS 331 stroker.
Rick, I have not said that what you did for me I was not pleased with. Actually I always compliment the craftsmanship you demonstrated on my engine install. It was beautiful. I just decided that since this car is a keeper I want it to feel more like a muscle car and this one does it. The investment on this engine is not a cheap one I may add.
Yes, I am planning to go to Homecoming this year. Got it on my calendar already.
Thanks to all for the encouragement on this engine build.
Juan
Specs on my 331 stroker engine
As for the specs on my new engine, here they are. They started with a seasoned 1968 302 Hi-Po Mexican Block, bored it 20 over (I may have misnamed the block so please forgive me if I am not too accurate), new custom 20 over DSS forged short skirt racing pistons, DSS Girdle and Billet scrapper, Comp Cams custom ground roller camshaft , DSS SBF 1.6 ratio 3/8" stud aluminum roller rockers, DSS 5.0 STROKER Main Support System, 3/4" billet aluminum w/ custom ARP main studs, AFR 185 w/ 61cc chamber Heads, Progear 3-position, double-roller timing chain, DSS Steel Crank and I-Beam Rods.
I am quite sure that there are many other items that I don't know about but the above should give you guys an idea of what the engine was built like.
Juan