Interesting...that's really not a heck of a lot more than my Ranger, maybe a few hundred pounds more. My '68 F-250 with a 360 comes in at 4900# however, that's half a ton more than your F-100.

 

Yea, I have weighed it many times. Always comes in at 3900-3950# depending on amount of fuel.
The 99 F150 from my user name weighed in at 4600# supercab 4x2 with V6 5speed.
My current 99 Ranger supercab 4x2 2.5L 5speed was recently weighed at 3550#
Dan

 

That may make an interesting swap for someone with an older F100.

Desktop dyno does say 269hp, however, I dont believe it. I really need actual flow data for 4.0L heads to do it right.

 

I just took the block, crank, and rods down to the machinist. He's going to order the Comp cam and pistons. He's also going to sonic check the block.

This build is about to get interesting!

 

I know just the guy to give this motor the tune when you are done to run on the E85.
He is making big HP numbers on E85 with blown Mustangs and Corvetts.
Dan

 

I'm going to see how it works with bigger injectors and the stock computer first. Then I may look at getting it tuned. Anyway, who's the guy?

 

I think I posted his site before, Name is Andy. He has two web sites 1. dynotuneusa and the other rune85. He is a Diablosport dealer and very sharp with tuning E85, he will get the timing and fuel to match your combo.
Dan

 

I talked to the machinist again today. Sonic testing complete. The walls vary from .170" to .240". That's with an existing bore of about 3.973". It would appear these are not the thin walled blocks I expected, or I got real lucky and got a good one. If so inclined, I dont see where someone couldn't take one out to 4", or beyond.

Thanks for the info Dan!

I'll keep everyone up to date as the build progresses.

 

Sounds great, the more I think about this the more I think you want to have this engine custom tuned for spark and fuel. You will have considerable money invested to have it go up in smoke. I don't know if you have spoke with Andy yet or not but I am confident that he can make the most of it all while keeping durability and reliability in check.

Andy has burned me a Diablo custom chip for my 99 2.5L Ranger, one tune is optomized for E10 89 octane and the other for E85. He installed a lighted switch for me to switch tunes on the fly or I can shut the chip off and go back to stock tune. We are still sorting the E10 tune out so as soon as I am sure that one is right I will start burning E85. He has my MPG up on the E10 from 1mpg-2.5mpg depending on driving conditions and trip.

I like reading about the updates, keep me posted.
Dan

 

I found where another guy built one kind of like I'm looking at doing, and forgive me if the FTE software blocks the link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=152071

I think this guy underestimated his compression ratio.

I calculated the actual compression ratio, the way I'm building the engine. The chambers measure 60cc. Having the block decked for .040" quench, where ever that leaves the pistons. Have yet to pre-assemble it to see where the deck clearance is. It should be real close to zero deck the way it is, but the machinist still has the crank for balancing and I cant do a mock-up build yet.

But anyway, I calculated it at just shy of 11:1, 10.96:1 being the exact number. No wonder the guy in the above thread was having a problem with pinging! At first he was having no pinging problem, but then after some miles he was. I suspect carbon buildup. He was running premium gasoline, and the STOCK COMPUTER!!! I think with E85 I'll be just fine in the not pinging department, so long as I can get enough fuel to it.

Anyway, parts are in. All the bearings, rings, etc. The new pistons look sweet. Flat tops with coated skirts. KB-Silvolite part number 3155HC. The new cam is in too. I went with the Comp 422 cam.

I recently measured a couple valves I have, and entered the updated values into Desktop Dyno. That, along with the 11:1 compression, brings the horsepower down to 260 @ 5000rpm, and 310ft-lbs @ 3500rpm.

The head porting is coming along. About 1/2 way on one head, not yet begun on the other. It takes time. Fortunately I have all winter.

Pictures when I get around to it.

99F150: Any news on the E85 tune yet? If it's done right, I really think you're going to like it. My old 1970 truck picked up a lot of torque when I switched to E85, and tuned the timing for it.

 

What are you using for your porting, a Dremel? That definitely takes time, but also allows for more precise work. I've seen guys go to town with a carbide burr in a die grinder and go right through into the water jackets. That can get expensive...

 

Exactly. I am using a Dremel, and the sanding accessories. Really I'm cleaning 'em up more than going to town porting 'em. I might rework some areas I think need a little work, like valve guide bosses, and some places in the exhaust port, but for the most part I leave things alone and just polish things up and round things off. I might slightly modify the short side radius, definately polish it, and maybe make it not quite so abrupt a curve. Haven't done any work in the bowls yet, so we'll see.

I tried using a carbide burr once, not on these heads. Far too imprecise, and it didn't leave a finish that I liked at all. I find that the 80 grit sanding bands leave the perfect finish for the intake ports.

 

The burr is great for hogging out material, but no, it dosn't leave a desirable finish. For that I switch to a sanding roll. I do like those bands too, but it sure doesn't take long to wear the edges off of 'em.

 

Rusty, I have not played with the E85 yet, I had a problem with the cable that connects the switch to the chip and just replaced that this week. I want to run a few tanks on E10 to make sure that tune is good, then I plan on running the E85 or should I say E70 for winter. Andy is some what concerned with cold starts on the E85, but if the temps stay mild I will be trying it. His E10 tune has perked up my throttle response and improved the overall drivability and MPG. I hope I don't loose too much mpg on the E85 as my compression ratio is 9.37. Also I hope that the dual plug per cyl will help get the most out of the E85.
Dan

 

I thought they used one set of plugs for starting and the other for running the motor?

If it's tuned right I dont think you'll have a problem with cold starting. That's why it's E70 in the winter and not E100. I will tell you, from the experience I had with tuning my truck for it, that you have to crank up the cold start enrichment a LOT. Once you do that, it'll start at pretty much any temperature. This is where I might have a problem trying to run the stock computer.

Edit: Those sanding bands do tend to wear out. Mine will either wear out, or kind of glaze over and lose effectiveness. Good thing I bought a lot of 'em!