[92Rideagain]

Last night (9 hour time diff from where I am) I talked to a tech at the Ford Part toll free # 1800ford88. I called to ask about the new Boss short blocks and 331 long blocks that puts out 500hp. I did not right down his name but he advised me that long block has not come out yet but will shortly.

He advised me that the 347 motor that they have is a very stout block and makes great hp, #'s. I then asked if the rod to piston ratio was too extreme since that is what I've read in a lot magazine write ups. He stated that they have gotten so many phone calls about the 347 not being a good daily driver motor. He advised me that Ford has paid special attention to the piston ring closet to the wrist pin due to that is where they have seen the most ring failure. He went on to explain that the 347 is a good daily driver motor and that the piston wear is no more than in any other motor. The build process has improved since the 347 was created and some of issues that were discovered early on have been resolved now. Better technology +higher quality parts + years of experience = one high hp street reliable motor. Does anyone have any experience good or bad about 347, sorry about the babbling just wanted to share some info that others may not have known about.

[neverfastenough1]

Don't you hate it when everyone is asleep except us? I can't wait to get back in the right timezone. Anyways, I am sure you'll get some answers to that one in the a.m.. We got a couple guys on here that swear by them 347's.

[92Rideagain]

I hear you!! I go to a couple of forums on Fords and there aren't that many post at this time of the day. I know that you are up over there and there's one more here but that's about it. I am trying to help a friend of mine pick a motor and he either going to get a 331 or a 347. My 306 has low mileage but it has been sitting a while. I want to put a stroker in there but it will hard to justify putting another block in the car.

[neverfastenough1]

Your 306 should be fine for a 347 stroker. That guy was right about the 347's coming a long way. Stangzilla has one putting down like 410 hp and another guy putting down 450. Darrel has run 347's. I just can't wait to get back and find me a car to start on. I will probably either go with the 347 or a stroked 351 for more power. Hard decision.

[92Rideagain]

I wonder if Ronnie Crawford is still building 347's. Back in the day he built motors for Vick and Jimmy Keen and other racers that finished in the top 3 in most races that they entered. The information that has been put out there is misleading and could cause a person to pass on more cubes because of outdated data or an old school mindset. I cannot wait to see the response from everyone when they wake up.

My friend in Fallujah bough my 86 and wants a stroker and forced induction to go along with it. If he does so we will have some healthy juvenile competition going on!

[89LX347]

when i bought me car with a 347 in it i would come to stop signs when driving and the oil psi would drop down to zero then come back up again and i had to put 2 quarts in it a week and im sure you guys know this is because the rod is lengthened and the wristpin placement was where the ring was so there was a problem with oil passing by the ring and burning off...since then i have gotten a 347 short block from CHP and i have had no trouble because they came up with somthing thast bridged over the wristpin to where no oil could pass by... and for your daily driver question the last time i filled up i got 18 Miles to the gallon and i raced the night before too about 8 times

[woody1]

Not sure where to start on this one, but here goes.

The ONLY time a 347 will burn oil is when using a 5.400 rod and a piston with 1.090 compression height AND you do not use the provided rail spacers. If the shortblock is built correctly then its a non issue. You need to step back and look at the chevys that have had the pin in the oil ring land since jesus was roaming the earth and for some mysterious reason the only bitching is about the 347 burning oil. Magazines are the single most bias clueless information you can get right next to 98% of internet info from guys who have never built a single motor but just like to hear themselves talk and pass on bogus information as gospel.

A 347 with a 5.400 or 5.315 rod will not burn oil, rod ratio is totally useless and you can gladly drive a 347 everyday. I answer this very question atleast 10 times a day on the phone.

[woody1]

Originally Posted by 92Rideagain I wonder if Ronnie Crawford is still building 347's. Back in the day he built motors for Vick and Jimmy Keen and other racers that finished in the top 3 in most races that they entered. The information that has been put out there is misleading and could cause a person to pass on more cubes because of outdated data or an old school mindset. I cannot wait to see the response from everyone when they wake up. My friend in Fallujah bough my 86 and wants a stroker and forced induction to go along with it. If he does so we will have some healthy juvenile competition going on!

Ronnie is building motors but not at the retail level.

[92Rideagain]

Woody thanks for the info. When I was in the market for a motor I tried to do as much research as I could through the magazines and talking to people. I got steered away from it but I am seeing and reading about more daily driven 347 motored stangs lately. A friend of mine asked about the motor and told him it is not a good street motor but decided to ask Ford first and then this forum. The tech at Ford said the same thing about the magazine articles that bashing the motor. He has gotten more calls than he cares about the potential problems of the stroker.