347 Street Fighter question

[ToplessGT]

I am thinking about getting a 347 Street Fighter from Coast High Performance for my 95 GT. I am trying to decide if I should get the GT version of the regular version. The GT version has connecting rods that are 5.400 while the regular version is 5.315. The regular one costs $300. What are the pros and cons here and what do people recommend?

Thanks,
Luke

 

[Joes95GT]

I'd call CHP. They'd know best. They do great business over there and they never try and sell you something that you do not need.

Joe

 

[Rootus]

I'd call CHP. They'd know best. They do great business over there and they never try and sell you something that you do not need.

I'm not sure I'd trust the phone techs necessarily -- he did call CHP and was told that the longer rods would have the disadvantage of going into the oil more than the short ones. Last time I checked, rod length doesn't have anything to do with that...

Dave

 

[Joes95GT]

What CHP probably means is that the shorter rod will eliminate the fear of oil consumption. Let me elaborate - a 5.400 rod on a 347 will cause the pins to be up very close to the oil ring, which is risking oil retention. The 5.315 rod will pull the pin out of the way (hopefully just enough) to reduce the oiling concerns. I could be wrong. Remember, I am just an idiot.

Joe

 

[Rootus]

They did also mention that the oil rings might last twice as long with the shorter rods. The question really comes down to this -- is it worth it to spend the extra $300 over the price of the 347 Street Fighter GT (which is $2000) to get the shorter rods.

I think I need to quote you, BTW, in my sig... at least for a while. That's too funny!!!

Dave

 

[Joes95GT]

They did also mention that the oil rings might last twice as long with the shorter rods. The question really comes down to this -- is it worth it to spend the extra $300 over the price of the 347 Street Fighter GT (which is $2000) to get the shorter rods.

Doesn't a longer rod generally give you more rev's (to a certain degree) because of the increased rod/stroke ratio and make more horsepower? If so, why would you pay the extra $300 to be at a disadvantage? The safety; piece of mind, would be a better selection of words?

I think I need to quote you, BTW, in my sig... at least for a while. That's too funny!!!

I try to keep it loose around here. It's only an automobile...

Joe

 

[Rootus]

Doesn't a longer rod generally give you more rev's (to a certain degree) because of the increased rod/stroke ratio and make more horsepower? If so, why would you pay the extra $300 to be at a disadvantage? The safety; piece of mind, would be a better selection of words?

That sounds correct, as I remember a longer rod is better for revving. In this particular situation I suspect the longevity may be more desirable than any increased power available from revs. Luke doesn't race (yet ), he just wants something faster than me .

I try to keep it loose around here. It's only an automobile...

Something it would be good for us all to remember

Dave

 

[swingline]

Is this were the "myth" that 347's consume oil comes from?

 

[go-stang5.0]

If you want reliability and revability (is that a word?) I would go for a 331. It seems you have to sacrifice reliability of the rings to get more reliability out of the shortblock or vice versa. Do you need every extra cube?.... I have a 5.400 in. rod with plenty of room for the oil ring so I have no oil consumption and DSS says the shortblock is good for over 8 grand of revving. Try that with a 347. They dont recommend revving a 347 over 6 grand and also not to do it too often on a stock block. The 347 has too many reliability issues. Personally I'd go with a 331. Especially if you dont have to take emissions...I'd get some good heads, big cam and a high rpm intake and rev the crap out of it to make power. That will make up for the missing cubes and then some.

 

[331 cobra]

That's it, Coast High performance has gone off of my short list of part suppliers.

I can't understand their pricing system. A 331 costs more than either 347. If you look at the cranks, they are the same price, if you look at the rods, they are the same price. The 331 pistons are the same piston as the 5.315" rod 347 piston. Where does the $300 difference come from?

If anything it has to be easier to make the 331 parts. With the longer rod and shorter stroke, the 331 can have a larger radius crank counterballence for easier ballencing, so that's less grinding, the stock block does not need as much clearancing for the 331 (I think it will fit with none), everything else is the same.

I could understand if the 331 was a really rare, funky combination, but if anything, it is simpler than the 347, and almost as popular.

 

[Rootus]

I can't understand their pricing system. A 331 costs more than either 347. If you look at the cranks, they are the same price, if you look at the rods, they are the same price. The 331 pistons are the same piston as the 5.315" rod 347 piston. Where does the $300 difference come from?

I'm confused. They have both listed for $2299 .

Dave

 

[331 cobra]

sorry, I saw $2599 for the forged crank version.

But still, there is no reason that the 331 should be more than the 347 GT, but they want $300 more. If anything, the 347 pistons should be more expensive because of the ring support buttons, or what ever they use to bridge the gap in the oil ring.

The bottom line is that they are selling less for more $. The only reason a company will do that is if they have a market cornered, or if they are trying to rip off the uninformed.

$300 might be only 15% of $2,000, but where will it end?

I don't like to pay retail, so when I see retail prices that are out of whack, it's like a double ripp off.

If people will go to other suppliers when they see this type of price gouging, soon it will stop, because I know if CHP can make money selling $2,000 347's, they can make money selling $2,000 331's.

 

[Zero Signal]

Price elasticity of demand, it sucks. $10 movie tickets are a good example of that.

 

[Rootus]

- 331 Street Fighter, $2299.99.
- 331 Street Fighter Pro Street, $2599.99
- 347 Street Fighter GT, $1999.99 (5.400 rods)
- 347 Street Fighter, $2299.99 (5.315) rods
- 347 Street Fighter Pro Street, $2599.99

The $300 on between the 347 Street Fighter GT and the 347 Street Fighter is entirely because of the shorter rods. If the 331 uses the same 5.315 rods as the 347 Street Fighter, I guess it makes sense to me that they're the same price.

Dave

 

[331 cobra]

The 331 uses the 5.4" rods along with the same piston as the short rod 347.

There is nothing trick about it, it's a standard combination.

Unless the short rod 347/331 pistons cost $300 more, which they don't, there is no reason for a higher price than the 347GT.