Considering its undersquare configuration (4.155 x 4.250), this is a torque motor, not a peak hp/high rpm motor. The $11,000 model you mention is rated by World as 575 hp, 550 lb-ft, and looking at the specs I would say it's maxed out for street use (9.5:1 or 10.5:1 CR (the World pdf catalog states both numbers), 2.06/1.60 aluminum heads, solid roller cam, single plane intake, Holley Dominator, steel crank, H-beam rods). On the other hand, World has found with its other crates, at least with the Merlin BBC's anyway, that the more it builds the more hp they produce.
As far as reliability, the $11,000 includes a two year warranty, so who cares? How many miles do we put on these hobby cars anyway? I would be reeeal surprised to hear of anyone putting 100,000 miles on any vintage Mustang from here on out.
It's funny you should post about this 460 ci shortblock. I've been daydreaming about this very thing quite a bit lately, regarding a '65 fastback. MY daydream, however, includes Cylinder Head Innovation "3v" aluminum Cleveland cylinder heads. The 218 cc model flows 330 cfm through 2.15" intakes -- 1/10th bigger than the biggest Windsors. (Also, 1.65" exhausts, .050 bigger than Windsors.) All CHI heads come with 1" deck water passages for use with a Windsor block, and CHI makes this trick Clevor coolant crossover so you can use a regular Cleveland intake:
The thermostat housing goes on the flat part on top of the aluminum casting, with the upper radiator hose exiting vertically like a Cleveland.
Here's a pic of CHI's iron 3v head, an aluminum one, a square bore intake, and a Dominator intake:
What I have in mind is a solid flat tappet cam (because I like 'em), a Holley with vacuum secondaries and an electric choke (or maybe even *gasp* an Edelbrock), and of course electronic ignition with vacuum advance.
To my mind 460 ci in a 3000 lb street car is going to be producing excessive power and torque no matter how you build it. The real challenge is to keep from twisting the '65 unibody into a pretzel, and also to build a drivetrain strong enough to absorb the occasional clutch drop onto some 245-255 tires. I've got frame connectors and a six point cage to control the torsion, but my T-5 and 8" 3.55:1 Auburn lsd aren't going to like those clutch drops.
Anyway, that's my daydream, to drop this huge but relatively understressed Clevor into my kids' '65 fb; call it a "Boss 460" and see if anybody gets it.
drool: - twinturbo 460W)
