Jay Leno's 63 FI coupe

[Michael B.]

Re: Jay Leno's 63 FI coupe

The '63 340/360

yeah, I knew that lol, the 283 cam with a smaller intake valve heads. Nothing gets by Duke.

[Leif A.]

Re: Jay Leno's 63 FI coupe

The '63 340/360 HP engines were built with the old Duntov cam that dated to the 1957/57 265/283 small port head era.

Valley Head Service is not that far from Jay's Garage, and they could do a great job massaging the heads. Add a LT-1 cam with '67-up small block valve springs and Eagle SIR5700 rods for a bulletproof bottom end, and he will have close to 300 SAE corrected RWHP and 7200 usable revs.

Too bad about the squishy camshaft, but I hope he at least replaces the weak, spindly first design 327 rods.

Duke

Believe they said they were going to be using Carrillo rods.

[Duke W.]

Re: Jay Leno's 63 FI coupe

I initially looked at the wrong video, but tried again and saw the engine components. Carillo rods are the cream of the crop, expensive and way overkill, but Jay can afford it. I don't get the floating pins. I always recommend pressed pins unless its a racing engine that will be disassembled frequently. Floating pins require a very tight clearance range, like four to eight tenths, but maybe that's the only way Carillos rods are configured.

The head chambers have obviously been "worked", so I expect the ports were, too. It also looks like the the larger valve set is installed. It will be interesting to see the final product, especially a chassis dyno test.

Duke

[Michael G.]

[Duke W.]

Re: Jay Leno's 63 FI coupe

Yeah, he talks about keeping the car "original' and then does the hydraulic roller cam thing. Given my limited knowledge of hydraulic roller cams if properly chosen they will make more torque/power, but at lower revs and most are all done by 6000.

In contrast a SHP/FI 327 built to "327 LT-1" specs will make usable power to 7200 and from 5000-up makes the best sound this side of a Columbo V-12.

Joe is probably smiling.

Duke