IS THE "STREET BOSS 429" REALLY COMING BACK?

. . . Just ask legendary engine builder Jon Kaase . . . .

[Looking for the "Click and Clack" entries? Scroll down, or see links in the sidebar. Now back to our "Street Boss 429" expose']

Sure, there's a lot of bad news in the world of Ford Motor Company.

And while GM is still offering a host of big block crate engines, the 2008 Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog offers NONE and only contains a cryptic reference to some future 385-series engines (reportedly based on a heavy-duty four-bolt main block, instead of the lame two-bolt main rebuilds of the discontinued crate big-blocks).

But perhaps there's hope on the horizon.

The following was seen in the legendary "big block turbo" thread at Car Craft.com:

It's old news now, but Jon Kaase is in the process of cooking up the "ultimate" pushrod, 2V "street" head for the BBF . . . .

"JonKaase wrote:
The P-51's made a best of 810, Ford Motorsport SCJ's made 775, and the hemi's made 910. All on the same block with the same cam. The hemi did have different pistons. All were about 10.9 compression. .... Jon"

"On the long test (2500 to 6600)[dyno sheets at http://www.460ford.com/viewtopic.php?t=20447], I stopped before peak power. That was an Enginemasters test. After the Enginemasters, I have no fear of choking one down to 2500. You can see it still has pretty good poop down low. If it were a real Enginemasters entry, it would have 15 degrees less cam.
I'll list some specs:

block--------------stock 460
bore---------------4.390
stroke-------------4.300
crank--------------cast iron Motorsport, 2.500" rods
rods---------------eagle CRS 6605 F3D
pistons-------------Diamond flat top
compression------10.9
head cc------------84
carb----------------BG king Demon 1150
cam----------------Comp Roller 273-280 110* .457 lobe

This is the same old short block we have been testing with since 2000. We even did all the original SCJ prototype head testing with it. The heads are our prototype Boss Hemi that we are going to be making. Pix on other thread. It has the same valve spring that we install on the P-51 roller heads. (Manley 221243 dual, 1.550") Same retainers also (steel Comp) We ran it to 7500 with no problem. ... Jon

"JonKaase wrote:
JDM, the heads we have been running as prototypes flow about 420 and 295 CFM. But here's the problem with air flow numbers and computer programs that use them. We can port a set of old A-429 CJ heads to flow 420 CFM. Then port a set of P-51's to flow 420. Finally, the new hemi's flow 420. The exhausts are not that much different in flow, although the hemi has a .140" larger ex. valve and a .050" larger intake valve."

"With everything else being the same, same 521" short block, same 273* roller cam, same intake and carb, the CJ would make 700-720 HP, the P-51 would make 800-810, and the hemi would make 900-910. All with the dry air flow. There is almost 200 HP difference between the CJ and hemi, with the intake air flow being the same. The middle lift air flow numbers on the hemi would be way better, along with bore shrouding, etc. As you can probably tell, I'm not big fan of the flow bench and use it very little. ... Kaase"

"Guys, the 466 made about 700 with the P-51's, 801 with the hemi prototypes. The 521 made 810 with P-51's and 910 with the hemi's. Bottom line is that the P-51's are a little better than Ford's SCJ's, and the hemi's are about 100HP better than the P-51's on any cubic inch short block. I hope this clears things up. ... Jon"

Now if we could sneak away a set of these "Street Boss" heads, drop the compression a little and run a milder cam, . . . and add a pair of B-I-G intercooled turbos . . . .

Don't be surprised if the "Boss is REALLY Back" in the next edition of the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog . . . or at least at http://www.jonkaaseracingengines.com/

Sure, all of this is vaporware and speculation at the moment.

But a new "Boss 429/460/514/5xx" would steal a lot of "thunder" from GM's aging rat and Cerberus/Chrysler "Mopar Performance" "Gen II" Hemis.

It's almost too much to hope for in the twilight of the "Second Supercar Era." And if the BOSS is back for '09 (even if just in pieces), it would be an eerie eco of 1969-1970.

Let's all hope that the BBF "Street Boss" makes more of an impact this go 'round.

Maybe, just maybe, that light at the end of the tunnel isn't a train.