Ford 427-sohc Parts Collection...nascar...gasser...shelby Mustang...holman-moody on 2040-parts.com

The crankshaft and vibration damper are shared with the production 427. Heavy duty LeMans style connecting rods are required to survive continuous high speed operation. These rods utilize a cap screw rather than the normal bolt and nut to attach the cap. Alignment is maintained by dowel sleeves surrounding the screws in counterbores. The cap screws are 12-point head, integral washer, and have an undercut shank. A tri-lobe interference thread is used to more uniformly spread the bolt loads along the entire length. These bolts may be used only one time. The piston pins are full-floating, with a bronze bushing in the connecting rod small end. The pins have non-uniform thickness, putting material where it is most needed and at the same time saving weight. Close tolerance is maintained between the ends of the pins and the snap rings to prevent unwanted hammering by the pin.

The pistons are slipper skirt aluminum alloy, machined by a contour cam grinder. This operation leaves the proper oval shape (at room temperature) and a grooved or threaded surface finish to hold oil. 1/16" thick compression rings are used, of a chrome plated barrel shape. A normal oil scraper type oil ring is used. The rings are of a low tension design, further reducing friction. Large domes with flattened valve clearance areas provide high compression.

Entirely new heads featured hemispherical combustion chambers with large valve encourage high volumetric efficiency over a broad rpm range. One overhead camshaft per cylinder bank operate the valves through roller-follower rocker arms. These are shaft mounted and are designed for high speed operation with minimum friction. The cylinder heads and block retain the standard FE family bolt pattern. To accomplish this, internal support pillars are cast into the heads. The camshaft bearing and rocker shaft supports are cast into the heads. The SOHC camshaft arrangement allowed the use of a wide angle between the intake and exhaust valves, approximating a hemispherical combustion chamber. The chambers are fully machined to closely control their volume. The spark plugs do not enter the center of the chambers, but rather enter from the intake side. This was done to use shorter spark plug wires and make the plugs more accessible. The cam bearings use saddle caps, similar to crankshaft main bearing caps. They are align bored, and fitted with normal babbit lined split inserts. Due to sharing a common cylinder head between left and right banks, and the layout of the cam lobes and followers, results in five bearing journals on the left bank, and six on the right.

The intake and exhaust valves are larger than those found on the 427 production engine. The exhaust valves feature a sodium filled hollow stem for better heat conduction. Dual valve springs are used, the inner spring being an interference fit within the outer spring. Valve lash is adjusted by select fit valve stem caps.

The engines featured a transistorized ignition system, triggered by a dual low-mass tungsten contacts in the distributor. The amplifier directs 12 amperes to a special coil to provide hot sparks at all engine speeds. The centrifugal advance mechanism provided 30 degrees maximum advance. The spark plugs fit deeply into the cylinder head, in a well formed of copper tube. This seals oil within the head and further acts as the spark plug gasket.

As supplied by Ford, the 427 SOHC used a 7-1/2 quart oil pan with a baffle windage tray to scrap oil off the crankshaft. The oil pump pickup is additionally secured to a boss in the block enabling it to withstand severe vibration. 20.5 gallons of SAE 40W per minute at 70 psi is provided by the oil pump. A special spin-on filter was used to handle the high volume of this oiling system. Oil pumped through a passage in the cylinder head deck (common to all FE family engines) is used to lubricate the camshaft bearings, rocker shafts, and follower tips.

The 427 SOHC was virtually built by hand, and was initially intended for stock car racing. The addition of hemispherical chambers and overhead cams transformed the 427 wedge into a very serious powerplant. Factory ratings were 615 hp @ 7000 rpm with a single 4-barrel, and 657 hp @ 7500 with dual carburetors. The engines weigh 680 lbs.

These engines were sold over the Ford parts counter. Ford recommended blueprinting the engines before use in racing applications. 4V model C6AE-6007-363S, 8V model C6AE-6007-359J, $2350.00, October 1968.

Though Ford sold the required number of units to homologate the design, the Cammer was prevented from running against the Chrysler hemi at Daytona in 1965 due to NASCAR rule changes. Many Cammers found their way into Mustangs running A/FX Factory Experimental drag racing.