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Re: 1958 Ford Police 361
Posted: Sat 4. Nov 2017, 08:48
by Chris430
Re: 1958 Ford Police 361
Posted: Sat 4. Nov 2017, 09:09
by Chris430
Re: '58 Edsel's 361 (303 HP) Factory Claim Vs. Real Dyno Results
Posted: Sun 5. Nov 2017, 10:43
by WerbyFord
Interesting pics and spec sheet on the 361/303 in 58 Fairlane etc, even if police only.
On the Aug-Sep 1958 Hot Rod dyno session we should remember the following:
* The starting dyno test gets only 210hp vs 303hp as rated, and they kinda rag on the rating after that.
* That dyno test was pretty much a NET horsepower test ie like the "220 net hp" rating you'd see on a 1973 Ford 460, or "266 net hp" on a 1973 351CJ.
* That said, this was a tight, poorly tuned engine. Test #5 at 226hp is more like a stock, well tuned 361/303, but again more like 226 NET hp.
* The Gonkulator says a nominal bone stock 361/303 would make about 270 GROSS hp. Still shy compared to the 303 gross rating, which I think came from the original intended FE with its solid almost-390-police cam.
* The Gonkulator says this particular 361/303 was only making 256 gross hp (or 212 net hp) out of the crate so yes they started with a tired example.
* The bright side though is that when the series finished in Sep 58 with Dyno #30, they dyno the 414cid stroker at 342 hp but that's 342 NET hp, and about 402 GROSS hp per the Gonkulator. Those numbers are better than a 428cj.
* So it's a good article and a good engine, if properly interpreted!