Ford Racing announces the addition of the new S347JR Sealed Racing Engine, which was developed for asphalt and dirt circle track racing. The S347JR Sealed Racing Engine joins the highly successful D347SR sealed racing engine that has been winning races in premier series like the ASA Late Model Series for several years. With a peak horsepower rating of 350 and 400 lb.ft. of torque, the S347JR Sealed Racing Engine is positioned to compete in race series where the GMPP ZZ4 or "603" engines are approved for competition.

The development of the S347JR Sealed Racing Engine was a collabrative effort between the engineers from Ford Racing, American Canadian Tour (ACT) motor builder Butler & MacMaster from Hallowell, Maine and the Test Team led by Cris Michaud and KLR Racing. With a successful ten-week testing and competition program complete, ACT has announced that the Ford Racing S347JR sealed racing engine has been approved for immediate competition.

What separates the Ford Racing Sealed Racing Engines from other crate engines is that they are engineered and developed from the start for racing ? by Ford Racing engineers. "Like the other Sealed Racing Engines from Ford Racing, the S347JR is a real racing engine built to professional racing series standards that delivers reliable and lasting performance," says Brian Wolfe, director, Ford North American Motorsports. "We select the key components that will last - real racing parts like a forged crank, rods and pistons ? with full floating piston pins. Compared to the competition that assembles its crate engines from repackaged production parts, Ford Sealed Facing Engines deliver real value to the Racer.?

Ford Racing has recently launched a Sportsman Circle Track Racing initiative that will increase its presence at the nearly 2,000 circle tracks in the United States. This new engine program with ACT is just one example of Ford Racing?s commitment to customers and race enthusiasts. The ACT business model, which puts a priority on weekly racing with select regional touring events in New England and the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, was tailor made for the Ford Racing Sealed Racing Engine program. ?All of us at Ford Racing are excited to have the S347JR Sealed Racing Engine approved to compete in one of the premier racing series in North America, the American Canadian Tour,? said Mike Delahanty, Program Manager Sportsman Circle Track Racing for Ford. ?This has been one of the most rigorous approval processes yet for the Ford crate engine, but we expect to see Ford contending for ACT wins before the 2009 season is done. Special thanks to the Merchants Bank Team of Cris Michaud and Kendell Legendre for their tireless efforts in testing and development.?

The foundation of the S347JR Sealed Racing Engine is the Boss 302 Racing Block that features 4-bolt mains; siamese bores, and threaded core and galley plugs. In fact, the entire shortblock is common between the S347JR and the D347SR engines. A SCAT forged steel crankshaft, SCAT forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum Mahle pistons make up the rotating assembly. Topping the engine are the X306 aluminum heads and Edelbrock Performer RPM air gap manifold. A Competition Cams hydraulic roller cam and aluminum roller rockers complete the list of real racing parts that make up this engine.