By Fergus Ogilvy
Photos by Moore Good Ink
A regular top finisher in the annual Engine Masters Challenge, Mark McKeown is a man with a prolific output of engine improvements in his résumé, not least the Ford Cleveland.
But even with thirty years of Cleveland toil and achievement in McKeown’s background, it takes exceptional gallantry to resurrect a low-volume engine block—a block that was first conceived almost half a century ago.
The fact is though, he had the daring, the energy, and the resilience to see it through and now it’s in production. The Titus will be his hallmark: a defining moment for all Cleveland aficionados who will benefit by his incentive.
Waldorf, MD: Revived by MME (McKeown Motorsport Engineering), the world’s first aftermarket Cleveland engine is now in production. It is called Titus.
Accepting standard Cleveland accessories and hardware, these new larger displacement blocks are available in aluminum or cast iron, with deck heights of 9.2in or 9.5in and with bore sizes ranging from 4.00in to 4.20in.
As anticipated, MME’s Titus engines are suitable for street or strip use and for most forms of drag, oval track, and road racing. Needless to say they operate in naturally aspirated form or with nitrous, turbochargers, or superchargers. More importantly, though they are designed to handle extreme power, they mate to stock components and operate easily in standard street cars.
Unlike the original Cleveland block, the lubrication system has been redesigned for priority oiling to the main bearings with the ability to adjust oil flow elsewhere. In addition, the main webs are designed for solidity, providing the greatest amount of material for 4.38in bore centers.
Crucially, the main caps have a wider span than the originals, using splayed outer bolts that take anchor in the solid pan rails. Further, Titus uses a one-piece main seal that accommodates both production and aftermarket crankshafts.
Beyond this the cam tunnel has been configured to allow stock or larger base-circle camshafts and stock or larger cam journals. Titus blocks use screw-in freeze plugs sealed by O-rings.
Other key upgrades contained in the options lists include: solid water jackets; deck heights of 9.100 to 9.700in; 14- or 18-bolt cylinder heads; bushed lifter bores and more.
But perhaps the best aspect of this new Titus range of refined engines is the cost of the aluminum block. At $4,800 it compares well with other aftermarket small blocks.
For further information contact:
McKeown Motorsport Engineering, Inc.
10F Irongate Drive,
Waldorf, Maryland 20602
Telephone (301) 932-9292
www.mmeracing.com
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