Re: Road Race BBC and SBC set up? (garagedweller2)
I've been thinking about this for my SBC '90. The latest combination that's been running through my mind is a 6" rod, 3.48 stroke 355 with 11:1 compression, Comp XE 224/230 cam, 1.6 roller rockers, AFR 195 heads and a FI tunnel ram intake. I'll I have is Dyno2000 and it puts peak power around 6200rpm.
Now I'm thinking that since I should replace the lifters anyway, I should step up to a 400 block and build a 377. The larger bore would benefit airflow with the large valves in the AFR heads, not to mention the extra 20 cubic inches. I think I'd need a larger cam to keep peak power above 6000rpm.
Also, my ideas are for a daily driver that I'd be taking to driving events.
:iagree:
The 377 would make a nice race engine. You should be able to solid cam that, and get some steep rear end gears with a good overdrive, and have a nice 8000+ rpm redline. Also being a small block, the mileage would make for nice range.
I built my 427 big block up for road racing, but it's bad on gas. I have doubts that my 20 gallon fuel tank would actually hold enough fuel for a 100 mile race flat out most of the time. I'm thinking a custom 35 gallon-ish fuel cell.
Another good one would be a 502 block with a 427 crank and rectangle port heads with high compression and long rods. That would be a strong runner too.
472(4.47Bore/3.76 Stroke), I have been thinking about that! Wouldn't you need custom rods, pistons etc? Also what is the preferred powerband for a roadcourse car?
Re: Road Race BBC and SBC set up? (garagedweller2)
Not custom rods. It's still a basic big block engine, except with a bigger bore. Get longer than stock rods, and check clearance, but with less stroke, clearance should be okay. The pistons, I'd get forged 502 pistons. This is such a new engine, that I don't know what's available. You can check at any GM dealer parts dept. If you can only get flat tops, then see what kind of compression you can get with a closed chamber head. Note, this will limit the upper rpm to maybe 7000 with big 2.30"/1.88" valves, but your midrange torque will be unbelievable. This thing will pull out of an apex like a space craft whipping around the moon. (Okay, wierd analogy).
Actually, the closed chamber, oval port heads will out-torque rectangle port heads, and might make a better racer pulling out of the curves. I'd think about that.
Some of this would depend on the car and budget. If your budget is high enough, you can build pretty much any displacement you want. Of course, you will be using lots of forged parts and titanium pieces...
Depending on your budget, the 350 can be made into a pretty good road race engine for the least amount of money. But, as Raistlin says, get the 400 block and you have more cubes for the same stroke. My take on this for my '66 was to go even more unique. I built a 353 cubic inch engine. Start with a 400 block (bored to 4.156") and a 327 crank. Add in Edelbrock Victor Jr. heads (flows 226 cfm at 0.400" lift, maxes out at 281 cfm at 0.600") and a Victor Jr. Intake, give it a cam with a 114 center and 220/228 duration with 0.550" lift and you get...
Hot Rod or Car Craft built a similar 350 and used ford??? rods. I think they were 6.3". One concideration of mine for not going extra displacement is fuel consumption, but my guess is that a stroker plus displacement will yield more torque giving better street manners. Of course, the torque predicted by DD for your setup kind of negates my guess.
Were the parts you used harder to find and more expensive? I would assume a 3.48", 6" forged rotating assembly is cheaper.
Re: Road Race BBC and SBC set up? (garagedweller2)
By camming it where you want it. If you go with more of an rpm cam, then you can gear it steep to get into the cam's power band quicker, but then have a good overdrive transmission to take advantage of a good top speed.
Keep in mind with a set up like this that the OD probably would be below the cam's power band on the highways at legal speed limits. It would be your "racing" gear.
Kind of like 4th on my Muncie. It's not really usable around town. Oh well.
So you are saying that 4th on you Muncie will almost cause your engine to stall around town?
Also, WHY is high rev power preferred on road course cars? (sorry, I should have asked this 1st)
What intake and cam specs are good for high rpms?
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Road Race BBC and SBC set up?
