1970-Bronze

Has anyone had any experience with AR Racing engines?

I'm looking to pull my engine and drop in a replacement and so far they seem to be the front runner.

Thanks.

Steve Grodin

Check with GrandSportC3

nastee383

You better be patient if you're going to have them build a motor to your specs. I ordered a 383 for my S15 Jimmy in January. I don't know when I'll get it. Just so happens I'm in no rush to receive it but it is a little unsettling because I paid in full up front.

SmokedTires

Nastee I was wondering if you oredered your engine from AR, haven't heard anything in so long :rolleyes: , hopefully it'll be as nice as GS's :steering:

1970-Bronze

Ok well, I thought about one of their "prebuilts". :confused:

I'm going to call Mark on Monday and see.

GrandSportC3

I can't speak for other people.. but in my case - I have been very satisfied with my AR engine...

11k++ miles on the engine and 60 drag strip passes.. The only minor issue was a broken valve spring that cost me $50 to fix... The engine still runs as good as on the first day!! :yesnod: :yesnod:

BTW - I bought a 383/465 HP Iron Head + solid cam engine from them..

My best ET at the track was 11.67 @ 119.79 mph.. That run was with slicks and front skinnies, 3.73 gears and Tremec TKO transmission...


BTW - here is one of my 11 second passes with that engine:
http://home.comcast.net/~omader/desoto1184.mov

That run was 11.84 on a 80 degrees day... I ran 11.67 a week later with temps in the upper 50's...


[Modified by GrandSportC3, 8:16 PM 4/25/2004]

Ryan77

I ordered a 525hp 383ci with Canfield aluminum heads last July. It wasn't delivered until the first week of December. The motor looked very good when it was delivered. I haven't put the motor in yet, but I plan to have it in in the next few weeks. I'll be dyno testing it, and if the motor is everything they say it is, it would be a great deal at the $4300 i paid for it :cheers:

GrandSportC3

Can't wait to hear results from your engine... Are you planning to dyno the engine on an engine dyno?? That's probably the most accurate way to determine it's output... Too many factors and components come into play when installing it into the car (accessories etc.)

Budman68

That's funny a 525 hp 383. :lol: Good luck with that.... Please dyno it after you install it. :thumbs:

GrandSportC3

It's not difficult to get 525 HP from a 383.. Forum member lotahp has a 525 HP 383 in his '73 and runs mid 11's...

Budman68

My hat is off to him. That is an accomplishment. I'll have to check out his ride. Has he dyno'ed his yet? I've followed yours and your dyno results, that is one solid engine.

GrandSportC3

his engine was dynoed on an engine dyno :yesnod: :yesnod:

All you need is a nice roller cam.. and you are there.. (he has a hydraulic roller setup)
I will have a 600+ HP 406 built pretty soon... It's all in the cam and heads...
My engine will be Solid Roller Cammed engine with .676 lift and 264/270 degrees .050 duration (300/308 degrees advertised duration) with fully ported and matched Dart Pro 1 - 230 cc heads..
Desktop dyno estimates 600 HP with unmodified 230 cc heads.. With the porting - I expect around 625 HP... CR will be 11:1


[Modified by GrandSportC3, 10:54 PM 4/25/2004]

tshort

I'm another happy owner of an AR motor. And yes, unfortunately you will wait awhile if you want a custom engine. I ended up going that route and it took a few months. But I'm very pleased now and Mark stands behind his work.
Here's some info on mine:
I had an order in on one of his Vortec head engines and AR was having problems with Edelbrock supplying a run of bad heads. After waiting about 2 months Mark asked if I wanted to just have him build me a different engine. I told him what I wanted out of it and he suggested a copy of a mule engine they had just finished and were testing. The first one they built dynoed at just over 500hp & tq. That was with Canfield heads, a Victor Jr intake, heads and intake ported and polished, and a 2 inch carb spacer. I went ahead and had him build me the same motor but with a RPM intake to clear my smallblock hood. He said that it would sacrifice some hp going to the dual plane but torque would still be right up there.
Boy was he right!!! I just had it dynoed and it came in at 333rwhp and 412ft-lbs. That's somewhere around 415hp and 515ft-lbs at the crank assuming that the muncie and rest of drive-train suck up about 20%. I'm also still working out some tuning issues so there's still more to squeeze out. I also have run an 1/8th mile best of 8.3@83.7mph. That was in street trim and drag radials in rear and my horrible shifting and driving :lol: All at a price tag under $3500.

So yes, I'm a happy camper and if you get one of the pre-builts you'll have a great engine very soon. If you go the custom route, you'll have a great engine....well, not so soon. ;)

GrandSportC3

333 RWHP is pretty good.. Did you run mufflers for the dyno run?? Removing mufflers will add another 15 - 30 RWHP (depending on mufflers)

74 vert

Oliver, sounds like you'll have real beast. Dart Pro 1 heads, :cool: , those are raised port aluminum. Do you think they will fit ok with your Hooker Sidepipes? Are you going with the angle or straight-plug heads?
I can't wait to see some track videos with that set-up. :reddevil

tshort

Yep, removed mufflers, came right out of headers and also no air cleaner. Actually, I did one run with air cleaner on (2 1/4" K&N) and one with it off. W/out the air cleaner I picked up 5hp and 8ft-lbs. That was surprising. I would post a pic of the graph but the forum homepages still don't seem to be working.

Twin_Turbo

no but building one that will run reliable for many many miles, does not overheat and has good drivability is. That's where the $$$$ start coming on (especially in the reliability department)

Graemeinvette

Without trying to hijack the thread. Any of you guys tried the Engine Factory? :cheers:

GrandSportC3

I'll go with the straight plug heads.. I currently run 215 cc Dart Iron Eagle heads which are identical castings like the Dart Pro 1 with the material being the only difference (iron vs. aluminum). I still haven't ordered the engine yet.. but I will very soon... AR is going to build my new engine!! :yesnod:

GrandSportC3

Norm never had any issues with the engine and he is racing it since several years....