Engine Build Options

sprintgtvgus · Post by **sprintgtvgus** » Tue Aug 04, 15 2:28 pm

Well, it was inevitable that I would start to consider more power for my car, not quite ready to take the plunge yet, but want to start considering options.

I have a 1970 440 block in my car which is completely standard apart from hedman headers and pertronix ignition.

As per another thread, it made 225bhp and 320lbft on a dyno recently.

I want to liven her up to around 400-500bhp.

I have a 727 but with 8 3/4 rear end so maybe I need to be careful with that or go the whole hog and swap it. To be honest I would rather avoid this, although it's not a locker which is not great.

Are there many experienced mopar engine builders in the UK, or should I just find someone competent locally?

II am Essex Based.

For example, I have the following compies that are super local:

Geoff Page Racing engines
Graham Hathaway Racing
Barry Elely Sports Cars

And a load of expensive ones I darent really talk to like JD classics and Hoyle fox.

I was thinking about the edelbrock performer rpm package of a camshaft, aluminum cnc heads and inlet manifold... this kit: http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/mc/ ... b/2087.jpg

But then what about pistons and I haven't even done a compression test on the current engine...

Or plan C would be to buy another block and attempt to build myself, something I've shied away from as I was worried about learning on my own engine.

Only engine I've build was a diesel tractor engine, and that was under supervision a long time ago.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Aug 04, 15 2:36 pm

Lots of options from mild to wild.

I am not sure the Edelbrock package will give you what you want.

I would speak to Dave Billadeau (daveB on here) and tell him your requirements and budget and I am sure he can put together a build that will see you alright.........

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Tue Aug 04, 15 5:16 pm

As Pete say's DaveB is a great choice or a little closer to you is Roger Luty. The people you list I am sure are good with your classic car engine or maybe even building a fast 130hp cross flow but taking a big v8 and getting it to produce good relable horsepower is best left to the people that deal with them on a regualar basis if you see what I mean.

adrianp · Post by **adrianp** » Tue Aug 04, 15 6:10 pm

Have a chat to DaveB, I'm sure he can give you some options to think about. But you're right in that you need to watch out for the snowball effect. Depending on the HP you want to generate you could start impacting on your transmission, wheels, rear end, gear ratios, cooling, brakes etc. etc. etc.

adrian.

sprintgtvgus · Post by **sprintgtvgus** » Tue Aug 04, 15 7:53 pm

I see what you mean, yes good to have someone with knowledge specific to that engine series.

Having said that, Geoff page are pretty impressive. Last time I was there the peugeot pikes peak car was there! http://www.evo.co.uk/features/features/ ... kshop.html

I actually visited for a quick chat and he was very helpful and not deterred by the fact it wasn't a mega bucks build.

karlee1433 · Post by **karlee1433** » Mon Aug 10, 15 9:19 pm

Maybe try lamude engines hence the name mark lamude runs a 55 bell air with 2000 bhp pro charged on the street and goes up the dick turpin on the 127 wednesday nights

TW71 · Post by **TW71** » Tue Aug 11, 15 12:11 pm

adrianp wrote:Have a chat to DaveB, I'm sure he can give you some options to think about. But you're right in that you need to watch out for the snowball effect. Depending on the HP you want to generate you could start impacting on your transmission, wheels, rear end, gear ratios, cooling, brakes etc. etc. etc.

adrian.

This is exactly right, you will have to consider the rest of the car as Adrian says not just the engine you have to budget for.

DaveB will direct you, worth the journey!

sprintgtvgus · Post by **sprintgtvgus** » Thu Aug 13, 15 8:23 am

Thanks for all of the tips guys, at the moment I am most likely to build it myself.

I am going to source another engine/block and build it up nice and slowly and after reading plenty of books.

I do love a good project

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Aug 13, 15 9:31 am

Good, it's not a difficult build. Have a look at 440 Source for a lightweight set of rods and pistons with .990 pins. Use small chamber Edelbrock heads, you want about 11.1 compression. Hughes have the best selection of cams, there will be something there for a strong pump gas build. Hughes are also probably best for the rest of the parts you'll need.

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Thu Aug 13, 15 11:24 am

Blue, have you tried any of the Hughes cams in the past? I'm tempted as general feedback is that they provide a broader range of power compared to similar cam of the same duration @50.

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Thu Aug 13, 15 11:32 am

they grind their cams with lobes that have ramps take advantage of the .904 size lifter rather than the smaller chevy lifter size that lots of others use.

i.e the master is Mopar specific not a universal master that is repurposed for any motor.

most cam grinders have a master catalogue which is used to derive a cam for any motor. i.e the same grind may appear at different performance levels for a range of motors

an mopar specific grind is for a bigger lifter = more space on the lifter face to ride on therefore the ramps can be more aggressive without you digging the edge of the lifter face into the ramp.

after market cam blanks like flat tappet lifters are made by just a couple of vendors and most cam grinders buy from them

the blank may well have 2 or 3 intended uses

the bearing areas may well be very wide to cover a range of blocks

the nose and tail end are uninversal

they are machined and drilled for a specific motor i.e what isn't used for that motor gets machined off.

I'd guess most other cam grinders operate in a similar way.

Dave

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Aug 13, 15 12:13 pm

Yep that's right Dave I believe they are they only ones that don't grind from a generic blank. Miles, I havn't personally used one yet, but they have a good reputation, I know Dave Robson used one in his Challenger with good results. I will be using a Hughes cam in my 408 build when I eventually get started on it...

Hughes roller rocker arms also have a very good reputation against others at the "cheaper" end of the market.

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Thu Aug 13, 15 1:07 pm

Thanks chaps. I was aware that Dave Hughes champions his cams as being specific for Mopar but I also thought that Comp were now also making a similar claim.
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