Racing Update

[Magnethead]

For those not following on Facebook

Cracked the engine block on cylinder #8 -> Block is junk

Bores weren't round anymore. Piston slap oblonged them by 0.05" because we had .15" of cylinder wall in most spots. -> Why crankcase was pressurized

3 Fuel Injector lines came apart internally at day 1 (manuf defect) -> Why fuel pressure varied so much

Transmission Front Pump cracked -> Why car became erratic last 3 races

Transmission Case Clutching Surface extremely worn -> Case is junk


So for 2012:

New engine block with 0.575" of cylinder wall (block is designed to be bored up to 4.6"- we're only 4.350") weight penalty: 50 lbs

Round bores + new piston rings = correct ring seal = vacuum pump can do it's job = more horsepower

Fixed fuel injector lines = steady fuel pressure = consistency + more horsepower

New transmission with safety case = extra protection, quicker reaction times, more efficient = more horsepower (weight penalty: 5 pounds)

Total: More horsepower with a 55 pound penalty

 

[SlowNeasy]

+ a lot of time and $$$ <g>

 

[FlFlash]

Piston slap oblonged them by 0.05" was that supposed to be .005"? Fifty thousandths is HUGE!
Your not running a SB2.2 block are you?

 

[SST55]

I've been asked if I miss being involved in racing. Quick answer is yes but then I remember the costs and then read a posts like Mags, I just smile and say "Nope".

 

[Magnethead]

Piston slap oblonged them by 0.05" was that supposed to be .005"? Fifty thousandths is HUGE!
Your not running a SB2.2 block are you?

you could SEE how oval they were. The walls were too thin, and they flexed. It was a stock 77-85 passenger car 454 block.

Dart Big M block on it's way.

 

[BobbyFord]

you could SEE how oval they were. The walls were too thin, and they flexed. It was a stock 77-85 passenger car 454 block.

Dart Big M block on it's way.

There goes another $2500

 

[Magnethead]

There goes another $2500

Plus $1200 Dedenbear transmission case, $800 in valve springs, front pump got warrantied, 8 new injector lines @ $10 each, new lifters @ $1200, new camshaft at $750 custom ground, new valve covers, and other odds and ends.

I forgot to mention that unrelated to cracking the #8 cylinder, we launched the #2 exhaust lifter.

 

[FlFlash]

Who was it that said " Speed Cost Money How Fast Do You Wanna GO? "

Oh thats a lo nickel cast block you had. Whats your FB deal I'd like to check it out if you don't mind?

 

[Magnethead]

Who was it that said " Speed Cost Money How Fast Do You Wanna GO? "

Oh thats a lo nickel cast block you had. Whats your FB deal I'd like to check it out if you don't mind?

/magnethead794

Keep in mind that with a FUBAR block that was pressurizing the crankcase due to blow-by, we were still hauling a 2800 pound car to 5.55 @ 122.50. Roughly 825 HP @ 1.63 HP per cube. With proper ring seal, vacuum, fuel system...We figure on touching the 5.48 window in good air......5.42ish with M5 fuel (Has nitromethane's cousin in it). Maybe 850-875 HP @ 1.68-1.73 HP per cube?

 

[SST55]

You're not sending the new block out to a machine shop? Just replacing valve springs with no other head work?

Lunati will custom grind a cam for a lot less than $750, chances are they have a off the shelf cam for even less.

You haven't even scratched the surface on a rebuild.

 

[Magnethead]

You're not sending the new block out to a machine shop? Just replacing valve springs with no other head work?

Lunati will custom grind a cam for a lot less than $750, chances are they have a off the shelf cam for even less.

You haven't even scratched the surface on a rebuild.

The block is coming race-prepped from DART, then Reher Morrison is going to deck it for a 565, double check the line hones, and hand it over to us.

We're going through bullet Cams. Spec built for our motor + the big lifters

We're not doing a full rebuild. Just cleaning the rotating assembly and sticking it in the new block, valve springs on the same heads/valves, same intake, ect.

 

[Magnethead]

No, we didn't have a significant failure coming at all...

I started looking at it after re-wiring some of the car, and found a crack coming off the main one, that was headed for the main webbings. Also found a bunch of deep cratches in #4 that would have cracked.

 

[Magnethead]

Also, got word from FTI that our case was cracked to go with the cracked front pump.

water in oil + oblong cylinders + cracked front pump + cracked case = it's a wonder we got off the starting line