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The much anticipated build has begun, and I believe this build deserves its own thread, so here we go. To understand the decisions made in this build, you need to understand the goal, and that is to run 11.50s in average air with a 2.56 gear and the factory converter. I fully intend to achieve this goal on 225/70-15 Cooper Cobras, but I have Mickey Thompson ET street radials for if/when the need arises. The car can and will (still) be driven everywhere.
Running a 2.56 gear and factory converter presents a unique challenge in the first 100’ or so, or until the engine fights from 2000 rpm up to its torque peak. This means building an engine as mild as possible, with the caveat that the 2.56 gear acts like a 3.90 gear out the back door, so the engine can be no slouch when it comes to horsepower. I already gave the goal my best effort with my home ported, local built 496, but now it’s time to get serious.
To that end…late Feb/early March 2021, I convinced Mark to build a 4.375” stroke x 4.310” bore 510 CI engine inside a factory block. For those that know Mark, this engine surely wasn’t his first (or even second) choice for a 4100 lb street car running only 11.50s. After all, Victor’s 4200 lb ‘70 Monte Carlo already ran 11.0 @ 122 mph with a 622hp 467, 3.55 gears, and it still has A/C.
Anyhow, I know Mark likes the idea of taking an otherwise stock car, adding an engine, headers, exhaust, and a locker, and running deep in the 11s. Either that, or he wanted to put an end to my nonsensical “how many cubes can you build in a stock block posts?”
Either way, I’m excited.
The rotating assembly is Scat with MAHLE -18cc pistons. In short, we’ll have no shortage of compression for the “small” cam, which is roughly 228/238 @ 0.050”.
The heads are oval port 049s, of course, which will be fitted with Manley Racemaster 11/32” 2.19/1.88 valves and Mark’s custom lightweight springs and retainer package. The idea is to achieve peak power under 6000 rpm and keep the valve train stable valve out the back door, up to about 6500 rpm (although we might not see that rpm at the track).
Mark is going to send a few photos along the alway and I’ll attend the dyno session when the time comes. Grab your popcorn, it’s going to be an exciting month.
Running a 2.56 gear and factory converter presents a unique challenge in the first 100’ or so, or until the engine fights from 2000 rpm up to its torque peak. This means building an engine as mild as possible, with the caveat that the 2.56 gear acts like a 3.90 gear out the back door, so the engine can be no slouch when it comes to horsepower. I already gave the goal my best effort with my home ported, local built 496, but now it’s time to get serious.
To that end…late Feb/early March 2021, I convinced Mark to build a 4.375” stroke x 4.310” bore 510 CI engine inside a factory block. For those that know Mark, this engine surely wasn’t his first (or even second) choice for a 4100 lb street car running only 11.50s. After all, Victor’s 4200 lb ‘70 Monte Carlo already ran 11.0 @ 122 mph with a 622hp 467, 3.55 gears, and it still has A/C.
Anyhow, I know Mark likes the idea of taking an otherwise stock car, adding an engine, headers, exhaust, and a locker, and running deep in the 11s. Either that, or he wanted to put an end to my nonsensical “how many cubes can you build in a stock block posts?”
Either way, I’m excited.The rotating assembly is Scat with MAHLE -18cc pistons. In short, we’ll have no shortage of compression for the “small” cam, which is roughly 228/238 @ 0.050”.
The heads are oval port 049s, of course, which will be fitted with Manley Racemaster 11/32” 2.19/1.88 valves and Mark’s custom lightweight springs and retainer package. The idea is to achieve peak power under 6000 rpm and keep the valve train stable valve out the back door, up to about 6500 rpm (although we might not see that rpm at the track).
Mark is going to send a few photos along the alway and I’ll attend the dyno session when the time comes. Grab your popcorn, it’s going to be an exciting month.
