Engine question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: California
Engine question
im new to building motors but i wanted to ask a few "dumb" questions so i can learn.
Can you re-use cylinder heads on a different motor later down the road if u decide to build another motor? *replacing springs, valves etc.*
Can you, or has anyone ever re-used full roller rockers on a second motor?
i wouldnt even think about using anything else on my next motor but i just wondered if the savings would bite me in the butt later down the road if i decided to re-use those parts.
BTW, does anyone recommend a decent set of full roller rockers? im build a 350 4 bolt main engine *mid-80's block*
I work at Motor Machine in Carmichael, CA but im just starting there so im pretty "dumb" to the whole racing brands and stuff
any tips/advise would be greatly appreciated
Can you re-use cylinder heads on a different motor later down the road if u decide to build another motor? *replacing springs, valves etc.*
Can you, or has anyone ever re-used full roller rockers on a second motor?
i wouldnt even think about using anything else on my next motor but i just wondered if the savings would bite me in the butt later down the road if i decided to re-use those parts.
BTW, does anyone recommend a decent set of full roller rockers? im build a 350 4 bolt main engine *mid-80's block*
I work at Motor Machine in Carmichael, CA but im just starting there so im pretty "dumb" to the whole racing brands and stuff
any tips/advise would be greatly appreciated
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Most aluminum roller rockers are a "wear item" that needs to be replaced on down the road. Unless you know exactly how old and how much use is on the aluminum ones, I would personally steer clear. Steel roller rockers will last much longer and I would not be afraid to re-use them on a second motor.
Heads can be swapped over and over. Just be careful the previous owner didn't over port them or shave them.
I bought a set of GTO heads for my 442, and found out they had been shaved after I had them installed, and the pushrods wouldn't work. I then checked the compression ( I know, I should have bench tested the heads first) and it was at 12.5 to 1. That was a few hundred dollars wasted!
Heads can be swapped over and over. Just be careful the previous owner didn't over port them or shave them.
I bought a set of GTO heads for my 442, and found out they had been shaved after I had them installed, and the pushrods wouldn't work. I then checked the compression ( I know, I should have bench tested the heads first) and it was at 12.5 to 1. That was a few hundred dollars wasted!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: California
on the heads, i planned on using some Pro1 Dart heads, anyone have any feedback on these or a similar product? im looking at making around 450 hp and 400 Tq. would going with a 180cc runner and 2.02/1.60 on the heads be ok? im looking to have a 10:1 comp with a 64 cc head. can anyone shed some more light on what else might help me achieve these #'s? i have a fairly good idea but im sure im missing some simple stuff
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Cam and heads is what is going to make the HP levels you are going for. 450HP out of a 350 is going to be a pretty healthy cam. Are you looking to go to a roller cam? This will be more $$$ but make more power. I ran a set of AFR 195 heads on my 350 with a solid flat tappet cam at 248 @ .050 and .525 lift and made right around 430 HP. It needed rpm to make the power but above 3000 rpm hold on. What is the rest of your car. 4 speed or auto, what rear gears do you have?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: California
i believe 3.73 in rear, A/T. i had the tranny rebuilt a while back but im due for another, or a new one all together. is there much machine work involved in upgrading to a hydraulic roller lifter cam?
has anyone ever used that program by Comp Cams to calculate HP TQ #'s?
has anyone ever used that program by Comp Cams to calculate HP TQ #'s?
