Topics

1

Events / 2016 CHRR what a ride

« on: October 27, 2016, 12:29:39 PM »

Wow so much fun this year, made 8 good hits (all over a tenth off the number) and somehow got to the finals and ended up runner with only .044 between us.  Thanks to Greg for driving as he did a great job to just jump in the car after not driving for over a year.

2

Wanted to sell / 185" FED ready to Race - Price Reduced $15,500 done racing

« on: August 06, 2016, 05:37:53 PM »

185” wheelbase with a 20”cage that can fit a larger driver. 565 cubic inch BBC with merlin II block, all forged internals (approx. 14.5:1 compression), T&D shaft rockers with bowtie heads, Mallory Mag, Dart intake with rare Injectorator fuel injection with Waterman pump. Has newer aluminum Strange 3rd member, axles and brakes (35 spline). Powerglide with 8” Continental converter. This car is ready to run NE1 or any other class you want with all current certs. Have spent a lot of time enjoying this car as well as updating up to its current state. I am getting out of racing to spend some more time with the family.
I also have an open trailer available and complete sfi 15 suite if interested.
19,750
Call Scott with any questions or more pics as this is only the basic info
775 721-9584

3

Spud Miller's Cave / Brass shavings from distributor gear and new billet cam

« on: April 06, 2016, 08:19:00 AM »

I installed a new billet cam and had to change the distributor gear to a brass style (this was a used gear I had on another distributor) and took the car out this weekend and it ran absolutely awesome but we found some brass shavings in the top end.  I called the cam company and they said to shim the distributor with gaskets to get the correct engagement and I was using the correct distributor gear (brass).  I was thinking of going to another style gear like the everwear gear from Lunati or a melanized steel gear.  Any thoughts on this?

4

Spud Miller's Cave / Timing for alcohol injection compared to gas

« on: February 10, 2016, 04:48:29 PM »

First let me start by saying I have a BBC 565, with around 15:1 compression and currently running around 38 degrees and car is running good and have good heat on the plugs. 
I have read on another site that a lot of guys with my similar setup are running as low 30 degrees but most in the 32-34 range, but others say you need to run more timing with injected alcohol than with gas.
I know there are a lot of variables such as the cam and compression but what are your thoughts or findings on this?  Is there a general rule or just tune your car to what it likes?

5

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Shut down causing oil starvation-oil restrictors?

« on: January 12, 2016, 03:22:42 PM »

I have a merlin II BBC and we have ran it with and without the oil restrictors in it (this one has the long and short one). I just pulled the bottom end to check it and found a few of the rod bearings are not good but all the mains were perfect as well as the cam bearings. We did not have any oil restrictors in it this last time and it really did lose pressure on shutdown around 10-20 psi total. Unfortunately we did not have the gopro on to see the gauges on most of the runs. 

Will the restrictors help keep more oil stay in the pan? This is also a new dragster full sump 8 quart milodon pan with high volume pump.  Runs 60-80 at idle

I am really debating an oil accumulator now as well, but will the oil restrictors help?

These bearings have about 14-16 passes

I use Brad Penn 40 wt.

One other things that is new are the rear brakes.  Went from basic GM metric calipers to full race 4 piston strange setup and it is night and day on the stopping.

One of the rod bearings and this is the worst one.

6

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Rodeck 481 BBC block info needed

« on: December 31, 2015, 06:45:54 AM »

So I have someone local that is selling a Rodeck 481 BBC short block. I really cannot find any info online for these blocks. It has a very wide water pump that is obviously special to this block and it does look to take a BBC oil pan and normal BBC heads.

Does it take a normal BBC timing setup?

It also looks to have spacers for the intake.

Any information is appreciated.

7

Dan Dishon's Transmission Den / Changing cases and have questions on drilling modifications

« on: December 09, 2015, 06:31:41 AM »

So I cracked my case and a friend gave me his good old case (he switched to aftermarket case) and while inspecting it before putting my parts into his case I found some differences.
Let me also say I am no expert on automatic transmissions and this is my first teardown and rebuild. This is a full manual valve body powerglide going into a FED.

First I see that his case has a hole plugged that I have read needs to be enlarged with its corresponding hole on the bottom of the case.



old case




He had this in a drag car so I do not know why this would be plugged. Can anyone tell me why this was plugged and should I drill this out? It was drilled out on my old case. Are there any other modifications I should do or can do to a stock case to make it better?

This is from some of the instructions I found online on what to drill.



Also, I found this in the bottom of the pan. The internals have about 20 passes and when we took it apart it took 6 full turns to tighten the band. Is this band material since it was so loose?  We inspected all the clutches and they still look new and the band does not look bad.



Thanks
Scott

8

Dan Dishon's Transmission Den / Need to buy a new Powerglide what options do I want for a FED

« on: October 28, 2015, 07:20:04 AM »

Finally cracked my stock case Powerglide at the CHRR so I am going to upgrade to an aftermarket case and whatever other goodies.
So what options should I go for?  What gear ration?  Roller tailshaft?
I run NE1 and have a 4:10 gear.

thanks
Scott

9

Spud Miller's Cave / Timing light for magneto?

« on: June 29, 2015, 11:10:24 AM »

So what kind of timing light do I need for a mag?  Can someone suggest or recommend one?  I heard or read that the newer ones with advance and stuff are not to be used on a magneto?  Is this true?
Thanks
Scott

10

Spud Miller's Cave / Sprint Mag II enough?

« on: June 04, 2015, 07:40:29 AM »

While I am rebuilding my motor I am thinking about going to a mag as the last time out I had a ignition box go out.  I have a buddy local to me who has a sprint mag II tach drive, coil, kill switch and a tach for $600.  The mag has not been used since being gone through years ago at Mallory (which used to be local to me) and has been sitting in its case.  My question is this enough mag for 565 injected BBC? 
thanks
Scott

11

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Custom Pistons and all the cool extras you can get

« on: May 19, 2015, 10:04:45 AM »

So I have to have custom pistons made because of my odd ball heads and was wondering what every thinks about or has real world experience with skirt coatings and gas porting on the pistons.  I am doing a mold as well.

I am going with JE and they have 2 skirt coatings.  One is a break in coating that wears off and the other is a permanent one.  Anyone have any experience with these?  I know they are becoming pretty popular and have heard good things on the break in coatings.

Gas porting? any real benefit, both vertical and horizontal and have read most drag racers like the vertical.  Any thoughts on this add on?

Any other considerations like ring pack size or other customizing features you can get?

These are going into an alcohol injected 565 BBC and looking at around 15:1 compression.
thanks
Scott

12

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Lets talk head gaskets

« on: May 14, 2015, 09:39:00 AM »

So as I posted before my motor blew out the felpro 1057 gaskets I have been using without issue for years up till now.  It seems like the severe tire shake the car had could of contributed to the issue.  So my question is for a NA alcohol motor with pretty high compression (15:1) what is everyone using?  Of course I am looking at the mls style, specifically the Cometic brand, as well as possible copper choices like the SCE ICS series with the built in ring that does not need the block or heads cut.  I have read both good and bad on the ICS but mostly bad from blown or turbo charged motors and not NA.  My machinist is really concerned as we will probably be boring it out to 4.600 and the amount of material between the cylinders is getting pretty thin.  I do have an older Merlin II block that does not have the extra bosses for the extra head bolts in the lifter valley area.

Any experience and input is appreciated.

13

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Custom bore piston rings

« on: May 13, 2015, 01:27:27 PM »

Anyone know of a company that can make custom size piston rings? Going with an odd bore on my rebuild and getting custom pistons made but can't find any off the shelf rings.
thanks
Scott

14

Roo Man's Room / Who can build a custom size axle?

« on: April 21, 2015, 09:45:24 AM »

Any recommendations on who could build me a new axle?  I have an odd width and cannot find anything online that is already made so i would need a custom one built.  It is staggered with the left side slightly in front of the right.





thanks
Scott

15

Roo Man's Room / Front axle size and wall thickness.

« on: April 20, 2015, 08:26:45 AM »

So after breaking my wheelie bars and finding both sides of my axle are bent I want to make a new one.  The current one is 1.5" outside diameter.  Is a .25" wall good for this type of application?  Would that be too hard to bend? 
thanks
Scott