Need motor advice!

[dirtnasty]

I have a steel block 358 that I ran as a limited last year. We had aluminum heads put on it a couple months ago and it dynoed around 700hp. We want to run supers on small 1/3 or 3/8 mile track next year. Will this motor be sufficient, or should we go bigger? Can't afford a big money motor, or would have already went that route.

[ga racer]

if you cant afford it whats it matter.

[dirtnasty]

I mean I can't afford a 30 or 40000 motor. We can go with a freshened motor for somewhere in the mid teens, just not a brand new cornett or anything like that....but if this motor will work for us, its extra money for us to spend on other things.

[fast_crew]

Post the details of current motor, maybe there is more power in what you have now, although 700 out of a 358 is pretty good.

[let-r-eat]

Running short slick bullrings you are probably way overpowered.

[lovinlatemodels]

We use to run all cast iron 358 on small bull rings and did very well with it we struggled in the mud but was good on the slick. We even went to a 1/2 miles one time and if it weren't from getting in a crash we still would have qualified. But i do agree with fast Crew there might be sill some more to get lets face it if nascar can get 800 out of theres you should be able to get atleast 700 to 730.

[racin6mod]

you said you had aluminum head's put on a couple months ago so I would think your motor is a 23 degree engine and 700 hp is pretty darn good. as said earlier on a small bull ring track you'll be in good shape on that 3/8 mile track you may see the 18 degree, sb2's and bigger cu.in motors start to pull away.

[racer69]

Im with these guys your not doing bad if it will stay together. In the slick you will be fine. 3/8 track I run a lot runs the crates and supers together and the crates have came out with wins when its slick. Last race they purposely didnt water the track much to give the crates an advantage. And this track is notorious for being black slick. I had 795 coming out of my 23* 377 so I bet there is more to find. Just hard to find the torque that the hogs have.

[4bangerhotrod]

wow you have 795hp out of a 23* or did you mean 695hp

[sj valley dave]

795 hp out of a 377" 23* head is really, really big numbers...Love to know what 23* heads he has on it...I agree, maybe he meant 695 hp..

[perfconn]

He would have to have a pretty good combination to even get 695 out of a 377.

[4bangerhotrod]

He would have to have a pretty good combination to even get 695 out of a 377.

i agree getting even 700hp out of that would be alot

[racer69]

All in the heads Boys! Just kidding...it took the heads along with every little detail I knew to throw at it. Didn't last too long either. Lots of painstaking work that lasted 4 races. I left no stone unturned. Not my finest moment.

[sj valley dave]

Still interested in what 23* heads you got to flow enough to get a 377 to almost 800 hp...Only ones that I could see, with good port work, AFR 245's...

[racer69]

Actually you are very close! They aren't any you'll find but AFR did the cnc on them. After the cnc they were massaged more with the flow bench getting a LOT of time. But like I said there was so much detail put into the whole motor. It came together as a sum of the whole package.

I feel like Im high jacking this guys thread! Dirtnasty give us some details of your motor. Maybe there is some power left in it to find. What was the torque on the dyno? How was the curve?

[dirtnasty]

Not sure on internal specifics, I will have to get the spec sheet out when I get home from working away. I know they are dart aluminum heads. Also have callies crank and rods in it now. I know the machine shop did some massaging to the heads but again, Id hafta look at the sheet. 750 gas carb. Dome pistons.

[HEAVY DUTY]

I would say somebody needs to do some dyno calibration.

[talclipse]

How much experience do you have? Where are other aspects of your program currently at? Are you running good shocks? Do you have your own setup equipment? What kind of spares do you have?

What is the difference between the limited class and the super class where you are racing?

Before committing yourself to blowing all your cash on extra horsepower look at your entire program and determine where your money can best be utilized. Too often guys get caught up in racing dyno numbers and end up missing the big picture.

[dualdj1]

^^ What Talclipse said.

On a medium tacky track, You might struggle with that motor on a 3/8, but the 1/3 you should be pretty good. you'll struggle some in mud on both, and be pretty solid in slick on both.

[racer69]

^^ What Talclipse said. Times 2!