No bs proven engine combos?

[jsf74]

I was not looking for a specific combo for myself just trying to create a thread where people could share what has worked for them in the past and some things that haven't. You can google all day but a drag motor and a circle track motor are two different animals. Poke fun all you want no big deal but some have missed the point.

[jsf74]

For what it's worth yes I'm new to circle track but not to racing. Been drag racing for 14 years.

[sj valley dave]

Guy, nobody is poking fun, but in the circle track world the rules are SOOOOO varied, you'd need hundreds of responses to fill the niches...If you're looking for a specific build type, somebody talking about their 9:1 hydraulic cam 461 headed 355 has as much in common with our 422" 15:1 SB2.2 Late Model engine as a NHRA Stock engine vs. a Pro Stock engine...Your request made zero sense..imo

[Egoracing]

Guy, nobody is poking fun, but in the circle track world the rules are SOOOOO varied, you'd need hundreds of responses to fill the niches...If you're looking for a specific build type, somebody talking about their 9:1 hydraulic cam 461 headed 355 has as much in common with our 422" 15:1 SB2.2 Late Model engine as a NHRA Stock engine vs. a Pro Stock engine...Your request made zero sense..imo

Just to expand a little, there were 2 classes that ran around my area at one time, Both were called Sportsman. One class was 70's camaros and monte carlos with a cage, 358ci max, 500 CFM 2bbl carb, NO headers, hydraulic cam, stamped rockers, stock diameter springs, stock intake, 8 inch wide radial tires and factory wheelbase. The other class was fabricated chassis except for the 14 inches of factory sub frame around the spring pockets, aftermarket A frames, spindles, aftermarket bodies, 362, aluminum heads, roller cam and rockers, any intake, headers, any rearend, and they had to weigh 300lbs less and could be down to 105 inch wheelbase. They could run 10 inch wide wheels and racing tires. The only rules that were common was they also had to run a 500cfm 2bbl carb and the engine make had to match the body.

When the "sportsman" with the fabricated chassis went to the other track they ran them in the late model class and they did well and won some races. At their own track the late models were over 2 seconds faster a lap.

[hpontap]

jsf74,

Even in the same class/same rules, you will find there are endless combinations that are used in the same cars.
In modifieds, you will find everything from de-stroked 347's to 434's and everything in between. Mostly it is driver preference as to how the engines are built.
Consider this:
421 that makes 632hp/652ftlbs makes over 600ftlbs @3,000 and all in below 7,000rpm.
393 that makes 720hp/640ftlbs starting at 4,500 and in above 7,000.
385 630hp/610ftlbs @7,200
362 that twists to 8,600 every lap making just over 600hp and 580ftlbs.
377 660hp/625ftlbs @ 7,600
All of these engines have been in one of my modifieds and all still sitting in the shop ready to go.
Some cost more than others and some could have cost more or less to build at the time.
How "cheap" an engine is, is relative to how anyones resources are.
But no SBC making 600+ hp ( and living like it should ) is going to be what I consider cheap.
Hope this helps shed a little light on how diverse even 1 class of cars can be.
Like the others have said, if you have a certain set of rules you are going to run, Im sure you will get some advice with your combination.
Ive built everything from pure-stock to open late model engines and a lot of drag engines also.
Still have my little SBC limited street truck that will run down in the 9's on any day and go get groceries if needed.
Be more specific and I will do my best to help.

[dirty white boy]

the best combo to building a race motor is $$$$$ an a good machine shop!!

[Hurst390]

for sure on the machine shop!!
How about an AMC combo? 401 block 4.195 bore stock 2 bolt main good to 700hp..
3.7,3.8,3.850,3.90,3.95,4.0 stroke..depending on your 401 crank core those are all acheivable strokes with the latest crank machining tricks and a nitride
aftermarket 2.100,2.0,1.88 rod i like the callies compstar rod for durability and weight..
any iron AMC head(18deg valve angle) can be ported to 295-305 intake cfm, exhaust cfm 235-245, 2.08-1.71 11/32 valves or 2.125-1.71 not a big difference in flow
Flat top aftermarket piston for weight on circle track..depending on final cc iin the chamber after rework anywhere from 11-1-13-1 compression with a flat top...big chamber and a dome for drag 13.5-1
Torker AMC edlebrock intake
cirlcle track combo with priority oiling and about a .650 flat tappet cam or drag combo with around a .800 roller cam
1-7/8 or 2" header
good for around 600-700hp depending on cam and compression....
cost about the same a a bb chevy to buy parts for...