Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

It's got a scat "cast steel" crank it and I'm not sure what kind of rpm it can tolerate. I never minded turning a 327 or 350 up but the longer strokes kinda make me nervous. Also, I've never done it with a hydraulic cam, I've always ran solid flat tappet cams, this is my first hydraulic roller and ...

"so how would you build the 355?" Turn it into a 406. The first time a made the swap I found a full second and the mph to go with it. Of course, every time I build an engine I start thinking about the next one.

The cylinder head and it's chamber design can dictate compression ratio. I have a 9.6:1 350 with Vortec heads that almost never pings on regular fuel. The predecessor with different heads pinged terrible at 9.3:1 and required retarded timing. I have no idea how the 300 chamber works. It might be use...

I didn't see anything about usage. A description of the car etc, but is it a daily driver, or a weekend warrior? Are you looking for best HP or drivability.

Fortunately for me the question got answered before it transformed, albeit relative, into a discussion on quench. But all told some of it has been enlightening. When we finally finish this motor and get it in the car I will re-visit this discussion and talk about how things work out. The plan is The...

I have had guides go bad, and when I asked my machinist he asked whether I used a liquid or paste as an assembly lube. They warranty the engines they sell and stopped using anything non-liquid years ago. He believes the heavier materials don't allow the oil to get past the thicker material. I use Be...

With IVC @ 63° the DCR is 8.3:1, about 192 CCP gauge psi, volume/pressure index is 457 (input is CCP × reduced stroke length, etc.). Guessing ratio of heats @ 1.25... Retarding it to 67° gives DCR is 8.05:1, about 185 CCP gauge psi, volume/pressure index is 420. Combustion pressure is down about 8%...

The engine won't get built while is play at the computer. It has been a good discussion.

For the discussion at hand it's a matter of how much is enough. The original question was about retarding the cam 4 degrees. It took 3 days and 2 pages to get an answer.

In regards to the dished piston discussion, there is a world of difference in the types. The Vortec piston has a nice 1/2" flat at the perimeter. I'ts predecessor had a big chamfer to reduce crevice volume for emissions. The Vortec piston will tolerate much more timing without issue, and the chamfer...

Debate all you want, I told you what to do. It'll work. I've done it 50 times since the mid 90's. But listen to guys with "opinions ". Good luck, hope it works out for you. 👍. Quench works the opposite of what everyone on here thinks. Making it "tighter" isn't better or more "efficient" because it ...

We will likely spring for the gaskets, The valve timing can be tried if needed. Thanks for all of the replies, Rick.

Would you do it? We have a 2 piece timing cover and can retard it later if necessary.

Retarding the cam 4 degrees from 64 to 68 will reduce your cranking compression about 8.5 psi. Stan Is that enough to make it less sensitive to pinging? I'd run a .051thick gasket. That will work better, I promise. It actually works the opposite of what most believe. What elevation are you at in Or...