Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

Also, Mark is correct. There are a lot of good quality affordable forgings available for that application and power level. With the advent of all of the high end companies having a dedicated entry level sub brand, excellent forged pistons are more affordable now.

Looking for a rotating assy for a 400 SBC, not trying to make big HP but would like 500 or so HP. There is a ton of kits out there with the KB pistons, hypereutectic alum, I was thinking they used to have a lot of problems with these. I know you have to run more gap on the top rings, anyone have an...

If going with Comp, I'd recommend Tim Cole. I just talked to Tim at PRI and he's not at Comp anymore. Wasn't aware of that, been a while since we talked. Curious what Tim is doing now? Mostly enjoying retirement, I have seen him at the drag strip some. I think he's fooling with his AMC some, slowly...

If going with Comp, I'd recommend Tim Cole. I just talked to Tim at PRI and he's not at Comp anymore. Exactly. Tim Cole retired in December of 2018, Tim is a personal friend,and ran the racing department at Comp. He referred me to Dave McCarver, who I used in the past for circle track cams. Dave is...

I have only flat milled those, around 0.060", because we could find the ones that were 96cc nominal, once you added 2.190' intake valves, and put hard exhaust seats in, it took them down a bit, even if you opened the chamber slightly to unshroud the valves. You could get plenty of compression w...

Not sure what you're seeing is really related to atomization. Most applications for annular discharge venturis are to increase throttle response on applications where the carburetor size has a negative effect on throttle response at lower RPM. The annular discharge increases the signal, pulling more...

I have never had Keith or Kevin tell me to install rings dry, ever. I do use Kwik Seat. I usually use Dexron, although sparingly, I lube the rings and grooves lightly, place a drop or two on the skirts, and the cylinders are already wiped with a lint free cloth saturated with Dexron and wiped dry. I...

Jimmy Bridges, Bridges Performance, in Nashville TN, phone 615-228-3516. He has 60 years of experience. Tell him that I sent you.

If the pistons are shelf stock and you haven't scratched them, see if you can send them back, and just order a custom set, they won't be much higher. Also, send the block to a competent machine shop and have the decks corrected. And everything else checked.

We run tall ball joints to cut down on camber change, and bump steer kits. As a rule, we run 1/8" to 1/16" toe in, and as much positive caster as possible of course, not using longer bolts or studs, or stupid amounts of shim). We align with the car raised in front around 2"-3" fr...

We use the fast adjust type timing set with the six bolts on the cam gear exclusively, and extensively, where chain type sets are used on race engines. We've had zero problems and zero failures. The max open pressure we've used them with is around 600#. For hard core racing roller applications, we u...

You're not going to end up with an aluminum block. The same basic engine is going to be in trucks from the regular 1 ton up to Class 7. It's probably going to be compacted graphite cast iron. You might save 100# or so with aluminum. But you have to make it really strong to run constantly at WOT and ...

Had someone email me and ask me to clarify my points, and check out what was posted elsewhere. That Mark Smyth guy is a real piece of work. Just, wow. The 8.0 he speaks of is an old Mark IV/V/VI type engine, basically a 4.27"x4.25" Mark VI big block with old Mark IV style oval port heads, ...

Anything 8.0L with a cast iron block and aluminum heads is going to weigh about the same. Everyone, or damned near everyone, makes a 1 ton and bigger truck engine with a cast iron block for several very good reasons. Even the new "big LS" small block for the 3500 uses a cast iron block, ac...

I don't know anyone who has tried to put the 8.1 crank in the 7.4 block. I don't know why you would. It's not like it is a special piece, and once you get past 4.25" stroke, most move to a 10.2" deck height block. GM sold much of the tooling and equipment for all of the production big bloc...