Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

Been off and on watching this post. The "dog" 302 Z-28 in off the dealer showroom floor trim and tune was somewhat gutless, biggest problem was the cam. Once you changed to the "optional Z-28 off road" 140 cam and orange valve springs, good tubing headers, 4:88 rear gear and, the...

What compression ratio are you at and where do you want to go! The stock steel shim stuff was fine on factory 11:1 engines and more forever assuming well machined surfaces. The other alternative of course is milling the heads to increase compression ratio and using the presumed newer technology head...

3 mph slower but 200 more rpm through traps? Car bogging slightly on launch? IMO two issues, convertor slippage and fuel control( jet extensions in rear bowl?)

Kenyonizing worked 50 years ago. Curious if thats legal.

That is not a bad looking pan, with the trap doors and a good windage screen design. I did the additional rear drain back also after blocking off the valley drain slots. I did add some shorter breather piping with same idea as your stacks so I could utilize the GM snap in lifter gallery heat shield....

Poking around and just saw this post. Mike suggested the Isky springs, you have a couple inners broken, check for leak and change springs. Don't get lost in lots of other stuff until you do that and let us know what you find. Chancing a brutal mechanical disaster is a lot more potential money and ti...

I'll bite. Is the budget number a misprint? I ask that because $6000 might get you a rotating assembly that would barely support that h.p. in a reliable fashion.

I have a SBC intake made for the 4150 but I need to run a 4500, I have the 2" funnel adapter but I'd like to have a little more hood clearance so I'm wondering if a 1/2" or 3/4" flange plate welded to the top of the intake would work as well as the adapter. Which method would give th...

50 years ago when I worked for a Chevy TransAm team as "engine monkey" Al Bartz supplied our best engines. When I freshened them the Venolia pistons had 12- .125" holes drilled just below the oil ring groove, 6 per thrust side at 45 degree angle. Of course oil ring tension was lower t...

Of course too little end clearance can lead to problems with heat expansion etc. But too much end clearance can be an issue also when the pin acts as a battering ram due to rod and piston pin bore alignment irregularities. I've never had a failure in this area but everyone on this forum has certainl...

You need to give more detail on the heads. If I had to put on a blindfold and make a guess I would suspect the heads are way underperforming to what the camshaft needs. Maybe this will get the ball rolling for you.

With your initial plan seems very close to the 340 hp 62-63 vette engines of that era. With 2.02 and 1.6 valves your near the 365 hp engine but down slightly in compression ratio. Totally agree that a mild flat tappet, similar to the 30-30 but less duration will surprise you but be very reliable.

Non catalyzing machinist grout. Cheap and easy.

Sounds like plugged or restricted exhaust system. Should be easy enough to drop exhaust and check it then.

Curious. For many years I have prestressed new valve springs then rechecked and then installed. Is that anything you find worthwhile?