Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

I had a customer call just last week who uses their small block Ford blocks, both iron and aluminum. Twin turbo builds. In the big picture of things (price, availability, overall quality, etc) he prefers today's Speedmaster blocks over than the stateside offerings. Incidentally, if a custom build is...

resurrectionjoe wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:16 am I'm coming up with .351

I'm getting about the same at around 0.347", Olds 425 rod (same big-end as the 455 rod).

How is it with 23° sbc cylinder head using stud mounted rocker arms with increased valve length +.100” or even +.200” longer. Like in my case ...these heads currently have std length sbc valves 4.911” and to run better, more durable valve springs for more modern. Higher lift solid roller camshaft w...

The location of the alleged crack makes for an incredibly simple stitch repair, and could even be corrected with Irontites if you wanted. Given all the technological advancements we have today compared to decades ago, the welding of cast iron should be considered a "Plan B" to stitching, a...

If the lift reading is being taken by a dial indicator at the top/OD of the retainer, and the retainer deflects ("cups") upward -0.020" during peak valve lift because of the increased spring load, then the dial indicator's peak lift reading might be reduced 0.020", yes, but won't...

Just looking to get my 2 BBC marine engines running after sitting for a while. Blown 454 marine crate engines from early 1990s. Forged with 088 heads, and 3/8" exh valves. Apparently, Mercruiser added inconel valves to their 365 7.4L Mag engines. Essentially my BBC Crates are the same...even t...

I am looking for the distance from the trunnion centerline to the roller tip centerline on Ford big block stud mount aftermarket roller rockers. 1.73 ratio....I have been using 1.7 bbc but the geometry and pattern was bad. I have since had the shortest valves I can use made and with different lengt...

Yes, the purple Howards that I've seen are private-labeled Scorps. I'm privy to some destructive testing (under ANSI guidelines) performed on a very wide array aluminum rocker arm bodies, including scorps. The scorps came out lowest in the field in that destructive testing. There's a reason scorp bo...

I originally didn't want to detract from the OP's specific inquiry but since the rocker arms are popping up in here: we do have Z304/N351 applicable rocker arms as well, from Miller Engineering, available in 1.6 and 1.7 ratios. Note the 0.150" offset pushrod cup on the intake (ice-green) rocker...

...There are 4.3" and 4.5" cranks available. I seem to remember the 4.5 stroke was not considered the best because it pulled the piston out of the bore. Anyone here have any input? It will be a stock block. thanks for the help. I don't know a lot about these engines. Many moons ago, while...

Does anyone have a number for the Castillos? The number I called [(714) 523-0321] says the number has been changed and the new number is unknown. Not a good sign. Mike Norman Joe Castillo's shop is open for business and doing fine. I've personally done business with him for twenty years in the same...

jsgarage wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 10:14 pm Can't remember now-its been quite a while. The Ford GT-90 cocept car had a V-16 with two V-8 blocks welded together but the details of the build escape me.

They electron-beam welded two V6s so as to create a V12 engine block; the engine used a single crankshaft.

Okay, now I'm hearing about these "high nickel blocks”..:::Whatta ya guys know about that? It’s a fallacy. Nickel isn’t even part of the cast iron alloy recipes. One might find nickel only as a tramp alloy but not as a trace alloy. Not that I’ve ever come across so much as a trace of any Ni wh...

...Paul this engine is going into a jetboat hoping to turn an A stainless 5000+ in the afternoon heat . I was looking at the uem merc piston 3191 and thinking cutting a shallow d dish instead of the deeper oblong like 3109 has . The 3109 looks to be available in a reg cast , is the 3191 hyper only ...

Looking for any experiences anybody's seen lately with quality of the cheaper speed pro or silvolites . Are silvolite still USA and SP all made in India now ? That may make my decision right there . I will be decking block to optimize quench and will adjust dish volume for a 9-1 max with whatever I...