I have a question about a SBC race engine I am considering using. It is a 'Back in the Day' block 1958-1962 283 , heavily modified for racing, It has 4 bolt mains caps, coolant passages blocked at the decks, and lots of excellent machining. The pistons are high dome with valve reliefs, gas porting, full floating pins with dual circlips. The rods are aluminum, thick as bridge girders, with serrated caps and 7/16" special bolts. The REAL interesting thing is the crankshaft. The stroke is only 2.905", was made by Hank the Crank for Albert Clark, a renowned Pro Stock/Modified racer from Indiana back then. The crank has knife edges and is very professional looking. The info is scribed on it. With the bore at 3.905", this adds up to 278 cubic inches. My question is... why would anyone spend a lot of time and effort to build such a small displacement engine? I can only think that it would be to fit a class, but no classes come to mind. I am considering this for a gasser project, but, feel that it would not have the torque required to lift the wheels, etc. It sure would scream though!!!! Please post some thoughts, I value other opinions, Thanks, Dale @ Timebenders Vintage Garage
This brings back memories, in early 90's a friend of mine acquired a 331 similar to said engine in your thread. The first thing I pointed out to him , as we prefirmed an auto autopsy on it was the valve's were making faint impressions In the valve relief "cutout area" of the domes. As we dismantled It, sadly busting his bubble all the way. The old aluminum Venolia rods were obviously "stretched" & must've had way more than 100 passes on them. Ring lands pounded slightly tight , a few bent valves, etc. , sad because it was once top notch stuff. Being used aluminum rods I'd give them rods a good go over & feel better hanging them on the wall & getting some new ones. Like the old game show weakest link, the stretch factor always made me worry about it grenading. Hope it turns out well though, it sounds like a cool potential score. As previously mentioned It does sound like a factored class engine, the fun to watch NHRA style that'd wheelie like crazy & run Sub 12 seconds in the 1/4 & make folks scratch their head in amazement from the tiny cubes. Flux.
That engine would be a screamer, maybe 9000 RPM? Fun as hell to run. Wondering if it would fit into a dry lakes/Bonneville class and be a good "app". for someone in land speed? Is Albert Clark still around? He may have some interesting details to add...
I had a similar 277 SB around 1979 that I bought from a local racer who had it built by Jim Minnick for D/MP class. I ran it in a 67 Camaro w/4 speed and 6.17 rear gears. 9000 rpm's were no problem. It was one the most fun cars I ever drove.
If you have deep pockets then the cost of "winning" is moot. As far as lifting the wheels goes, anything beyond unloading the front suspension is costing you time.
Its all about posing and not about winning at all with modern gassers. Any car should stand up and cut a straight line if you are serious about racing. it is not at all about the show in the staging lanes and all about getting to the big end the fastest. Well if you are serious about racing and not about the show. Hdruka ( Mr Gasket) had a rare steel Anglia Sedan delivery that he ran a destroked 283 in. He was a fierce competitor and it was a winning combo. I don't know what I his final displacement was but it put him in whatever class he ran and it ran well. destroked engines have been used as long as stroked engines have been around. it is usually all about high revs and making it to the big end first. deep gears are a must and as many forward close ratio gears as are possible. Short stroke engines got used road racing a lot as well. Oh I failed to mention that engine would not do well in a heavy car like a '55 Chevy but would be a total blast to drive in a light car like say a stripped down model A or a T, or maybe a lightened to the max Anglia.
Well all those are pretty heavy cars stock. We acid dipped the '73 in about '75 but I am not sure how long that practice stayed with racers.
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