V8 Race Engines

[Graham]

If you were getting a race engine built ( not massive power only looking for about 260 but want reliability)

who would you look at

the usual suspects are

v8 developments
rpi
John eales

anyone else worth a punt ?

G

[schueymcfee]

Don't know about any one else or the other two on the list but V8 Developments were fantastic to me.

Engine out, stage 3 big valve heads on, Air intake modified, new clutch, recommended upgraded cams too but I couldn't quite stretch to that and they had no problem with it, always gave me a choice of which extras to buy and went into detail with the differences and what effects they'd have, never pushy.

Did all this in a week as promised and car was a flyer.

That reminds me to take it back to get head bolts torqued up again as requested!

[Boosted Ls1]

Go for Ray & Rob at V8D!

[shpub]

John Eales is the man without doubt. When I looked at engine suppliers etc for the 520, he was the name that just kept cropping up. Not the cheapest but the best rarely is. Service and support has been excellent. No regrets what so ever. Just be careful as he does have a lot of very tempting go faster bits...

[agent006]

Judd
Nicholson McLaren
Pride

seem to be the regulars on the hillclimb scene.

[Graham]

shpub said:

Just be careful as he does have a lot of very tempting go faster bits...

as im limited by power to weight thats not really a problem as im limited by that to about 250/260bhp, even with that i might need to add a little weight.

interestingly John E recommended a 600 holly double pumper when everyone else is saying avoid holly...

the basic spec im after in 4.6 x bolted balanced stageiii heads running carb and disy and dry sump.


edited to say and for a complete turn key engine no more expensive than the others..
( everything of course realtive and i could buy a new rover for that money)



>> Edited by Graham on Wednesday 20th October 21:05

[GreenV8S]

Since you're power limited I would have thought your best bet was to go for as much mid range torque as possible and then clip the top off the power curve by tuning, the aim being to get your maximum allowed bhp over as broad a power band as possible. This would suggest as much capacity as you can get, and a mild cam.

[Boosted Ls1]

Holleys are good, nice and simple as well. Sure efi may give maximum power but you can tweak a d/p on your driveway with a screwdriver

[Graham]

Boosted Ls1 said:

Holleys are good, nice and simple as well. Sure efi may give maximum power but you can tweak a d/p on your driveway with a screwdriver

im going to go carbs to make the conversion simpler at the moment. the debate was over holly or weber 4 barrel.

[apache]

Graham said:

Boosted Ls1 said: Holleys are good, nice and simple as well. Sure efi may give maximum power but you can tweak a d/p on your driveway with a screwdriver im going to go carbs to make the conversion simpler at the moment. the debate was over holly or weber 4 barrel.

I use an Edelbrock/Weber 4 barrel 1604 and it runs just fine

>> Edited by Apache on Thursday 21st October 00:12

[Terminator]

I've currently got a Holley 2-barrel 500 on my 3000S but the Chevy in my Tuscan Challenge car is running a Barry Grant/Speed Demon 650, as that was the recomendation in some US Chevy forums.

The 289 in my Tuscan V8 had a Holley double-pumper 650 which was great, once I'd unjammed the secondaries!

[Boosted Ls1]

Terminator said:

The 289 in my Tuscan V8 had a Holley double-pumper 650 which was great, once I'd unjammed the secondaries!

You should put your foot down more often then they won't jam! he he

[v8 racing]

I am curious on this why are you limited to 260 bhp and not ft/lbs? the holley works well but imho the webber fourbarrel is much better as it runs a needle through a jet along the whole rpm range as opposed to just 4 jets in the holley which can cause flat spots if not set correctly

[Graham]

The class limit is 220 bhp per ton measured at the wheels using a dl1 data logger.

the logger reads in bhp so i suppose thats the reason...

depending on final all up weight inc driver and the size of caliper i fit i may have to balast the car to reash the right limit..

[roop]

I agree with Steve H. John Eales is the master of all when it comes to big reliable power from the RV8. From what I hear, he's a thoroughly nice bloke as well.

Nicholson McLaren built the Cosworth DFV in the old man's F1 car. Guess they must be pretty good...!