Reply to "Engine build recommendations"

Garth,

Thanks for the thoughts. I want an idle that produces power. My intent is not to rattle the windows of every car within 500'.

I'm not sure about the Powerheads either, which is why I posted here to see what others thought. There really are no posts addressing the issue, but they are spoken highly of in the George Reid book "Ford 351 Cleveland Engines".

Stat wise, the powerheads flow just a little less than the CHI 4V, but cost $1000 less. In general I am a number cruncher when it comes to money. "Whats the bang for the buck" is always on my mind. If I get 15 more horsepower for $1000 is that worth it? In my book, probably not. The Hypereutectic pistons are another of those items. Does it make sense to spend double the price on forged pistons for a street car?

The flip side of that coin is that I want to build an engine once and build it right. No sense doing this job again in 6 months because I used cheap parts.

My engine builder really wants to be a part of the camshaft selection, thus my hesitance to have a specific recommendation. I am still unsure if a hydraulic roller is the way to go. Longevity and slightly increased efficiency tipped to scales toward that choice, but it seems like most people are using flat tappet cams. There must be a reason.

Jim