Perry's Drag Race MGB is getting a SBC engine now !

[burner1]

That is neat, but probably a little more advanced then I want to go on a 1990 Nascar. It won't be a 100% erra but mostly so.

[MGBV8]

What paint scheme?

[burner1]

This one:

[MGBV8]

Great choice, the Iron Man. He used to destroy Late Model Sportsman right here in Kingsport, TN back in the early 70s. One of the best short track racers ever, if not the best. His home is only about an hour & 15 minutes from here over in Asheville, NC.

Of course, if I were doing what you are, Gary, I would have to back up 3-4 years to honor one of the most wide open, hardest charging drivers.

[burner1]

only problem is this is one of Jack's cars that he raced which is also a Banjo Mathews Chasis.

[burner1]

BTW this will be a full ground up build. I took the body panels off, and it is at the sand blasters right now:

[MGBV8]

How did you wind up with one of Jack Ingram's cars?

[burner1]

Auborn Auction

[perrymgbv8]

The new SBC engine for the MGB has now taken a turn in the overall plan for the build ??

I have just ordered a new Dart SHP engine block for the build. There were several factors that lead me to this decision. But I think this is the next best course of action for me now. My old 4 bolt block was overbored to +60 thou and I'm not happy that this old block will stand up to the abuse I intend to give it ? Eventually it will be supercharged, but until I can afford a new blower it will have to put up with a lot of Nitrous abuse.

I took some time to look at the list of parts I have collected in the last 18 months and saw that everything was brand new apart from 50 year old engine block. The carbs will be the only things that are not brand new for this build now. And if I can find some money in the next 6 months they may also get replaced with new tuned and matched items? The new Dart block can be bored to give me a nice 430ci motor while still having bore walls 1/4" thick?

The MGB has been off track for 17 months now so I guess another 4-6 months isnt going to kill me eh ?
I just want this to be my last engine build, but also my first ever NEW engine build

When the new block arrives I will make a final decision on the crank + rods + pistons so i can finish the buuld.  When the new block arrives in 2 weeks i will also need to have it fitted with cam bearings as well as making a decision on the final bore size and deck height.

I'm hoping that by mid to late April I can start bolting stuff together

Regrds to all

Perry

[mgb260]

Perry, Thanks for keeping us updated! I'm curious as to how the Speedway mounts will work out in the MGB.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Wondering what displacement/bore/stroke you are thinking towards? Redline? Lots of potential there.

Jim

[burner1]

That stuff takes time. I am trying to source all the parts for mine. Spent a lot of time measuring and researching.

[perrymgbv8]

Hi Jim!
I'm going for a tame 383 build on this new engine.
The new block is capable of running much more CI but I dont think i will need it?

[BlownMGB-V8]

Carl thinks using the 400 block with the 350 crank would be a better drag engine, (room for bigger valves and lower piston speed.)

Jim

[MGBV8]

AND, the shorter stroke. We already have traction issues (maybe not Perry), so I tend to prefer short stroke, free revving engines that move the power farther up the range.  I can't use 300 lb-ft of torque at 1000rpm.

Well, now that Perry has purchased an aftermarket block, he can build anything he wants all the way up to a 440 cubic inch small block!


The 377 vs 383 dilemma.

377
Pros: Large bore, short stroke engines are always slightly better at making top end power. A typical NASCAR engine is based on the same design although they don't use production engines.
Cons: Finding a 400 block. Main bearing spacers for the crank are not cheap.

383:
Pros: Available from just about everyone. Aftermarket stroker cranks are cheap so you don't need to find an old 400 cast crank. Plenty of kits available to make it in a 1 or 2 piece rear main block. Makes more torque than a 350.
Cons: If you're going to use a crank out of a 400 to make a 383, just build the 400.

[DiDueColpi]

Totally agree with you Carl.
 My old Volvo ran a 377 sbc. Pulled off an 11.82 @ 127mph and drove it to work every day for years.
These days no need for spacers or line honed 400 bearing sets. Scat and a few others make a 3.50" stroke crank in the 400 main journal size.
Makes a very nice engine. Really  free reving, great breathing and for us traction challenged individuals, a bit of a torque break down low.
And like you said Carl if you're going to use a 400 crank, build a 400 and enjoy the extra cubes and bore size.

Live like you mean it
Fred

[perrymgbv8]

The block will be ready next tuesday as will the new rotating assembly.

Exciting times ahead guys !!

I'm still slowly saving and buying parts though. This weeks purchases were an MSD 6.25inch trigger wheel kit for the Digital 7 controller. I did scout around and even found a European supplier of MSD stuff but they were out of stock of the kit @ $389.00. This seemed to be the general price when i searched suppliers on Sunday. Then i tried the MSD website and it was on sale reduced to $291.00 so I ordered it via Ebays Global shipping programme. Postage and duty came in at around $115.00 so $406 or $280.00 ish?

And I swapped a set of new Comp Cams solid roller lifters (which are no good to me as I need 300thou taller ones for the Dart) + a little metal fabrication for a brand new in box 6.25inch crank damper. Its SFI spec and made by Fluidampr. They are around $315 in the USA but by the time its landed here in the UK with all duty paid it cost £336 delivered / $490.00 ish. This is less than the lifters cost me

The rule of thumb here in the UK is "whatever the $ price is will convert to £ or a little more once you have it in your hands" And that rule of thumb does seem pretty accurate

Thats just over £600 / $900 ish for those two small items?

I really must make a list of these prices so I can reply to those UK racers who have often slated my old Rover V8 and said the usual words of  "Mate, you need to scrap that Rover and buy yourself a 350 small block, they are cheap as chips and will give you much more power" Yada Yada.. !

Obviously these guys have never actually built a 350 race engine. I think most of these guys have old cutout engines that they have freshened up for their street cruisers ?

With regards to the 300 thou taller comp cams lifters I just went to my UK supplier and the price is £546.00 or approx $792.00  ?? I will now start shopping in the USA to see if I can get a better deal.

The build is taking its time and I'm in no hurry now as I have decided to put the roll out back to May 2017 as there is so much to do besides building the new engine.

But I am pretty sure that when the car does roll out it will be very close to the mid 9's just on the carbs. Then I can start adding nitrous. OR! by the time its ready I may be able to afford a blower?

I have been off track in my car since Sept 2014 so another year wont hurt eh?

I have taken tomorrow (Saturday) off work to crew for a mate with his big block Ford Capri. Its run down to mid 8's on the carb only. Tomorrow we will be setting up the nitrous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIGrTsVIVKs

[BlownMGB-V8]

Perry, you are just having altogether too much fun.

Jim

[perrymgbv8]

Jim said!
"Perry, you are just having altogether too much fun"

Thats the real truth Jim

Sadly I forgot my camera BUT!! The Capri rolled out for its 2016 Debut and the first pass was an 8.0 PB...
Then we backed up that 8.0 PB with a 7.7 second pass just to show off

The data logs showed the rear suspension loading up steadily from launch and not slipping back. The data log also showed engine rpm vs axle rpm to be very stable indicating no wheelspin.
The track was good and the car was pretty much dead hooking the slicks. The wheelie bars didnt have to work very hard either.

The downside is that we spent a good deal of time installing and testing the new Nitrous system which we didnt use. The chassis is only tagged to 7.5 and its run close to that on the carb only. So the Nitrous system may only come into play on bad days when we may need a little push around the 1000 foot mark?

Sorry for the low res vid

This may or maynot work


https://www.facebook.com/cjaques1/videos/10154848097363135/

[perrymgbv8]

UPDATE!!

I should be able to buy my new lifters next week

Not sure if I mentioned this before but, I have decided to have the engine bedded in and then tuned on an engine dyno. I found a tuner who was recommended by both my engine guys and he has a good reputation. I have spoken to him about how build he wants the engine. He said to "build the engine from oil pan to carbs, fit a water pump if you want to"  Thats it !!  He said I could fit my dissy and trigger wheel and he will hook it up to his MSD on the dyno. He has headers that will fit my Brodix heads. He said he would mount the engine and check it over. Then do a bedding in session. He will do oil and filter change and then get to tuning. He said its a days work and will cost £400 + fuel and oil etc + tax  I will set the carbs up as best I can based on an estimate of the engines expected VE etc and he will re jet as required during the day!!

That will save me days of track testing and reading data logs etc while taking it easy.  I think this will be well worth the effort and cost

I look forward to dropping and engine in thats already tuned to the max !!

I'm off work this weekend so I will try to get some pictures of thr block so far.

Regards to all
Perry

[perrymgbv8]

Update !

Not much to tell so far guys. I'm off on holiday for 2 weeks in 12 hours time. A Friend of mine is going to assemble my engine while I'm away. So I'm hoping to come back to find that the block and heads are all together with everything bar the push rods?

So i can get busy when i get back to get the warter pump and oil pan fitted ready for the engine dyno next month?

Regards
Perry

[perrymgbv8]

I got back from my holiday on 15th August and went back to work. After just 4 days it seemed like my 2 weeks in the Sun never happened ??

BUT!!
I have been to Mikes workshop and my new Dart SHP based engine is almost built
I'm still working weekends again but all mike needs to do now is fit check springs so the piston to valve clearance can be checked. Next job is to fit the Tunnel Ram manifold and port match the manifold to the heads. Then I need to sort out the carb linkage for the twin side saddle Holley 600dp carbs. I have already fitted the linkage but its very stiff when opening the secondary throttle flaps and one of the carbs has a binding of the secondary flaps on the manifold for some reason?  Sadly I didnt have my camera with me ;(
I did get an email from Mike while I was in the Canary Islands to say that there was a clearance issue with the polished ally timing cover and my cam gear. I'm not using a chain on this build, I'm using a 4 sprocket dog drive gear set. He said that a stock steel timing cover would be best as it would be a direct fit. I emailed him back to say "just buy a stock timing cover and fit it"  His reply was... "I thought you would say that, so I bought one and fitted it already"

So far everything seems to be coming together ok with the new engine build. I just need to sort out this "Work / Life" balance thing. As I am working weekends so I can pay my friend to do my hobby for me?

[mgb260]

Perry, Thanks for the update! Are you running open spacers under the carbs.  If you are, the throttle blades are binding in the carb base plate bores.  Do they have annular boosters (better atomization, more like TBI)? Round rings above the throttle bores with small holes.

[perrymgbv8]

Hi Jim!
As yet the carbs (two 600 holley double pumpers) are sitting straight on the manifold with no spacers.
My  next job is to strip the cabs and give them a good going over. Then square jet them when i have figured out my best jetting size for the engine. I have a good selection of jets for a single carb but I will have to buy more jets. And we get stung for these over here as the jets are about $12 each. I'm hoping to go and look my engine over in the next few days to take some pics. The induction system may of course change between now and next May when i want to run the car. If i can save enough pennies I would like to fit a blower with a single or twin carbs on top. There is even a rumour that a twin turbo kit may be in the pipeline which I would love. But I fear that may set the build back another year. And I cant bear the thought of anymore time off track. The car has been dead in the water since Sept 2014 now. Thats will be 2 years next month !!

I'm fed up of being the wall flower at the track as all I can do is be pit bitch for the boys !!

[perrymgbv8]

OK Guys!!

I wish i had a silk sheet to haul off this picture??

This is where we are at now with the new SBC / DART SHP build.