[Vettezuki]

Originally Posted by 94cobra69ss396

The cast pistons Shawn got me for the Explorer cc'd at -3. I'll have to check and see how far down the pistons in it now are, how big the combustion chambers are and how thick the current gaskets are so I can determine what the compression ratio is. We need it to be at least 9:1 and I'd say no more than 9.5:1 if we are going to be able to run it on 91 pump gas without it detonating at the track.

I need to check the rules on radiator. It's probably part of the base car so we can't do anything too fancy, but if not, it might make a lot of sense to get a quite good one. big2bird knows an old timer who makes them for any purpose at very reasonable prices.

[Shaolin Crane]

I dont think they were -3, those are direct replacement and should be -4 but i could be wrong. The silver engine came in at 5 in the hole, i'm sure it'll be the same or close on that engine.

Sure we can do a dome if you want to drop $400ish on pistons and buy new rods

[Vettezuki]

Originally Posted by Shaolin Crane

. . Sure we can do a dome if you want to drop $400ish on pistons and buy new rods

No. How much to deck the heads and raise the comp a tiny bit?

[94cobra69ss396]

You can pick up hyperuetectic dome pistons for under $300 from Summit that would give us around 9.25:1 with the 64cc heads.

Let me check the engine though to see where we're at first.

[Shaolin Crane]

So why not just buy the heads shawn already has ready to go, use additional (needed) parts from the snake. Done.

[Vettezuki]

Originally Posted by Shaolin Crane

So why not just buy the heads shawn already has ready to go, use additional (needed) parts from the snake. Done.

The point is to be as low cost as possible so if work arounds start to be as expensive as Shawn's heads, then it's dumb. BTW Shawn's heads are fully built aren't they (springs/rockers).

Though I'm a little unclear on one point.

Ron,
Is the compression issue (too low) still possible with Shawn's heads?

The object is to get something that functions correctly at the LOWEST possible price. We have a ways to go, forgetting the heads altogether, between tires, brakes, roll cage, fuel cell(?), brake pads, an easy $1k. Adam is out for kicking in money, I can put in a couple hundred more over the next few months, bits and pieces off the car might add up a couple hundred bucks. Get my point? There's a gap. We can wait a bit on tires and roll cage and if we don't do anything fancy with the engine, we'll be able to get it running and can work progressively from there, otherwise it runs the risk of sitting around waiting for money like the Snake, which is fine for that project, but I'm not going to let that happen for this one.

[Shaolin Crane]

Heads are done, springs, valves etc. Rockers and studs arent part of the heads, they're part of the valve train. We're looking at $115 minimum for new pistons, or $150 ish to have the heads diassembled and decked. Everything points to buying Shawns heads. Or running a single piece copper head gasket.

[Vettezuki]

Originally Posted by Shaolin Crane

Heads are done, springs, valves etc. Rockers and studs arent part of the heads, they're part of the valve train. We're looking at $115 minimum for new pistons, or $150 ish to have the heads diassembled and decked. Everything points to buying Shawns heads. Or running a single piece copper head gasket.

Do Shawn's heads solve the compression problem (smaller combustion chambers)?

[Shaolin Crane]

Yes, heads have been decked quite a bit, in the event they are not enough he will deck them again.

[Vettezuki]

Originally Posted by Shaolin Crane

Yes, heads have been decked quite a bit, in the event they are not enough he will deck them again.

Sounds like it will come down to what the comp will be with that block and pistons with the heads I have and a thin gasket. If 9-9.5 then we're at zero cost. But if it's much over $100 for pistons or whatever yo "make it work", then Shawn's heads start to make more sense again.