289 HiPo Race Engine for a Griffith 200 - Advise on build

Hi all,

this is my first post.

just read http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/ford/0611em_ford_302_engine_build_up/index.html

Must admit that for the spec spent on it I was a tad sceptical of the dyno numbers (pretty much the same as my 04 LS6 when installed in my TVR - Yep Mental).

So applying the same logic but going even further to a full race spec ford small block should make some impressive numbers.  

I have a Griffith200 (very rare car) that had a HiPo 289 in it out of the factory.



We want to used the 289 as the basis of a race motor.

We do not want to go 302 with its 4 bolt mains (well it would be nice) but someday we might want to convert the engine to full fia race spec, where the bottom end (and the heads must be the period stuff).

So we will be using the HiPo block bored to 030thou with the big main caps.

We will go away from the std HiPo Iron heads as not intending to do fia events (at least for the forseeable future).

So for weight and for the amount of development in the later alloy after market heads we will use these.

So - if you would like to help me out with any of the below points this is my initial thoughts on the various parts of the engine we are thinking of using - please feel free to chip in with alternatives.

We want a strong full race engine that can very occasionally be taken for blast on the road, and that will not need rebuilding every few thousand miles.

We intend to use a rev limit of about 7000rpm but want it safe to 7500, with typical change point being about 6600 - 6700rpm.

1. Bottom End - 289 HiPo with the Big main caps and girdled so we can rev it safely if ever require to mid 7's. Sthinking the revs we plan on using a Forged new 289 crank should be fine (don't think a Billet will be required - not seeing high 7's or 8k+).

2. Solid lifters /Solid Roller Followers  and Roller rockers - think most likely 1.6:1 ratio.

3. Cam full race - any names Comp, Iskenderian?

4. Compression about 11.3 (we run on 99 octane fuel) - use this CR in 2 TR race engine we have and these give great power/cu in.

5. Heads - here AFR are really good of the new alloy ones chamber size presumably will be determined by CR and whether valves go into pocketted topped pistons?
http://www.airflowresearch.com/sbf.php very expensive vs the TFS Twisted Wedge heads. Is there really that much difference? Maybe it is the CNC ported one that are expensive from both - have to look at this in more detail.

6. Pistons - forged not sure on pocketted (what ever is required with the head / valve and piston to make the right CR we want.

7. Rods - Carrillo or similar (Crower / Rousch).

8. Induction he have a new Victor Jr High Rise and large riser plate - will be using this.

9. Going to use Shelby Holley 715 carb, rare & rebuilt as new new.

10. has to be wet sump so go with on of the Cobra style sumps with flapper baffles and what ever the best oil pump we can find.

11. Not sure on whether to run a electric or conventional water pump? http://www.csr-performance.com/

12. Will have a one off full equal length custom SS exhaust built for the car, with the largest primaries that a work head can run (what ever size that is).

We'd be well chuffed with an engine of this spec being able to make 420bhp. You can see why I think that 302 with nothing radical applied to it an making 396bhp make me have doubts about it BTW.

What do you think?

Car hopefully will end up like this one, approx 420bhp and ~2000lbs!!:-



 

If you're keeping it at a 289, and you're only revving it to 7,000 rpm, a good set of heads like those you mention are kind of overkill. Both have the potential to breathe much better than the 420 hp you've got planned. If you build it for 7,500 - 8,000 rpm, but otherwise just like you planned, you'll get 500hp easily.