Martin,
Thanks for your reply about the engine. I hope you get your replica
done soon. You will love driving it. I believe my car to be an
original chassis but there are many cars that I race against that are
pretty much new top to bottom. New or old they are just as much fun
to drive.
I guess some more information on my engine is appropriate. 7500-8000
rpm was about right for the original engines with stock cranks and
rods. My engine like most of the "stock" twincams in the USA has a
billet crank, Carillo rods and racing pistons. According to the
engine builder it is quite capable of going to 9000 rpm. As for the
power band, it is just getting going at 7500 and I have to be careful
that I don't fall out of the lower end of the power band shifting up
too soon. The engine loves to rev. I was passing a V8 once and let
it go, shifting about 8700, and it was very happy and was really in
the meat of the power band in the next gear. I shift at 7500 as a
means of getting the engine to last a bit longer. I have been told
that high revs are what wear them out quickest. My engine builder
also says that the thing that wears out first are the rings but with
the compression/leak down I have, I would think that things are pretty
much ok in that regard. The engine puts out about 185 hp. I might
loose a little response and a few hp by not freshening it up but
stretching it another year will help the budget.
Put some pictures of your car on the site so we all can see it.
I will try to get some pictures of my oil tank for you.
Don Stark
