Unorthodox 8ba
 

I talked to an old racer once about building flow restricted engines. His philosophy was to maximize pumping action of the engine to draw as much as possible through the restriction.


In that vein, getting the piston to dwell at the bottom and maximizing bore/stroke would seem to help.


From the outside it looks like someone could install large sleeves in a flathead block and run as much as a 3.75" bore or so. This requires moving some head bolts and water passages. They were doing things like this quite a while back as I'm sure some of you already know.
http://351c.net/wiki/Magazine%20Arti...zingblocks.pdf


I'm coming from the position of 1/4 mile performance.


What do we run into stroke wise? Camshaft clearance?

Re: Unorthodox 8ba
 

Anything is possible with a saw and a welder. You could cut the block completely apart and rearrange the pieces so you could have a big bore and monster ports and valves and it would legally qualify for sanctioned vintage racing, BUT, you would have no competition and would be racing by yourself.
Not to mention, you would be living at poverty level after paying for that engine.

Re: Unorthodox 8ba
 

A certain high financed team had an idea to gut a flathead block completely out. Then place an LS block inside to compete in the vintage engine classes. That was immediately shoot down by the power in charge. Reason I mention this has to do with what Pete wrote there would be no competition and the cost would cause poverty quickly.

Re: Unorthodox 8ba
 

Yup, that was thought of also but technically, that would qualify as an LS block.
To go the weld up route, you have to use all original OEM material.