You guys are frickin hilarious.... thanks for helping make this thread the polar opposite of the tech-heavy and tuning-heavy thread of Todd's.
Dropped off some more parts today and solidified
most of the build plan today. The builder/shop is Mike Blackstone @ Watson Racing & Engineering in Concord, CA. An awesome facility to say the least. 26,000 sq ft full of top shelf parts and machines, yet is a small mom and pop type shop with only 3 employees including Ben Watson the owner. Pete is the general machinist. Not sure how they crank out so much killer stuff but they do. 10, 12, 15, and 18 degree heads on the shelf, blocks of all kinds, and they do Pro Stock, Stock Eliminator, circle track, road race motors... not much they don't do.
Mike has already spent a few hours with me schooling me on 18 degree stuff and engine building in general. He's a super nice guy and already treats me like I've already spent $20k with him before.
Mike is a big fan of Keith Dorton (as am I) and is a big proponent of the 394 SBC, so that's what we are going with after telling him what parts I already have and what my intentions are. Here's my parts list, most of which has been acquired over past couple months:
-PBM iron race block, 350 mains, 4.155 bore, .903 bushed lifter bores, splayed caps on all 5 mains, bore cam tunnel to BBC cam size of 50mm
-3.625 stroke crank (looking for one)
-6" rods (have a set - may use, may not)
-Dished piston to achieve no more than 11:1 (Mike will spec and order)
-GM Bowtie 18 degree heads (being checked and flowed by Mike soon to verify 373cfm flow sheet provided by seller
) (ebay)
-GM Bowtie 18 degree intake (ebay)
-Jesel shaft rockers 1.6/1.6 ratio (ebay)
-Morel/Roush Yates .903 roller lifters w/ .180 offset intake (ebay)
-Stainless 18 degree 1-3/4" stepped to 1-7/8" headers w/ merge collectors (they're a tad rough, but scored these on Craigslist in Nascar country for $350!)
-Holley 830HP (I bought awhile ago off Yellowbullet but not sure if will be used)
-Solid Roller spec'd by Mike
I am leaning toward dry sump, but Mike suggested and also likes a wet sump with an external oil pump for what I have and on a budget, so I need to look into that.
When it's all said and done we are shooting for near 700 hp at no more than 7000 rpm on 91 octane. Mike says the 18 degree heads are so damn efficient that they don't need the cubes the 23 degree stuff does, but they can be a little more tuning sensitive, another reason it will be dialed in correctly. And they like a lot less timing than a 23 degree I guess - like 32 degrees. I plan on him dyno tuning it in his shop after assembly. You get the dyno room for the whole day whether it takes 3 hours or 8 hrs to get her dialed in.
I gotta thank our resident good samaritan and butt of many jokes, Greg Weld. He offered to sponsor me for some stuff after I blew up at RTTC and I am greatly appreciative. He supports this niche a lot thru his time and money and spreads it around to help many people. Ok enough about that guy. Thanks G-Dub. I'll put your decal on my car now (see below).
Ok here's the pics so far. Hope I did not disappoint.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
Cheers to Dave for the great job keeping an eye on the gauges and doing some awesome driving.
We still had a great time and it was awesome to have all three of the Road Touring Custom cars in the shootout.
yet?? 
Hybrid Mode
