Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

while the cam is swapped out, check ring drag with torque wrench on crank. getting to 11lb. helped mine. some are a lot lower, but with vac-u-pan setups. higher spring press. needs 3/8 pushrods, 4-4 1/2 qts. in the oil pan helps. Be sure you are getting max. legal valve lift.

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

When i assembled it, it took 14lb to break it loose, with rope seal... considering that i dont have a real high dollar ring package, thats probably pretty good... it has surely loosened up some, with 91 passes on it.
I think i will see a major gain, in cam swap, and loosening converter, also goin to a lightened 350 turbo. Gonna try to have all this done by mid season, or before. I run 5 qts oil...little too scared to run any less... I blow this one up, im done...hehe I hope to gain some HP in headwork , next winter...Just doin the cam/trans/converter this year...and running the crap out of it...:D

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

This mention of oil reminded me of the HPP mag article about Scott Burton's B/SA RA4 Bird. He said that he runs 0-10W oil. I didn't even know they made oil that thin. He claims that the thin oil and a crank scraper, instead of a windage tray, is good for as much as a tenth.

I was wondering if most class racers are using restricted pushrods to keep too much oil from accumulating in the top end. Back in the old days, we just put pipe cleaners in the pushrods and went racing. :D I reckin if you can get just the right combo of oil thickness and pushrod hole size, you can get enuff oil to the top, but also keep more in the pan, so that you could actually get by with a bit less oil. But hey, I'm no expert. It just sounds reasonable. :)

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/...tiac-firebird/

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Ok.... I have way too much cash under my hood to try to squeeze a bit of ET out of...oil... I'll leave this to others. Frankly, I'd rather load up than blow up.

Dale

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Yeah, I always ran 50W Valvoline and 70-80psi pressure in my 455 bracket engines--never lost one.

But Scott seems to be doing OK with his thin oil. He's won some big races and has qualified well at most of the events he's entered. :)

http://www.knfilters.com/News/print.aspx?id=3432

http://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=53555

http://www.nhra.com/story/2014/10/1/...ortsnationals/

He went .977 under at Indy.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...r2014#indextop

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

There is a time and place for running thin oil. I tend to run 30W Brad Penn oil for most runs. When I was at Indy this I went to the thin oil to get in to the show. The thinner oil and less of it is worth power. If you get a heads up or trying to make a show this is when you will try it. If you are a competitive racer, you will take chances at times. For me Indy was an awful long ride home not to to pull out all the stops

When you make all of your runs in the same day, running 50W is ok. To heavy if you ask me, If your trying to dial day to day, it is hard to keep the oil temp consistent. Everybody has their limits.

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

There has to be some validity to the thinner oil weights overall. Nascar engine builders put way more time and effort into research and actual use of products as well as methods than most ever will. I believe in real world results and won't discount anything without concrete evidence contrary.

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Rich,
When you have some time to read, give this a look see. It completely changed my thinking on the subject.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

But given your progress on that Mustang I doubt you have ANY reading time. Nice work.

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

I'm new to the site, so there are a LOT of things I don't understand about it yet. So if this seems to be another dummy question, ya'll will just have to forgive me, OK ?

I understand that there are far more Chevy racers than probably all others combined. But I just noticed that the BB Camaro build, with only 20 posts and just over 4,000 views has got a 5 star rating. But this thread, which has over 200 posts and nearly 46,000 views, don't even have a 1 star rating. :(

Is it because the car is a Pontiac, instead of a Chevy ? Or maybe because it's a budget build ? I think this is a GREAT thread and definitely deserves 5 stars, if any do.

Hey, ya'll, don't hate me cause I love Pontiacs, OK ? :D