I have been pondering options for getting some more grunt out of the motor in my '65 and find I have 2 directions I can go. The plan is to budget-build something with some added horsepower over what is currently in the car. I am not looking for big horsepower, just added power in the rpm range I would typically be in running around town (500 - 5000 RPM give or take). I am interested in thoughts from people with more experience then me with cost being a key driver (i.e. I am not interested in dropping $1500 on new heads, etc).
OPTION 1
I recently picked up a bunch of parts from a fellow forum member (thanks Dave) that would be a good head start on building something new. The parts included a 289 block already bored .30 over, crank, pistons and E5 heads that have been decked to 63cc combustion chambers with larger valves (190/160). I will use an Edelbrock intake, 1406 carb and Sanderson Shorty headers that I already have and will be buying new pistons, a cam, rocker arms, all of the other bolt on stuff needed to complete an engine build and some porting of the heads.
OPTION 2
The motor currently in the car is a D8 302. I recently put a new rear main seal in it and noticed the bearing in the rear main cap was showing some wear. Other than that, the engine runs well - compression test has all cylinders around 130 with the difference between the highest and lowest cylinder at 6%. At idle, oil pressure sits steady just above 25 lbs and 48-50 lbs when running down the road. This option is keeping this motor but adding the E5 heads from Option 1 and a hotter cam. The carb, intake and headers mentioned above are already on this motor and will remain. I believe the current motor is all stock internally with 68cc combustion chambers, so adding the E5 heads (after some porting work) would lower the compression and allow better flow due to the porting and bigger valves. Seems to me that, combined with a nice cam may be a pretty budget friendly way to achieve what I am looking to do.
Please let me know your thoughts on these options. Also, I would be interested to hear opinions on a good cam as well as pistons for Option 1
Thanks - Farrell
OPTION 1
I recently picked up a bunch of parts from a fellow forum member (thanks Dave) that would be a good head start on building something new. The parts included a 289 block already bored .30 over, crank, pistons and E5 heads that have been decked to 63cc combustion chambers with larger valves (190/160). I will use an Edelbrock intake, 1406 carb and Sanderson Shorty headers that I already have and will be buying new pistons, a cam, rocker arms, all of the other bolt on stuff needed to complete an engine build and some porting of the heads.
OPTION 2
The motor currently in the car is a D8 302. I recently put a new rear main seal in it and noticed the bearing in the rear main cap was showing some wear. Other than that, the engine runs well - compression test has all cylinders around 130 with the difference between the highest and lowest cylinder at 6%. At idle, oil pressure sits steady just above 25 lbs and 48-50 lbs when running down the road. This option is keeping this motor but adding the E5 heads from Option 1 and a hotter cam. The carb, intake and headers mentioned above are already on this motor and will remain. I believe the current motor is all stock internally with 68cc combustion chambers, so adding the E5 heads (after some porting work) would lower the compression and allow better flow due to the porting and bigger valves. Seems to me that, combined with a nice cam may be a pretty budget friendly way to achieve what I am looking to do.
Please let me know your thoughts on these options. Also, I would be interested to hear opinions on a good cam as well as pistons for Option 1
Thanks - Farrell
