I need some advise.

I'm building my first engine and I'm considering the 451 stroker as my choice. The vehicle is going to be a weekend cruiser with a run to the drag strip maybe twice a year. I'm wanting to build something driveable on the street but fun. Looking to produce as much torque and HP on the low side (1800 - 5500 rpms) as possible. I don't care about the mpg and running 93 octane. *Remember it's a weekend cruiser.

How can I achieve this goal? What combination of camshaft, intake, carb, piston and head work can get me there?

Parts available:
77' 400 - B block complete w/ 452 heads. (stripped down for the machine shop)

Vehicle:
85' Dodge Ram D150 - short bed
727 transmission (converting over from 3 speed)
3:55 rears



Highway

I am moving this to the engine forum...Maybe more answers over there..

Sam

__________________
I would rather make it work than make it popular..And if it does not work it will not be popular..

Highway,
posted this reply to bump this thread back upto the top....

(cause sometimes, the members best qualified to answer any question, are too busy in the 'real world' to check in on this board)

Highway,
as a thank you "gift" for saying thank you in the PM's...

here's a link that is going to make your eyeballs ache from reading about how to build motor combo's....

http://www.simautomotive.com/

click on each category (performance/low rider/etc), then each magazine, then each tech and/or build section.....

do go thru all of them, each does have different excellent articles....

(and this bumps your thread again....)

Heres a link to a place dealing exclusively with mopar big block parts and stroker kits.. I have their 512" ( 400 block) stroker kit sitting on the engine stand ... http://www.440source.com/


A site you might also wish to check out that is full of mopar gearheads is the moparts site http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

Coronet,
I went to the 440source site before, it looks to be a great place. I'm looking to build a weekend cruiser, with few visits to the drag strip. If possible, I would like to avoid spending 1,800 plus dollars on a stroker kit. I know forge pistons will be inevitable but if possible I'd like to stay away from the extra cost of forged crank and rods.

I haven't ever seen a over the counter mopar big block stroker crank that isn't forged (maybe someone can chime in with a source??)... One could be made out of a old 440 cast crank I supposed. But the cost of grinding the mains to the smaller 400 size as well as the work of getting the counterweights to clear will almost be the same cost as a NEW forged crank ready to go.
As far as rods go, you could have originals resized, new bolts, etc.. Once again though, the cost to do it almost buys a new set of rods..

Oh well, go with the kit, what the hey? It's a plus all the way around.

My next question is, will my 452 heads work and if so how much head work needs to be done?

or

Maybe the next question should be what camshaft am I going to run?

UPDATE:

After much thought and research, I decided to go with:

Bottom end:
4.375 bore (.33 oversize)
3.75 forged crank from 440source (w/ 2.65 mains)
my original 400 rods
KB 215 pistons (10:1cr)

This will give me a long stroke, short rod motor very suitable for creating a large amount of torque at lower RPMs (1500-3500 rpms)

Top side:
Edelbrock or stealth heads (84cc-212cfm)
2.14 valves
single plane manifold - Edelbrock Victor
Camshaft - lift/duration (undecided yet)

Funny, some of the speed shops laugh at my set up. They all say if I ever get it hooked up it will twist the wheels off the axles.

Some articles I've used for my research.
http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/rod-tech-c.htm
http://www.arengineering.com/articles/ttstroker.html
http://www.arengineering.com/articles/articleframe.html
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/...uild/index.html
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/...gine/index.html

Highway,
the camshaft operating range dictates which intake will work best....
a open plenum intake is used/needed with a 2500+ rpms minumum operating camshaft

click on each of these comp cams dyno graphs to read the parts combo that illustrates the parts needed to make the best HP/TQ for that cam's duration....and compare the TQ/HP numbers at street rpms on the graphs....

http://www.compcams.com/Technical/DynoSheets/