This 572 Predator engine Boatracer 572 built, is rocking

These Predator engines are a different breed for sure. I finally have a feel for converter, gear, tune up, and potential performance. It's been running really good even in 8600 ft corrected air. Last weekend in 8200 ft corrected elevation, it ran between 7.59-7.61 all day.

That's fast! Is that about a 4.70 in the 1/8 ?

No, really low 4.80's. It has more in it when the weather is better and the barometer goes up a bit. It was 25.56 last weekend. It's also a pretty mild Predator deal. Less than .900 lift and 15-1 compression.

Glad to hear you're having a good time w/ it now! I know you've had some headaches lately w/ those Predator motors. Hope you keep getting faster!

Still fast as heck at that altitude.

I always knew they had the potential. The worst part is finding someone like Tony that had been running them successfully, as people like Indy were absolutely no help. And because Tony has been racing boats, it took me for ever to figure out the converter, gear, timing etc., that equates to the pavement. My 604 is ready now, and I will start next year with that. It made 1200HP, actually 1199.4.

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess there isn't much interest in the Predator stuff here.

I think their pretty sweet, just way out of my league.
Maybe it's hard to compare, but what are the major set up differences (gear, convertor etc) between a Predator and a similar 572 wedge you've had?

Gear needs to be a tad more steep, at least with the 572, I don't know yet with the 604. So, from a 4.10 to a 4.30, I think it would help as they like higher RPM's. The timing is less, from 33-34 total, to 30-32 total. They like big carbs, 1250 and perhaps even bigger or 2. The converter should stall at least 6000, and 6200-6500 is even better.
The upside of these things are common intake/exhaust rockers, much higher flow, bigger cams are effective, they don't need as much compression but respond to more, and from what I hear they are very NOS friendly.
The downside is, don't try getting any info from Indy, they are more expensive than the B1 stuff, special headers, pistons, gaskets, etc.

Oh trust me, I have lots of interest in the Predator stuff and if and when the time comes to buy better heads then what i have it will be Predator heads. My junk has been sidelined for many years because of having a very busy job and having two kids to raise. I look at it like this, buy the Predator heads right from the start. If i only want to run in the 9s, mild porting and mild camshaft. The day i want to step it up, there's lots of room for improvement. By the way, good luck with yours.

would be fun to see that combo run in Bakersfield in the nice cool fall air that is coming! Glad it's running well and those are stout numbers up in the air.

First off congratulation on all the hard work and research on making these combos work. And you are right on the interest of MOST of our members. I follow these builds as I appreciate all the work and money involved in getting these combos to work even though at my age I will never own a set. Heck most of the guys kinda pass over even the B1 posts on here. You are even fighting a bigger up hill battle because you are racing a dragster. Most guys including myself are door car guys and when the dragsters come to the line we head to eat. Nothing personal but either you like them or you don't. I would quit racing if it came down to me having to own one even though they are " the best " bracket cars out there. I've seen guys that raced for 20 plus years and never win a race step into a dragster and go on a tear. Please keep up the good work and keep us in the loop.

Yep, all good points on the dragster comments, and no arguments as to the appeal of watching them run. I will say, even though I have won more races with the dragster, it's not as easy as people think, but a definite advantage.
I have spent a lot on research and development for Indy and ultimately Mopar, but Boatracer572 has the most helpful with advice and help.
Glad to see some are interested.

My thoughts exactly!
I do like reading about the builds and combos.
Good luck !
Mark

I have lots of interest in all the build posts too. Most of them are way out of my reach too.

I love reading them because it always amazes me how much I don't know.

Glad you are finally having fun and past the point of spending lots of money. That's a great place to be!

Post some pics of it sitting in the framerails. I like seeing that kind of stuff.

Same here. Good to hear you've got a strong running combination with those heads.

Thanks Tom., would like to see you get that 6.9x time slip soon, like we talked about there is around 30 hp more to be had with a cam change.... how many runs on the springs in the 572 now....

They have about 115 passes on them now. I just checked them all yesterday and they are all rock solid at 360 seat pressure. Valve adjustment doesn't move much either. Here's a pic in the trailer.

Just one more thing before I head to the track, it may be a lawn dart but, it has a unique engine! Everyone but the one's who are Mopar people think it's a BB Chevy!

Hey only a crazy person would put a Mopar in a dragster, right. Lol. I'm betting when they do find out that you just beat them with a mopar power plant there are some butt hurt feelings. Gotta love that

Here is a pic of toms 604" his 572" has only one carb

love great great and prosperouse stories

How much does it cost to put something like that 604 together? Roughly of course.

I'll say this. You know that 655 Indy advertises that makes 1350 HP? I'm going to say, that's with a 150-200 shot. I have around 50K into that after doing Indy and Mopar's R&D. If they had a clue and blocks were available, maybe you could build one for $35k. The parts would cost around 27K without machine work and assembly. That was before when there were cast blocks. That engine weighs 720#'s in I remember correctly. My aluminum 572 weighs around 550#'s. So the car is 2020#'s with the cast engine and 1870#'s with the aluminum 572 with one carb.

That's light.😎
Could you post a time slip. Curious on the 60 foot and 330 numbers. I'm an 1/8 miler.

Wow Tom... you're making us guys with 3000lbs turds, cry !!!

I'll post a couple of time slips when we get home . Still racing.

Good luck

OK, here is a couple time slips from the last couple of days.

.003 package 👍

That 330' time 😎

Was Steve helpfull??

Steve Gill? Why do you ask? I think Steve has been out of the loop for some time now.

For sure the Predator head is a great thing for us. Boat's motor being just another example of what you can do with them. I did a 636 with them and they're better than anything else I've had personal experience with.

Trouble is, you see small block chevy aftermarket heads with bigger ports lol. Not knocking predators by any means I'm thrilled about them. I have a 660 pred waiting to go on the pump. I'm hopeful about what it might make, but when you see the over the counter Chevy based stuff out there, it can be a bit deflating.

Thanks to Steve Gill for getting it going for us poor old mope's. Also love'm, or hate'm, Indy does make them available with a phone call.

there has pretty much been no follow up to this head like the B1 heads,and R&D has stopped to make this head better.its a shame the mopar community in general never excepted this head back then and now.....I know about all the 4.800 bore space arguments,But Who knows where this head or one similar could be if there was a demand....

I only ask because my hemi went on the dyno right after yours.Steve saved my butt with headers and then the same carbs that were used for your dyno pulls.Steve helped me BIG time!!That was almost 6 years ago,,,,,

Thanks again Steve,,,,,,Mr Predator

Let me make something clear. Steve was a stand up guy and went over and above to help me with parts when my engine blew up. I have no problem with Steve.
Did that engine ever run up to the potential it was supposed to have, uh no. Actually my 572 runs as hard as that 604 did, maybe harder. But, it cost me a lot of money that took me years to recover from. I never heard a single word from anyone involved in that expensive build, but Steve.
I was surprised at how good Steve was about it. The other guys, not so much and that's the nicest thing I can say about that. And thanks again Steve, if you come on here.

Nice reaction times.

Getting a few more bugs worked out on are's last time out ran 6.95/7.11/7.15
Going out this weekend
496 Predator engine w/1 carb

here is some of our time slips when we ran the 1/8 mile

Very nice! You guys are NOS, right? I have thought of doing a power adder.

Yes, we are using a NX fogger with 500hp shot right off start.
trying new cam and carb this week end there is a
couple of videos under kucia racing on google
are you Tommy D?

Elvis did well with NO2

Yes I am. Unless someone else calls himself that.......

Here's a picture of it on the rower pump.

Well I will say they are or seem to be somewhat nitrous friendly from what I have seen. Also they have some issue, biggest being the valve angle and of course lack of bore on a Mopar. You can make power with them. more than any other Mopar head for sure. But it comes at a cost for sure. Mine made decent power and once we get some stuff straightened out, cam, intake mainly wer feel there is another 70ish in it. But for now it is what we call a Beat deal...

One of the things I like about them is, they have a common Intake/Exhaust rocker, and they are somewhat canted. If only we had a 5" BS block.

I know indy was talking about stretching the predator years ago to a 5" bore space...at that point apples to apples your better off power and$$$$ with another brand.....