Eric if you get down this way I'll let you drive my procharged SRT challenger. These motors are easy to make lots of power.

So I talked to several people that campaign drag pak cars last Friday. I am still a little hesitant due to the fact that several of these engines blew up this weekend. Now I say that with a grain of salt because these guys are all now pushing the envelope with these engines. But... I am hearing there is an oiling issue with these engines. Barton told me there definitely is one and he has the cure for it but would not come off any more info than that. Knowledge costs money I suppose. Still I have talked with Wheatcraft and they have never had any of these issues with the mini dragster. I was also told by one racer that he found out the hard way that you definitely need to run the SRT filter.
On a side note, the Mopar guys tell me the distributor setup is coming in like three weeks.

That's good you asked around, and you were told correctly.

Yes, in stock form they do have 8,500+ rpm oiling issues...

Given the HP you want to make, though...you're all set....you should be able to make that power at 7000 or less, and because of that it will live a long time.

Wildtm, all excellent advise. Do not forget about the hotter Firecore coil packs. You will soon see them on every SS Chally out there. 25% hotter millijoule, and 25% longer dwell. Just saying.

Zippy, if possible, can you elaborate a little further on the oiling issue?

I haven't investigated it much, mostly because there hasn't been any reason to....All the stuff I've worked with has been done at 7,000 or below. With a decent pan that rpm hasn't been a problem, but to many that's grocery getter territory and not even worth talking about.

The srt filter is a filter from a viper. At one time, a direct connection bulletin that was sent out about it...the bulletin basically says the oiling system is known good to a certain number below 7000, and that the viper filter is the best one... lesser filters alone can cause oiling issues even if everything else is OK, which is all true. It doesn't go into any modifications on how to run 9 grand or anything like that, though.

I'm pretty sure a 10 quart fill and an accumulator has been in use for awhile now on some of the high rpm rigs. Maybe ask around a little more if you're leaning that way, the latest hot setup may have changed.



Drainback has always appeared a little lacking to my eye, but knowledgeable builders I have spoken with don't agree with my opinion, so I guess I don't know what I'm talking about. Not really sure, but the comment about filling the valve covers with oil kinda hits home....I'm not trying to be smart, just relating discussions I've had.

I am also not really a fan of the crankcase ventilation running through those two tiny little passages in the intake manifold either, but nobody else seems to have a problem with it.

With the super tall cast valve covers available from Indy or whoever makes them for Indy, it doesn't seem like it would be a big deal to run a couple external drainback hoses + traditional breathers, to see if there is any difference....but nobody ever does it, so maybe that whole line of thinking is a waste of time.

I have to remind myself: just because a stocker does not do it....does not mean an idea might not be beneficial, or that it would have no effect...it means a stocker isn't allowed to do it, so there is no sense in them experimenting with it...

Did you get yourself a core yet and check it out????

Well here is what I am looking at. 5.7 block (picked one up basically for free) 6.1 heads (not sure who where the best place to go on those is yet), drag pak manifold, 392 stroker, Callies crank and possibly rods, Diamond pistons (the Mopar guys tell me that Diamond worked with them the most and Diamond makes a nice piece anyway) Comp Cams seems to be the place to go on the camshaft. Melling pump, apparently the SRT filter is a must.
I dont plan on this thing going any higher than my current setup unless it makes a bunch more steam on top end and gets the rpm up higher but even then 73-7400 would be max and I only run 1/4 a couple weekends a year.
Perhaps some drainback lines could help the situation?
I have been hearing some conflicting info on how much oil to run. I am hearing some guys saying the standard 6 quart fill and then others stating you need 10 to 11

Some of the guys who say they have a 6 or 7 quart fill have another 3+ in the accumulator they aren't discussing...

If you get a chance, take a gander at drainback + CCV, and tell me if I'm way off base. If my ideas are dumb I'll stop bringing it up. A 14th opinion on that would be appreciated

Sounds like I may be putting my accusump back on the car. So where is the best place to pick up a set of heads and what are the differences between a 6.1 head and a Eagle 5.7 head?

What does CCV stand for?

Crankcase ventilation

FEAD is another good one

The differences are the 6.1 flows more out of the box. Has a bigger chamber and cost more. The eagle head will bump your compression on a stock shortblock 03-08 to almost 12 to1. They are cheaper more plentiful and depending on your goals MAYBE cheaper.
IIRC the eagles has the same intake and exhaust opening as the 6.1.

Does the Eagle bolt up to the dragpak intake the same as a 6.1?

Sounds like the Eagle may get me where I want to be compression wise without ordering a custom piston. I like that idea!

FYI on the oil drain issue.......if using a Moroso Oil Pan, the pan rail blocks at least half of each drain in the block that goes from the heads th to the pan. I modified my pan so they're clear.