My kb has 2.0” lifter bore spred and a 1.062” Jesel keyway lifter… speeding the lifters that much makes it possible to run a 5/8” pushrod and straightens the pushrods a ton, but cam cores (55mm ) are hard to get…

Have you tried getting a cam from LSM?

Tom

Go to a 60MM and cams are much easier to come by. Same core as used in TF and Blown Alky stuff. I have had no issues with getting cams FWIW

Not directly in a while.... Im sure there like every one else.... long waits!!

Thinking about buying a Callies/ Energy Hemi block. Anyone using one with their Predator headed engine?

Tom

I am now seriously looking at these again...Broke somthing in the valve train in the big Hemi, probably another intake spring, and I want somthing I can do Drag Week with and still run low 9's or high 8's.......

It would run low 8’s or high 7’s. Birdtracker

My family has been keeping me busy this past year so, I don't have any updates to add to my program on the Predator front. I doubt over the winter I'll be converting the CAR over to this build because it'll really want a 3 speed and a 25.5 upgrade. The block SHOULD get big keyway lifters. So, offset machine the lifter bores and while it's there may as well go 60mm cam core. As said earlier it'll need to be 9,000+RPM but that's the playfield. The budget is there currently but it's just the time it'll take to execute this will leave me down. I really just need to go up and down the track with my new 900+HP combo and learn. That will push the current chassis cert anyway.

Over rated we should all be looking at TF270's instead

Since you spoke up.....What do you like better, Predator, Hemi 99, or? Which one is more maintenance?

Well one will make peak 8000-8500 built all out and the other 10,000+ in maxed out form. A generalization but hope it makes for a clearer picture. Also 99/06 stuff is getting harder and harder to come by, they also are VERY short deck height blocks, think smalblock Ford short. And no one makes a block to accommodate the head. So 550ish cubes is the limit. Not really a matter of liking one better they are IMO focused on two different types of racing. Both canmake power. The 99 can make more naturally aspirated at the cost of RPM...The other can be done from bracket NA to power adder stuff and they see to work well. The Wheatcrafts have a few centrifugal Predators making right at 2000hp at low boost levels.

One of the things I have learned so far in this very informative thread is that a 60mm cam core is preferable when building one of these beasts.
Having no experience myself, can you also do a +.250" raised cam along with the 60mm cam?
If so, how large of a stroke would be practical to run?

I'm thinking a big cube, reliable, bracket / Dragweek type deal.

Based on the pad in the block the cam gets machined into, I would think the raised cam is almost required to have the tunnel bored out to 60mm, just looking at my Callies block, there would not be a lot of material on the bottom if you machined a block with the cam in the standard location....I could be wrong, but seems like it would be thin.

Checking on Indy's site, their 1350HP Predator combo uses a 55mm raised cam with aluminum rods and a 5" stroke.

So a 60mm cam with a 5" stroke seems doable, especially with steel rods. With a 4.5" bore that comes out to 636 cid, a fun little grocery getter.

Interesting...

So raised cam, 55mm bore, what else is needed for the hemi block? I saw some with keyway lifters & bronze guides, but also don't they move the lifter bores for a Predator build, or can you run stock location? I have a Hemi block here, but standard cam bore and height.

Well for me its raised cam 60MM cam. Lifter bores can be stock but the pushrod is not the straightest and clearance for a proper sized pushrod for something like you would build is tight. Also tie bar lifters make getting a bigger pushrod very tough. But it can be and has been done. Ideally you woudl want to spread the lifters out to straighten the pushrod and do with a keyway style lifter. While you are there you can move the lifter diameter to .937" or 1.062", which also gains a larger diameter roller wheel. You can do 655" with a 5" crank or another option is a 645" which is a smaller bore of only 4.530" which will leave some room for later. FWIW my current build is a 596" for brackets.

So I was talking with Deanna at Indy the other day, and they are testing a new X block which is the newest version of the Maxx block on their Predator builds....Most seem to be water cooling the heads only, but the latest version has full cooling....Rated to 3000hp.

There you go, get started on building that Drag Week motor!!

My latest one is getting closer. Closer than this picture makes it seem. Waiting on Isky to make the "custom" lifters for me as we are trying something new for a Predator for me anyway. So we can order pushrods and make sure we have clearance issues all resolved for them. My 655 is also getting close to going back together.

Here is a pic thats a bit old now but for those who have not seen the stuff.