Drag Week is around the corner....

So it is time to take apart a perfectly good running car haha.

Actually tore it down to change cams, we had struggled to find bushed roller lifters but ended up going with some comp lifters that have pressure oiling and will fit the R1 block. Upon tear down I found a rocker arm shaft getting eaten up and the cam bearings are really bad. I had a spare for the rocker shaft and they have all been inspected and put back together. Now to find someone who can fit it in for the cam bearings and fitting the new cam. I had hoped to start putting it back together this coming weekend but that isn't looking good.

I don't have the specs handy but the new cam is another solid roller 4-7 swap custom grind from comp. We got it in 2020 but chose not to tear it down for fear of parts availability before drag week in 2021. I ordered all the parts for the swap in February of this year and they all came in just this last few weeks.

Its been 10.42@126.8X with a 1.42 60ft @3550lbs on 91 octane. Would love for it to make it down in the 10.20s but feel we are nearing the end of this motors capability with W2s and pump gas.

Somewhere, someone just laid the first frame rail on the jig for a fresh drag week build. You are just changing a cam...WAYYYY ahead of schedule for most drag weekers, lol.
Seriously though, hope it goes smoothly and runs better. That car is impressive.

At least at this moment I feel pretty good about my time line.

As I was explaining to my 8 year old son what I was doing his first question was "what if it doesn't go as fast?"

Hahaha that's likely quite true

Ever tell you I had a car just like yours but Red? LOL. After this build be sure to check with MCrow for the next build. Im sure hed help you out on parts.

Good luck with it, Bad!

Coincidentally, I worked on the HemiCoupe today for the first time since drag week. Time to leakdown and compression test the Hemi, fix a few gremlins from last year, then start getting it ready to dyno tune, and then some drag strip testing.

Next engine will likely have 16 spark plugs.

Or it might just be this engine with a cheater whistle on it.

Sounds like a plan.

About time you stopped goofing around, and got some work done... And lets face it, The only Drag strip testing it will get, will be the test day at Drag Week. LOL.

How strong is the R1 block and crank/rods? You've already got the EFI, it is the perfect time to fab up a Wu Tang War Whistle kit!

Everything is built for NA but from good parts. I would imagine the weakest link would be the eagle crank.

Got the cam bearings changed on Saturday at a good friends shop. Expected to leave it and instead we jumped on it and did it right there. I thought it would be easy to do with the short block assembled, we did it but it wasn't as easy as it was in my head haha.

While the block was in the truck we took it to my Dad's place because it was 98* and his shop is air conditioned. The cam card and the emails where the cam was discussed have to different installed centerlines, one 108, one 113 and the associated timing numbers are also off that 5*. Waiting on an email from comp to see which one is right, I am assuming the 108 number is the correct one, it installed at 114 off.

Do you use the hardened coated cam bearings? With heavy valve springs I have found them to be more reliable than the standard bearings.

How many dyno pulls did you make this last weekend? Ready for track testing now? Or did you spot a shiny object?

No I don't I wasn't aware they were available until just recently. I hate to change to something new when I am pressed for time so I didn't make the change. The regular style survived 3 drag weeks and had been in there since 2015 so I hope these can manage the same life.

It sneaks up on you fast! I pulled a rocker stand bolt out of my W5 and its out getting repaired. I decided to have look at the motor overall. It looks good so hopefully the head repair goes well. I hope to see you there!

It's all back together just waiting on pushrods. I pre oiled it last night and the comp 8043-16 lifters sure move a lot of oil out of the rollers. Way more than I expected. I am going to leave it on the stand until I get the pushrods in. I am debating installing it now and then putting all the rocker gear on or waiting for the pushrods to make the engine %100 ready. I honestly believe I can stab the engine faster than I can install the rockers with the engine in the car haha.

Smith Brothers said 4 weeks, I can't imagine how many pushrods it takes to create a 4 week back log.

Car is back together and running, but after some inspection I got the pushrods a little long. They are going back to Smith Brothers this morning to be shortened. Should have them back the week before drag week. The Megasquirt EFI was able to wrangle the air fuel ratio to target before 7000RPM in first so the fuel isn't going to be too far off because it can only adjust 4% at wide open.

This "low shock" cam profile from comp sounds a little tamer at idle even with similiar duration but a good bit more lift. It lashes tighter than my old cam so the valvetrain is really quiet compared to the other setup.