557 A head Build

This is going to be the official build thread for my engine. This is going to take the next 2-3 months, so its not going to be a fast build. I've been picking up parts for the past couple years as I am on a fairly tight budget but i'm trying to do it right the first time.

Motorsports A460 heads with 2.3 and 1.88 valves, supposed to be stock & unported
Trick flow girdle and nuts
Old FMS A460 intake
1150 Dom Carb
1.73 Scorpion Rocker arms
Comp solid roller lifters
Custom pushrods
Diamond 4.440 pistons, app 14-15:1 comp
MSD 8580 Dist. with bronze gear
Taylor Thunderbolt 50 wires
MSD 6AL Digital
A460 block, will soon be getting from Lem(by the end of Feb., I hope there will be one in stock )
4.5 4340 Crank
6.7 H beam rods with bolt upgrade
High Flow Dynamics Pump & pickup
FRPP oil pan Lem had a sale on a while back T-460 I think?
And when the short block is done, a roller cam and matching springs as well
CSR Electric water pump

I will be feeding this with an Aeromotive A1000 through AN10 lines to a Mallory 4302M and also using AN10 return lines.

What rod and main bearings do you guys recommend?

Anyone see any issues with this combination of parts? Thoughts and opinions are welcome. If you see something not right here let me know, you wont hurt my feelings, I'd rather find an error before parts start going together.

Also, any HP/TQ guesses would be welcome, as I honestly don't know what the combo may be capable of.

Thanks,
Dave S.

Dave ,

whats the application ? that carb seems to be on the smallish side

The engine is going to be used in a mud bogging truck. When I bought the carb it was only going to be a 533 until Lem told me I could use a 4.5 crank and 6.7 rod with the pistons I had and build a 557. I PMed Randy M. about going through the carb and calibrating it once I had a cam card. It could be upgraded in the future but its what I have for now.

Its not a mud racing truck per se. It mainly fun run stuff, I have 53" tractor tires and 2.5 ton rockwell axles in a 79 F250. RPMs will be well below 7000, probably mid 6s. The rockwells have a 6.72 ratio. I will be using a C6 also, converter will be bought after the engine is done so it will work with the combo.

Dave S.

Port the Heads its worth big HP with the old FMS castings..... Charlie is the man on these.

The 6al may be a little weak for the compression, think about a 7 series box.

The biggest obstacle with a large flowing single carb is getting enough fuel through it to match the air flow. It's not really about horsepower but, about literally burning the engine down at one point or another.

Is this a matter of fuel signal with a big gas carb ?

KY JELLY wrote:Is this a matter of fuel signal with a big gas carb ?

Actual booster venturi signal is only part of it.

rmcomprandy wrote:The biggest obstacle with a large flowing single carb is getting enough fuel through it to match the air flow. It's not really about horsepower but, about literally burning the engine down at one point or another.

Well I don't like the sound of that, but thats why I posted this info and asked questions, so I can keep from making expensive mistakes. Thanks for bringing this to my attention Randy, I thought it was about HP, I never considered running to lean with an 1150 Dommy.

Dave S.

dfree383 wrote:Port the Heads its worth big HP with the old FMS castings..... Charlie is the man on these.

The 6al may be a little weak for the compression, think about a 7 series box.

I had considered getting the heads ported, but at this point my budget wont allow that. Possibly next winter when its tore down for a thorough inspection would be more appropriate.

I will look into the ignition box, I hadn't thought about the 6AL digital not working well enough.

Dave S.

Definetly put the porting high on the priority list, out of the box P-51's will out flow unported old style FMS castings.....properly Ported its a way different story.

rmcomprandy wrote:The biggest obstacle with a large flowing single carb is getting enough fuel through it to match the air flow. It's not really about horsepower but, about literally burning the engine down at one point or another.

What size carb would I be looking at or is this a hint that dual carbs may be needed? Are you just saying the 1150 just isn't enough? I've thought about this and i'm now confused. There are many builds in the Proven builds/archive running a single carb at this size.

Thanks,
Dave S.

I have a tunnel ram that would give it enough fuel if you need one,it's For Sale. I also have a 1250 Pro Systems carb FS

bbf-falcon wrote: I have a tunnel ram that would give it enough fuel if you need one,it's For Sale. I also have a 1250 Pro Systems carb FS

PM Sent.

Dave S.

With a tunnel I'd run 2 carbs, IMO.................

richter69 wrote:With a tunnel I'd run 2 carbs, IMO.................

I agree. Wow that scary

richter69 wrote:With a tunnel I'd run 2 carbs, IMO.................

Sorry I didn't make more of a post when replying to Ricks post, I really don't want to go the tunnel ram route, then i'd have to use a large hood scoop. I pmed about the 1250.

Here I thought I had this build nailed down.

I now wish I would've known about one of the forum vendors crate engines before I started buying stuff, I would be bragging about how awesome my new engine is instead is kicking myself in the ass. This is turning into a bad headache, I jumped in way over my head.

Live and learn.
Dave S.

You don't have to have a tunnel ram and two carbs. You just need the proper size carb. I'm going to have a single carb on my 604 with C heads.

Thanks for clearing that up Schmitty. I'm going to get the bottom end together first, then worry about the top end when its time.


Dave S.

There were two single cast A manifolds that were offered, a tall and short version. Either one would work.