5.9L, Melling HV pump, stock pan, dual remote oil filters
My assumption is that if someone's building an engine that will cost $6-8K in parts not including the oil system, that "affordable" means "affordable for the owner". My next question would be can one have a 2nd engine built from the ground up for less than the cost of the dry sump? How about even 25% of the 2nd engine's cost? If not, I'd say the cost is affordable but hard to stomach. Maybe the sticker shock can be mellowed or justified by looking into the power a good oil system frees up, or thinking about how important it is to protect that overall engine investment, or how important it is to continue to race without worrying about the reliability of the engine.
Like everything else for a car: "Speed costs money Son. How fast do you want to go?"
It started with a bare block , and I was totally ignorant as to the many variations the R blocks present.
Once I got the block , I started reading and quickly changed directions.
It was the combo platter of dry sump and 9.2 " deck height that made the decision to bail on that one very easy.
I took a small hit selling the first block and learned a valuable lesson.......that I keep re-learning as I go. :D
I looked at used dry sump goodies and it might have worked.
But used isn't always the bargain you think it is.
I could go into left field with a classic thread derail about used Weber belt drives here.
I am trying to buy champagne on a beer budget with my deal , which is why it has taken four years to get this close.
If the good Lord's willin and the creek don't rise , I will be driving by late May or so.
Shake the bugs out , do a couple test days and hopefully achieve my life long dream of having a " street " car that can do a proper wheelie.
I never considered "affordable " , only " achievable ".