Which engine?

Are you talking rally as in real performance rally, or just brisk cruising on curvy roads? Either way, pay attention to having a wide torque band. That is a somewhat different build approach than what works for drag racing or circle track racing.

In that case, a higher compression ratio will be important to that use to help with the wider torque band, and that points to either of the Magnum's over the stock LA's. Only the first 3.5 years of the 340's came with decent stock compression ratios (actual, not advertised). The Magnum's come out the box with almost a point higher static CR than their LA counterparts. The LA's can certainly be built to higher compression ratios, but if you are going stock-out-of-the-box, then the Magnums are better in that regard.

Do you have your heart set on buying something and dropping it in, or building something or having it built?

nm9stheham,

I'm not opposed to either build or 'drop in'. As Tadams notes above a true "Commando" had good compression. Unfortunately I've only seen a couple offered still in their cars for 2K+ and I don't recall that any were running... I don't have the tools or experience for building an engine, but suppose theres only one way to correct that... A fellow FABO member has offered me his 318 in a couple of months, when his new engine is complete. I guess I'll make do with it and my 273 for a couple of years until I decide to upgrade to a 67-69 (Gen 2) 'Cuda...

Right now, I'm lost in body work and haven't even pulled the 273. I'll keep an eye out for parts. I saw one FABO member discuss re-working a 4v intake to fit in his 66. I cried. I told him I'd buy him a 66 manifold for the 65 but... I believe the intakes do come available here from time to time and will keep my eyes open.

Thanks for the interest and the advice, I really do need all the help I can get.

65Cudafix