408 Stroker

yellow rose said
I agree with most everything said above with these exceptions.

I’d lose that air gap so fast your head would spin. The TR heads will reward in spades IF you treat them like what they are, which is a performance cylinder head. They beg for lift. Give it to them. And the AG will choke them.

Use a solid roller. You can use hydraulic roller lobes but put solid rollers on them.

You really, really need a header with 1 7/8 inch primaries. TTI has them but I’m not a big fan of their collectors. There is another place back on the east coast making some nice headers that size but I can’t think of their name right now.

Don’t buy a “big” cam or a “small” cam, buy the RIGHT cam. The RIGHT cam will have short seat timing, get to .050 and .200 quicker than everything else in that duration rage and put all the lift to it you can. Realistically you should be able to NET .630 or more lift in an easy on the valve train set of lobes. You will be rewarded with a broader, flatter torque curve, smooth, clean drivability and better performance.

Before I ever bought a set of rockers I’d call Mike at B3 racing engines and ask him for his opinions on what rocker to use and then buy them from him with his correction kit. This step right here will save you time, money, grief and parts.

Thanks @yellow rose
The single plane vs dual plane in this case of which is yet to unravel would be drivers choice & as well as the usage of the car (intended purpose, already somewhat defined) & the cars weight. I myself would use a single plane and a larger carb than a 750.
There is a place in Connecticut IIRC that makes some really nice headers. To bad Stahl passed away taking his secrets.
I’m having an oiling problem with the supplied B3 rockers at the moment. I have not got to investigate the issue yet. Other engine problems popped up. It will be a while before I’m back on my feet to do anything.
Others run the Harland Sharps without issue and 2 local engine builders like them better than the B3 rockers.
I do not know the reasons why.

512Stroker said
Rob if I am reading that dyno sheet correctly that combination is a low end torque monster.
Flat tappet or roller cam?

Hyd roller and yes you are correct.

cpearce said
I agree 100% with the single plane vs dual plane on a 408 with very good heads. My 408 in my street use Dart with a 4 speed runs 3.23 gears and a single plane manifold. There is no shortage of low end torque on these engines. I believe fuel distribution will be much better with the single plane. I street drive my 408 with a [email protected], .580 lift cam with absolutely no driveability issues.

You lost a lot of bottom end torque. But like you said, the amount the 4.00 arm hands out in torque, I think most people aren’t worried. Though I’m still looking for the weight of the car. There are a lot of pounds in the engine bay and cabin that can be lost for a better weight distribution for the cars balance.