318 stroker -> Mopar Performance A8 build guidance needed.

SOMMS said
Thanks for these questions 273:

I am looking to race low-key competitively - I want to throw down at our local track (Pacific Raceways)...but I am not quitting my day job or traveling more than a couple hundred miles. This is not an autocross rig - will be mixing it up on actual road course tracks with other cars. Haven't totally figured the class out yet - can't be 'vintage' because that requires all the stock running gear.

And again - I don't actually care that much about hp, as long as it reliably makes something north of 500 and is as light as possible. Hence the a8 questions.

S

Time attack is a solo race on a road courses. I think your to over focused on the 50/50 weight distribution, what real world benefit in track times are you gonna see with an iron vs aluminum block ? And if your fairly new to this, your driving is gonna be where you find the huge gains. The engine block sits low and mostly behind the front wheels, the extra weight there isn't as much of a problem then higher weight eg.. glass windows etc.. and pass the front and rear tires like bumpers and hood, trunk lid, is under both. The A8 seems like overkill and if you got that much money just build two cars instead of compromising, one mainly for the track and one for the family.

I see you don't want to cage it, which I get but that's gonna be more of time killer added to other things that you won't change which makes the 50/50 make less sense. Plus The power you want to build is probably gonna require some roll protection especially on a high speed road course.

I'd get rules before make any big plans.

Your plans are probably set in stone and I don't know your past autocrossing experiences but nothing wrong starting more modest and slowly move up, gaining experience in driving and what it's gonna take car wise, there's a few here who autocross and I want to do some myself, they got nothing close to what your talking about, hopefully they join in.