HFCRacer

Hey all,

I race a sportsman asphalt car in Indiana. The primary series I race in is the IndyURL in which I run a Ford 302. However, my car is legal in a few other classes which allow bigger motors. I have a 351C laying around, and being a Ford guy, it would be just too cool to run a Cleveland. Its hard enough finding fellow Ford circle trackers, but a Cleveland circle track car is unheard of out here. The only problem I have is a lack of knowledge on what exactly I need to do to make a reliable circle track Cleveland. All my knowledge is of the Windsor family.

So, my question is this: what do I need to do to build up a reliable 450-500hp Cleveland that can last the rigors of circle track racing?

Thanks,

Daniel Nall
dnall@indy.rr.com

HFCRacer

Couple of criteria before anybody asks. I would like to use iron heads due to the 100lb weight break given to cars with iron heads. Solid roller cam is ok, 11:1 compression or less, gas (not alcohol). Cost IS an issue, I do not have tons of cash. Just looking for a few ideas on heads, cam, stroke, bore, etc. I don't want to reinvent the wheel as I am sure there are people out there who have already done this. What bearings, rings, rpm range, etc is typical for a high horsepower Cleveland. Give me your thoughts.

Daniel Nall
dnall@indy.rr.com

4Vman

Piece of cake, but you need to build it right to last, 4V closed chamber heads are the best starting point, what capacity limits, carb limits etc does the class have?

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F6: the fastest factory 4 door falcon in the world!

HFCRacer

No cubic inch or carb limitations other than only one carb allowed.

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Daniel Nall
'02 Taurus IndyURL Stock Car
'94 GT (408 in the works)

4Vman

What's the typical track length? oval or circuit? the reason i ask is it will help determine the power characteristics of the engine, i.e: high reving fast recovery or torquey, narrow power band.

__________________
F6: the fastest factory 4 door falcon in the world!

HFCRacer

In Indiana, its all about oval track. There will be four tracks I will be racing at. Two of them are .5 miles, 30+ degree banked. With my 302, I am only out of the throttle for 1 second or less at each end of the track (5800 rpm low to 6500 rpm at the end of the straight). With a higher horsepower engine, I imagine I will be out of the throttle a little more because my entry speeds will be much higher. The other two tracks are not horsepower tracks, and they are 1/4 mile high banked and 3/8 mile flat respectively. The engine will need a nice 1000 rpm power band to be able to compete on the two 1/2 mile tracks. I think that power band should be from 6200 to 7200 rpm.

Thanks for your interest. Your questions are spot on, and exactly the kind of info I was hoping you guys would ask for. I know there are going to be some diffrences between Clevelands and Windsors that I am hoping you guys will tip me to. For instance, on a nice Windsor race motor (10:1 compression, iron heads, 110 octane), I can get away with 34-36 degrees of timing. From what I understand, Clevelands with similar conditions like less timing. What type of bearings do Clevelands like, are there oiling issues, cooling issues, bearing clearances, recommended oil pressure, etc. I know I am asking for a lot from a forum, so any reading material you can suggest is cool too.

__________________
Daniel Nall
'02 Taurus IndyURL Stock Car
'94 GT (408 in the works)