SBF Crower Internals

[astglenn]

Why does it always go like this? I started out by simply ordering a Crower solid roller and some SS shaft rockers for my little mouse motor. I like to twist it hard. I am of the opinion that a small block with moderate torque (350 ft lbs) and super high RPM capability, makes a faster, more fun to drive, roadster. Huge torque numbers are great for blowing the tires off at 70 MPH. Not my bag. I figure that any loss of traction is a loss of acceleration. When added up, I believe the small block to be a better alternative for my personal driving habits.

So I order the cam (developed the grind with Crower) Solid roller. Will hit well at 2200, pull super hard 2500-7500. The ramps are extremely steep to get a wide window across the lobes. Lift figures are fairly reasonable at around the .550" range. The trick was to wrap the figures into a 112 LS figure. IMHO there is none better than Crower in the business of valve actuation. Cheap? Not. Worthy of the asking price? Absolutely.

Most grenade situations seem to always start at the top end and end at the bottom end. At least with a quality build, that is most often the case. Conservative RPM ranges like 5500-6000, are well within the range of a simple GT 40 build. Back in the day, even the best dual point distributors and direct fire magneto's were fairly good RPM limiters. Now, for $110.00, the sky is the limit.

It is crazy the amount of added vibration stress and physics that need to be overcome and mitigated to get to 7500 RPM and remain reliable and powerful up there. The best methods of doing so originally came from hot NASCAR shops. My friend Dino Fry, wrenched the GM BB Corvette engine program for the Trans-Am effort. Man these guys were like god's to me when I was a kid. To work in his shop for a time was time well spent.

Big RPM values do tend to gravitate the requirements of high expense parts down to the rotating and reciprocating parts as well. DAMMIT. Metallurgy, design, balance and not least, assembly discipline become more critical.

So my order now includes:

Crower Super-lite Billet crank @ 331 stroke
Crower Super-lite Billet rods
16 Crower valves
Crower titanium retainers and locks
Crower bee hive spring set
Crower stainless steel shaft rocker system
Crower timing chain
1 set of Diamond Pistons with file fits, pressed pins, hooker skirts.

Divorce papers and quit claim deed

:) we only live twice!

We shall see how an 8,000 RPM SBF @ 331 stacks up against the 427's. I think I am going to own you! We are going to find out!!!

It is on as it were :)

I may stuff it into one of those "Chinese Blocks" to give the Darts a chance.. hahahahahahahahaha

[Bob Cowan]

That's the seond time I'v seen beehive springs recommended for a solid lifter high rpm engine. I looked at behive springs years ago when they were new. Great concept, and made a lot of sense. But back then, the technology wasn't quite there yet, and applications were pretty much limited to mild hydraulic engines. A short while back I noticed that Crower had them in the catalog. But up until this week, I'v not heard of anyone that used them. I sure will be interested in how this works out.

[WAYNES WORLD]

Sounds like you will have a real screamer! That thing should pull hard through the range. What gears are you going to run? I have run several engines with the beehive springs and really like them. Less load on the valve train and no valve bounce.
Wayne

[289FIA_Cobra]

Glenn, you are a wild man! Want to see the build progress on this motor as it moves along.

[astglenn]

I have used the Crower Bee hive spring set, once before. They are oval shaped wire. The story is that the springs have a perfect hysteresis loop. That translates into a spring that compresses and de-compresses at the same rate essentially. Because of that, they tend to not suffer from a number of vibration and acceleration issues. It makes enough sense to me to get me to bite. They worked well when we used them. No float and the on / off-seat pressures were very reasonable for their advertised range. That is a big part of my plan. Absolute stability in the top end, without ridiculous spring pressures. My TFS heads flow well. They are not what I would call a pillar of stiffness. The shaft rocker system will take care of that, as well as up the allowable spring pressures if needed.

[astglenn]

Sounds like you will have a real screamer! That thing should pull hard through the range. What gears are you going to run? I have run several engines with the beehive springs and really like them. Less load on the valve train and no valve bounce.
Wayne

I will remain at 3:55, unless it really wants 3:73. I love 3:55! In concur on the Bee Hive springs. I think it is imperative as to who's springs one buys. I love Crower. They are 100% domestic and Crower has been around a long time. I will post the crank and rods when they show up. There stuff is a work of art IMHO.