It's often said that the only difference between men and
boys is the price of their toys. Forty years ago, I
earmarked the profits from my newspaper route to buy a
new bicycle; today I can hardly wait to pick up my new
2001 Pro Stock Grand Am. I tell my accountant (and my
wife) that a new race car is really an investment, a
tool to promote our business and to keep Reher-Morrison
Racing Engines on the leading edge of engine
development. But just between you and me, I wouldn't be
gearing up for 24 weekends on the road next year if I
didn't enjoy racing.
This is the
time of year when racers are making plans and acquiring
parts for next season. My advice to any sportsman racer
who is considering a new engine is to think big. Cubic
inches should be at the top of your shopping list.
Think about
your long-term goals before committing yourself to an
engine you'll have to live with for a long time. Your
immediate objective may be to run 9.90 or to qualify for
the Quick 16 show at your local track. But after a
while, you may find that running the number in Super Gas
no longer feels like a fast ride - or you may discover
that it takes a significantly quicker e.t. to make the
cut for the fast |
brackets. If you buy a
big-inch engine today that will satisfy your need for
speed far into the future, racing will be a more
successful and more satisfying pursuit.
When you are
starting from scratch, the additional cost of engine
parts for a large displacement engine is almost
negligible. The prices of connecting rods, lifters,
bearings, camshafts, oil pumps, and many other
components are the same whether you are building a
396-cubic-inch big-block or a 632. Why not build a big
motor and reap the benefits of more power?
A
large-displacement engine makes a race car easier to
run, simpler to maintain, and more consistent to drive.
Cubic inches can compensate for a converter that's not
quite perfect or a car that's a few pounds too heavy. If
you are racing on a four-tenths Tree, the torque of a
big motor will move the car harder on the initial hit of
the throttle, breaking the beams quicker and cutting
your reaction time. That all adds up to more round wins.
Big-inch
engines can also be less expensive in the long run.
Valvetrain maintenance is directly related to rpm; large
displacement engines typically produce |
