Carb'd LS build for dirt track (lots of pics)
03-31-2012, 01:30 AM
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Carb'd LS build for dirt track (lots of pics) Thought I'd share some pics and story of my engine build. Short story: Built last year as a 402, this engine was ran for a few races in a USMTS style modified and one race in my dirt late model. Had some oil control issues that resulted in needing a fresh block (got the mains a little hot). Since the motor was apart I decided to upgrade a few things like a bigger bore, some cyl. head work, better intake, better carb, etc. So here it is, all 408ci of it, 13.5:1 compression, solid roller, distributor conversion. I have to admit I'm pretty stoked about it and can't wait to get it in the car. Bring on the pics!
Cutting the deck a little:
Crank and cam and timing components in:
Full custom RaceTec pistons with dome to match my heads combustion chamber:
Rod assemblies ready to go:
All in:
Oh yeah! :
Bottom end all buttoned up:
The start of a custom 50* intake valve job:
Another shot of the intake cut:
Heads ready to go together:
Measuring valve spring height:
Heads assembled and ready to install:
The icing on top:
Heads and lifter valley cover on:
A quick shot of my stainless cross-over set up:
All dressed out and ready to fight:
On the run stand with the headers that fit my race car:
For those of you not familiar with circle track stuff this is a shot of the magnesium bellhousing with its rear mounted starter. The flywheel is very small (6 1/4" in diameter) and only weighs a couple of pounds, makes for wicked throttle response. The flywheel also has a cogged belt drive on it to run a belt driven power steering/fuel pump that mounts on the bracket on the upper left of the bell.
So that's it, I hate to take a WAG at a horsepower number, but it should be enough for a 2200lb car.
Enjoy the pics!
Cutting the deck a little:
Crank and cam and timing components in:
Full custom RaceTec pistons with dome to match my heads combustion chamber:
Rod assemblies ready to go:
All in:
Oh yeah! :
Bottom end all buttoned up:
The start of a custom 50* intake valve job:
Another shot of the intake cut:
Heads ready to go together:
Measuring valve spring height:
Heads assembled and ready to install:
The icing on top:
Heads and lifter valley cover on:
A quick shot of my stainless cross-over set up:
All dressed out and ready to fight:
On the run stand with the headers that fit my race car:
For those of you not familiar with circle track stuff this is a shot of the magnesium bellhousing with its rear mounted starter. The flywheel is very small (6 1/4" in diameter) and only weighs a couple of pounds, makes for wicked throttle response. The flywheel also has a cogged belt drive on it to run a belt driven power steering/fuel pump that mounts on the bracket on the upper left of the bell.
So that's it, I hate to take a WAG at a horsepower number, but it should be enough for a 2200lb car.
Enjoy the pics!
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03-31-2012, 11:32 PM
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Engine rules for this class of car are pretty loose but typically say "must be distributor fired" or "only one ignition coil allowed". Most common engine combination is a 410-430ci (a lot are spread bore spacing blocks) with any head allowed as long as it's 2 valve per cylinder and one spark plug per cylinder, 750-850hp is what the good ones are making and cost upwards of $40K.
04-01-2012, 10:31 PM
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I really hate to guess, but it has enough cam, compression and cylinder head to make around 650 at the crank ( I think). A wheel hp number would be hard to guess because these cars' drivelines are so different from a street car. Will it be enough for the series I'm going to run with? On a small track, maybe. On a bigger half-mile or a fast 3/8 mile track, I probably don't stand a chance at the top 5.
04-05-2012, 06:53 PM
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Im building one for a ump modified very similar to your combo, are you on gas or alcohol? I am also curious about your oiling problems, I currently have a kevko circle track pan, afco deck mount cooler, cvr remote filter boss with a melling pump.
04-06-2012, 10:03 AM
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I believe it was a combination of things: main clearances were too tight, a Melling 10296 pump (ran the pan dry), thin rings, and a rear main seal leak that didn't leak until high RPMs. So the new combination has .0035 clearance at the mains, a Melling 10295 pump, a custom 1/16, 1/16, 3/16 ring set, and I made an alignment sleeve for the rear cover so the seal has a perfect fit. If I had to do it again I'd run oil restricted pushrods too, but I was already invested in a nice set of Mantons this time. I also have the Kevko pan but with a FSR oil cooler I bought from Mullins, it was designed for a wet sump applicaton. If you run a stock block you shouldn't have any oil drain back issues, but if you get a LSX block you'll have to modify the valley area somehow to add some return holes because the valley will hold a LOT of oil. I'm on gas with this engine. I was on a half-mile turning 7500, that's why I think it ran the pan dry with the high volume pump. I've since re-routed the oil filter adapter and the cooler lines, made them a little longer to add some capacity to the system. It's got 9 quarts total in it now.
Last edited by driver56; 04-06-2012 at 10:11 AM.
06-29-2012, 11:48 PM
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No plans at all for it, I have it listed for sale here and on several sites, the car too. I want to get something I can race more often and closer to home. I'll probably go back to a stock car class, there's some races around here I've always wanted to run in.
07-01-2012, 10:13 PM
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I'm in eastern Oklahoma, not too many places to run a LM around here. I've thought about getting a modified, but they cost just as much to run as the LM and the engine rules are tailored to the Brodix spec head engines. Why won't your track allow the 'LS'?
07-02-2012, 12:14 AM
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The track promoter doesn't accept change... Theyre are probly over 100 sport mods around the area (central nebraska) but he won't get the class at our track yet. I'm thinking about getting a ls for a few special shows that come through though. How do you like running with one? Is there alot of guys running them around that area?
07-02-2012, 10:20 PM
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No sportmods local here either, even though one of the best builders in the country (Big Chief chassis) lives just up the road from here. I like the power of the 'LS', I was able to run down the front straight with 2-time IMCA Natl. Champ Justin Wells at the start of a heat race, but he daylighted me through turn 1 & 2. I got some chassis work to do.......
