Getting Ready For ERA Build ... Suggestions ?

[Rickd]

There is nothing wrong with Torque Thrust wheels -the goal is to build WHAT YOU like, not what others prefer. It's a cool wheel and they have been used by quite a few ERA owners. Motor - Keith Craft or Ford Racing Products. You're not looking for 400+ HP as per your comments, so you don't have to go with a stroker (but a nice 331 would be cool). KC offers a 306 with 300+ hp, decent flowing aluminum heads, and a modest cam with good low end torque. Nice driver, or he can build anything you want including a real solid Dart block with 4.125 bore cylinders and a short stroke 347 for some real HP with AFR heads - that would be slick (probably cost double the 306). Take a good look at the rear end ratio you want to run and the OD gear you order in your Tremec 600 (or a Richmond Gear Street / Strip tranny with .74 od). I would recommend you consider a 3:31 rear with the .82 OD for a nice street driving combo. Check out one of the 'gear selector' sites to play with rear end and OD ratios to show you the rpm's you will be running in different gears. If you will do A LOT of turnpike / expressway driving at 85 mph, you might want to consider the .64 rear, otherwise you would be better with the .82. I went with the 3.54 rear and the .64 OD and I would change if I could to the 3.31 and .82 for a better rpm range in 4th on the street as well as 5th (not having the huge drop on shifts in moderate speed ranges 60-70 mph). The research is part of the fun - and you have already made one excellent decision going with ERA as the only one out there equal or better from an engineering standpoint is Kirkham.