Valve lifters…solid/hydraulic/roller tappet/flat tappet?

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Would be nice to see if the OP is getting any value out of the great points you two are debating. I think it's all beneficial to what he's asking-don't stop now.

I've been sleeping while you guys have been talking....it's just gone morning here.
Value? Yes, please keep it coming. I have plenty of time on my hands before I will need to settle on a balance of what I need/want/is achievable/can afford.
So if 350hp is plenty, Brent, and 600 is perfect - and I know there's a little bit of tongue-in-cheek there - maybe I'm being misinterpreted there? When I say needs zing at high revs, does that translate to needs stacks of power at high revs? That's not what I need. I don't want to bend or break anything, including me, and 350hp in a light car sounds about right.
Gearbox will be a wide ratio Toploader, so no overdrive and in conjunction with a 3.07 rear, should be OK for open road work. First gear from memory is 2.82, so will need a little clutch slip to move off, but then a decent turn of speed. I don't want or need a stump-puller first gear. And I'm not chasing blinding standing start times.
More later.
Thanks again for your interest and comments
Cheers,
Glen

[blykins]

Yes, it was a little tongue in cheek. However, I see a lot of guys on here who have built an engine or bought a car, and in about a year's time, they're already asking what they can do for more power. The truth is that you get used to the car and you end up wanting a little more....

I'll stand by my recommendation of an engine (preferrably a stroked 302 if you want to stay with the traditional 8.200" deck height) that's cammed to make peak at around 5500-6000. Not going to a lower rearend gear will limit you on how much high rpm horsepower you can effectively use.

If you build a car that's predominantly street driven, then you need to build an engine that will suit that lifestyle. Having an engine with a 7000 rpm peak only means that it will take it an extremely long time (relatively speaking and even more exaggerated with the 3.07 gear) to get into the powerband (what we call "getting up on the cam"). Up until that point, the engine will feel basically downright lethargic.

Also keep in mind that an engine with more torque (comparatively speaking) will feel stronger to you (translate, seat of the pants, shove you in the seat) than a high-strung engine with a lot of horsepower in a high, narrow powerband and no power (and torque) down low.

[Dwight]

my 302 / 354 makes it's hp / tq before 5500. I'm making 350 ft lbs of torque at 2500 rpms. I don't have any trouble hanging with my big block buddies and their 600 plus hp motors.
I run 3:55 gears and a TKO 600. Cruise at 1200 1500 rpms. 2000 rpms gets me 70 mph.

You need to consider your cruise speed. With the wrong cam or rear gears and you will have "trailer hitch jerk".

I think a street car / motor should make it's power from 1500 to 4500 rpms. That is the range we do most of our driving.

Dwight