Hi everyone, I've been lurking some and have to say. I wish you guys were here when I built my first cleve in the early 90's! Anyway I would like to use this engine for some SCCA road racing and some fun test and tune at the strip. The car is a 66 mustang, the engine is a 2v, oc rebuilt by PO with zero miles, good forged flat top pistons, and machine work done. I would (of course) like to get the most bang for the buck, should I zero deck, or just get some pop ups and do a cam change, maybe arp bolts, valves, springs,roller rockers,(there goes the budget)? Thanks in advance!

If you were looking for a compression increase, and want to stay with the 2V head style, bolt on some Aussie 2V heads. This should raise you compression about a full ratio I would think.
What cam do you have?
What intake and carb do you have?
Headers?
Zero deck sounds great on paper but is costly for what you actually gain....
Just for curiosity, why is your first question zero deck or domed pistons?

i found .035" deck clearance when i checked an uncut block with SealedPower 2298P flat tops.

removing the .035" deck clearance from the CR equation nets .61 of a CR point, bumping up from 8.69 to 9.33 figured with a 76cc chamber.

swapping on 64cc chambers makes 9.79:1 with .035 deck clearance.

64cc chambers and zero deck makes 10.64:1

not sure what the actual costs involved are but i'm gonna guess cutting the decks is the least expensive, probably less than a set of good Aussie cores. also the least gain.

zero decking a set of Aussie heads is obviously the most expensive and the most gain.

more gain, more pay'n.









"Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm" ~ James Madison

Hey Tinman, do you think I can get 400-500HP from a 9.33cr? Too bad they wont let nitrous on a road course!

i tend to shy away from the 'keyboard dyno', my machinist builder guy has asked me at least a couple times how much power i think my current build is gonna make... i give him a shrug and open hands every time. mostly because i really have no idea.

i recall a recent post by Dave Mclain touching on the finer points of road course engine characteristics, i don't know if they like a flat torque curve or to run like an RM125?

"Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm" ~ James Madison

I really enjoy road racing but it's at least $300 a pop, I dont mind getting my jollies at the strip which is only $20 for the night. I live about 10 miles from a track with both flavors! So I'm looking for a happy medium without being great at either.

Thanks for getting back, I'm looking for the least expensive HP increase. Since the engine has forged pistons I felt zero decking and milling the heads would bump the cr above the high 8s and save some cash. I do know speed ain't free so if I can make 400-500 hp with pop ups and a good cam,I'll do it. I have an Edelbrock 2v 4bbl performer, holly 750 dp, hand fabbed long tube 4v headers from the previous engine.I'm ready to start this project and am looking for some guidance from the gurus!!