*We will use a lot of components off the original 572 we broke a cylinder wall in last July.
*Jesel rocker arms, Indy spray-bar valve covers.
*Comp Cams roller cam, pushrods and offset lifters.
*Indy 440-1 cylinder heads. I have had these for 7 years and Woody at RJ Performance keeps them working like a champ. There are not many sets of 440-1 heads out there that run 7.50 @ 180 in a 1900 lb dragster, but these do.
*We will probably dyno the engine with an APD gas carburetor to get some baseline numbers and if time permits we will hook up the injectors with alcohol and see what happens.
I want to add something here that is not technical or product related; building an engine to run in the faster bracket classes and be durable at the same time is becoming an expensive decision. I know this from experience, as many of you do as well, since we wiped out two engines last season. Our decision to go with the more expensive aluminum block and have everything done at one facility, in this case Ohio Crankshaft, so the entire engine package is the work of one shop is something I have not done since 2001 when we had Indy Cyl Head build our first 540" Wedge.
I think having one shop do the entire motor is cost effective and also builds a relationship between you and the engine shop that will allow communication to open up. When you can run some ideas or problems past your engine builder that he may have heard twenty times before there is a good chance he will have an answer for you, BEFORE you tear up an engine.
Well, it was a short tech update for this month. We had readers ask how we were coming along with the 572, now they know. The next article will dive into the assembly tips, ring choice and hopefully some impressive dyno numbers. Until March, I hope you pre-season preparation goes well and your season gets off to a good start.