Ask Tony Barker Tech Discussion

RCR HEI Distributor

feeds@yuku.com (45Celica) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:20:49 GMT

I have the RCR crate motor kit with the MSD Pro-Billet HEI distributor p/n 8365. What springs and bushing should I use and do I need to lock out the advance? It came from the factory with 2 heavy silver advance springs and a 21 degree advance stop bushing (blue bushing) already installed. Any tips is appreciated.
Thanks,
Bobby

TIMING

feeds@yuku.com (tonybarker) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:01:25 GMT

After sweating my hind end off in the dyno room today, I remembered something that we run into all the time with customers.
Whenever you get an engine from us, or anybody else, you have to reset the timing. Your MSD box, will pick up the signal anywhere from 4 degrees advanced, to 4 degrees retared from another box. This also means changing an engine from your primary car, to a backup car.TB

Oil Cooler Size

feeds@yuku.com (45Celica) — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:30:39 GMT

To run an external oil cooler on a 604 crate motor does it need to be a specific size? Will a stock Chevy Suburban cooler work or does it need bigger tubes?
Thanks,
Bobby

oil recommendation?

feeds@yuku.com (mod23) — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:42:47 GMT

What kind of oil do you think is best to run with alcohol. I've been running Royal Purple.

VALVE ADJUSTMENT

feeds@yuku.com (tonybarker) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:16:14 GMT

Liz isn't here yet, so I'll try to "wing it" on my own.
Valves should be adjusted, ONE valve at a time
The point to adjust the exhaust valve is just after the intake reaches full lift, and starts back up (closing). The exhaust valve is on the heel then.
The intake is on the heel when the exhaust starts to open, but wait until the exhaust valve is almost fully open, then the valvespring pressure will push it further away (do NOT let it get to full lift or start...

PISTON TO VALVE CLEARANCE

feeds@yuku.com (tonybarker) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:42:10 GMT

People ask me all the time, "If I go to a cam with more lift, am I going to not have enough P/V clearance?"
Of course you wont know until you actually check it, but LIFT (the TOTAL amount) has NOTHING to do with P/V clearance.
The Exhaust valve gets the closest at 8 to 10 degrees BEFORE TDC, and the Intake valve gets the closest at 8 to 10 degrees AFTER TDC.
At that timing event, a racing cam will have between .150 to .200 tappet lift, which is nowhere near full...

WEIGHT REMOVAL VS DOME VOLUME

feeds@yuku.com (tonybarker) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:32:26 GMT

If you ever need to lose some compression, for whatever reason, for every 2.8 grams you remove from the piston dome, it removes one cc.
This saves us a lot of time periodically, and can solve some problems you might encounter.
Say you can only find a piston on the shelf, with a 13 cc dome, but you need a 9 cc dome, and have no way to cc it yourself.
You simply mill 11.2 grams off the dome, provided it is a solid dome piston.TB

Changing Diameter of lifters

feeds@yuku.com (mherbert) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:09:15 GMT

Changing from 842 to 874 lifters. Will I have to change the camshaft?

NON-CHEBBY

feeds@yuku.com (DODGEN) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:07:07 GMT

TONY,SORRY TO ACT DUM,--ITS NOT AN ACT,WHAT IS A CHEBBY?

carb question

feeds@yuku.com (PHILLIPS20) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:21:47 GMT

bought a holley 4412 carb can you tell me what the standard size is that will pass a no go guage so i will know if it is legal dont know much about that may be my loss if its not legal just want to be sure cause it dont look like it has been bored are anything thank you for your help
thanks tim

GIMMICKS

feeds@yuku.com (tonybarker) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:14:07 GMT

I had the strangest call yesterday. One of the head honchos at Total Seal called me. He told me that he had heard great things about my engines, and so on and so forth.
Then he hit me with his sales pitch. "Are you running our rings"? I said when I need special sizes sometimes. He then asked, "are you using our gapless rings? I said bluntly, "nope". He said he could help me make a whole lot more power, and started telling me how great their product is, that most...

Fan for a spec motor

feeds@yuku.com (fat boy II) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:59:00 GMT

Tonny, we are running a legal super motor, on alcohol. We are currnetly running a large 4 blade steel fan. How much horsepower can we gain by running a smaller aluminum fan. What kind of fan do you recommend? Please help me convience my driver we can run a lighter aluminum fan to make more horsepower. WE ARE NOT HAVEING ANY OVER HEATING PROBLEMS!!!!! I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!

UMMMMM

feeds@yuku.com (ststkfan1) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:15:24 GMT

WAS JUST TRYING TO THINK OF SUMTON TO ASK TONY.... HAHAHAHA

RACEFAN FOR ALL TIMES...
LINNIE(BOMULE)LAMKIN

cams

feeds@yuku.com (azlady1) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:47:17 GMT

I am gonna run a1 raceway and they have a 500 lift rule.3,500 lbs car with 690 to 733 final gear.got a good cam for this and if so how much for cam lifters and springs.Thanks David

intakes

feeds@yuku.com (ugot86d) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:37:44 GMT

tony what is the best intake for vortec heads i have been told the victor jr but opinions are like well you know. i just need a good place to start shoppin for one.

gear for stroke

feeds@yuku.com (birdmanracing911) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:54:30 GMT

I remember when I ran a 400 motor in street stock I had to come off of my gear because of the long stroke. If I run a 3.250 stroke motor will I now have to go up in gear to compensate for the short stroke? Like 4.11 up to 4.56. Or do i leave the gear alone and just run more rpm?

Birdman

HEADS

feeds@yuku.com (tonybarker) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:50:02 GMT

For those people on a budget, the IK200 head is an excellent choice for a UMP engine. Under $1100 dollars, COMPLETE.
Look at Brodix's web site for an engine buildup using those heads.TB

FUEL PUMPS

feeds@yuku.com (tonybarker) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:52:17 GMT

For those people that run a fuel pump on the block (on gas), here are some things that we have run across lately.
Your pressure can be adjusted up simply by taking gaskets out, or down by installing them, or a thicker one. The preload on the pump can actually be used to change pressure.
Crate engine do not like more than 5 or 6 lbs of fuel pressure, same with Street Stocks.
On Late Model or UMP's, 7 to 9 lbs.
If your pressure has dropped, the first thing to look at would be to...

heads?

feeds@yuku.com (ugot86d) — Fri, 04 May 2007 18:41:21 GMT

would it be better to put the low flow or cheap made as i call them vortec heads or the cast old style heads with big valves in them i think i know the answer but wanna make sure.

Butch Tinnon

TBOYZ 86 RACIN

timing ?

feeds@yuku.com (ugot86d) — Tue, 01 May 2007 20:31:25 GMT

i have a stock lower end and basically stock heads and a decent cam. my timing is advanced 12 degree and wants to cut out and pop at end of str8 should i advance it to 20 degree or so thanks

butch tinnon
tboyz 86 racin
ugot86d