Posted by George on April 26, 1998 at 15:25:19:
In Reply to: 231 Tuning Questions posted by Henry Jacobs on April 24, 1998 at 00:20:31:
I would not disagree with anything that Jack Smith said. But I will tell you
that I used to drag race a 1950 Plymouth with a 218 six (shorter stroke than 230)
and I used to run it up repeatedly to 5000 RPM ( measured with a Sun
Super Tach...which by the way still works like a charm). No doubt the shorter
stroke aids high rev work, but this speed even amazed me an I was just a kid! Then I
would drive it home and to school et. It never broke...must done 50 of those runs with
full throttle shifts at 5000 RPM.
Being a scientist (well pre-scientist then), I made many measurements to determine
the best spark timing, carb jetting and shift speeds. Carb jets richer or leaner
made no measureable difference. Spark timing was best at about 8-10 degrees BTDC.
Two things that did make a big difference, I milled the cyl head 60 thousandths and opened
up the exhaust to run straight out. Those changes cut nearly a second of my ET
getting me down to something like 19.5 seconds. My big thrill was beating the Corvairs
and Falcons in my class. A guy with a 50 Ply business coupe that weighted a few hundred
less than my 4 door always beat me.
But NO...I don't now recommend doing this with a 230 or even a 218.