I'm going through old RA V engine posts here- and found this thread- I did not even know that Rudy Dreyfuss had passed away.
Last time I spoke to him was 1998. Rudy actually returned my call long distance at his own expense, just to talk Pontiacs and RA V engines.
I was in the market for headers and cams at the time for my RA V. Rudy gave me a few RA V tips.
As you all may know, Rudy's RA V heads were "high ported" on the exhaust- like the old 351 Cleveland Pro Stock Fords were- the exhaust ports cut off to raise the port angle and increase flow. This helped relieve the excessive intake to exhaust port flow bias of the RA V head.
He also told me that he tried running the 455 crank, but his car was faster with the 421 crank. Destroking the RA V engine from 4.21" to 4" made it rev higher, so Rudy ended up making more HP due with higher revs, but with fewer cubic inches. If memory serves his engine was at maximum overbore and 4" stroke (?) He also said he was running a forged 421 SD crank cut down to 3" mains and put in a 400 block to reduce main bearing friction.
Obviously Rudy knew and used all the Pontiac racers tricks !
Just before hanging up, Rudy told me his car's weight and e.t. and mph- I have it written down somewhere on a piece of paper- he was running 8.30's at the time- he also said the Lenco trans knocked 3 tenths off his time and enabled him to run the 8.30's
When I was finished talking to him and hung up the phone, I put his car's weight and 1/4 mile speed in mph in a Moroso slide rule- the reading was over 850 HP !!
He was one dyed in the wool Pontiac guy. I'm happy to have been able to at least speak with him briefly. RA V engines do have a way of bringing people together. Sorry to hear he passed away- I often wondered what had become of him.
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