[Franked]

Thanks for all the response, I feel it can handle 10-1, this guy builds some badass stuff though, so I don't really want to argue with him.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by Franked

Thanks for all the response, I feel it can handle 10-1, this guy builds some badass stuff though, so I don't really want to argue with him.

Not going to get many answers when the question is lost 19 pages deep in a thread.

Your compression should be matched up with the rest of your parts. The compression increase from aluminum heads varies, and not every case is the same. Small cam, manifolds and stock OTB parts (like a 260 cfm d ports KRE) with highway gears, you may only want 9.2 compression. Big cam, headers, 325 cfm ported KRE d port, single plane, deep gears…you may want 11:1.

My Pontiac 461 is well over 11:1 compression on 91 octane. It is a street engine, runs full timing, and has ported iron heads.

[1969GPSJ]

Jay, if anyone goes to the new posts, or today's posts buttons at the top of the page, or if they have subscribed to the thread, they will find this thread, and it will take them directly to this part of the conversation. So it isn't really lost.. I got an email notification for this thread when Franked posted an update.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by 1969GPSJ

Jay, if anyone goes to the new posts, or today's posts buttons at the top of the page, or if they have subscribed to the thread, they will find this thread, and it will take them directly to this part of the conversation. So it isn't really lost.. I got an email notification for this thread when Franked posted an update.

Carry on then…

[Stan65]

So after a long wait I have the prototype dog bones made. Hopefully in a few weeks I’ll have more info. Not sure what costs will be if I go forward with mass producing some. There are definitely limitations on the lifter to be used, and base circle considerations. They will require careful measuring for each application.

Stan

[68bird455-rollerCamLSlift]

Originally Posted by Stan65

So after a long wait I have the prototype dog bones made. Hopefully in a few weeks I’ll have more info. Not sure what costs will be if I go forward with mass producing some. There are definitely limitations on the lifter to be used, and base circle considerations. They will require careful measuring for each application.

Stan

@Stan
Hi Stan can I buy a set of those custom dog bones asap!?

[Stan65]

Tempest1964,

Thanks for the recommendation!

Much appreciated.

[Stan65]

All,

I just finished another run of dog bones (retainers).

This version has a little more clearance designed in that will hopefully eliminate all grinding on the bones to clear the different ribs on the different years of blocks. I also designed a different way to retain them that eliminates the need for the spider (you can still use the spider if you prefer). Which also eliminates the issue with the spider clearing the valley pan. I personally recommend not using the spider.

Anyone who bought the last version and is interested in the different way to retain them I can explain what to do and either provide you the part numbers to order yourself or buy them from me if you choose to not use the spider. If anyone’s interested in these, just send me a message. I’ve already sold about half of these. Thanks for all the support guys.

Stuart “Stan” Landreth

[Green Elephant]

Originally Posted by Stan65

All,

I just finished another run of dog bones (retainers).

This version has a little more clearance designed in that will hopefully eliminate all grinding on the bones to clear the different ribs on the different years of blocks. I also designed a different way to retain them that eliminates the need for the spider (you can still use the spider if you prefer). Which also eliminates the issue with the spider clearing the valley pan. I personally recommend not using the spider.

Anyone who bought the last version and is interested in the different way to retain them I can explain what to do and either provide you the part numbers to order yourself or buy them from me if you choose to not use the spider. If anyone’s interested in these, just send me a message. I’ve already sold about half of these. Thanks for all the support guys.

Stuart “Stan” Landreth

Looking forward to trying these out Stan!

[Franked]

So I posted my last without seeing a whole page there, Stan, I would probably want 2 sets of bones, if you get some done. After reading all the other posts, Maybe I WILL go 10.3 or 10.5 to 1, I had already talked to Kauffman about the CR, and they said lots of the engines are from 10.3 to 1 to 11.5 to 1 more octane on the higher compression.
Will update, I am still thinking of making the ford bones a little thicker, somehow.

[Stan65]

Finally got 12 sets of bones made. I’m keeping 2 sets and have sold 5 sets on FB in the last 24 hours.

This is the first run and possibly last depending on how this goes.

I know we aren’t supposed to sell in this spot, but there are people following this post that are interested. Hopefully the admin will let this fly for a bit so they can see it.

I designed these and work with a local machine shop to make them. These are Pontiac only. They are designed to use the sealed power HT-2148 lifter. This is commonly referred to as the “LS7” lifter. The ones that fit correctly at least on my 73 455 are the ones in the pic below. There are fakes and some revisions to this number that have been found so I included a picture of what the oil hole MUST look like to work.

This is for a set of 8 bones. Enough to do 1 V8.

You will have to put the kit together using the Ford spider and source the correct lifters. This will require a cam with a lobe lift under .340”. It will still require careful measurements to ensure the lifter oil band doesn’t go too high or too low and come out of the lifter boss.

If you know Teri Reed (Lady TaTa) she will vouch for me.

They are $200 a set shipped in the lower 48.

Either check, money order or PayPal Friends and Family. If you feel like you need to do goods and services, I have to up the price to $250. Thanks.

Stuart “Stan” Landreth

[1969GPSJ]

Franked, for what it's worth, I would hate to see you end up unhappy with your build, but these are just educated opinions, experiences and keyboard warrior stuff on the forum - maybe we are right, maybe we are wrong.

First question I would wonder about is the badass stuff he builds Pontiac? If so, that is a good start, but not essential - but if not, they really must listen to you about the nuances of building a pontiac engine.

Then, if he has built a number of successful Pontiacs has he built a number of aluminum headed Ponchos? Ultimately, what is his specialty? Not everybody is a "jack of all trades" "I can build anything and have it run well" builder like Smoky Yunick was (and others like him).

I would still highly recommend that you talk to Kauffman directly about the compression tolerance of their d port heads, and their thoughts on the proposed combination.
They have built record winning engines. They have hundreds of hours of dyno time with those specific heads and a variety of builds. I guarantee that no other builder has done that with Kauffman D port heads.

After talking with Kauffman, then I would suggest you sit down and have a discussion with your engine builder.

If you feel that you have to walk on eggshells to avoid pissing off your builder and your builder is a "my way or the highway kind of guy" and doesn't want to listen to your inquiries and suggestions and is stuck on low compression (and anything under 10.5:1 would be considered low) with aluminum heads, I would suggest that you may want to seek another engine builder. If a builder behaves that way, that level of arrogance is not a sign of confidence, it is the sign of bully focused on taking your hard earned money and not really caring what product they deliver to the customer.
You are spending a lot of money on the engine build to have the combination end up not working well.

I look at engine builders in kind of the same way I look at physicians/surgeons (and I used to work with a lot of those, as well as engine builders - the art of medicine is somewhat similar to the art of mechanical "stuff" and engine building - just the body is a very complex biological machine). I come to them (both) as knowledgeable about what I want to accomplish as reasonably possible, so that I know and what I want to do is likely to work out well.
I observe if they are listening to me, and then listen to their suggestions. If they are arrogant, and don't at listen to what I am trying to discuss, and do not calmly and rationally lay out their approach and why it is better than what I was thinking I wanted to do, then I will respectfully thank them for their time and find another option. Good luck with your build! I look forward to hearing about a successful project.

[Stan65]

Frank,

It’s gonna be a slow process. The good news, the block and heads are crack free, and the block is gonna clean up at .035 over. Ordered an Eagle 4.250 rotating assembly. It’s still “supposedly” 3 weeks out. Will then finish home the block.

The bad news, the lead time on parts is ridiculous.

I have been talking to Lee. It sounds like the cam blanks are a long lead time also. I have a dreaded XR276HR I can use as mockup, but without the actual cam I am gonna run, I won’t have an actual base circle to work with.

I talked to the machine shop we use for my work, and they are on board for making them and getting the “hardness” correct.

Thanks for the interest, I’ll keep this thread updated with my progress.

Stan

[Stan65]

Misticmissle,

I want to “make” a set of Pontiac specific dog bones. Able to accept the round part of the lifter coming out of the bore further while still capturing the flats. Also made for the correct bore spacing to stop the side to side movement of the bone like the fords do.

I already have the “ford” parts.

Thanks,
Stan