[Matt Meaney]

I don't know Don, last pic I saw of you, it looked like you could loose a few pounds. and there will be plenty of time to sleep after your dead, many years from now. you know, just sayin'

I think the saying "quality takes time" applies here. with your standards, it will be worth the wait.

[tom s]

Im looking for proof that a race head with a pushrod in the port can make HP over 8K range!For a street engine in the under 6500 range its NBD.If you want a true race head and want to invest in ANY head you will want to see it perform on the dyno and back it up on the strip.I BLEED RA V and I dont believe they will work as well as a port without the obstruction.SOOooo if you want a lower RPM engine just buy almost any head.To invest in the system for a true race engine I kind of want some R&D.I have great respect for Don and his project BUT I dont know of any true HIPO HI RPM race engine builder that wants that stuff in the port.JUST ME!Tom

[RAMAIR RICK]

Tom, that is exciting that you BLEED RA V, and it sounds like you are planning or wanting to build an 8,000 plus High Horsepower DCI Ram Air V. Back to my question, what performance are you wanting other than rpm? 1,000hp? 1,200hp? NA, Blown, Turbo, or Nitrous? I have a couple friends building some very heavy hitting DCI Ram Air V headed engine combinations. BOTH will be far North of 1,000hp.

[tom s]

I want to see a N/A HI HP engine in the 2 HP plus per CI!No power adders!Tom

[dci]

Tom it's a little tough for me to tell if your for me or against me right now?????? I have a riddle for you, what limits rpms besides mass? I can tell you that pushrod tube in the middle of the port is not it for sure. We have a little bigger obstruction in the way called a valve that limits the port even more. Cross sectional area is the same no matter if it is one hole or divided in two holes. It cannot change if the area is the same for either one. I understand you want to see results and so do I. Unfortunately or Fortunately I guess it depends on how you look at it. This is not a hobby for me it is the way I earn a living. So if I want to continue making a living and still be able to invest in a product line that you as a consumer can buy. I have to put the customer first or I will not be able to generate an income. I wish more than anyone that this stuff just fell together and didn't cost so much, but I don't live in never never land and haven't hit the lottery yet. So please understand my position we have all seen what happens when a product gets all hyped up and rushed through the system in any endeavor whether it's cars, shampoo, or widgets. I do understand everyone's anticipation and I too have the same anticipation, but I refuse to cut corners for immediate satisfaction. Maybe I'm wrong and maybe I should let some things slip through the cracks, but my nature will not allow it. I'm not against someone investing a pile of money and paying my wages for me and my guy's, my bills and utilities for 6 months to a year, and funding the parts I need so I can get this project finished up though LOL!!!! Any Takers !!!!

[J.C.you]

Don, left a message on your ans. machine.

[tom s]

Don,im for anything that pushes our hobby ahead.Im just not a believer of ANOTHER obstruction in the port.You know im a long time V guy.Im not from MO but please show me!Tom

[dci]

I hear you Tom, no hard feelings on my end. I'm just under allot of pressure right now with all that I have going on here at the shop and on top of it all spring is here. My busy season starts right now and I'm already behind the eight ball LOL.

[RAMAIR RICK]

I wanted to share, that for me Don is helping make a dream of mine Finally come True since I was 17 yrs old. I am currently 51yrs old. That being said at 17yrs old I seen Bill Foder? running a Firebird with a Pontiac and Ram Air V heads on it, and he was running in the 9's at the time, in the 1970's. THAT TOTALLY Blew Me away!!! I could not believe a Pontiac could be that fast. Ever since then I drew a picture of a 1970 GTO pulling the wheels at the starting line and with Ram Air V on it's front fender and 9:38 on the window. I still have the drawing of it. For me I am at a stage in my life that either I sell my parts and car, (my 1968 GTO Ram Air II) or I build MY Dream Ram Air V engine and have a 9 second Pump Gas Hydra. Roller, EFI modern version of the Ram Air V and the drivability to enjoy it on the Woodward Cruise. I live about 7 miles away from Woodward, as well as the many cruise nights. Popping my hood for people who can appreciate a Ram Air V engine will truly enjoy my modern version of it, with Don's high quality DCI Ram Air V heads and intake. I am building MY Dream, and the reality is Don has the parts for you to build yours too. I would love to hear your story or reason why you want to build YOUR own Ram Air V engine. So I ask, what kind of performance are you looking for before you purchase your own set of a modern version of the Fantasy Ram Air V heads????

[tom s]

I have built at least 7 RA V engines from 366 CI to 455 CI.Been there done that.I would like to build a all alu V engine when someone can prove to me that any after market V head is better.I drive a 366 NASCAR V engine car almost every day.I have built short deck V engines,a alu factory block V engine.Have owned almost ever rare piece of pontiac V stuff.Tom

[RAMAIR RICK]

Tom, That sounds like you have built, experienced, and have and do enjoy Ram Air V engines. Many people have not even heard one run yet alone drive one or ride in a car with one. Wow, I for one would just love to ride in a car with one. Funny that you are wanting to build an all aluminum Pontiac Ram Air V headed engine, because that is exactly what I am currently building. I am starting with an MR1-A Aluminum Block and Don's DCI Ram Air V heads as well as his intake. My Pump Gas engine will be approx. 550ci., so it should be a very drivable, an with Hydra. Roller cam, and EFI 4500 series Accufab Throttle Body, and able to Rev and make power in the 6800-7200rpm range, when I step on the LOUD pedal.

Tom, out of the full range of Ram Air V engines that you have built and driven, which size or combination did you like best, and what size would you recommend based on your great RARE exposure to so many different sizes and configurations?? Your suggestions may help others here make a decision which sized Ram Air V, that they would build, after hearing your thoughts.

[slowbird]

So what sets the RAV head apart from the other Pontiac heads?

[tom s]

My favorite was a 4.125 stroke engine.It was in my factory alu V block.I will tell you now,dont expect a huge change in seat of the pants feel!Its just another air pump!You want to build a unique looking pontiac engine,I understand that.Dont be taken back when someone asked you why you put a ford in your pontiac!The 3 Cs are required for a proper package.Carb(induction),cam and Compression.Don did one of my V engines and it was a great package.I could take you for a ride in my 421 tempest,wont fell any diff with V heads or SD heads with the 3Cs being equal.Build your dream,enjoy it and dont look back.Im lucky being old,bleeding RA V and know where the bodies are buried,I can make a call and buy run ing factory V headed engine today.Tom

[tom s]

V heads have separate intake and exhaust ports,do not have 2 exhaust ports together to hurt head gaskets.They have tennis ball size intake ports.Tom

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by tom s

My favorite was a 4.125 stroke engine.It was in my factory alu V block.I will tell you now,dont expect a huge change in seat of the pants feel!Its just another air pump!You want to build a unique looking pontiac engine,I understand that.Dont be taken back when someone asked you why you put a ford in your pontiac!The 3 Cs are required for a proper package.Carb(induction),cam and Compression.Don did one of my V engines and it was a great package.I could take you for a ride in my 421 tempest,wont fell any diff with V heads or SD heads with the 3Cs being equal.Build your dream,enjoy it and dont look back.Im lucky being old,bleeding RA V and know where the bodies are buried,I can make a call and buy run ing factory V headed engine today.Tom

Good post!!

[RAMAIR RICK]

Tom thanks for sharing what was your favorite Ram Air V engine with a 4.125 stroke. What Bore and what rod length did you go with? What size engine was it? Did you ever try a longer stroke engine with Ram Air V heads? Do you know any Pontiac Racers that raced Ram Air V engines? If so can you share? The history of the Ram Air V engine and just how BOLD Pontiac was at that time in history, while they were at their PEAK, is quite amazing what they did and what they had to work around. This engine and its history is Pontiac's version of Chevy's ZLI of the 60's. Both Very fondly remembered and wanted by many. So we are lucky with Don's help, we can now design and build our own version of the historical Fantasy Ram Air V.

[tom s]

The history is not for Dons thread.I have built 4.210 stroke and bores as big as 4.190.I have never done a aftermarket block.I know they like big lift and RPMs to take advantage of their large ports.As I said its just another air pump.ANY good engine builder should be able to build a good V engine.The engine Don built for me actually was a 4in stroke and he used a shorter rod.I have never been a long rod guys,virtually all me engines have been stock length rods.I have only built pump gas street N/A engines.Tom

[dci]

If you guy's can't tell Rick is really excited about finally getting to build his child hood dream engine. There are few things in life that make people really happy and cars with lots of HP are one of them. Rick came to me at Norwalk the first year I had my first prototype head there, and (keep in mind he is an engineer type of guy) he literally used dial calipers and note pad in hand to record data from my heads LOL. So to say he is excited is an under statement. Thank you Rick for being one of my best supporters!!!! It's guys like you that make it fun for me and my guy's.


Tom can probably share more RA5 stories than almost anyone out there. He has been into RA5's for as long as I can remember and has possessed some really exotic pieces. A few other guys that come to mind that could share some RA5 stories are Nunzi, and Jerry Steinbeck. These guy's actually raced with RA5's back in the day and ran 8's before anyone else was barely breaking into the 10's. Nunzi and Jerry both were making right around 2 HP per cube back in the day without today's technology.

The RA5 platform leaves allot of room for growth as well as durability. The RA5 heads are not limited by CSA like other Pontiac heads and the divorced exhaust ports help disperse the exhaust heat more evenly over the heads. There is a couple of good articles on the web that talk about a cylinder head that Junior Johnson tried secretly on his Nascar engines around I believe 2007. Nascar quickly snuffed it out because it gave him a huge advantage horsepower and torque wise, literally letting his cars lap the competition. That head was a split port or tunnel port design like the RA5's. Some of you may already know this, but the RA5 head is a copy of the Ford Tunnel port head form back in the day.

[dci]

Getting a little closer !!! Just finished checking rocker arm geometry last night and everything looks awesome. I am using a 7/16" pushrod and it is only going to require minimal clearancing maybe about .030". After machining the piston reliefs to get them in the correct location my piston to valve clearance is way more than I need. That's one of the benefits of having a 10 degree valve incline. It moves the valves away from the piston making more room for big lift and duration.

[chuckies76ta]

Don, looks nice. What brand rocker shaft?

charles