[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

I just want to race without being called a Communist !
I draw the line at cranks and rods, No Chi Com heads for me .
But....................... I do have some Speedmaster T400 parts.
Its a tough deal racing these days without some overseas stuff.
Even the good valves come from Argentina !

This is exactly what I was talking about without getting political and having this thread closed. You have decided Chinese cranks are OK and rods as well. You have decided Chinese heads are not OK. That is just fine in my book. It's your personal decision. If we want to remain in this hobby which is very small and getting smaller every year, do we really want to make blanket rules about how to build engines and what parts inside make us a "patriot" or a "communist"? I am nearing 70 years old and the finish line is in site. For me, I make a concerted effort to "buy American", whenever I can. But I am not going to let this pursuit consume me as the only thing I can accomplish every day. Life is too short IMO. When buying high dollar items like home heating systems, appliances, tools, and yes car parts, I really make an effort to buy American whenever possible, almost always paying more for the product, or accepting a lower rated product to buy American and then adding an extended warranty to offset the lower quality American product. That is about the limit of what I personally feel I can afford to do. My "American" home heating system and appliances still contain some foreign components, just no way around it. Even my 100% American made TV, "Element Brand", made in Detroit, USA, has some foreign circuit boards inside. You can spend your whole life going down this rabbit hole. It's almost as complicated as having a consensus decision about what determines if your Pontiac V-8 is a "real" Pontiac.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

I just want to race without being called a Communist !
I draw the line at cranks and rods, No Chi Com heads for me .
But....................... I do have some Speedmaster T400 parts.
Its a tough deal racing these days without some overseas stuff.
Even the good valves come from Argentina !

I hope that isn’t an internal T400 part like a drum that could come up thru the floor. That is right up there with their connecting rods, but at least I have never heard of any of SM’s rods that anyone has even been able to make work.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I hope that isn’t an internal T400 part like a drum that could come up thru the floor. That is right up there with their connecting rods, but at least I have never heard of any of SM’s rods that anyone has even been able to make work.

Yes they are forward and direct drums, 300M input and intermediate shafts, 36 element Super Sprag and oversized center support. 8 frictions and steels drums.
I am more worried about a cast iron drum than I am about a billet aluminum drum. Iron is much more brittle and way heavier.
I was planning on using one of their SFI cases but I will put this stuff in a OEM case with a blanket. maybe the big plastic SFI trans cover they make. or I might make my own out of 1/4" steel. My track would let me do it. Stronger than any blanket.
I took the parts to a local transmission shop that builds racing 400s, he likes the parts.
If you lunch a transmission at least it down not take your engine out. Tore up a few.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

Yes they are forward and direct drums, 300M input and intermediate shafts, 36 element Super Sprag and oversized center support. 8 frictions and steels drums.
I am more worried about a cast iron drum than I am about a billet aluminum drum. Iron is much more brittle and way heavier.
I was planning on using one of their SFI cases but I will put this stuff in a OEM case with a blanket. maybe the big plastic SFI trans cover they make. or I might make my own out of 1/4" steel. My track would let me do it. Stronger than any blanket.
I took the parts to a local transmission shop that builds racing 400s, he likes the parts.
If you lunch a transmission at least it down not take your engine out. Tore up a few.

Ah. I was afraid it was billet steel drums from SM. Should be much less likely to have an issue with a billet Aluminum drum safety wise.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by Jay S

Ah. I was afraid it was billet steel drums from SM. Should be much less likely to have an issue with a billet Aluminum drum safety wise.

I would like to run this. Looks very interesting. Fixes a lot of T400 issues.
But 3K
I already spent 1,500+ on the SM stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpR-flNihKg

[misterp266]

If you run early forged rods, you need to install one of these gauges!

[steve25]

How did this go from rods to trans parts?

[P@blo]

Originally Posted by misterp266

If you run early forged rods, you need to install one of these gauges!

That's funny but accurate at the same time. There are far better alternatives without the confirmation bias