Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

First you need to be honest with yourself as to what you want and how much do you want to spend .
/QUOTE]

This becomes the heart of it.  In the evolution of most grassroots builds, it's often missed, because what is really wanted costs considerably more.  Unfortunately, for most, the reality of that fact comes after spending cash on mismatched parts. 

There are countless times when grassroots builds are complete and the performance expectations are never achieved.  Then more cash is spent chasing the expectation.  Not cost effective, but certainly a learning experience (which is what life's about...).

The most common mistake is the wrong cam and valve springs.  The right ones can make a pretty basic pile of parts really sing.  That's the area where an experts opinion is worth every dime.  It's where I'd spend my hard earned cash.  But that's just my opinion based on what I've learned in my years of chasing performance. 

There are lots of ways to build an engine and for the most part they'll all start and run.  "Run" is a relative term!

This becomes the heart of it.  In the evolution of most grassroots builds, it's often missed, because what is really wanted costs considerably more.  Unfortunately, for most, the reality of that fact comes after spending cash on mismatched parts. 

There are countless times when grassroots builds are complete and the performance expectations are never achieved.  Then more cash is spent chasing the expectation.  Not cost effective, but certainly a learning experience (which is what life's about...).

The most common mistake is the wrong cam and valve springs.  The right ones can make a pretty basic pile of parts really sing.  That's the area where an experts opinion is worth every dime.  It's where I'd spend my hard earned cash.  But that's just my opinion based on what I've learned in my years of chasing performance. 

There are lots of ways to build an engine and for the most part they'll all start and run.  "Run" is a relative term!

Quote

If money's really tight, don't spend on parts that don't match. Wait and get the right ones. A $50 cam that works poorly is a lousy buy, particularly if you have to buy another to get it run right.

General guidelines I have learned:
Example #1: Big heads, single plane intake, big carb, big exhaust, little cam (custom), power from idle to as high it's built to spin. Good idle, lots of vacuum, good gas mileage, easy to live with.
Example #2: Small heads, small carb, dual plane intake, small exhaust, big cam like a Stage 2 (OTS) = soggy low end, peaky power band, low vacuum for power brakes, poor idle, crummy gas mileage and miserable to live with.

I've done builds at both ends. Example #2 really sucks. Spent all the cash on trying to get togehter and running and don't have funds to get it to run right. Example #1 takes more saving and planning, but it's sooo much more satisfying to have it work right!

We all have our learning curves. I did #2 builds until I learned better. Wish I knew better earlier! I would have save a bunch of time & money.

Hope you have good luck which ever one you choose.
I would like to add an op-ed to this.... #2 type build if done with some thought can be just fine for some people ,it depends on what the the car is going to be used for.
If going as fast as possible is your goal then #1 all the way ,
But for a daily driver that you just want a *little* more than stock that will NEVER see a track if the proper cam is chosen to match all the other components #2 type of build works just fine and when I say #2 build , I think Gt40s are "small heads " but they can be cammed to get decent mileage and vacuum as well as increased power with OTS parts .
Engines are not "one size fits all" First you need to be honest with yourself as to what you want and how much do you want to spend .
Again I say" the single biggest decision is the cam"

You're gonna get more driveability out of a #1 type buildup as opposed to a #2.....


Need proof?  Take a lightning 351 and throw a TFS stage 2 or an equivalent in it that will have proper PTV clearance.  Change NOTHING else on it.

Now take an LS1 and throw GM's stage 1 hot cam in it -- which BTW is smaller than a TFS2 -- and tell me which one when put on an engine dyno will run away from the other in both peak and average power output.  Average power output is gonna get you down the track faster as well as being more street friendly -- ESPECIALLY in front of an automatic transmission equipped car.


You can get #2 to work, but chances are you're gonna spend more than you want to.

SBFtech reference

Did you even read my entire post ?
 I confused on the point you are trying to make by quoting it .
 I said # 1 was better but a #2 would be ok for some people if done with  forethought and being honest with what they want .
 Not everyone wants to /can spent $1000 or more on a set of heads plus $300 or $400 on a custom cam.
I dont need "proof " for something I already agreed with, or is this an SBFtech type of response where there is only one way of doing things or it is "wrong"

What I don't even get is the reference to a LS1 motor.  Keep the thread on topic and post useful information pertaining to the thread and the OP.