80/20 Rule
I like to brainstorm first
First: Compression ratio
Second: Camshaft selection, advance or retard
Third: Rear gear/tire height, which works with camshaft
Fourth: Carburetor
Fifth:Exhaust
Sixth: timing and distributor curving then carb jet and rods combo which works best.
And somewhere in there a shift kit if it's an auto and some Advil.
To me you got to start with a ruff idea then go over the requirement over and over again unlit you nail it down.
1st would what I'm willing to live with drivability idle gearing money spent etc..
2nd would be were I want the powerband to be idle-5000 rpm, 4000-8000 rpm etc..
3rd is how much power I want to make within 25 hp.
2 & 3 will tell you how much cylinder head you need and what displacement is required and strength of the parts or you got to make some compromises on 2 & 3 .
4th cam
5th then the CR I would need for the cam and gas I'm using, the only way I'd switch cam/cr is if cr is fixed.
6th gear & stall
7th carb intake exhaust etc..
8th tune for best performance, which might include change out for other parts cam carb exhaust etc..
I don't get why you see CR as 1st?
I could see like doing coatings and lower under hood temps and other things to allow for the highest, but still don't get why the 1st.
Cause say someone just says 10:1 it might force them go with more cam gear stall then they wanted to, not saying you would but see on here all the time, people build an engine 10:1 or and then ask what cam they should use but the also want highway gears no stall and decent idle etc.. lol
