Hi Folks, I'm throwing this out there & will hopefully get some sensible answers. I was on another similar Mopar forum & was pretty much told I didn't talk the "same language" so they couldn't help & go away.
I'm in the UK & compete in vintage road racing for pre 66 cars. We have a great mixture of European cars entering including Ford Lotus Cortinas, Mini Coopers, Alfa Romeos etc. There is also a small but strong contingent of guys running 289 Mustangs & Falcons.
Now, the thing is I've always liked Mopar muscle cars & I'd really love to build a 273 Barracuda but as with all the other cars it has to be built to FIA racing regulations so no big blocks, 8 3/4s or massive brakes etc. The regulations basically mean I have to use parts fitted to the car back in 65, some limited mods are allowed.
I don't even have a car yet but am trying to put a plan together which makes sense.
Brakes, transmission etc I think I can work out, but I have questions about the engine.
I know the early 273 is basically a good strong engine with the forged crank etc & mech cam. I can't do a lot with the engine except clean up the heads, put in a slightly better cam & headers are allowed. I can also use all the "Formula S" spec parts. The engine will be properly built but bear in mind it could be spinning between 4000-7000RPM for anything up to an hour, do you think the rest of it will stand up ok & what kind of power do you think I could get out of it? For your info, the Ford 289s get 350-400hp with the same build restrictions.
Any help with this would be really useful, I want to try & make this work but if it's too hard I may go down the Mustang route.
I look forward to your replies.
I'm in the UK & compete in vintage road racing for pre 66 cars. We have a great mixture of European cars entering including Ford Lotus Cortinas, Mini Coopers, Alfa Romeos etc. There is also a small but strong contingent of guys running 289 Mustangs & Falcons.
Now, the thing is I've always liked Mopar muscle cars & I'd really love to build a 273 Barracuda but as with all the other cars it has to be built to FIA racing regulations so no big blocks, 8 3/4s or massive brakes etc. The regulations basically mean I have to use parts fitted to the car back in 65, some limited mods are allowed.
I don't even have a car yet but am trying to put a plan together which makes sense.
Brakes, transmission etc I think I can work out, but I have questions about the engine.
I know the early 273 is basically a good strong engine with the forged crank etc & mech cam. I can't do a lot with the engine except clean up the heads, put in a slightly better cam & headers are allowed. I can also use all the "Formula S" spec parts. The engine will be properly built but bear in mind it could be spinning between 4000-7000RPM for anything up to an hour, do you think the rest of it will stand up ok & what kind of power do you think I could get out of it? For your info, the Ford 289s get 350-400hp with the same build restrictions.
Any help with this would be really useful, I want to try & make this work but if it's too hard I may go down the Mustang route.
I look forward to your replies.