Ritter Dyno Mule

[Earlie A]

If you are interested in some back history on this project, go to this thread:

Cylinder head dyno shoot out

If not, here’s the short version. @NC Engine Builder is putting together a dyno mule motor for the purpose of cylinder head, manifold and other small block mopar testing. This thread is to document the progress and share with others. We are confident that the FABO community can help us learn a few things as well.

Here’s some short block specs:

Ritter block, 340 mains, 60mm roller bearing cam tunnel, 9.600” deck height, 48 deg lifter angle
Molnar 3.79” crank, 2.100” rod pins
Molnar 6.500” rods
Diamond 4.145” pistons, 1mm, 0.9mm, 2mm ring pack
Wet sump

More to come.

(Edited to answer questions asked below)

 

[rmchrgr]

Dry sump?

 

[Earlie A]

Dry sump?

Wet

 

[GGress]

Again, thanks to you and @NCEngine Builder for doing this

 

[4spdragtop]

 

[RustyRatRod]

What's the lifter angle on that?

 

[Earlie A]

What's the lifter angle on that?

48

 

[S'cuder]

I like how you still get to 408 cubes with a little less stroke and a little more bore the Ritter block allows.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

Here is the block after a week of heat cycles in the bake oven, and a trip through the steel shot blaster. There was a significant amount of casting sand and grit left in the block after the rough in machine work

 

[TurboGLH]

48

I'm curious about cam selection, were you able to source a 48 degree UGL blank, or do you already own the cam you plan to use?

if you're willing to share, what's the current price from ritter for a block?

 

[JDMopar]

@NC Engine Builder & @Early A , I'm sure you guys more than likely already know, but Ritter blocks use a different rear main seal than a standard 340 main seal. The good news is that is an off the shelf seal. A friend of mine got sucked into a dispute between the Ritter block owner and the builder who couldn't be bothered to resolve the massive oil leak at the rear main. Ben just picked up the phone and called Ritter. Ritter said get seal # ABC123 (made up number) and it sealed it right up. Looking forward to the build and results!

 

[MMissile]

The block is really designed for dry-sump applications. My engine kept filling the the heads/valley with oil, starving the bearings. My puke-tank for the vacuum pump, was filling with oil on a couple passes. Now that it's being rebuilt, we're adding oil-return holes in the lifter valley. I've talked with several good builders and Kent. The block is great... for it's intended purposes.

 

[Earlie A]

I'm curious about cam selection, were you able to source a 48 degree UGL blank, or do you already own the cam you plan to use?

if you're willing to share, what's the current price from ritter for a block?

Kent Ritter has some cams cores, Brett Miller often has them and Bullet sometimes has them. We do not yet have a cam. Still working on specs.

Block with finished lifter bores, finished cam tunnel and roughed in cylinder bores and mains is a little under $4k.

 

[Earlie A]

@NC Engine Builder & @Early A , I'm sure you guys more than likely already know, but Ritter blocks use a different rear main seal than a standard 340 main seal. The good news is that is an off the shelf seal. A friend of mine got sucked into a dispute between the Ritter block owner and the builder who couldn't be bothered to resolve the massive oil leak at the rear main. Ben just picked up the phone and called Ritter. Ritter said get seal # ABC123 (made up number) and it sealed it right up. Looking forward to the build and results!

We just bought the rear main seal and timing cover from Kent.

 

[Earlie A]

The block is really designed for dry-sump applications. My engine kept filling the the heads/valley with oil, starving the bearings. My puke-tank for the vacuum pump, was filling with oil on a couple passes. Now that it's being rebuilt, we're adding oil-return holes in the lifter valley. I've talked with several good builders and Kent. The block is great, for it's intended purposes.

@NC Engine Builder has some oil return plans. I bet he will comment.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

Will definitely be doing some oil return modifications. The trick is getting the oil back to the sump while avoiding the rotating assembly

 

[MMissile]

Yeah, I'm not looking to impress anyone with numbers. Just keeping the ******* thing together, so I can drive it. I only make passes on T&T days or track rentals. I have no interest in races, anymore. As long as the oil returns to the pan, I'm good.

 

[gzig5]

Here is the block after a week of heat cycles in the bake oven, and a trip through the steel shot blaster. There was a significant amount of casting sand and grit left in the block after the rough in machine work

View attachment 1716502894

Send it to me if you want to cryogenically treat it. I’ll just put it on the back porch for a couple days. Should be as good as sending to 300 Below.

 

[TT5.9mag]

Solid plan, well thought out and executed. Well done both of you. I’m in for this ride. I love the bore, stroke combo.

 

[gzig5]

Is the Ritter block replacing the 360 NC Engine Builder prepped for the original head test proposal? With the 48° lifter angle, what heads are on the agenda? Or I guess in other words what’s the general test plan for this new mule?

Edit....
Never mind. Just saw the explanation from Early A in the shoot out thread.

 

[Earlie A]

Nothing is set in stone. We still have both motors and hope to do some testing with both. I can’t imagine cutting up the Shockers or the Bloomers for the 48 deg block, so they will most likely stay on the 360/408. There’s a good chance the 360/408 will be for sale with a set of heads on it. We have rounded up many head options that we hope to test, but work happens, life happens and wives see the checkbook. We’ll see how it all shakes out. I just hope our plans aren’t bigger than our capabilities.

 

[ValiantRacing]

That bore and stroke is going to be a really good combo.

 

[ch1ll]

Send it to me if you want to cryogenically treat it. I’ll just put it on the back porch for a couple days. Should be as good as sending to 300 Below.

And he ain't lying, 15 miles away in Jackson. Where is all this global warming?

 

[9secRR]

what is the point of this? W2, W5, W8, W9 heads? W5's are better then W2's, nothing compares to W8 and W9's so what is there to test?

 

[Earlie A]

We enjoy wasting time and money.