I'm kind of curious about how much better my engine would run with a few modifications. I started digging around for pics and ideas, and performance potentials and I hit a FordSix web thread with all kinds of variations on Inline sixes: http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42347 The last page on that thread points to the software site: http://proracingsim.com/index.html From 1 to 12 cylinders? Up to 14,500 RPM? And all the cams and dimensions related to performance. For $100 bucks, it sounds like a good investment. Even just having the engine rebuilt will change its power output, so maybe a new cam shaft, or cleaning up the crankshaft and overboring the pistons by a few thousandths. At the price of gas today, making it efficient, this sounds like a good tool. I posted this free Trail version of another program that helps get SOME performance info. As a free Trail it only works for 20 days. Its ok, for getting used to this kind of software. The Standard version, at $40, might be OK. The Pro Version has more tools for $90. http://www.virtualengine2000.com/ Any one of them has got to help to ID the best direction for an engine rebuild. This Virtual Engine program was being used by Popular Mechanics in a Ford V8 build up article, the Pro Version, and I downloaded the Freebie. It doesn't do Inline Sixes, just V8s! It takes a bit of time to get it, but it seems fine. The first one is far more technical, and lets you plug in values to cam lobes and other data that the average guy wouldn't bother with - too much info - but when you get to the engine machinists, they'd know that you know, and no snow jobs. Don't you hate it when a guy that you have to trust, says "Trust Me!" Bend over first, its coming!
If you have any doubts about how to build your combination, contact Edelbrock or one of the other cam manufacturers. The usually have tech people who can offer practical advice to help you build your engine so it will perform at the level you desire. If nothing else, its a good baseline from which to start your process.
