In my case. I'm a guy wanting a drag engine, on the street, but we all know that's just not gonna happen with most people.
I built a 427 Cobra back in 2000, and bought a ready running mild 428FE. It broke the rocker shaft at number one cylinder. I decide to rebuild it and had
Comp Cams grind me a solid flat tappet, 550 lift, 252/260 @.050 cam. I did some mild porting on the steel FE heads. Being a 360 sprint car racer I was never happy with the engine, just not enough power even in a 427 Cobra.
I worked with a engine builder on a aluminum 427 side oiler block, boring & stocking it to 527 cid, with all well known assembly parts. He ended up steeling it all, so that was over 10k.
15 years later I bought a complete Dove engine. The cam is weak so I'm replacing it, the lifters, springs etc. Brent here knows the story.
I'm going back and fourth on a hydraulic roller or a solid roller. With my recent illness, among other health issues, this will be my last engine and may have to stop driving in five years or so. I need to get as much power as I can,... out of this engine and might use a solid roller cam to get there. My intent here was just to ask about my subject, but this discussion relates to by cam type and specs. It's been a long time to save money and researching for the build and asking and learning as much as I can from several sources, as there's many ways to build a custom engine. I'd like to use pressurized solid rollers lifters, so they sound like they'll live on the street, unless you guys advise me to use hydraulic rollers ?
So, I'll be mainly driving on the street, but I'm always on the throttle in my Cobra, with up around 5,500 RPM or so. I drag the car a couple of times per season. I'll give you details tomorrow.