[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by HoodPin

... Recalls for me the days of SCCA Showroom Stock, where dealerships were building "ringer" engines by scouring the parts bins (literally thousands of parts...) for weight-matching engine parts (cranks, connecting rods, pistons, etc) to build a "blue print" motor withough doing any machining. Not possible for the backyard entrant.

I've done this! Though mostly with associations with recyclers and my own resources. Once weighed and measure 44 Chevy pistons, 36 rods, and dozens of rockers and lifters, and speced three 283 blocks to find a good match for a 301 project! Almost as many MGB parts for a killer autoX engine

Originally Posted by Dr K

... I think my annual budget the other years was in the quoted range above).

Us too but touch a wall on either or both sides and the cost goes up fast!