This is the one - granted, poked and stroked, but a starting point -
http://www.hotrod.com/features/1601-strange-v-8-make-power-with-chryslers-obscure-poly-318-small-block/?_wcsid=0B0B7254F17974E28127318D25B35F60627E83D72411B456
There is an awful lot of valve train mass in this one, and I think you'd mentioned that the previous owner had installed flat tops in it.
Right now, without knowing for sure what kind of power and rev range you're targeting, there seems to be enough A block parts to make a reasonably priced bottom end, but if you want to maximize this one, it's not likely you'll find the parts through Jegs or Summit.
You would be surprised. Again, many LA engine parts fit and work fine in the engine. Timing sets, fuel pumps, distributors, valve springs, valves. Water pumps can be made to work. 360 cranks can have the mains turned down. Do the math on this, with a 360 crank you get a bore to stroke ration that is but a few thousandths from 90%.
Anyway the intake problem is sorted for now, Ordered up one of the Poly SS-X manifolds.
What I'm unfamiliar with here is how to make one survive at 5500rpm for 5 miles at a time.
Really what I'm going to have to do is build another power plant, and the current block is an issue. It's the one with the 1" extension cast into the back of the block and a funky crank to go with it. So, I'm on the hunt for a 63-66 engine, and really, that's not a big task. Actually I technically own one. I dumped my '64 polara at my parents house when I moved out here to oregon. That engine was freshened up about 2 years before I moved... I know it's all in good shape. It's just getting it to oregon from Indiana. Anyway this will require a trans swap and a drive shaft. Also I have leads on several poly cores from the era i'm looking for, and I can get them CHEAP.
There is time for all of this at a later date. Right now what I have runs good, and doesn't leak fluids. It's down on power, sure, but so what? I bet it's good enough to make 100mph at altitude and for first attempts, that's a good place to start if you ask me. With lower compression it's not going to over heat, it's extremely unlikely to break, and detonation??? yeah, right. I don't think the car would detonate if I filled the tank with coleman camp fuel right now. I'm gonna try that!
Anyway, For sure, this is what I'll run in september. Polyhead with low miles, but also low compression, Edelbrock AVS 500cfm carburator, MAYBE a bumpier than stock cam, maybe not, time, money, etc. H rated tires, drum brakes in all 4 corners, and my self assembled Heathkit CD igniton system triggered by stinkin' points. Unless my little brother pulls through for me and robs all the stuff I have on my poor ol '64 I left behind. I did an electronic ignition swap on that car, 65amp 3wire alternator swap, and a few other goodies. I kind of want to run the heathkit box for a bit for sentimental reasons. One of my elmers here in portland, K7KTP-SK gave it to me as payment for going up his tower, was still in kit form. Sure, I'll have to fight with point bounce, but hey, sometimes you do a thing because it means something to you. And that's this project all over if I'm honest. I'm running this car like this because I think it's the life the car deserves. This thing has dents in places cars shouldn't have dents, it's had a rough, rough life. Good natured car though.
I've said it before, I'll say it again. I can sit around crying about the parts I wish I had, or take what I do have, and enjoy it. I grew up on a farm in Indiana. If I spent my childhood worrying about the things I didn't have there wouldn't have been any life to live. Instead, I enjoyed the hell out of what I had. That's what I still do. People point, people laugh, I don't care. Some people get worked up about the end goal but that's never been my thing. My thing has always been in the doing of a thing and not so much about the outcome. Now sure... this attitude has, litterally on one occasion, ended up upside down and backwards in the lights. You get use to it.
