So from what you have said here, as well as what I read from the rule
book regarding "engine swap" definition, as well as the "production
category" rules, It is correct to make the following statements:
The "production category" engine needs to be:
1) The engine production family for the vehicle used. Example: if car
came with small block Chevy, anything that you could stuff in a small
block Chevy size dimension block/heads is OK.
2) Any manufacturer block can be used, as long as it is the same
dimensions as stock, same material, and all OEM parts could be bolted
on or to it in the same location.
3) Any head can be used, as long as it is the same dimensions as stock,
same material, and all OEM parts could be bolted on or to it in the
same location. It must have the same number of valves, and same port
configuration. The number of valves is obvious, but I guess same port
configuration means you couldn't take a SB Chevy head and turn it into
a 426 Hemi head? But any porting of a factory type head is OK?
4) As far as the rest of the engine parts, ANYTHING goes? Any crank,
rods, pistons, valve train, intake, fuel injection, carbs, ignition,
oil system, cooling system, exhaust, oil pan, timing cover, valve
cover, and cam. As long as the OEM parts could bolt back on to the
block and heads used, and as long as my parts used would drop right in
a OEM block and heads?
5) The engine does NOT need to drive any of its' normal auxilliaries,
meaning it does not need to drive the alternator, oil pump/oil system,
vacuum pump, water pump, or fuel pump. The only thing the engine would
need to power from the combustion process is turn the crankshaft and
its' valve train and distributor, and send power to the transmission.
Clearly, I couldn't just add a big electric motor to the crank to help
power the car. (unless hybrid class), but I was concerned that by
removing the parasitic drag of the oil, water, and fuel pumps, that I
was breaking a production class rule, taking away drag that a "production"
engine normally needs to drive. Or that by using an external vacuum pump,
that I was somehow "adding" power to the motor, somewhat like adding an
electric motor to the crank.
Perhaps the answer to my question seems pretty obvious, but I am not sure if
the rules work by allowing me to only do what the rules SAY I can do, as
opposed to that I can do anything, unless the rules say I can't. I
guess I need to learn how to read between the lines? Or think more
like what I can get away with? (in a creative sense).
Thank You,
Jeff Follin