One engine with even better RPM potential than the 302 Chevy was the 289 Ford. That one has a 4" bore and a 2 7/8" stroke, and somewhat lighter-weight connecting rods and pistons. One of the local round track racers 40 years ago in the southeast USA was Red Farmer, who won just about every race he entered with a wildly modified 289. The last time I saw him race was about 8 years ago, at a little dirt track down the road from the Talladega superspeedway. He was driving a Camaro, and doing pretty well, at age 80!
I've got the bits and pieces of a 289 sitting in the barn now, and a C-6 automatic transmission that will bolt on behind it, and there's an 85 Ford Ranger pickup out behind the barn with a well-worn 2.3 liter 4-cylinder in it. Those parts are going to come together eventually, and I'll have a sleeper rig to embarass the kids with their rice rockets on a weekend stoplight cruise!
Jerry
