G'day guys, I need some help cause im going crazy trying to figure this out..im used to carbies!

So here is my idea:

Run a 13:1+ compression chevy 292 drag engine (ask for full spec sheet) through a MoTeC system or similar. Electronic fuel injection and run something like The LS series coil ignition system. And then run it through my laptop.

Even better I would like to run a full engine management system that includes water/meth injection. Any ideas on how to set this up would be appreciated

292
There are a couple guys building 292's in my area, I was interested in how you built (combination) your motor.
Thanks

Crklnsp, I haven't started building yet. The machine work starts in Feb but im 99% sure what im going to run

-60 thou overbore
-Venoila flat top pistons
-GRP 7.250" Aluminium rods
-ARP nuts and bolts throughout
-ATI 7" dampener
-Most likely an aluminium hybid head (out of second hand heads)
- custom 2" extractors
-custom EFI setup from LS series V8
-Custom Coil over plug ignition setup from LS series V8
- Custom ground camshaft (one 'stage' hotter than a similar 400 sbc)
-About a 100hp shot of NOS

Specs
- Dart SHP SBC aluminium heads (65cc comb.chamber- 200cc intake- 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves)
-13:1+ compression
-Running AVGAS
- Water injection (using washer fluid 50% methanol)
-Running through ECU and programmable through my laptop (if i ever figure out the wiring from coil to ecu!)
-Max RPM. 7,000

A full spec sheet with cam data and full machining information and why can me sent to anyones email, just ask

If you are going to that kind of work and quality on parts, why not use a Kirby head or start with LS Chevy heads? Either way, you will have actual individual ports for the intakes. Any fuel injection controller can be used. I like the Holley system. Some like the Megasquirt systems. Holley just came out with a new controller. Easier to use and more features. Tom

I am in australia and they are very hard to get. Also i thought the Chevy LS heads weren't the same bore spacing as the old 350 chev? Please correct me if im wrong but thats why the blokes running 350 chev (cast iron) can't just whack a set of LS heads on, rather they have to go aftermarket. With the EFI i am just going to make up a custom system that runs tuned length tubes, injectors from a junkyard LS series, maybe just flog some 6 throttle bodies off small toyota or something and run them. Any ideas on how to run this injection system and ignition system through a laptop? Just run a MoTeC M800 ECU? with data logging?

I don't know about bore spacing fore sure (I think they are the same) but the bolt pattern is completely different (only 4 head bolts per cylinder in the LS) and I believe the coolant ports are different too.

Not that relocating holes for water to pass through would be any kind of big deal on a project involving saws and welding.

haha yeah I know, I am already getting sad that I have to cut up some nice aluminium heads Google has just said that they have different bolt patterns, water holes and bore spacing. Looks like a set of used aluminium heads are the only option.

but some of the folks on here say I should be able to push over 500hp? with the right parts and HEAD. Well i have the parts, injection and time. Just need the head and well now I have my answer so all i have to do now is build the beast. Should be done by Sep. at the latest

haha yeah I know, I am already getting sad that I have to cut up some nice aluminium heads Google has just said that they have different bolt patterns, water holes and bore spacing. Looks like a set of used aluminium heads are the only option.

but some of the folks on here say I should be able to push over 500hp? with the right parts and HEAD. Well i have the parts, injection and time. Just need the head and well now I have my answer so all i have to do now is build the beast. Should be done by Sep. at the latest

The LS style head would be a much better choice for making a hybrid head than the older traditional Chevy V8 heads. Yes, the LS head/engine shares the same bore spacing as the early Chevy V8 engines. You can get any level of CNC port work in an LS head for the same money as the early head. Custom ground cam will be required, but no big deal there.

ah CNC dude we meet again I couldn't reply to your message for some reason? Yeah i read that they have had success running camshafts similiar to that of a Chev 400 small block? And say go one 'stage' hotter than the desired V8 camshaft specs. With the LS series head, well yeah I may aswell buy a second hand LS1 then!

The cam will have to be custom ground to match the LS heads valve arrangement as it will be different than the stock siamese port head valve arrangement. The LS head will make a better head for those considering a hybrid head project.

Yep, you know of anyone i can get a custom ground 292 chevy cam from?

Any cam company should be able to do that with no problem. Are you thinking of using a roller of flat tappet cam.

im leaning to roller cam, so do i just ring someone like Crane cams and ask them to grind me a Chevy 292 cam with 400 chev specs? that simple? surely not!

Well you will have to have some sort of lift and duration specs in mind for them to grind a cam for you.

It's not the lobe shape, but the "clocking" and position.
The Gen-3 L6 head has its valves in this sequence:
Ex-In-In-Ex-Ex-In-In-Ex-Ex-In-In-Ex
The LS1 is:
In-Ex-In-Ex-In-Ex-In-Ex

You might check with Delta Cams in Tacoma Wa. They do custom grinding. Go to their web site and ask some questions. deltacam.com

I still think that if you are going to stick two head hunks together to make one a good bet would be two hunks of 181 Mercruiser heads. It would make a 12 port, though not cross flow. All the holes would be in the right place and they have big valves stock. They make 140 HP on a 4 banger stock. Valve placement would be the same as the 6 and valve train is the some. Probably not as good as the traditional hybrid but so much easier.

yep righto, well about mercruiser they are cast iron right? I don't care about easy or hard, I have a year to build this and probably going to be the only one in Australia running this sort of combo so i want to do it properly. All I want is an engine that isn't limited by the head design, but by the cubic inch capacity or limited RPMs it can pull

anyway, this brings me back to the EFI..my theoretical setup goes like this:
( > means wired to)

Buick V6 injectors and bigger fuel rail > MoTeC M800 ECU
Buick V6 coil over plug system and wiring loom > MoTeC M800 ECU
Snow? Water/Meth injection system

Temp sensor, Throttle position sensor, Inlet air temp, Fuel pressure, oil pressure, RPM sensor, Water/meth injector sensor, Air/fuel sensor, knock sensor > MoTeC M800 ECU

which then runs through the ECU manager program to allow you to monitor, tune and anaylise the data..

any feedback?

You have mentioned 7000 max rpm. i have been doing alot of research on this motor as i would like to build one myself for dirt racing(high rpms) but everywhere i read, they say the harmonics are really bad after about 6000rpm. what is your plan for it to not have the harmonics?

Not have them?
Double-speed counter-rotating balance shaft.

As you probably found in your research, the 292 doesn't like RPM. A 250 would better serve you this application, and can make as much if not more HP than the 292 will. If you just have to use the 292, avoid sustained RPM at or near the harmonic zones, either rev higher of stop short of the range you find them to be. Unfortunately, every thing that you do to these engines to make more HP, also makes the harmonics worse, like more RPM, more compression and more HP.