[DeTomaso] what have i got?

[CharlesMcCall]

- i believe i have what is known as a solid lifter engine, correct? - in
what way does that differ from a hydraulic lift engine? what is valve lash
and why does that seem to be so burdensome with a solid lifter engine? - is
there anything special one needs to do to maintain a solid lifter engine v.
a hydraulic lift? - why do people alwasy question whether a solid lifter
engine is "streetable"? - why wouldn't it be?
****Yes, you have a solid lifter engine. I have one too, if that makes you
feel better, and I like mine! The "burden" comes because once a year or so
you need to adjust valve lash, which is sort of a pain. Mine is  a CompCams
282S

Solid lifters have a small gap or slop designed in, a gap between the
pushrods and roller rockers. This gap is the "lash", and it is important to
have the proper gap. Hydraulic lifters do not have this gap, and self adjust
up to a point so they don't require any maintenance. Solid lifters allow
higher revving and at least in the past were traditionally used in race
applications. A race engine will have solid lifters, but not all solid
lifter engines are race engines - perhaps that is why people are asking if
your solid lifter engine is a race engine or a street engine. 

- with respect to these heads, are folks familiar with them? - i believe
they are from australia - what positive attributes do they have? - anything
special about the design (flat top) or build?

- what do people think of this build generally? - is it a high quality
build? - does this seem like a "streetable" engine or one that is designed
primarily for racing?
****"Quality" is hard to judge by a parts list, but there are some quality
parts there - Keith Black pistons, Felpro gaskets, etc. Is it streetable?
We'd need the cam specs to really answer that question. The compression
ratio appears correct for street use and pump gas. If it makes 500hp on
385ci, one could assume that the cam is a rather aggressive cam, and it
would be interesting to know where it made its power - I'd guess at rather
high rpm, which makes it more of a race-oriented motor.

Is it streetable? You need to drive it to tell. A race engine would be doggy
and sluggish down low, and would feel as though it had little power until
perhaps 4000 or 5000 rpm, at which point it will wake up and scare the hell
out of you! It might not idle at all below 1500 rpm, and pulling away
smoothly from stoplights will be difficult. If your car doesn't do this,
then you're fine. 

In summary, the parts list looks like quality parts were purchased. It is an
aggressive build. You'd need to drive the car to see if it is simply a
"strong, moderately aggressive build" or if it has crossed the line to a
race engine and simply is not fun to drive on the street. 

Hope this helps. 

thanks
stephen
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