[David Briggs]

I am always amazed at how disappointed people are if their engine does not make 500hp, one friend of mine would not pay the engine builder until he had a dyno sheet for 600hp, I watched several dyno sessions and this engine made about 576 pretty consistently with a lot of torque, the engine builder was finally able to come up with a 600 hp pass after he used every trick and device he had, most of them would make the engine very difficult to drive on the street, My friend was happy, he has a sheet with the magic number but I suspect that this engine will produce about 525 hp in the car and I will still be able to run rings around him with my weber equipped 347.
The essence of these cars is hard to capture, some one will always have more horsepower or money and we can all get a lighter. faster car than a 40 (RCR Lola, Penske PC 7 Indy car?), The webers and the 180 degree exhaust are a big part of what makes this car for me and I think that you will find your 331 will easily allow your car to exceed your capabilities (I do not mean that in a negative way, any of us could easily outdrive Dan Gurney or any of the fine drivers from that period!).
Your 40 looks great, enjoy it.
IMHO
Dave