We know it's a 292. We had a discussion going for a wile about putting the 292 crank in a 250 block. They still want to make that effort this winter. somewhere in this thread there is a youtube video we did for a laugh where we show the deck height problems with the 292 crank.
Just wondering why no front suspension? My other comment is you guys designed your own rules so you could run junkyard engines... "no high performance" stuff as you said but you already have bigger valves and a shaved head... pistons and camshafts are not far behind IMHO. When I was a racing promoter the general feeling among track operators was that it took five years before an "economy" class got too expensive due to rules changes allowing more $$$ to be spent on what were considered, at first, to be "entry level"... car counts were good at first and waned as the cars became more expensive. Hope this doesn't happen to you guys...
It is a junkyard engine. The rationale is to excercise some common sense by being able to start with a 150hp engine and have decent speed, rather than start with a 100hp engine and stuff in $3000-$4000 to get to 150hp . We did all that engine stuff ourselves other than a few bucks for valves and gaskets, I don't think we're out $100 bill. Bottom end is shot. You're right pistons and cams are not far behind. I suppose we'll be out $700 to overhaul it this winter. Still miles ahead of anybody starting with 100hp trying to get to 150-200hp so they have a decent ride. I suppose car count is good. I think if you check a map though, none of that applies to us up here...we're it for a 700 miles in any direction. We have this car for ourselves, and we're building another one for ourselves. No other interest. And frankly, I have no desire to "help" anybody else build that cage... ...lol... We built it in the spirit of fun. and changed the rules to save ourselves time, aggrivation and work with the parts we had laying around. As we're only racing ourselves. The original HA/GR rules were Ryan's vision. It got us interested. This car is "our" vision to suit our area, parts and level of interest. True to the letter HA/GR? Nope. And as we're not racing any of the other 20 or so HA/GR cars, it's just fine by us, as is. I think if anything could be taken from building these cars is, build it, and enjoy it, YOUR WAY. I'm a fabricator, that's my level of interest. Rigid front, no particular reason other than we thought it was cool. I suppose it saves a few pounds too. Mostly though, it just looks "sleek", minimal and purposeful. I like the appearance of it that way.
vector, It's sure nice to get a vote of confidence from your local tech guy. Way to go! The car looks very nice.
Thanks Gents. We just finished loading everything up. We're heading out in 4 hours. Be nice to get 3 hours of sleep... Herminator is loaded on my buddys trailer. I'm gonna meet them at the track around 8am. Help get the car through tech, and video the maiden runs (engine smoke and all)...lol.... I'll hang there to watch 2 passes and head out to Denver. Won't be until I get back that I get video posted (wednesday or so). If I can get decent internet in a hotel, I'll post times. I'm swapping a race car with a guy from Texas, and then heading out from there to Seattle for some dyno time. 3500 miles in 5 days.... Why do we do this to ourselves?...
The Herminator's brother was over at the shop tonight. He's part of our fabrication crew. He's got it in his head that now we should build an altered off my Mark Williams blueprints and stuff a 292 in it. But still with an un-narrowed rear end, and maybe a spindly little 9" slick or something. Something rigid in the rear with front suspension. This particular 292 engine they want to get 300-350whp out of. Our machine shop buddies are already scrounging parts... *groan*... He's got inline fever PRETTY BAD. At least that's what I'm calling it. He wants that vintage appearance, but wants to take it more to the next level. 5:1 power to weight ratio... that's the start to a good recipe. Stupid in-line motors putting a smile on our faces...
Yep, the addiction has set in. You have a dang nice car there. I'm tickled to death that your crew stuck with the inline format. Hopefully you'll spawn a great local class for yourself, complete with a secret handshake etc. Hud
At some point you'll find that a wide rear tread and a short wheelbase don't work well together. Back "in the day" the altered gas/fuel guys figured that out after crashing way too often... maybe on an 1/8 mile your speeds won't be high enough for it to matter. But once you start cracking 125+ those swb cars get pretty squirley with a stock width rear. I guess I still don't understand the solid front end but if it works for you go for it. I still like the old IMCA modified engine claim rule ($350.00) that allowed the feature winners engine to be claimed by either another competitor OR the promoter. I claimed a few as a promoter and then promptly gave the engines away in a raffle. The claim rule didn't keep the guys from spending too much on their engines BUT it made it hurt a little if they did get claimed or they gave up their season points and point fund money. Just realize that sooner or later you'll get some guy with real deep pockets build a 292 that makes 400 HP... or more.
I'm in a hotel parking lot in Denver. You guys have been along since we starrted, and I couldn't wait 4 more days to post. Crowd dug it, and tech was no problem. Everything up to code. They let us make the first pass of the day as a solo while the announcer explained the car to the crowd. Good folks. we made 3 passes. I'll explain more,and post pics and vids around Wednesday. Car ran 9.4@74.14 9.6@72 spinning 9.2@72 1/8th mile. Old engine is smoking pretty bad. We have 1 more race in 2 weeks, and they're gonna get it completely rebuilt. Probably before I get back. I think the engine is out already... .lol... Thanks everybody, On the road in Denver, -Vector
We are those guys... So that doesn't bother us. Appreciate the the note. but up here, it's just gonna be us... playing with ourselves.
"When the engine blows, We're gonna find another one for $100 and put it in. Problem solved. No hi-performance cams, no hi-performance pistons, no aftermarket. Bolt in your rock stock engine and let it rip." ????????? Good luck on your next runs...
That'll be harder than you think in a five point harnerss. Oh well, with the extra hair on your palms at least you won't need to spring for one of those leather steering wheel covers.
, we're still subscribing to that "idea". there is a downside to that.I suupose I'm a little to optimistic in what a person gets for a $100 engine.. Turns out, it's hard to scrounge-up, at least for us, a pile of running 292's for this car. so far, this was it. and in all my scroungings, I've only managed to scare up (2) 235's, a 230, and an integral head 250. I'm still scrounging.. they did a compression check on 292, highest hole did 114, lowest hole 71, most were in the 80's and 90's. They are of the opinion that only 4 of the 6 holes were even doing much... already disassembled and ready for a rebuild Tuesday. Maybe we can pull a mid 8, or break 80mph with a fresh engine!!! Here's to hoping. We'll find out in 12 days when we're back at the track. 9.2 puts mid to low 14's on junk stuff, and we're happy as heck with that. I'm hoping we'll see a nice improvement with actual compression. from the road, back in Montana, on the way to Seattle... -Vector
Vector, Do you have the 60 foot times? I ran a 9.98 @68.85mph 1/8 mile split on my 15.46 @91.43 1/4 mile run. That is with a stock (except for 2 1bbls and individual exhaust pipes) slant with good compression. So your sick 292 performs better than a pretty healthy slant. That shows you have lots of potential. I think it also shows the e.t. sacrifice in using an old stick set up with an old man shifting. My 2.17 60 foot didn't seem too bad. No shifting in that distance! Since I'm in a similiar situation to you Montanna guys, I'm not compelled to stick to HA/GR rules for the sake of running against other ones. That's why the 904 automatic in the corner is starting to look so good. Any estimate on the e.t. penalty you would have if you were shifting twice?
Hi Bob we only got 3 runs in but here they are the 1st run was 2.325 60 ft,74.13 mph, and et of 9.4. the 2nd run I went through the water box and did'nt dry my tires just so I could do big hairy burn out wich went well past the 60 ft timer so the numbers are a little off but here are the numbers 2.7 60 ft, 72.69 mph and 9.6, the 3rd run I tried to get a good run an dturned this 2.155 60 ft, 72.2 mph and 9.2 et. The carb is not working right yet I can't just wick it at the start line I had to feather in to it but I'll have that fixed for the next race. So with all the rush and all the junk yard parts we are very happy with the results. Thnx 4 lookn Patch
xsparts = driver of the car. Dude, I just got into Seattle, or some suburb... Nicest hotel EVER for a $100 bill. I ate a burger at some place in spokane that was three third pound burgers loaded in a hoagie bun, just laid in there like tomato slices... NICE!!! When we come back out here to race at Woodburn, we're eating there again ;D I think we're getting to old to eat crap like that... WAS WORTH THE HEARTBURN!!! (that I'm still having, 5 hours later)... *ugh* BOBW, I don't know that there would be much penalty for shifting twice, as long as it was successful. Especially given that these cars are light on horsepower. What's a 350 trans rob for power? Manual gonna give a little back. Probably offsets it in cars with lower power. I thought those slants had big power? I like the way they look in the car. You slant guys keep me thinking it's a good idea, just based on how cool they look installed.
I'm still a bit dubious of that "burnout" pass. There was so much smoke pouring out the tailpipe, it looked like a space shuttle launch... I think it was clutch slip. Maybe even extra smoke from the clutch... ...lol... You'll get a chuckle outta the video when you see it. On the road in Seattle, -Vector
xsparts & Vector, thanks for the information. Your results make me want to pull the 292 & race Powerglide out of the corner and stuff them in some pipe! Then I could have an "Outlaw" and an "Inlaw" HA/GR.
SOME VIDEOS! on the way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IpkDLociHg at the gate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dgw2XWqM6E first pass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT1hAZlj_5w second pass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jSCxP_VkXA third pass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odzk2kegKqE
Mate, despite my original perception, I must commend you and your fellow builders, great to see your enthusiasm and passion for these 'things', very inspiring, keep at it. sort that engine out a bit, more smoke coming out of it than what I have, and that's bad...get it done and you're kicking butt Cheers, Drewfus
Drewfus... we're trying pretty hard M8. Video #11. Engine tach'd to 4600 and would not go any higher. We are of the opinion that the carb is restricting the flow. Gonna build and mount a 2bbl on it this weekend. and finish overhauling the engine... in the next 3 days.... and take it to the track again. We're thinking 5500 for the new redline. All new seals for the transmission and rear end, are comin' as well. We're shaving the deck .030. The engine is going .040 over and putting in the propane pistons. We're hoping between that and the head that we end up around 10.5:1 compression. Only $60 difference between the factory pistons and the LP pistons. Now, for some dumb-ass reason they decided to put a 280 grind cam in it. Not that we care if it helps the power, got to have some kind of strange "lumpy" idle when we're done was the goal. Cam was only $84 I think it's too much cam, but they thought it was "funny".... Can't say as I've ever heard an over-cammed inline 6 before.
Engine and trans are out of the car. Here's how it scaled out without the drivetrain. Car is heavier than I thought. i was thinking about 1675 with driver and engine, track ready. We made no real effort to keep the car light. The body panels are 18ga, the floor is entirely 1/4" plate, and weighs over 100 pounds. But it will save your arse! Car has a bit of cross weight in it, or we ended up not completely level with the scales. But it acts like what the scales are saying, right rear heavy. If when it's all back together and we're within that same 50 pound difference on the back, I'd call that a pretty big success for a car built on the ground without a frame jig.
Engine is out and down at the machine shop. No broken rings, no major damage. Just an old tired engine. All the bearings looked VERY good. Could almost re-use 'em... The one close-up picture is looking down from the top into a cylinder and the top of a piston. Will be completely overhauled, decked, and back in the car by Monday the 14th. Back on the track, hopefully "smoke free" on Friday the 18th. With a lot more compression and running on all 6. I'm thinking 8.50@80 for my next guess in the 1/8th. That's a solid mid 13's pass. kinda hard to say how or what's gonna happen with that 2bbl on it. That would be a great spot to stop for the winter. Last race of the year at our track. Hopefully we can hot lap the car and finally do some chassis tuning with tire pressure and moving weight around.
Looks cool. Dunno if you'd consider this one 'over cammed' or not. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isq9LZyPgzU Supposedly a 292 all hotted up (with a 12 port head if I read it right).
well, looks like we're building an exhaust header header when I get back. Something evil happened to the factory one during the adapt a 2 bbl intake fiasco.... ...lol...
Hi guys I know this is off the subject a little but I can't find anyone who can tell me what a 292 chevy engine is supose to wiegh, anyone know.Thnx Patch
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