History Help me settle a Hemi debate

I'm in the midst of a debate with a buddy around timing, and I remember recently there was a thread here that mentioned one of the early Hemi racers who just kept dialing in more advance and getting more power. I can't find that thread for the life of me - anyone have a lead to help me out?

Thanks,
Mike

 

That story was told by Don Garlits when he switched to the 426 Hemi. He kept throwing timing to it trying to blow it up and it just kept going faster

 

IIRC, it was Don Garlits. And it was more about late hemi's than early ones. In essence, Garlits wasn't getting the increase in performance he expected from the late hemi's over the early ones. In desperation, he started dialing in more and more advance (enough the detonate an early version) and just kept going faster.

I did a quick search for the thread and can't find it. I do remember it well however.

EDIT : "MikeC62" types faster than I do.

 

He talks about the timing near the end

 

Boryca, not sure of the details of your debate, but Big Daddy is talking nitro engine. If you are talking street gas engine, what works is pretty well documented and I would be cautious how much twisting you do on the distributor.

 

This is exactly what I was looking for, thanks fellas! And @Jmountainjr - thank for the clarification, that's pertinent to the debate too.

 

Thanks Mike, that was a great video of Don, very entertaining, man what a memory too.
Best quote ever "that thing wouldn't run 200 miles an hour down a mineshaft".

 

Get yourself a copy of Garlits auto biography.
It is a interesting read, or was to me. In the
era of switching from 392 type early hemis
to the 426, he delves into details. A promoter
withheld part of his appearance agreement
funds for lack of making advertised M.P.H.
At the next stop on his tour he announced to
to his crew guys, he would make it run or blow
it up! They cranked in so much timing that
the crew guys would not even go near the motor
when it was idling. It ran an astounding 219 mph,
if my recall is correct. After that it became the
top fuel king of speed. Lots of informative
fuel racing reflections in the book.

 

Thanks mickeyc! I'll pick up a copy.