The slant is an interesting pick... Yeah - you're givin' up cubes, but a short-stroke slant can be wound out to high heaven, makin' for some sweet trap speeds. The really hot ticket would be an aluminum block slant...When were those made? Would they qualify? Seems an alloy slant could be built which would weigh in at under a thousand pounds - that would give the slushbox boys a run for their money in '07!
Aluminum slants had their problems with sealing the head to the block, that why they only made them one year. On the Rt.66 cruise in '05 HAMb drags, we went into an old drive-in, and the guy that owned it had an aluminum slant in a tractor pulling rig, alcohol injected, that would be perfect in an HA/GR, except for the injection.
Over at the Mopar engines site there are several extensive interviews with a member of the Slant Six design team. The guy's favorite was the 170 which he said was a seriously sweet engine that would rev 'till forever. He claims that he routinely shifted his stock 1bb. Valiant at 6400rpm and claims that with a good 4-speed trans he could have humbled more than a few bent eights. Somewhere in there he claimed the short-stroke 170 forged-crank bottom-end was good to 8000rpm. If a 170 was cammed, carbed, and pumped to turn say 7500rpm then you could use a 5.13 axle which in top gear would equal roughly 120mph in a HAMBster. Not much torque there but loads of torque-multiplication and with such a limited tire contact patch maybe not such a liability.
Are you trying to give away all of our secrets? This is the very reason my HA/GR engine will be a 170ci. The slant's bottom end is tough. They run the same main bearings as a hemi motor. I have had a 225 on the road for the last 4-5 years with a 471 blower on top of it. 6-8 lbs of boost normally, and have put 15 lbs on it. If I have not killed it yet, I do not think I will. The motor had 96,000 miles on it when I pulled it out of the donor car and stuck it in my bucket. No rebuild, no freshening up of anything. I did replace the oil pump.
Good point on the 170s tach capabilities (try http://lotuseleven.org/DarkAges1/open_exhaust.htm for a little 1960 eye opener ) and bottom ends. They're the most nearly bullet proof four bearing made. Also, all the slants bolt up to the same mounts and bells, making it a drop-in change over should we wish to try that route in the future. We're hoping to use the lighter (and hopefuly strong enough) 7 1/4" rear but so far have found nothing lower than 4.10 gears for it. The need for lower gears may lead to a larger (read heavier) pumpkin style, possibly even different make (oh, the shame) rear. The aluminums were indeed hard to deal with, and finding head gaskets could be an issue. Might be a fun cobble though.
If you could scare up a Dana 44 you can get gears from Motive Gear as low as 5.38. Heavier for sure but probably bulletproof and it's a Chrysler product.
When was the 44? If it's good, Chrisman even goes down to 5.89 for it. We're really hot to stay with the period style. So much so that we'll only be butchering a ladder frame, not scratching one for this. May be a bit manic but it's what's turning our cranks. Just wish we could drive'er in "period" attire ........... . ps. The thing I remember most about the early sidewinders was the HUGE sprockets, always wondered what kind of damage the asphalt'd take if the left tire went flat (envision a several hundred horsepower chainsaw). Hell, Honda once even crammed an in-line six sideways in a bike. Now a slanted sidewinder ...................... hmmmmmm .
Just found this thread and had to bring it back....... The beat goes on.......lets see who comes up with the most unique design. Creativity is where hotrodders made their name. very little has been done in the way of bodywork, but something along the line of "Speed Sport" has potential and a comp coupe might not be bad either....... Anybody got a bantam coupe body they want to donate to the cause?
I'm thinking Comp Coupe should be the next step up from HA/GR. I'm trying to decide what to do with my rail. My engine partner had to back out. Should I try and replicate the same flathead combination? As much as I want the answer to be "YES", I need to face the facts. Five of the last nine (including Outlaws) U.S. rails have been big Jimmy sixes. They are hard to beat, unless you've got a really hot shoe. Maybe there is another engine/trans combination. Maybe transform this thing that looks and performs completly different. Maybe add weight, but increase power and traction and safety. Maybe make slicks and wheelie bars mandatory. (I popped a wheelie in my new digger last weekend and it was pretty fun). I think Comp Coupes would be great crowd pleaser and a fun step-up for the owner-builder. For the time-being I'm on the sidelines of HA/GR. I've got some decisions to make.
You can always make it as complicated as you want.......just remember to keep it fun, 'cause that's what we are here for. I'm just thinkin' that something like Gabby Bleeker's Bantam would be cool on an HA/GR, and all the added weight would be over the rear wheels.
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