Just a quick question about the HA/GR rules; rule #13 states that inline engines must use stock blocks only. Does that include the cylinder head, or can I use an after market 12 port head. The flathead Fords can use aluminum after market heads. I'm not trying to start an argument, just trying to clear up a point before it becomes an issue. Hell, I'm not sure if I could afford a 12 port anyway. Thanks guys, Ron
Ron: I think I read somewhere that the 12 port is NOT legal..If it was, Then the Ardun conversion would be OK for the flatheads.. Boy that sure would put us flathead sixers out to pasture..
I think that the rules state"no aftermarket" heads. That does not mean you can not modify a stock head and run it.
12 port Wayne and OHV flathead conversions fall into the potential "Exotic" cl***. No one has built a car for that cl*** yet, although you and the other 322" GMC's might as well be put there.
Ron, The rules say: 12. Flathead v8 or inlines, pre-1962 inline engines with stock cylinder blocks only. No exotic aftermarket inline six overhead valve heads (Wayne). No OHV V8s or V6s. (If you are looking to run a straight 6 with exotic heads or a flathead with an o/h conversion, contact Ryan for some good news.) Look like it pretty well covered. I have a Fisher 12 Port laying in my office. Pretty beat up with no valve train. A local head guy wanted 12-15 hundred to repair with valves etc. Then the intake and exhaust cost made it more than if i bought a new one. These motors run pretty good without the cross flow head.
Thingy, I just got a unusual request from a customer for our fuel injection shop. He has a 53 Dodge truck that he is restoring with a 265 ci flat six in it with the factory 2 carb set up and intake. He sent me some pics with the air cleaners etc and it was pretty cool. He want us to design and build a tbi fuel injection for this engine. Beats me why but thats what he wants. I will keep ya informed on the carbs, manifold etc. Never knew they made such a thing.
Hope you don't think I meant anything personal. You guys are bringing a pretty big stick to the rumble. The tires and the manual trans are a pretty good leveler.
The Cin-Day Rodders are planning on running a 235 this year with a modified 235 head, minor bore and carbs are not settled yet. We plan on finding a 261 block for next year and putting some domed and larger pistons in it. We won't be able to compete equally with the 302 (and bigger) Jimmys but we should have as much fun. Winning and losing in this cl*** pays the same as far as I'm concerned.
Bubba: I remember Clifford Engineering out of San Diego Ca, Built heads and intake manifolds for the small Plymouth, Dodge, engines. But not for the larger Chrysler blocks. Darn it.
I took it in jest.. I think the whole deal is pretty cool.. gm vs ford vs dodge, thats the way it was and the way it should be . As long as no one runs any Jap ****. Is anyone running a large cubic inch flathead?? Like a 312 or bigger.? Or would they own up to it anyway ??
id like to run a large ci flathead eventually. pretty cool seeing the current rails running in the 12's... are any of the flathead V8 guys gunning for the 11's?
Guys, I only ask the question to clearify a point. I think the 12 port and any other exotic cylinder head violates the basic idea of "The Bug". I'm having one hell of a good time building this inline engine since it's something I've been thinking about for several years. I like building things...be it a nice bracket to mount an alternator or a new ch***is for a race car. The only reason I'm building the 321 GMC is to try some of the things I've thought about for some time. Hell, last year I was looking for an old wing tank to build a streamliner for Bonneville. I wanted to use a Ford Model T or A engine. I'm also fortunate that the machine shop where I spend most of my time is doing all the machine work for free and selling me parts at their cost. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford the dragster. I don't really care how fast the car finally goes, I just want to make it run as fast as I can with the antique design I have to work with. If I wanted to go fast I would have kept my alcohol dragster. Building this ugly thing is the most fun I've had since my last piece of tail in the back seat at the drive-in. Ron
Bubba, I must have an old set of rules since the rules I have don't say anything about exotic heads. And the rule about "stock blocks" is #12 in the copy I have. To change the subject a little; someone ask me a question I couldn't answer: Can chickens swim? Does anyone know? Ron
Ron, I thought you might be reading a earlier version. The latest and greatest ( i think) may be found here. http://www.hambdrags.com/HaGr/ Got that GMC ready to start yet ?? Send us some pictures.
I would love to do it but,our track that is IHRA says we cant run any faster than 11.99 with our current roll bar. Anyway we would have to squeeze another 1/2 sec out of the flathead and i'm not sure thats possible on gas. If you look back through the old hot rod mags from the 50's were running a little faster than they were on gas,and they had slicks.
Do you have the spec's for that rollbar? We were gonna use 1-3/4" chrome moly tubing with a 5' section running on each side of the hoop towards the front of the ch***is. We haven't bought the tubing yet so we have time if what we are building won't meet the 11.99 spec (not we'll prolly hit that anyhow) Interesting point that a 60 year old flathead won't run any faster today that it did in the 50's
Direct link to the latest HA/GR rules I know about: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=442 Chickens can't swim worth a darn.
The 1 3/4 moly will work fine. I order to spec the car to go faster than 11.99 we would have to add two more bars and make it a 6 point roll bar instead of 4. Some of the guys that are building new cars around here are adding the extra bars. Like I said squeezing another 1/2 second( thats alot) out of the little flathead is going to be tough. But! We still have some tricks up our sleeve.
Bubba, Guys, It seems parts people want to sell you parts, they just won't ship them. I'm still waiting for the aluminum rods before I can turn the crank, then measure for the correct compression distance on the pistons, then make a mold of the combustion chamber, then order the pistons from JE. The block is rough bored and decked so I guess I'm making some progress. I did get my valves today and I've started porting the head. I think I'm spoiled by looking and flowing race heads. These things are **** ugly and don't look like they would flow enough to make 200 HP. Damned if I wouldn't like to make twice that amount. Of all things, I can't find any Rochester 2 barrel carbs. I think they came on every General Motors car for 20 years at least. I'll take some pictures soon and post them. Ron
Dang, that's a shame you'll have to wait for custom pistons to hang on your special rods. I'd be a shame to have to use stock parts.
Now your getting completly out of the original concept. If you build a car with the roll cage as needed for the faster ETs you might as well go out and buy a later model 6 point cage ch***is and save yourself alot of time. But it sure won't be like the "BUG"
I agree , just the cost of chrome moly on our frame was two to three times the amount of .095 steel. We used the .095 ..
In our ANRA events out here, There is a little GMC powered "T" bucket roadster, Called the "T"Pot. It is absolutly beautiful. And runs in the high nines. 9.60 index. They can go alot faster than 11.99...
I don't want everyone to think I'm a negative neysayer. We just need to keep in mind that this is an entry level, low buck cl***. The cl*** is self-policing on engine internals. If one guy's rotating ***embly is worth more than the other guy's whole car, somthin' aint cool. Note I siad worth more Some guys have more friends and sponsors than others so "I used it cause it was free" doesn't make it completly right. It's all for fun. The fastest car is not necessarily declared the winner. Sportsmanship, fair-play, coolness; all very important here.
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