Hot Rods XO/PP Bonneville project

No, still waiting for Rods and pistons delivery date late August early September.

 

That's too bad . I'm still cheering for you!

 

Thanks

 

I got the SCTArule book yesterday and say that the XO/PP record has been reset to a speed of 140.412 @ change by the old record holder set back in 2002.
The record was set at the 2022 world finals.
This puts us 18 MPH of the new current record.
This is a big set back for the 640 team for sure.
Time to regroup and think this through.

 

Well, that's got to feel like a kick in the gut right now. You have poured so much of your life into this, going for that record, now the target has been moved.
What are your options? Is your choice of body and engine capable of another 19 mph? Or would you have to start from scratch on either of them? What is the body and engine that upped the record?

 

Can you go to school on the record holder, or is the rig too different?

 

If it was easy everyone would do it. Keep after it.

 

The record was set with a 1950 ish Chevy/GMC truck with a GMC INLINE SIX OF UNKNOWN CU. IN SIZE.
that's all I know at this time.
As far as what we have the biggest engine we could build that would stay together is about 270 cu. In.
And that ain't enough...
Not sure just what our plans will be going forward from here but I'll post it once we make a thoughtful decision.

 

I’ve known Mark Miller for quite a few years. He has competed with XO engines a long time and has earned what he has achieved. After he held the raised MPP I wondered why he didn’t raise the PP record with some changes to his truck which he held for 20 years and apparently did at the USFRA Meet in September of 2021.
Since my son and I had run 143 in our GMC powered stock bodied 40 Chevrolet coupe I often thought of doing a pickup but just couldn’t warrant the expense of a 3rd race vehicle or the place to store it.
With your horsepower you might still be competitive with an earlier body style but that’s a large expense. Good luck with in all your crew do.

 

Thanks we certainly have an aero disadvantage for sure. Not sure where we will go from here right now

 

Do you know if he's running a Chevy or GMC engine?

 

Engine has to match the sheetmetal in Production classes.

The rub we had running D/PP was that the 90s Chevy set record that we were running on was a tad more aero that our 416 Unibody AND it origionally came with a V6 as an option. Soooo the Chock full o nuts guys took advantage of all the Indy Chevy V6 speed goodies and development!

 

Mark uses GMC’s

 

Yes, and the truck in question has Chevy sheetmetal.

 

Aside from the gentle rake (and the number on the door) it looks remarkably stock.

 

It has a GMC motor in it so it's not stock.

 

You will notice the class designation on the is for modified when it was running in that class. A GMC in a Chevrolet is an engine swap.

 

I see on the vent window it says XO/GMP now, thanks

 

Mark Miller has owned pickup classes for years. There's no way or reason for him to run an illegal entry. (Anyone got a picture of the truck with the chickens in the back?)

 

Perhaps his comment was on the sheetmetal, not the engine...

 

So all the comments above about rules for the various classes inspired me to look around for some photo coverage of the 2021 World Finals and I found the photo below among a series of the event taken by Ray Lowery. Great photos by the way.

Anyway, @Tman , @Stan Back and @jimmy six were all right – the sheetmetal has to match the engine in Production Pickup and – Mark Miller and MRJ Racing are stand up guys that play by the rules.

Big Congratulations to Mark Miller and MRJ Racing on the new record!

 

As XO/PP 640 team Owner
I as well as Dave Russell on behalf of all of team 640 congratulate Mike Miller on his amazing speed and new XO/PP record.
So where do we go from here is in question and will need to be thought out.
I'm not giving up just yet
,just need to figure out where to go from here.

We can't change the truck for better aero so engine development will be the focus.
The engine we broke in Arkansas was by far the best combination we have had and we are in the process of getting parts to duplicate it and see where it goes. So stay tuned and wish us luck.

 

Another option would be to stick a high HP V8 in it, put it in a MP class and see how fast you can push that truck. It would be an "E" ticket ride, for sure. There's a lot of fun to be had at Bonneville driving real fast!

 

Still waiting on Rods and pistons for the new engine.
Not to Happy with the delivery dates even though they are custom one off parts it shouldn't take 5
Months for a set of rods.
I ordered them on May 5th and delivery date is mid October. Should have pistons and rings in a couple weeks and can get them fit to the block and send them to Calico for Coatings.
Going to have to dig real deep to compete now that the record has been bumped to 140+ in XO/PP
We have developed a much better engine combination
That puts close to 400 hp
At sea level and we only had one run on that combo and blew it up. We haven't had enough runs on this combination to really tweek it in. We plan to go back to Arkansas in the spring to test as we will not be back together for Bonneville this year.
But we will be back next year to Bonneville world finals..

 

Block dismantle with D ave Russell

 

In that case, gentlemen, start your engine! Lol

 

Preping this block for piston fit once I get the pistons

 

I wish to congratulate my great friend and 640 team member Sam Pollard on his Retirment from many years of service at NASA Langley.
Sam is an engineer, master Machinest, as well as a great and talented Mechanic. On behalf of all the crew at team 640 we wish Sam many years of doing whatever he finds to do that makes him happy.
Congratulations Sam on a job well done.

 

Sounds like a full time shop helper just became available..... ☺

 

Well Sam and his bride are moving to Galax VA. And plan to build a home there in the southern mountains of Virginia.
I'm sure we will see Sam often ither here or there
Good friends are forever..