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Old 10-29-2003, 12:09 PM
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jdean jdean is offline
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Default The Challenge was for any big block

and I do not believe anyone entered an FE. I do not know why unless they felt the "385" had the better chance against Mopar and Chevy vs. the FE. Rules limited ci. to 470, which could easily have been accomodated by an FE.

As for the idea that the winning Ford was a "Chevy" set-up, this notion is false. The winner had Ford Super Cobra Jet heads, designed by Jon Kaase. Here are the specs for them, which clearly show they did not use the Chevy exhaust set-up (like Blue Thunder uses as an option):


Original intake and exhaust port size and location

Original bolt patterns, intake and exhaust

Original valve cover height and bolt pattern

Original valve diameter and length

Original chamber size (72 CC)

Look it up at www.jonkaaseracing.com

Keep in mind that the Chevy contenders arguably had twice amount of options on parts choices, with head options galore.

Two points here:

1) The FE is a cool, powerful, expensive and accurate engine for many vintage vehicles, with many modern parts choices. But it is an older design that, all things being equal, will fall short of what the 385 can do, with the exception of weight. This thread should celebrate the Ford win as an underdog against Mopar (the perennial winner in these types of contests) and Chevy, not deteriorate into the Ford vs. Ford debate.

2) The Ford won without ANY credit to share with Chevy. Shame on the Chevy entrants, with superior resources they had at their disposal. Good indication that "385" design contributed to the win.

John





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