Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton
No photos Lowell
Ed---500 in hemi, normally aspirated, on gasolene--three speed automatic,4.86 gear--shifts at 9700 traps 9500--
This is 2000 dodge neon that was a old pro-stocker--
Belongs to a customer that we have been helping out with some engine machining and welding of titanium parts
I saw the Garlits/Chizeler 204 runs at Alton Il around 59 or 60
Later, 69----John Keeling and I owned the California Charger top fueler that held the NHRA record, several track records and won many races out west--
Also had one of the first 7 second pro stock cars--picture of the dragster in my gallery
Jerry
|
Jerry,
I'm wowed! That is an awesome performance for a late model at 500 inches. It's really hard to get the necessary compression in those engines even at 500 inches to produce the power levels necessary to run that hard. The large chamber takes a large piston, which has a large reciprocating weight ... well you know the story better than I do you're running the engine.
I am amazed at the engine speed! That is truly impressive for that size engine. My guess is probably titanium valve springs?? Are the heads cast or billet?
It just hit me the car is a neon! That has to be a handful at speed. Years ago a friend of mine in Detroit built a Hemi Colt to compete in Pro-Stock. The first couple of times he drove the car convinced him to sell it and go back to a blown car. The little Colt was difficult to control and way too scary at speed.
I didn't get to see the Garlits Performance in person in 59, I was still in school. I turned 18 in 1964 and got my first race car in 67, it was a used Plymouth Max-Wedge car with the factory aluminim package. Watched you guys race through drag news and the magazines. One time on a trip to California I stayed over the weekend to see you guys race I think at Ontario before they closed it down.
Eventually the tug of the Nitro cars was more than I could manage and I built one of my own with my partner in 1970. We raced it locally in the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania tracks when ever we could. To this day there is something unexplainable about the magic of a blown nitro engine, even idling!
I'm rambling. Your performance is even more impressive normally aspirated on gas. Wow!
Ed