Cast, forged, billet? Straight-shot or cross-drilled? Experts from Eagle, Lunati and Scat offer tips and advice on selecting a crankshaft for your engine.
Engine builders are often conditioned into selecting crankshafts based solely on the expected horsepower output of the engine, or at least that often-optimistic number carries the most weight in the decision process. But savvy builders — whether assembling an honest street engine, rogue weekend warrior or a savage race-only bullet — will recognize the importance of analyzing other factors before choosing between cast iron, forged steel or billet steel.
It was a great weekend in Atlanta for Bryant Racing Crankshafts, as the winners for the Camping World Truck Series, Xfinity Series and Sprint Cup Series all use our cranks! We had a 1-2-3 finish in the Sprint Cup race with …
I know a lot of guys that have too many project cars (as if that’s a real thing!!). I don’t have that luxury – space is limited to my driveway and my garage. So, as I search for my next project car, I need to satisfy the urge to work on something…vintage. While surfing around on the Internet I ran across this 1961 Comet instrument panel and picked it up.
It’s in good shape.
I thought I might use it as a bit of Man Cave art and have it light up with altering it too much or destroying it.
So I’ve been working the wiring and testing with a 6 volt battery.
The Comet was developed as a sub-model for Edsel. As you know 1958 saw the end of the Edsel and the Comet was released in 1960 as an orphan model. It remained badged only a Comet until 1964 when it became part of the Mercury marque.
Right Turn Signal works – bypassing the flasher.
Oil Light is functioning.
Generator Light working.
The Temp and Gas gauges work when power is supplied.
With the exception of the left turn single everything is working.
I’m missing the main light that would light up the instrument panel when the headlight are on, doesn’t seem to be a bulb there.
The goal would be get this wired to keep all the lights on at one time. May be even find a way to have the gauges (Temp/Fuel/Speedometer) to jump to life and then fall back.
Hey…it keeps me off the street and since electrical isn’t my strong suite (mainly being colored blind limit the ability to match up the colors) it can be a bit of a challenge.
This is a video of a 1961 Comet salesman film comparing the car to two other compacts from the time. The 1961 Pontiac Tempest . This is the original slide sh… Video Rating: 4 / 5. Tags: 1961, Comet, Dealer, Film, Part, …
With such names as Fury and Barracuda and Valiant, you would expect the 1964 power plant offering for Plymouth to be some monsters, maybe even a Wedge tossed in.
But no, the Wedge 426 cid (Stock Max Wedge Stage III) was only available as a $500.00 racing option. The standard fair was the straight 6’s (170 and the 225) and the 318.
Dubbed the Valiant Six the 175 was an inline (straight) 6 cylinder iron block. It had overhead valves and a bore and stoke of 3.40 x 3.125. Fair enough compression ratio of 8.2:1 with solid lifters and four-main bearings. Top it with a Carter single barrel carb (BBS Model 3839S) and you’d squeeze 101 ponies out of it.
Valiant Six
The Barracuda had a straight 6 in it as was well. It was the 225 cid with 3.40 x 4.125 bore and stroke, same compression as the 175 (8.2:1), as well as solid lifters and overhead values. Using the same carb as the 175, you could must up to 145 hps.
But don’t think the Valiant and the ‘Cuda were left to struggle with less than 150 hps – nope there was a V-8 available as well. That engine was the 273 cid and it ran a compression ratio of 8.8:1 with it’s cast iron block, overhead valves and bored to 3.62 and stroked of 3.312. It sported 5 main bearings, solid lifters and was topped with a Carter 2 barrel carb (BBD 3767S). As outfitted it produced 180 hp.
The other V8 of standard production was the 318. Having personal experience with this engine, I can say it was (is) versatile and solid. You could do a lot with this hunk of iron. For 1964 it had overhead valves, cast iron block with standard bore and stroke of 3.906 and 3.312 inches. 9.0:1 compression ratio with five main bearings, solid lifters and 5 main bearings breathed though BBD two barrel Carter carb (Model 3682S) and produced a respectable 230 hp.
The 318
Yes…you can do that to 318!!!
As mentioned there were some competition engine available that year but you didn’t them in average street cars. There was the Super Cammando 426cid Hemi (available in early Feb ’64) for competition use only. There was the de-tuned street 426-S(street). Also available were the Commando V8 383 in 305 hp and 330 hp versions as well as Commando 426 (Street Wedge) with 426 cid and 365hp.
According to my research there were 6,359 Dodge and Plymouth cars built with the 426 engine in 1964. Of those only 271 were racing Hemi’s.
Here in the U.S. we tend to be a bit myopic when it comes to cars. Of course American muscle is what it’s all about and toss in some well deserving European and Asian models and maybe just maybe you think about the culture down-under (I do, anyway. Love to get a hold of the a Holden!!!). Very little thought is given to the rest of the Globe – especially considering that a few U.S. car manufacturers’ last stands were south of the border – way south!!
Here is one example from Hemmings – chase the link below to see the entire article. Oh, I just ordered Banovsky’s book Weird Cars. It is in the mail from Amazon.
– 360,000 coupes and about 80,000 convertibles we made between 1955 and 1974.
1958 Karmann Ghia
1600 Karmann Ghia
Car News Now (CNN)
Speaking of VW, the company announced that they are developing a new brand specifically for the China market.
Ford let us know that we will soon see the Ford Focus RS here in the U.S. – that 315 hp stuffed in that little car. It will sport a six-speed manual transmission and have all-wheel drive.
What was the first model to where the name Maserati?
Thanks for reading.
Tim
*Trivia – Submit the correct answer via email, Facebook, Twitter or a comment to this post and you’ll be entered to win a monthly give away. It’s that easy!!
… Revell AG Onyx NZG NorScot Norev-FIAT Nacoral Muscle Machines Checker Cab For Sale – Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at Nextag Checker Cab For Sale – 65 results like Checker Cab Nebulizer by Drive Medical, …
It’s a cute-as-a-bug, 1967 VW Karmann Ghia. A loyal supporter of the nonprofit’s ambitious works on behalf of homeless animals donated it, hoping the Humane Society would find a way to convert the car to dollars for services. The agency now is selling …
Und sorgte für eine Überraschung: Vor den Journalisten stand ein eleganter Zweitürer in “Gazellenbeige” mit rot lackierten Felgen und hellbrauner Innenausstattung: der Karmann Ghia. Ein Auto, das italienische Eleganz mit deutscher Technik verband.
This story starts two weeks ago, as I was driving through my neighborhood headed off to run some errands. As I rounded the a corner I see one of my neighbors with the garage door open and I think, “Wow!!! What a clean garage!!” Then I go…”Whoa…what is that?” My eye had caught a C3 Corvette sitting to one side. It was blue and had chrome headers and side pipes and an awesome set of wheels. Looked like needed some paint.
These were hanging out of it!!!
This wheels!!!
At that moment I planned to stop by on my way back, just to say hi and have some Vette chat!!! As my luck often goes, the garage was closed and there were no cars in the driveway. So I made mental note to check back another day.
Fast forward to the next Friday and I’m pouring through the on-line ads for my next project car and up pops a 1974 Stingray – Blue with a 350 engine, chrome headers and a great looking set of wheels for sale. Asking price…..wait for it…….$2000.00. I immediately text the number on the ad and got some particulars. The car needs some work, the 350 was good but need points/condenser and the side pipes installed. The lady informed me that someone was coming to look at and if they didn’t buy it she’d give me a call.
Fast forward to 4 hours later. My wonderful wife arrives home and says…”Hey remember that Corvette you saw the other day? They are loading it on a trailer.”
Well I thought….nah…can’t be. So I texted the number from the ad, just to check, and sure enough it was the same car I saw the past weekend. I told the lady I was just down the street and hoped it was going to a good home. She said…”If I knew you were a neighbor, I would have given you first chance.”
Although I did not weep openly, I cried like a baby on the inside!!!!
Tommy Johnson of Lake Mary, Florida, and Brian Smith of Woodstock, Georgia took these photos of a black bear in a 1974 Corvette Stingray about a week ago in the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal parking lot. At one point, they said, they saw the bear scoop up a …
1974 Corvette Stingray. Barnstarbob | Wikipedia. 1974 Corvette Stingray. New life with a new Interior. As GM was sliding towards bankruptcy, work on the seventh generation Corvette slowed down. Once the automaker went into bankruptcy, there was a brief …
This 1974 Corvette Stingray was among the 112 cars on display during the Cecil Proffitt’s World of Wheels International Custom Auto Show at Heritage Park in Windsor. The show was held at the park for the first time as a partnership between Proffitt and …
This is a light week for car history and perfect for introduction the new Expanded Auto Factoids!!!! #AutoFactoids
Same auto history factoids but with C.N.N (Car News Now) and the new Auto Factoids Trivia – (can’t win – if you don’t play).
Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)
Jul 5 1946 – US resumes auto production after WWII -The first new car design after the war was the 1947 Packard, but cars were still being sold (even during the war) but were all warmed over 1942 models. There are varied sources that have different dates for the first cars produced after the war. For instance GM had cars/trucks ready by Aug 1945 (trucks) and new cars Oct of 1946 (really ’42 models with new grills). Ford got the first postwar car into production, and the very first one — a white Super DeLuxe Tudor sedan assembled on July 3, 1945 — went to President Harry Truman.
1946 Gill
1942 Grill
Jul 8, 1909 – First Hudson built – The first car “Hudson Twenty” rolled off the assembly line on Jul 3, 1909. Joseph Hudson was a department store owner and offered of financial backing and offered up his name for the car company to a consortium of business men with two of those being Roy Chapin and his son Roy junior. Hudson continued producing cars until 1954 when they merged with Nash-Kalvinator to form AMC. Some models carried the Hudson name until 1957.
1909 Hudson Roadster
C.N.N. – Car News Now!!
Audi – The car make has developed cars that run on synthetic natural gas (WHAT?) and synthetic diesel and now e-benzin or synthetic gas.
Android Auto and Apples CarPlay – Chevrolet is allowing cars in 2016 to use both apps!!!
Lambo Aventador SV – Now is available if you have a spare $500k laying around. Sporting a 6.5 liter V12 engine that knocks out 740 HP and gives excellent gas mileage of 10, 18 and 12 (City/Highway/Combined) – who cares when you can go from 0-60 in 2.7 seconds.
Auto Factoid Trivia*
What was the first model to where the name Maserati?
Thanks for reading.
Tim
*Trivia – Submit the correct answer via email, Facebook, Twitter or a comment to this post and you’ll be entered to win a monthly give away. It’s that easy!!
Auto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789EAuto Factoids 2011-1 Corvette Fuelies RPO 5789E Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing1957 – 1958 saw the use of the New 283 engine in Chevy’s including …
Busy week this week this week for #AutoFactoids…. So here we go! June 7, 1928 – First Plymouth is produced. Some research suggest that it was actually built on.
Here is this weeks AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids). May 10, 1923 – GM names Alfred P. Sloan as president. They didn’t just pick from the streets. He was actually, a draftsman for a bearing company, Hyatt Roller Bearing.
A 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mark III, which has lain dormant in storage for over 35 years, is to be restored by leading classic car restoration company Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth (CMC).The DB2/4 was recently purchased from the Bonham’s Newport Pagnell Aston Martin works sale on behalf of a client. The car was sold for £104,540, going over its estimate of £30-50k.“The car was an attractive restoration project in 1977 when it entered storage, despite the fact that it had lead a hard life,” said Nick Goldthorp, Managing Director of CMC, “There were splits in the front suspension turrets which had been welded and crash damage to the offside body and rear chassis which were repaired at the time. But it would now appear that the chassis needs re-aligning.”
Previous winners of the Brock Yates Trophy include a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing Coupe, a 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 and a 1954 Corvette. All entered vehicles (judged and unjudged) are eligible for the People’s Choice (Marque of the Year), People’s …
If there is one name that stands above all others in Aston Martin’s 100-year history, it is David Brown. The industrialist bought the company in 1947 and powered it forward for 25 years, the longest period of continuous ownership in Aston Martin’s …
Ok…so it’s not a full-size Studebaker Avanti, but it was affordable. This is a 1960’s model kit which I picked up on the Internet.
This was partly complete.
This is a motorized model, which is unique. It was a complete kit and was partly assembled when I purchased it.
The bottom half of the car (rocker panels, etc.) was glued on and the electric motor was installed by a previous owner.
A little motorized action – just add a fresh AA battery.
I decided to paint the body and top first before continuing with the build. These are being sprayed painted.
I masked off the chrome (way harder than on a full size car) and any excess paint will come of with an exacto knife. I masked off the interior opening as that will get hand painted.
After looking at the second coat, I can see there’s going to be the need for a bit more sanding and another coat of paint applied.
I’ve said it before; the Doof Wagon does it for me; I’m a music maniac, and I am a sucker for the repurposed 8 x 8 MAN Missile-Carrier packing heavy Watts cabinets. As if that wasn’t pure madness already, they also had a musician from Hell playing a …
As the debate over the Charlestown shooter spirals into a tangent on displaying the Confederate flag, private companies are beginning to stop selling it. A few days ago, Walmart and other retailers announced they would stop selling Confederate flags.
