The Ford Barn

cuzncletus · 07-02-2011, 04:12 PM

.....from a FLATHEAD!! I was in the attic and stumbled on some old Rod and Custom little pages. One that caught my eye had a heading of "435 Horsepower Flathead V8". Returning to where it was considerably cooler to read the article, it seems this motor dyno'd at 435 with only 248 cubic inches (.060 over 59a). The motor used a 3-71 GMC and a 50% load of nitro, injectors from Stu Hilborn, and 17.5 lbs. of boost.

The engine was put in Art Chrisman's dragster and was at 140 mph 250 ft. before the traps, where it blew off the water hoses and Chrisman shut it off, coasting thru at 131. It would be interesting if there was a follow-up to what this motor eventually did. The end of one paragraph pretty much echoed my thoughts. "In spite of what the dynomometer proved and the number of witnesses present, the skeptics continued to say; "Impossible-the lower end would never stand it." No details were given of modifications to the block, but I'll bet we've all got the same cocked eyebrow on this one.

The engine was built by Don Yates and a (?) Newmire. (My mind seems to think there was a Leroy Newmire I read about at an early age.) The article was written by Barney Navarro who obviously had a lot of input, and parts, in this engine. No wonder many of these early legends have been beatified in flathead lore.

Anybody got any more links in this chain of history?

07-02-2011, 04:12 PM	#1
cuzncletus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sevierville, Tenn. Posts: 391	435 horsepower in 1955..... .....from a FLATHEAD!! I was in the attic and stumbled on some old Rod and Custom little pages. One that caught my eye had a heading of "435 Horsepower Flathead V8". Returning to where it was considerably cooler to read the article, it seems this motor dyno'd at 435 with only 248 cubic inches (.060 over 59a). The motor used a 3-71 GMC and a 50% load of nitro, injectors from Stu Hilborn, and 17.5 lbs. of boost. The engine was put in Art Chrisman's dragster and was at 140 mph 250 ft. before the traps, where it blew off the water hoses and Chrisman shut it off, coasting thru at 131. It would be interesting if there was a follow-up to what this motor eventually did. The end of one paragraph pretty much echoed my thoughts. "In spite of what the dynomometer proved and the number of witnesses present, the skeptics continued to say; "Impossible-the lower end would never stand it." No details were given of modifications to the block, but I'll bet we've all got the same cocked eyebrow on this one. The engine was built by Don Yates and a (?) Newmire. (My mind seems to think there was a Leroy Newmire I read about at an early age.) The article was written by Barney Navarro who obviously had a lot of input, and parts, in this engine. No wonder many of these early legends have been beatified in flathead lore. Anybody got any more links in this chain of history?