Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: slepe67 on February 16, 2009, 08:02:52 PM
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I have a 'glass 32 roadster and want to run it in D Engine Class, with my '56 Mercury 292 Y-block, TH400, 8.8 rear end. I plan on installing a bolt-in/removable cage (similar to that of the Rolling Bones crew XF/GR roadster). What are the main/BIG differences between the classes? It seems to me that D/STR requires headlights, rear fenders, etc. More of a street worthy car-in appeareance???
D/GR seems to be faster, at least the rulebook records indicate this, and the cars appear to be able to have more race-worthy mods. No rear fenders, no headlights, etc. What am I missing? I have to figure out which class I'm going to run in, before I start my build You guys have any advice for a noob?
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I don't run in those classes so I shouldn't say anything but thats never stopped me before :-D .
You are correct about the finders & headlights. Lets see what the guys who run in the classes have to add to your question.........
And Welcome!
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both are over 200, very hard for a D motor. Thats y they call them y blocks y use them LOL good luck with your build
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Roadsters get to set the engine back some, along with the driver. Blank off the radiator. If it really is a street roadster why wouldn't you run it in street roadster class?
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Also wheel base can be longer and full tube frames are allowed among other things. Not to discourage you, but a Y block would be a up hill battle against the modern iron.
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Thanks for the inputs. As far as STR class goes, I was originally planning on that, but, I kept reading way too much into the rulebook. The more I read, the more questions I had, so I came in here.
Roadsters get to set the engine back some, along with the driver. Blank off the radiator. If it really is a street roadster why wouldn't you run it in street roadster class?
I've heard that a few times. I really can't pin, um, Y, I want to do it. I have the engine, might as well use it. I like modifying and making things work better than the factory ever dreamt of.
I guess D/STR it is. Thanks again, now I have a direction to go in.
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Slepe 67,as you can tell by the records these are serious race cars in these classes. If you want to get your feet wet in a class using an antiquated engine with no real chance of challenging a record then this is the place for you. Bonneville is fun at any level, if for no other reason then an excuse to be there. Who knows, you could end up with the worlds fastest Y block. I would use a C4 as they suck up way less power then a th400.
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Nothing wrong with running a Y block. In fact I encourage it. It's the same deal as my Packard. Something I wanted to do. And I'm glad I did.
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Street Roadster is perhaps your best bet. Especially if you're gonna use a bolt-in cage. We've held the D and C records with a licensed (but not street-legal) roadster with such a set-up. It takes at least 4 guys and a lot of work to get it in and out -- but it would be a lot harder with more engine and driver set-back as in the Roadster class. Not to rain on your parade, but build it to have fun -- I believe a record is way out of range for the Y-block.
Stan Back
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I agree with everyone above. Street Roadster is a fun class to run in, and yes there are some very serious cars in this class. But don't let that stop you. Just do your thing and have fun. If you can build that Y-Block Ford to have an honest 300 HP your car should run in Street Roadster trim around 150-160 mph.
My car is down for a rebuild at this time. But when it last ran at El Mirage it ran 163mph. That was with a 350 Chevy for power, with a stock 2 bolt main block, cast crank, stock rods, 10-1 cast pistons, early corvette FI heads, 3/4 race hydraulic cam, Team G intake with a small 650 Holley. It was literally a bunch of stuff I threw together to go have fun with. I feel the secret to keeping this motor together was the 6000 RPM limit I had set in the MSD unit. It would go through the traps around 5700 RPM. Motor never did blow up it developed a pin hole water leak in a cylinder due to core shift in the block, and still ran 163 on its last pass with water coming out the exhaust.
Hope this helps. Main thing, have fun. To me the journey is the real fun in racing these cars.
Tom G.
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FWIW, the E Production Pickup record at El Mirage is held by a 256 c.i. Y-block powered '57 Ford.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee171/4-BarrelMike/F-100%20stuff/57pickup.jpg)
E Burns Brothers Racing Charles Burns 06/08 118.894
(Bonneville Production Records are currently not avail).
Mike
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thanks for the kind words. No matter what happens, I am running this car at Bville and Maxton. I jsut want to say I did it. Then, I will save my next build for the full blown PSR vehicle. This car is going to be fun, next one will be deadly serious. I haven't been able to rod around in about 10 years, and I'm pining for some speed.
FWIW, I also need to see just how much HP the TH400 zaps out, as opposed to the C4, and why. Thanks JL
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Stan's post above failed to mention, besides 4 people to install his cage, it took TWELVE cold ones .
All seriousness aside, I'm thinking the Turbo 400 just has a lot more rotating mass that may rob horsepower.
Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm generalizing, but landspeed racing MAY not put the huge loads on transmissions that some other racing does.
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I jsut looked around, couldn't find this application anywhere, but still need to finish searching. Who makes a trans adapter from a Y block, to a FORD trans(i.e. C5)? Found a bunch for Chevy, no Ford.
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http://www.flat-o.com/carproducts/yblock.htm (http://www.flat-o.com/carproducts/yblock.htm)
Gene Benson is really good to deal with. I recommend him and his products without reservation.
Mike
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Or this one...http://www.ford-y-block.com/c4adapt.htm (http://www.ford-y-block.com/c4adapt.htm)
Mike
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Or this one...http://www.ford-y-block.com/c4adapt.htm (http://www.ford-y-block.com/c4adapt.htm)
Mike
I cant believe I missed that in there. Thanks. JL
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Looks like a quality product. By the way 4barrel -love that A model!
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:-D
Mike
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JL --
Don't let that 3rd pedal scare you -- it uses less HP, too, I think.
Stan Back
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JL --
Don't let that 3rd pedal scare you -- it uses less HP, too, I think.
Stan Back
yeah yeah yeah...haha, I'm researching that also. Kicking around a 5 speed or 4 speed as mentioned above. I don't know a darn thing about how to go about getting all the stuff for a manual transmission, but, that's what the 'net is for.