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Original Message
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| The 409 boat anchor was a PLANK HEAD motor |
| By P - 11/04/2003 5:21:14 PM; IP 66.89.75.42 |
It is essentially the same as the MEL, with the top of the block cut off at an angle so the dead flat head (with no combustion chamber) just forms the top of a combustion chamber formed inside the cut off cylinder bore. I can't remember who did what, but MEL was 16-degrees, and the 409 was cut off at 10-degrees, or vice versa. The fact of the matter is, the FE heads flowed light years better than a plank head will, especially at the high rpm necessary to compete in NASCAR. When they tried to run a torque machine like the 409 at continual high rpm, well it wasn't a pretty sight (or sound).
As for the mystery motor, it was basically a prototype 396, which was a new generation design, untested, with lots of promise, but not worthy of stepping onto the NASCAR tracks and competing against a bruiser like the FE, and then the 429 Shotgun, sheesh, Ford was spending millions and would have literally buried GM. As it was, Chrysler only won more than 505 of the Nascar races during the 1960 during TWO YEARS. Yes, only two years did the hemi rule in the 1960's. Talk to some Chrysler guys and they'll swear the hemi "dominated", and if you look at the ultimate win count, the FE is the dominate motor.
Ahh well, it is time for me to run for that rock now, as I feel the sharp talons aimed at my back. Dangit, I feel like a softshell crab without my shell, halp!!
:-)
P |
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