Vintage Drag Racing: Late 1960's - Early 1970's (Jeff Beck "Big Block")
This piece is based on 1960's and 1970's Drag Racing photographs by Charles L. Gilchrist, and is dedicated to "Piston Heads" and "Gear Jammers" all over the world. enjoy!
Produced by CG Imaging
Music "Big Block" by Jeff Beck from the album "Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop".
If you like these hot drag racing images, check out the artists website:
www.CharlesGilchrist.com
Show Stoppers - Wild Wheelstanders
Wild Wheelstanders from the 60's and 70's. Hurst Hemi Under Glass, Little Red Wagon, L.A. Dart, Chuckwagon, Dodge Fever, Dodge Material, Gemini Cricket, Backup Pickup, Hemi Bug and the lovely Miss Hurst, Linda Vaughn!
Music by: Airbourne
Edelbrock RPM Olds 455 Head Porting
The scariest thing I ever did was port a set of new Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads. My first attempt at porting any cylinder head. I raised the roof .200" and dropped the floor .040". It's best to leave the floor alone or raise it by filling with epoxy. Porting kit by Mondello.
OLDSMOBILE 455 W-43 EXPERIMENTAL HEMI AND OTHER EXOTIC ENGINES - THE JOHN BELTZ YEARS PHOTO TRIBUTE
John Beltz was Oldsmobile's chief engineer in 1964 and one of the prime movers of the Toronado and 442 project. Beltz was promoted to Oldsmobile general manager at age 43 in 1969 when Harold N. Metzel retired. Beltz passed away in May of 1972 from cancer at the age of 46.
John Beltz is leaning on a dual fan 455 Olds and posing with other experimental Olds engines that never saw production.
Here are descriptions of these engines:
1. The 0W-43 all aluminum 455 with 4 valve per cylinders, four overhead cam Weber engine. With a redline of just under 8,500rpm it was originally conceived for CAN AM racing. At 3,000rpm it put out 300hp and at 6,000rpm registered over 600hp. The top output recorded for this engine in the Lansing Dyno facility was 700 real hp at 6,800rpm. Tests were run with both carbueration and fuel injection. The block was cast from Reynolds 356 alloy and fitted with pressed-in dry steel cylinder liners for the Forged-True 12.20to 1 pistons. Billet steel connecting rods by Carillo was used along with a forged steel crank. The engine weighed in at 50 pounds lighter than the production 455 motor! It was developed at the same time as the ZL-1 Chevy 427 motor.
2. The W-43 4 valve per cylinder 455 developed by JOHN BELTZ , LLOYD GILL , JOE JONES AND FRANK BALL. Rated at 500-550hp with a single Rochester Quadrajet on an aluminum manifold. Constructed with both cast iron heads and block and with aluminum-alloy block and heads 75 pounds lighter than the conventional 455 production engine. Engine featured four valves per cylinder with narrowed angles for a super efficient combustion chamber design, central spark plugs and could easily be adapted for chain for gear driven overhead camshafts. 455 engine had 4.625inch cylinder centers, a 4.125 bore and 4.250 stroke. Making use of the 3inch main bearings and 2.50 inch rod journals, the engine was fitted with a specially prepared cast crank fitted with SAE-1140 forged steel rods, forged 10.20-to-1 pistons which rode on Morraine 400 bearings. Four bolt main block boasted 2 additional 5/8inch drain holes. Four valve heads featured 1.750inch intake valves (SAE-8640 steel) with 22 degree stems and 1.375 Exhaust (214-N stainless steel) with 15 degree stems, special Stellite seats, bronze alloy guides, o ring plug tubes, 14mm spark plugs, 3/8 inch pushrods and aluminum rocker arms. (Of all the experimental Olds engines, this one came the closest to production and there are photos of this engine in street gear. MAY 71 HOT ROD MAGAZINE features some of these engines and the sadness of the Olds engineers of that time of how they would never be released.)
3. 455 dual turbocharged CAN AM ROCKET CHALLENGE. 659hp @ 6250rpm. 554lbs torque @ 6,250 rpm. Alloy block with 4 bolt mains. Forged steel crankshaft. Forged True pistons with 8.5 to 1 compression. 3inch main journals. 2.499inch rod journals. Carillo billet steel rods. alloy heads. 2inch intake valves. 1.625inch Exhaust valves. Crower roller camshaft with 555inch lift and 320 degrees duration. Dual TRW-375-E-10 turbochargers with Boost Wastegate 10and 1/2psi. Lucas fuel injection. Olds alloy intake.
Competed with big block Chevy Mclarens and Porsche Panzers in CAN AM racing circa 68-69.
This video is merely a couple of old magazine pages strung together with the exception of that blue 455 hemi which was found on the internet. Thats BRUCE MCLAREN in that green can am race car which is Olds powered. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VIDEO JOHN BELTZ IS POSING WITH SOME ENGINES FEATURED IN THE JULY 1969 ISSUE OF HOT ROD MAGAZINE AND THE BLUE OLDSMOBILE 455 HEMI WAS FEATURED IN THE MAY 1971 ISSUE OF HOT ROD MAGAZINE. The incidental music I overlayed onto this video was muted by youtube.
ROCKET RACING 1965 Olds Oldsmobile DRAG RACE 442
482" Oldsmobile big block with Rocket Racing CNC heads at 3685 pounds runs 9.48 @ 141.66 with a 1.31 60' on a 9" tire. .....All Motor....No Alcohol....No Nitrous or Other Power Adders
The Grabber Olds 442 Takes on the XO250 Off-Road Event in Reno, Nevada
This video montage shows the Grabber Oldsmobile 442 preparing for the staging lanes, then documents the historic off-road vehicle as it makes its very first start into real race competition since the very early 70's.
For those who may not yet be aware of it, the Grabber Olds (formerly known as the "Goodyear Grabber") was originally run back in the late 60's early 70's. Even runn ing the NORRA 1000, which was the predecessor of the Baja 1000.
The car was originally built by Hickey Racing for racer/actor James Garner. Garner raced this vehicle until race technology moved forward and a new racer was built to keep up with the competition. The Goodyear Grabber was retired and sent to pasture, vanishing from site until recent years. The car was unknowingly purchased by vintage race car collector/restorer Ron Johnson. After doing a little research, Ron realized that he had a rare gem on his hands.
After several years of restoration work, the Olds 442 is looking as good as ever, and sure pretty enough to appear on the start/finish line at the famous Mustang Ranch, just outside Reno, Nevada.
As if the car itself was not a media draw in itself, the car was going to make its anticipated debut driven by hall of fame off-road driver Rod Hall.
The music video's finale shows the 442 taking the green flag for the first time in over 30 years, and our camera had a prime spot to document the car's first turns in competition.
WRECKS MAYHEM CRASHES! Involving all OLDSMOBILES CARS!!
Ready to watch a depressing video Oldsmobile fans? Here is most of the picture I have collected over the years of wrecked Oldsmbile cars..........Be warned it is depressing that most of these cars are now scrapped...:-(
PART 3 OLDSMOBILE FACTORY BACKED DRAG RACING
NO REPEATS FROM OTHER PREVIOUS TWO VIDEOS. VIDEO FEATURES EARLY OLDS RAIL DRAGSTERS AND OLDS POWERED WILLYS CARS. ALSO NEWLY FOUND OLDSMOBILE DRAG RACING PICTURES FROM THE 60S TO THE LATE 70S.
