3
« on: July 17, 2023, 09:14:36 PM »
Has been years, but someplace around here I have several articles from 1963 on the SOHC. From what I recall Nascar would not homologate the SOHC because Ford had not made enough of them and Bill France did not believe them when they had him come down to see the SOHC engines rolling off the assembly line. This is the same reason the Chrysler Hemi was banned too. In Chrysler's case after sitting out a year they came out with the street Hemi. Now I do recall in one of the articles it citing that roller rockers were not legal and that would be a problem for the Cammer. So there may very well have been something. Reality is what is allowed or not in Nascar has always been a bit political. At one point Ford was allowed to run the tunnelport head, but they never came on a production car. You could buy them over the counter, but that was quite a stretch. Nascar let them do it because at the time Ford would not have been competitive without them.
Although Ed Pink was talking about the all aluminum SOHC he was building, I took his 800 lb. comment to be he was talking about the original and whether 735 lbs or 800 lbs it was not a light engine. Seems to me he just talking like someone who been building them for 60 years and not thinking about that some don't have a clue about these engines.
Really to me some of the comments in this thread, although I am sure not intended to be, are disrespectful to Ed Pink. Every single one of these guys including Earl Wade have their own take on things from back then and some of it may sound questionable, but then again if you have a chance to talk to one of these guys there usually is more detail that they will give that will clear up any confusion. I think it was great that Ed Pink shared his experience and knowledge. He has probably forgotten more about 427 SOHC engines them most know about them. Is a shame the interview was conducted like someone came over to talk to their buddy instead of keeping it focused. I'd say without Ed Pink the 427 SOHC would have not have been as successful back in the 60's. Is a shame Ford never made a stronger block back then.