Broader Performance just posted a video illustrating how Speedmaster is blatantly ripping him off. Video is about 20 minutes long. A good consumer heads up, and some points to consider considering the many other products they copy.

Please be respectful of Jay's forum with any "political" comments.

A bit of a warning for the language too, essentially for some who might be watching at work in the office.

https://youtu.be/9dsHrSq8pso?si=I9W7C7dWwQwMluWL

We’ve seen some of these old Ford films before, here’s an interesting 10 minute one on how the Model A Engine was made. Lots of coverage of casting the blocks, forging the cranks, assembly, etc. I always find these interesting, but they also give you a good idea how grueling the work was. And the shots where the camera pulls back and shows how massive the operation was. Unfortunately there’s no narration, but still fascinating. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bVsCaHcKj14

My racing buddy Brad M. drag races a 1967 Mustang with a Ford 351W based stroker. It’s a Dart block with AFR heads, and uses a Scat 4.100” forged crankshaft with a ATI balancer. It makes about 705-714 HP, depending on carb used. The car weighs just under 3000 lbs and runs in the 9.60’s to 9.80’s and uses an aftermarket PG automatic. The engine was originally first built and run in 2016, and freshened up in 2019. Earlier this summer he was on a pass when the car made a big bang around the 300’ mark, and he shut it down as quickly as he could. They towed it off the track, and were checking it over in the pits trying to figure out what happened, checking the usual stuff, like for a sheared distributor gear pin, etc., and not really finding anything. Then they noticed the harmonic balancer was hanging down at an angle! Brad brought the car home after the weekend, and we pulled the engine soon after. Inspection showed the crankshaft had indeed broken right in front of the first main journal. Unfortunately right at the lower crank timing gear, which stoped the timing chain & camshaft. How the balancer basically stayed in place by only the crank seal, and didn’t go bouncing down the track is amazing. We brought the engine into the builder, and the full tear down and inspection showed the only damage done was the broken crankshaft, and all the valves had been tagged & bent, with some valve guide damage too. The engine has been rebuilt, with a new Scat crank, new AFR valves, and the ATI balancer rebuilt, etc., and today we stopped out at the builder and dropped off the headers & misc parts for the upcoming dyno session. I took some pictures of the broken crankshaft, and thought the group here might be interested in what it looks like. Certainly a strange failure, and hopefully a fluke. I know a few of you do failure analysis, feel free to weigh in if you see anything. The only thing that bolts on in front of the harmonic balancer is a pulley for the alternator belt, and a mandrel & pulley for the vacuum pump. Here’s some pictures:

These are from the estate of a local Minnesota Ford guy. Jeff Colvert confirmed he did the CNC work on these Pro Port heads for Kurt, they were finish ported and assembled locally by Bryan at R&R Performance in Spring Lake Park MN. Never used. Jeff Colvert called them his “Pro Nostalgia” version. They were flowed at R&R and the results at .800” lift were 365 intake and 272 exhaust. Bryan at R&R should have the full flow test results. They come assembled with valves & springs. $6,000 pair. $5000 pair ** SOLD ** Please contact Ron at Twin Cities Auctions for more info and to purchase. I can add more pictures if someone wants. Thanks.

*** Edit to add: a couple people have asked about valve sizes, a quick measurement with a caliper shows 2.25” on the intakes and 1.73” on the exhausts, approximately. ***

www.twincitiesauctions.com

Ron: 651-633-9655

On Sunday Timmy McMaster ( Y-Block Guy ) went 192.365 mph with his 304 C.I. Y-Block powered D/GR roadster at Bonneville. He had hoped to try for 200 mph on a later run, but on that pass, right after letting off at the 3 mile mark and running about 180 mph, he ran over a header collector tube accidentally dropped on the course by a previous competitor, which damaged the rear suspension and blew the right rear tire. That ended his weekend. My sources tell me that probably gives him the bragging rights to the Worlds Fastest Y-Block. In past years many here probably know he ran a Y-Block powered Ford Pickup at Bonneville.

Also this past weekend the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop Ran 193 mph with their MEL powered roadster, which runs a different class than Timmy McMaster. They were also looking to try for 200, but it sounds like they had engine problems and are done for the year.

A couple of great accomplishments.


Timmy McMaster photo

One of the movie Bullitt Mustangs is up for auction at Mecum Kissimmee this afternoon. Lots of speculation around the internet at how high the bids will go. Coming up very soon. Live TV coverage on the NBCSN channel.

Recently Roadkill bought a ‘64 Galaxie out of the Desert Valley Auto Parts salvage yard in the Phoenix Arizona area for their latest project. Now they’re looking to buy a running FE for it. Like quickly lol. I just saw this post from Finnegan tonight. Here’s somebody’s chance to be famous, maybe get on the show.

The Engine Masters winning MEL of our forum member Royce B. & Jon Kasse is featured on the cover of the new March 2019 Hot Rod. One sharp and stout looking engine! Also inside in the Engine Masters coverage are pictures and specs of the entries of forum members Joe Craine ( Y-Block ) & Barry Robotnick ( FE ). Way to go! There was discussion of these engines on the forum last fall. We were privileged to have Royce in the FE Power booth at PRI last month, answering questions for his fans.