Once again, the BS readership has made me proud. I posted the photos of an odd looking inline four cylinder engine yesterday and it was the very first comment from Speedy that nailed it right out of the park. The engine in question is a Mercruiser 485, which is a 224ci boat engine that can and has been adapted to automotive use both on the street and at Bonneville. What’s super cool about the Mercruiser 470 (same engine with a 2bbl carb) and 485 (4bbl carb version) is that a big block Ford cylinder head will literally bolt right to the top of it. That’s the way people run them on the street, with a 429 or 460 head on top. We’d use a Kaase Boss 9 head just because it would maximize the freak factor. Other interesting points include the fact that a Chevy transmission will bolt to the back of this engine with very minor modifications, the started is interchangeable with that of an International 392 V8, and the crankshaft is reportedly the same as one used in a British Leyland tractor. Talk a bout a freak show mish-mash! You knew it, though and that’s what counts.
Moving on to today’s challenge, we’re throwing a bit of a curve at you. Before you go blurting out what the engine is, because it is a softball we’re looking for more information. This particular engine is going into the restoration of a famous drag race car of the same brand from the 1960s. It still stands as one of the most iconic cars of its time, especially of this make. It was driven by a guy who was also known for his devotion to this make as well.
Look at the photos, name the engine and tell us what famous historic drag car it is heading into!
As always, thanks to Dana Hard of Custom Automotive Machine in Weymouth, Mass for allowing us to invade his shop privacy!
Just takin’ a crazy guess here, but I’ll say it’s for one of Arnie “Farmer” Beswick’s “Tameless Tiger” GTOs. Given that “Farmer” has raced several versions of his Goat over the years, it’s hard to pin down more than that.
The mill is a Pontiac, of course.
But then who knows, maybe it’s one of the other famous Pontiac race cars, such as Don Gay’s Infinity or George Delorean’s flopper.
Mickey Thompson’s twin engine AWD dragster
All aluminum super duty ??? I’m in agreement that if it’s wierd and rare then Arnie has it
I’m going to guess the Assault I that Mickey Thompson built and drove.
I know but then again I would be cheating.
Either Anie Beswick, Don Gay, or Jesse Tyree.
Tyree’s “Tin Indian” is a good guess as well.
My first thought was Mickey Thompson. Brian’s reference to this engine powering a Pontiac drag car eliminated the streamliners and dragsters.
I was not able to find any evidence of the existence of a Thompson supercharged V8 Pocho.
Next up is Lew Arrington and the Brutus GTO. This car ran the M/T hemi heads on a Pontiac except for the very beginning. I doubt this is what we are looking at.
At this point, I have to get to work , so I am going to take a wild stab and say that this is the powerplant from Beswick’s ’69 Super Judge funny car.
I eliminated M/T on the statement “It was driven by a guy who was also known for his devotion to this make as well.” While Thompson built several well-known Pontiac-powered cars, his “devotion,” if any, was apparently more to Bunkie Knudsen and factory money than any particular make of car. For example, Thompson had a Hemi-head Thunderbolt. He then went over to Ford in late ’60s until the “great mistake” shut down Ford’s US factory-backed program. He was also was active at times with equipment from several brands, including Buick (Indy cars), and Chevrolet (Indy cars), and manufactured speed equipment for many different brands. Thus he’s hardly “devoted” to Pontiac.
Arnie Beswick’s “Boss Bird” Funny Car – supercharged and injected tunnel-port Ram Air V engine?
I was going to guess Arnie’s Tameless Tiger as well. I’ts obviously a Pontiac.
Maybe Don Gay, I think he may have been a Pontiac dealer. Or Jess Tyree?
MR. UNSWITCHABLE Dick Jesse
so when did Arrington switch from pontiac power in Brutus? I thought the early cars were supercharged Ponchos.
I keep getting distracted by the pictures in the back ground!! Wish we could look at all those. These guys seem to have a lot of cool stuff, big props to em for letting bang shift do this.