Well, I FINALLY got one past you crew of super sleuths yesterday and admittedly it was a nearly impossible job I tasked you with. The guesses were all good and many were getting so close to the bulls-eye that I thought you’d get it but no one came forward with the right one. Even reader Steve Buckley, who knows the story on the engine bit his tongue. Thanks for that Steve!
So, you all nailed the blown Pontiac part, but you didn’t guess what iconic and frankly weird race car it is going into. I made a couple of vague hints in the blog item about someone who was “devoted” to the brand (Pontiac). Well, that someone was none other than Dick Jesse and the car that this engine will eventually fall into is a restored version of his famous Mr. Unswitchable GTO. Jesse’s car was a wild creation that really personified the wide open nature of Funny Car racing in the late 1960s. Using an actual steel roof that was heavily modified and a fiberglass lower body, the car was unique because Jesse’s head stuck clear out of the roof when he drove it. The car has been undergoing a long restoration process here in Massachusetts and someday that Pontiac engine will roar again.
Here’s a couple of photos of Jesse’s car in it’s heyday –
Sticking with the race theme, here’s today’s challenge. This race block is cool for a myriad of reasons. Give us the make on this bad boy and what makes it so neat!
aluminum cleveland ford?
Clevor.
It is a hybrid Cleveland/Windsor Ford that was built for sprint and drag racing. Cleveland (i.e., 385 series) bottom end, Windsor top end. Note that this particular version has no provision for cooling and is set up for a dry sump.
Dart alum block 8 extra head bolts,Its a dry block,no water inside ,looks like FE engine mounts,nice cross bracing in lifter valley.
You asked what makes it neat,thats my list.
And to Wes above “385” series is 429/460, “335” was Cleveland
My feeble contribution to today’s contest is that this is an aluminum replica of a Ford “385” series. I have not been able to determine the maker. It is noteworthy because it appears to have no provisions for water jackets.
Hell I was going to say the rare alum hemi
Studebaker?
This is the Ford block formally built by Joe Fontana as the “Clevlor”. It has been reconfigured by Shelby to accept small block hemi heads built by Arias for Bill Dembesty
The Series 2 3800 was introduced in 1995 and have some different features from the original one.
Ratpatrol 66 guessed Mr. Unswitchable in yesterdays Gearhead Knowledge!
its a alumnium 421 pontiac block
C&C Motorsports’ Boss 429 Boss Aluminum block.