Pat Austin and the Ford: 'splain it to me

Discussion in 'Pit Buzz' started by wolfgang, Jun 21, 2004.

  1. wolfgang

    wolfgang New Member

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    Can someone explain so that a technical novice would understand what is the unfair advantage that Pat and Walt Austin would have had with their Ford engine that NHRA is not allowing them to run?

    Wolfgang
     
    #1
    wolfgang, Jun 21, 2004
  2. Greg Hunter

    Greg Hunter New Member

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    Nhra has not given an official reason. The idea is the ford can have a bigger bore while maintaining thicker liners so you can rev the engine higher without as much trouble. It is amazing how Nhra can make a rule without any on track proof. There are other ways to even things out if one combo ran better than another. Not getting rid of it. What class is next? pro mod has the same bore spacing rule and so does pro stock. I guess they better outlaw ford in pro stock seeing how the ford is dominating so much there. It is going to make Greg Anderson's stuff obsolete.
     
    #2
    Greg Hunter, Jun 21, 2004
  3. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    it's not so much the ford engine as it is the bore spacing. once bore spacing is opened up, either solely thru the ford combo, or letting everyone make 4.900 motors, all the stuff in our trailers will be junk. no if's and's or but's. the market will be flooded, and you'll have to take pennies on the dollar for good new stuff.

    if nhra allows this, you'll pretty much have to spend at least 75k a team in buying 2 new 4.90 motors. i'm for innovation, but keep in mind most teams pay for this out of their pocket. yeah, you could continue to run the conventional combo, but you won't run with a guy that has a lined out 4.90 motor.

    this is an expensive enough move they even outlawed it in the top fuel ranks. alan johnson was working on a 5.00 motor for fuel, and nhra pulled the plug. it makes the stuff you have junk and makes you spend a ton.

    on the other hand it does suck the austins won't be back. also the other ford runners, i hate to see this for them. but you have to look at the big picture. bore spacing is a pandora's box.
     
    #3
    Will Hanna, Jun 22, 2004
  4. Randy G.

    Randy G. Top Alcohol

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    Well said, Will.
     
    #4
    Randy G., Jun 22, 2004
  5. bulldog6

    bulldog6 A/Fuel #4

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    Very well said!
     
    #5
    bulldog6, Jun 22, 2004
  6. The Zone

    The Zone Member

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    Here is the latest story on the Austin deal as reported in the Tribune. Todd Milles did the story. A very good read!

    Dean

    [ June 22, 2004, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: The Zone ]
     
    #6
    The Zone, Jun 22, 2004
  7. Greg Hunter

    Greg Hunter New Member

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    The rule as of April 2001 was no new blocks. Anything already out there was accepted. The Ford 429 stock bore spacing is 4.900. Hemi Bore spacing is 4.84. Austin's built a new block with the best of both worlds. When that wasn't accepted they were going to run the regular Ford Block and then Nhra Changed the Bore spacing rule to 4.84 to outlaw the Ford. Why not make a max bore size if they are that worried about it? Nobody outlawed a/fuel when it started to fly. Austins are going to be at or near the top what ever they run. There should be some on track proof before a rule like this is made.
     
    #7
    Greg Hunter, Jun 22, 2004
  8. TA206

    TA206 New Member

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    I thought Hemi's were 4.800" bore spacing, and Big Block Chevy was 4.480"? Is this correct?
     
    #8
    TA206, Jun 23, 2004
  9. TA206

    TA206 New Member

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    Oops I mean't 4.840".........
     
    #9
    TA206, Jun 23, 2004
  10. Greg Hunter

    Greg Hunter New Member

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    I think you are right, are any of the Hemi blocks made with 4.84 bore center? The bore spacing rule is 4.80 in Top fuel I think.
     
    #10
    Greg Hunter, Jun 23, 2004
  11. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    fontana is 4.84
     
    #11
    Will Hanna, Jun 23, 2004
  12. Tommy

    Tommy Super Comp

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    greg said there should be some on track proof before a rule like this is made. wouldnt' that make it worse to say to build one or two or three and then say its to fast so you cant' run it now.
     
    #12
    Tommy, Jun 23, 2004
  13. Mr Scary

    Mr Scary New Member

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    Is the fact that the Ford's 4.90 bore is the Big advantage cause of the difference in RPM's the Big Factor here? Or is there other factor's involved here?
     
    #13
    Mr Scary, Jun 23, 2004
  14. john348

    john348 Top Alcohol

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    i know nothing about these ford motors
    but seems to me it is not so much the block,
    yes a thicker liner would be ok, but look what you can do with the heads at that spacing
    seems to me you could get the push rod tubes out of the ports and not sure what else can be done with moving them around
     
    #14
    john348, Jun 23, 2004
  15. john348

    john348 Top Alcohol

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    i know nothing about these ford motors
    but seems to me it is not so much the block,
    yes a thicker liner would be ok, but look what you can do with the heads at that spacing
    seems to me you could get the push rod tubes out of the ports and not sure what else can be done with moving them around
     
    #15
    john348, Jun 23, 2004

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