Shelby Aluminum

[SnakeBitt]

In NASCAR, it isn't about the Engines anymore, it's about the Driver. Or, at least that's the way NASCAR wants it. After a win, people should go over and pop the hood on the car and talk about the motor, not ask the driver what style RayBans he's wearing. We may never "see" (or should I say "hear about") the great battles that took place behind closed doors at Ford, Chevy, Moper, etc, in the engine design / development division. Oh, it's still going on (somewhat) but it's kept "behind closed doors" because the media doesn't care about THAT. Chevy's "mystery motor", Fords FE, Mopars HEMI, .........all designed with nothing in mind but RACING, and the press wanted to find out all they could about them and be the 1st to get it in print. Not today. They assume the public isn't interested in MOTORS; no, they're more interested in weather Jeff Gordon is wearing boxers or breefs.

Excal: I was the one that started the thread you spoke of that asked what cars did the 427's get put into. To this day I have yet to get, what I would consider, a complete answer. I've spent quite a bit of time on the FE forum as well, but it seems nobody is all that sure. I'm going to try my luck at the library and see what I can dig up. I've even gone to the local Ford dealership. They are supposed to get back to me........yea right.

Bandit: You're right about the 427 Cobra not fearing a 427 Vette, but I would say it has more to do with the weight advantage the Cobra has vs. the difference between the 2 engines. I don't want to start anything here (but it probably will), but as much as I admire the FE, I would say that if Shelby got his first wish and Chevy took him up on his "project"..........the Cobra would have been even faster with an L-88 427 Chebby. Just think what would have / could have happened with the ZL-1 in the Cobra! Chevy would have had an even bigger reason to further develope the ZL-1 if they had a Cobra to put it in.
With that being said, I would also say that if the 70 454 Chevelle would have had a Ford 460 in it, it would have been an even bigger success. The design of the 385 is superior to that of the Chevy and we will never know what "could have been" in the 70's thanks to Ford being late on the draw (or drawing board) and Nader / emmissions regulations. Had Ford come out with the engine a couple years earlier, who knows????