What Exactly is an FE Engine

[scottj]

Ernie,
I understand NASCAR history to be as you describe it also. I never heard of a restrictor plate until 1987 after Allison (I think) went through the fence at 210mph at Talladaga and almost wiped out a bunch of spectators. I found the suggestion that Petty's (Chrysler's) success was a result of Ford's being "handcuffed" by the restrictor plate...well...interesting.

Scott

[cobrashoch]

Nope- The restrictor plates first(1972) then the little motors mid 70's. That's when Nascar lost me as a fan. When the Shotgun came out in 70 it ran heads up with the Chryslers and was competitive. Remember, that's when the winged Chrysler cars were running from 70 to about 73. As for when did Fords of any type win against the Chryslers? Well they had spotty success against the Chrysler hemi from 64 thru 73 or so, but by in large the 426 hemi was king. In 66, if I remember right, Ford won big time with the tunnel ports because Chrysler withdrew the hemi from Nascar (or was "asked" to) because they couldn't meet homogation(sp) rules. Another thing not ever talked about in that period was the dollars spent during that period. Ford had MUCH deeper pockets than Chrysler and from about 67 up to the smallblock era they spent about 7 to 10 times as much as the Chryslers guys. Life and money was good for the Ford bunch and that's when they did a lot of engine development. IE- the tunnel port revisions, cammers, shotguns and so called Cleveland
designs. Yes, I love cammers too Bill !!! Everyone thinks the smallblock reformation was about slowing the cars down. The real reality- it was a effort to slow down the factory support dollars, and to allow the little guy back into "STOCK" car racing. Race car drivers no matter what venue or form have allways cryed out to slow the cars down. What else is new? As for the Factory dollars in Nascar thing- all I can say is the beat goes on. Talk about thread drift!!!!!!!!!!!
Cobrashock

[bmalone]

Hey Ron, thanks for responding. I avoided commenting because I was not sure about the restrictor plates back in the early seventies. My Dad seemed to remember and I had a vague recollection.

You might be the right person to ask: I have been interested to find qualifying speeds from the end of the FE era, but have not been able to find anything definitive. I know it is comparing apples and oranges from that era to today--that is not why I ask--just mostly curious. Tires and technology and rule changes have made any comparison irrelevant.

BTW, I love the Cammer, but, for obvious reasons I love the TP more.

[Excaliber]

As for thread drift, I think were still on target The FE played a MAJOR roll in racing history. Like, LeMans finish 1,2 and 3 in the GT-40's in 1966 comes to mind.....

As for NASCAR:
It's BB vs SB restrictor plate history. Seems pretty obvious the reason they put "plates" on the BB was to slow them down. This would have been the first use (on a Big Block).

That was the beginning of the end for the Big Blocks, the end of an era. They down sized the motor, but had no restrictor plate rule for them. To save the racers money? OK, I can see that, with the added benefit of slowing the cars! NASCAR is always trying to balance things for the fans and the racers.

Tony George, Indy 500 race track owner and IRL "head man" "down sized" the Indy car rules primarily as a way of saving the racers "money", and he made the right call. I don't think "speed" was an issue in his case.

Some years later, in an effort to slow down the cars AGAIN the restrictor plate rule was "back", this time for the small blocks.
That was ALL about "speed".

Which was more important? Slow the cars or make it cheaper? Why not both? But clearly the restrictor plate rule, BB or SB was about slowing the cars.

NASCAR if now faced with a new monster. Winston is pulling out, the cost of "raceing" is out of control. Something MAJOR will have to happen to save it as we know it today.

They should invite Tony George over for a chat.......

Ernie

NOTE: When Chrylser had to "drop" the Hemi and move away from the car, they KNEW they were done! They virtually dropped out of racing at the same time. They had nothing else that could touch the Fords. The "wing cars" that came later was a last ditch effort to regain their former years of "glory".

Interesting cars, but I always did think they were "cheating". But hey, "back in the day", everybody did that!!! Smoky Yunick and his Chevys with the "hollow roll bars" that held extra gas??? Now THAT was stepping over the line!! They had to watch that guy like a hawk!

[cobrashoch]

Ernie- The restrictor plates on the big blocks was put in to slow
-em- down. Actually, restrictor plates have been around racing since the 20's along with pop-off valves. I am a big fan of the way George is doing things too. But I must admit that I am not in a majority either. As for Smokie, he's da man. That sidecar "thing" he brought to Indy is the precursor to todays IRL cars.
All- The reason the winged cars were successfull was because they broke the draft behind the car. Since a main stay of Nascar even then was to draft- pass Nascar couldn't have that. Chrysler spent its money on body shapes around 69 because when they read the future, they saw Nascar was coming down on engine sizes. In the end Nascar saw all the factory camps as cost escalators, and this is what brought on the small block era. Enter the presant era that is driven by personalitys, not the engineering. About that time Chrysler was having "serious" financial woe's so they just dropped out of all racing. Had nothing to do with not being able to keep up wth anyone.
Bill- You've got the right engine for a Cobra, don't let anybody kid ya. As for the times thay ran, unfortunately I've slept since then and suffer from the old farts desease of CRS. (can't remember
sh!t) I can tell you the the big Ford wedges ran best on the short tracks and were competitive, with the hemi's dominate on the big tracks. EVERBODY during that era was trying to keep up with
king Richard and Buddy Baker, and those damn hemi's. And that included the other Chrysler guys.
Cobrashock

[relayer4u]

While I was reading this (older) thread I was inspired to investigate and came up with a couple of cool sites that give up some great NASCAR history, such as Daytona qualifying speeds and the first use of the dreaded restrictor plates (1970!):

Resrictor plates:

http://wwnboa.org/hartman.htm#70


Qualifying:

http://www.tricklefan.com/guide/rules.html


Man I love reading this stuff, thanks for being patient while I catch up.

I NEED a Cobra