With the recent flurry of interest of MELs at the EMC, I thought I would post some info on a build I did for Stan Palma from Indy.. It is a 510 inch pump gas build. It has ported heads, an ancient Isky solid roller cam and a vintage Offy tunnel ram and a single 850 Holley. It has a lot of nice internal parts as well..I dynoed it at Jay Brown's back in March. On paper the cam looks pretty big, but it had only a hint of choppy idle and made plenty of vacuum at 800 rpm. It acts more like a mild street/strip cam.. It has a big fat torque curve and peaks out about 5200 rpm.. The potential is there for more horsepower with a cam change and a 2x4 tunnel ram..As it is it makes a great street brawler with very good manners..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLPR2iwnfTs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt1xdW3xNb4

That's impressive.  ~580ft lbs @3800,  490hp @5300

Are the vintage speed parts for those as expensive as they are for the Lincoln?


Lawrenceville, GA

MEL speed parts are basically non existent.. Stan was lucky to find the roller cam.. The intake is actually for a 460. If you look close you will see the adapter plates..

Stan used to race a 427 Fairlane at the PSMCDR. He owned the car, and had somebody else drive. Tough competitor! 
        The Lincoln is going into  Little Bird. Should be pretty quick Royce!!



Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

RB that is an impressive build! I think the MEL is going to raise some eyebrows.

I wonder if the early hemis will be the toughest or maybe the Polys?

Is there a database for basic cylinder head flow on the engines of the 1950's.

I think a lot is known about later engines in terms of potential but the 50's is a bit murky at least to a casual observer such as myself.

Off and on , I have looked for 430 mel speed parts . Yes they are out there , I have one in my collection , may get interested  making some soon. 

Po ol Davie

Sparta , Tn.

At new England dragway a couple years ago they had a cackle fest and there was a front engine dragster running a 430 and the announcer bragged it up quite well and when he fired it up it was the loudest and best sounding one out there, cant remember if was running hilborn or blown.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

That car was most likely the Gizzle Hopper competition coupe.. That is a blown 430 on Nitro. Just doing cackle fests it requires regular bearing replacements

It was an FED not a coup.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?