Hot off the press. Received a call today about a young guy from Melbourne, Victoria. He was clocked at Phillip Island Raceway doing 152 MPH down the straight in a Mainline Ute. It is powered by a Y-BLOCK (what else??)



I will phone the guy in question tomorrow to get the story. Stay Tuned



Regards Lon

yblocksdownunder

Lon,

           Late for school or had a hot date?

                                                   Frank

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Let us know about engine mods and drive train, too.

TC

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas

I spoke to "Luke", one of John's sons today. The Mainline Ute in question belongs to John "Chopper" Katsanis. He owns a Hot Rod shop in Melbourne called, John's Rod & Custom. The Mainline (chopped with a 56 Vicky windshield) is powered by a 272 bored to 3.810. Heads are from a 312 T-bird (unknown cast #) with s/s valves. Carb is a 600 Holley. Gearbox is a Borg Warner "single rail" (They were used in Falcons & 6 cyl Cortinas, mid 70's in Aus). Diff is a 9 inch with 2.75 gears. That speed (152 mph) was done approx 2 years ago. John is a guru with Y blocks. Brand new cast manifolds are now available 3 x 2, 6 x 2, & a new 2x4 Holley manifold will be coming soon. Brand new Bellhousings to fit C4 to Y are also available. Flexplates will be made in the next few months. John is busy putting together a FED (Front engine dragster) with a 312 with 6x2 carbs to be run on alcohol. He hopes to run 9 sec at the next CNDRA (Nostalgia Drags in Melbourne 07) Luke also mentioned they are working on stroker cranks for Y blocks as well (Available 2007)



Regards Lon

yblocksdownunder

Lon,



Have you seen any of the new intake manifolds? Are they cast iron or Alum?

Any idea of cost?



Why haven't we heard of him before?? Sounds like my kind of guy.

The address I found on the internet is:

John's Rod & Custom

Bewick VIC 3806

Phone (03) 9796 2251



Is this our man?

Thanks,



Jim


  Jim Rowe Elkhorn, NE

Jim,

I spoke to John a couple of months ago about the new C4 (cast aluminium) bellhousing. He said he was very happy with the quality. I have not had the chance to see one in the flesh as yet. Same goes for the manifolds. Melbourne is 1000 miles South of me. We're planning a trip down that way early next & hope to call in and have a look at his new products. The following is a quote from an ad in Au Street Rodding Magazine .

"New from John's Rod & Customis this cast alloy bellhousing to suit Y-Block Fords. Manual & auto versions are available. The manual versions are sold with the centre hole only machined, you drill to suit your own gearbox pattern. The auto version suits C4/C10 transmissions only and comes drilled to suit this application.

email John sales@kustoms.com.au Check with John for price as I can't remember. I sure would love to bring some of these to Columbus next year! Another guy (Lindsay Shoemark) is also making cast alloy valve covers   ybloke56@hotmail.com    Regards Lon

yblocksdownunder

Lon,

Thanks for the information.



Keep on Y-ing!



Merry Christmas all down under!

  Jim Rowe Elkhorn, NE

Hey Lon,

I hate to be a wet blanket on the Ute (knowing how you hated to see Randy take away the Y title), but a UTE doing over 150? Remember that Ted's 23 Altered is "only" running in the 130-135 mph range at 9.6 seconds, that is a ride that weighs about 2,000 lbs. It would be very interesting to find out what the actual scoop is on this car. Also, would be nice to see a shot of the run slip, etc. Randy ran 162 mph at 8.15 seconds with his blown and alcohol injected rail. I'm not gonna say that what you are telling us is impossible, but with Randy and Bob in the 8's with the wild setups they have, your guy from down under must be really pushing the limits of that 272.



Hey guys, I think Lon is just yanking our chain Getting that "trash talk" started a bit earlier this time around!



Everyone have a safe and blessed Christmas, enjoy the time with loved ones!

Jim (site owner)
'56 Club Sedan - Ted Eaton built 429 hp '292/318, '54 Sunliner - stock '302

Jim, Hate to tell you the bad news. This ute is street driven. Phillip Island Raceway is not a drag strip, it's a Grand Prix circuit raceway. Has been for the last 54 years. World Superbikes & Aussie V8 Supercars race there. As for Randy (Texas Tornado) Gummelt, tell him not to get too fond of the "Worlds Fastest Y-Block" title. It may just be heading back this way next year! Word is, there is a new contender. I hope to hear more early next year. I hear it will be a big inch Y, Front Engine Dragster. As long as the record stays between USA & Au. Could you imagine if the record went North of the border?? I don't think I could eat that much "Humble Pie"



MERRY CHRISTMAS



Lon & Lynne

yblocksdownunder

Thanks for the clarification, I kinda wondered if it was not a dragstrip. As for you blokes taking the title back, I think that you all need to go to grief recovery counseling because there are things happening on this side of the pond to make sure that the record STAYS here! Nope, can't tell you what it is! Well, I could but it wouldn't be nice to make you cry at Christmas time. Let's just say that the Texas Tornado ain't done reaking havoc to the record!

Jim (site owner)
'56 Club Sedan - Ted Eaton built 429 hp '292/318, '54 Sunliner - stock '302