What class would a '57 T-Bird with the 285 Horse Dual Quad 312 have run in in 1957? The oldesd NHRA Rule Book I have is for 1964. It only shows 2 Sprots Car classes, A and B Sports and I think the Bird would be below the weight to horsepower ratio for B Sports. It would go in F Stock as near as I can figure. Any idea where they would have been in 1957. Want to do car shows and cruises's in 1957 drag race trim including class markings.

The NHRA was a fledgling outfit in 1957. Many tracks were still independant. So, classes varied a great deal. You might want to see if you can find copies somewhere of the Drag News of that time, for more info..

Paul

Slum,

     In '57 F stock at Ohio tracks would have been for flatheads and inlines. I ran F in 58  & 59 with a (1952)  straight Eight Pontiac. Advertised at 107 hp and had to weigh 4000 lbs.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

F Stock was from the '64 NHRA Rule book based on advertised horsepower to weight ratio. Still looking for the '57 class for the 285 horse T-Bird.

I haven't looked in my old Hot Rods for classification, but wasn't the 285 a low production or dealer installed option?  If so, NHRA would not have accepted it for a stock class and would delegate it to a gas class.  To get a "stock configuration" for your car, you may have to claim 270 hp.  Hot Rod used to publish class breakdowns, I'll check as soon as I get a chance.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

In my never ending search for clear and accurate information on the 312 285 hp engine, a year or so ago I contacted a Ford knowledgable Div 3 NHRA Tech Man.  According to his information NHRA never listed the 285 hp engine, only the 245, 270, and 300 hp engines.   

BTW, to date no hard evidence has ever surfaced relative to a camshaft part number or grind data for the 285 hp engine.

Regards,

Dennis

   

  

Have no idea on the details of the 285 Horse engine either. Read all the previous posts on it with great interest. I have seen Ford advertising from '57 refering to the 285 Horsepower engine. So what class would the 270 Horse Dual Quad have been in in 1957? The info has to be out there somewhere!

From what I've read in a reprint issued in YBM, it's likely a T.Bird, with the 270 HP engine, would have been in "A" Sports, or "B" at the lowest, in 1957. The 285 HP engine seems to be even more of a mystery than the Supercharged engine. I've also got a newspaper reprint of 1957 Ford cars, which has a footnote reference to the 285 engine, but no other details. Basically it was Ford's race version of the 270. Years ago we got info indicating that instead of it having the regular 256 degree (advertised) cam, that Ford ordered Isky E-2s for those engines.. but I can't confirm this.. Oh! and another thing with reference to your efforts to ascertain NHRA's listing for the 285 engine. Ford's factory backed efforts in 1956 & early 1957 was focused on NASCAR & to a lesser extent, USAC stock car racing. There was no factory support for the Drags, which likely explains why you can't find the info your are looking for..

Paul

Looked in my old Hot Rods last evening.  Found an article about the '57 Stock class cars for which the manufactureres had supplied NHRA with horsepower and weight figures.  No Ford products were listed, probably no figures supplied at that time.  There were listings for '56 "factory" hot rods, and the Ford and Merc dual quad cars were relegated to C/Gas class.  There were no sports car classes mentioned, but like Paul, I would guess your car would fall into A or B sports.  Make up a class and put it on your windows, who would know the difference?

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Think I will go with B Sports. The 300 horse Supercharged car would have been A if you go with logic. If anybody says I am wrong, I will see if they can prove to me what it should be. Thanks for all the input.