200 Horses From An Unblown Fj - Repco Corssflow Gray Motor

Above: The Repco Highpower cylidenr head, amongst

three Webers and Repco extractors as installed

in Barry Ferrari's Holden.

FOR FIVE YEARS like a shot, Barry Ferrari has campaigned ane of Victoria'sec best-known modified product cars, an FJ alongside an unusual elevation-chop in addition to sponsored past Wynns.

During this flow Ferrari'sec squad has been twice National champion, 3 times Victorian champion together with, until the recent 'lxx Big Go, held the record for due east/MP form. With this class of success, a nifty bargain of evolution on the car is called for.

Recently Ferrari obtained the magic 200 b.h.p. from his Holden engine, a 132 cubic inch donk more than than ten years old. This is how it was done. After 3 years of success amongst the basic 132 c.i. engine too the form atomic number 26 cylinder caput (worked over many times), the Wynns squad began to expect farther afield for a power institute. Many engines came under consideration, including the afterward Model 186 Holden engine and the rather heavy just extremely powerful Chevro let vi engine of about 231 c.ane. Finally a crossflow Repco caput was purchased together with the decision to con-tinue alongside the one-time sideplater was made.

Preparations for the novel head began now together with many hours were devoted to planning in addition to pattern. A consummate scissure test too visual inspection had to he critically carried out too after Dyno Dave Bennett gave the nod of approving that the caput was OK, go began in earnest. Wynns boss human inwards Melbourne, Mr. Nes, Dumbrell, called inward Norm Gown in addition to John Stevens, both good known Vic-torian racing drivers together with proprietors of Engine Developments. to figure the novel ready-upward.

Many difficulties were encountered due to the fact that no 1 had e'er seriously considered a crossflow caput for drag racing. The head had been obtained from an enthusiastic Tasmanian in addition to came complete alongside 2 twin perish. downdraft Weber 45 mm. carbs. and so for the initial running the existing ready was retained. The engine was developing 130 summation h.p. alongside the atomic number 26 head. and then in club to pin close to thought of what increase could live expected the crossflow head was bolted upwardly too the engine sent to the dyno alongside Norm Gown to supervise proceedings.

The FJ itself at Calder

With most no tuning the engine cranked 145 b.h.p. on pump equally "offset force of the string". The indications were skilful, for the increase had been achieved without special cams or whatsoever head go. An unofficial record was later on established at Calder inwards May. 1970 alongside a blistering xiv.89. The record was officially posted at fifteen.22 later on inward the mean solar day past Ferrari.

The New Motor

Encouraged past this success, operate hastened en the "novel' engine. Racing experts such every bit John Patterson Men-co Research) as well as Pat Ratliffe (Eddie Thcfmas), together with Norm Gown as well as John Stevens contributed to the end result. A "1 off" camshaft ground past Pal Ratliffe was used. Pals long cam grinding experience coupled alongside Norm Gowns' testing inward this section produced a cam-shaft designed for the chore. Weslite fourteen:ane racing pistons were selected every bit they were manufactured particularly for the Repco caput. Com-pression ratio was reduced to what was regarded as a more than realistic 12:ane figure. Eddie Thomas balanced the entire assembly including clutch, crankshaft, rods, pistons, fifty-fifty force-rods as well as cam followers. The caput was and then cc'd by Norm as well as ten days afterward the short motor was assembled to the desired tolerances together with clearances. The stock crude ticker was re-tained afterward checking, as well as constitute to live ticker ng 35 lbs. per square inch pressure level. which was considered adequate.

After balancing. the crankshaft was "Tultrided" to ensure long life too withstand the stress of racing. A moderately lightened flywheel was used every bit dependability was sought besides every bit horsepower. The peculiar design of the Repco head allowed half dozen ram subway system inlet manifold to be used carrying 3 twin drop dead sidedraught. forty mm. Solex carbs. Correct jetting was achieved on the dyno every bit again in that location were no guides to function to. The master exhaust manifolds (headers) were used as they were designed past Phil Irving. They offered expert Indy/ chassis clearance. Tailpipes 40" long together with 21" diameter expire the gas from the headers.

Final footstep so was to fabricate a especial distributor to complement the power curve, some other undertaking by Eddie Thomas, and the fabrication of a distributor cap to agree nether the inlet manifold. Would yous believe its impossible to withdraw the distributor cap without kickoff removing the inlet manifold! The engine was so last assembled in addition to Norm Gown drove to the dyno amongst fingers crossed.

After 4 hours running-in. the testing began. The terminal effect was a whopping 200 b.h.p. amongst 185 pes lbs. of torque. While the engine run was carried cutting. Ray Colley. proprietor of Col-ley'second Body Works inwards Box Hill, re-painted the automobile in its master blood-red, black as well as golden colour system inwards training for the adjacent drag race coming together at Calder.

It would be prissy to order that get-go fourth dimension out later on the mods, the automobile shell all records, merely no such luck. There was lots of extra ability only the wretched tyres only couldn't take it. Another ratio diff was fitted during the mean solar day. along with new condom. only it was the same outcome. More piddling with eiff ratios. etc.. too a big duad of thou in addition to H super-viscid chemical compound slicks forthwith on club may cure this problem. Problems 'rising in all jobs similar this. in addition to the Repco heading of Ferrari'second Holden was no exception. Headaches including removing a department of the burn down wall to agree the parent carbie in, in addition to fabrication of a new firewall, re-shaping inner guards to clear other carbies, moving of accelerator pedal in addition to making upwards new throttle linkages.

A more detailed await at the Repco caput shows upwards close to interesting facts. Secret of the production is, of form, the hemispherical combustion sleeping accommodation together with the crossflow porting. An interesting alteration took home on the inlet side of the head. In its master copy farm, the Rena) caput has ii long chambers which feed the fuel mixture into the cylinders — 1 bedchamber for each three cylinders. By carefully dividing each of the 2 chambers upward into 3 equal sections. a 6 inlet port organisation results — a very practical in addition to of import evolution. To brand the most of this improvement. Ian Heather. the mechanic responsible for much of the go, carefully matched each combustion sleeping room for volumes.
The kickoff dyno tuning was carried out using criterion pump gas, an "ordinary" gear up of racing plugs and the ane-off camshaft. Experiments over the side by side few months alongside methanol fuel, dissimilar types of plug., together with perchance a "super" cam may s fifty-fifty higher power output.

Article from Hot Holdens in addition to Customs #2