The Ford Barn - View Single Post

Bruce Lancaster · 07-05-2011, 10:27 AM

On the Chryslers versus flatheads...
Go dig into HRM about 1956. Don't know where mine are right now, but I think 1956 was the last year a flathead won top eliminator at the NHRA Nationals. The Calvin Rice car...I'm sure someone here can find the HRM and post particulars as far as they are known on the engine.
Anyway...this car, a much more modern rail than the old Chrisman car in R&C, built to accept either a Hemi or a flathead. The Chrysler provided highest trap speeds, actually more important than ET in those days, while the flathead provided best ET and since that meant it got there the firstest, it was the engine chosen for the Nationals. I think the same issue of HRM has the car feature and the writeup on the Nats.
So...5 years after Chrysler kicked off a V8 useful for dragging in light cars, it was still second best...The earlier OHV's had already taken over for use in heavier classes, where their huge displacement advantage was unbeatable.

07-05-2011, 10:27 AM	#19
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: 435 horsepower in 1955..... On the Chryslers versus flatheads... Go dig into HRM about 1956. Don't know where mine are right now, but I think 1956 was the last year a flathead won top eliminator at the NHRA Nationals. The Calvin Rice car...I'm sure someone here can find the HRM and post particulars as far as they are known on the engine. Anyway...this car, a much more modern rail than the old Chrisman car in R&C, built to accept either a Hemi or a flathead. The Chrysler provided highest trap speeds, actually more important than ET in those days, while the flathead provided best ET and since that meant it got there the firstest, it was the engine chosen for the Nationals. I think the same issue of HRM has the car feature and the writeup on the Nats. So...5 years after Chrysler kicked off a V8 useful for dragging in light cars, it was still second best...The earlier OHV's had already taken over for use in heavier classes, where their huge displacement advantage was unbeatable.