Early Micky Thompson and Engineering history
 

For some reason things fall into my hands.As some might know I bought a built a early pontiac all alu engine.Many know Micky raced a hemi pontiac and one the 62 nationals beating Don Garlets.Virtually no one alive knew the factory made some alu blocks just for the hemi heads.M/T learned early they had to grind grooves in the deck to clear the hemi pushrods.At first they did some iron blocks and thenat the end some alu.A pair of these raw hemi blocks came to me today.I want to build one with a set of KRE D ports and put a all alu 421 in my 62 GP.As many of my projects it will be a journey.Enjoy the pics.Tom

I hate you!!! lol

That is a really neat score. Hopefully you will do a full build thread with updates when you start.
Curious, what type of mains are on it? Splayed or Straight?

Mike,raw block,can be what ever will fit.Have not pulled them out of the crates yet.I would never try to build big HP with them.Just too rare to chance breaking.Jack put a lot of HP to a similar one in his hemi pontiac puller.Not sure if Jacks had the joined lifter bores.Im sure he will add to this when he sees it.The challenge will be to get them machined first.One was cast with sleeves but never decked.Will get the bore size in the next day or so.Hope it can go the 421 4.09 bore.Tom

Fantastic Road-Racing Blocks.

I'd figure JZ DeLorean would be pleased to see those prepped & built for a Handling car.

Tom, we really need the whole story on these!!!!!-----lol
How did you come across these?
Were they local?

Wish someone could dig up these molds!!!

I am subscribed. I think this will be a great build And a great story.

Congrats!
Very cool to have one block, 2 must be wild.

:)

Do they have the cam gear setup like the RA V blocks?

:)

John they are raw,I have not pulled either one from the crates yet.Will get them out this weekend and post more pics.Tom

Tom, I'll pay shipping here if you're too busy to uncrate them.

Im trying to figure what to open first,the factory 303 RA V heads that came today or the blocks!Tom

Blocks, most of us have seen RAV heads!!!

Kind of off topic, did you see where the Challenger II is at Mecum Kissimmee?
(no Pontiac in it though)


Also a SD Catalina I think. (among others)



:)

There is a guy that used to live in SoCal that has a lot of M/T stuff but is hung up in a lawsuit.I think he has a pair of Challenger engines still.Tom

Tom S you come up with some of the most rare and cool old Pontiac parts ever. Maybe only Nunzi could come close. Thanks for sharing these!!!

Cool stuff! I assume they're from around 1961?

I think Steve Barcak has some extra hemi heads, it would be neat if you could build a streetable hemi all aluminum Pontiac. :)

Thanks for sharing. Congratulations.

Some very cool history you have there in your hands Tom. Should be fun putting one together for your 62.

First- I knew nothing of these until Tom called. And I thought I had researched the issue as much as anyone has.
These almost had to have been done sometime in 1963. Perhaps by then Liberman's failure to conquer the hemi valvetrain issues scared everybody away from the M/T hemi(?).

Second- hard for me to label my reaction- annoyed maybe, that 34 years ago I could have merely searched for one of these instead of busting my arse to use one of the Harvey Aluminum blocks under hemi heads. And then 26 years ago putting even more effort into making a hacked-up Harvey block usable after breaking my first one.

Tom- the lifter cross-bracing in my blocks is TIG'd in place- one by Fritz, one by me.

Did the seller know whether these have D- (development) numbers issued by Pontiac? Does he know who-all has had their hands on them since new? Any stampings on the crates? Let me know about the bellhousing bolt pattern (although I assume it's post-1960, since as you said these were "late" on the scene). Interesting how they cast the whole top of the valley to clear hemi pushrods, instead of just notches.

Lastly- and not too sure I'm joking- I may hate you forever if these blocks don't get to their rightful place under M/T hemi heads.:(:(:(
Simply to have an aluminum engine for your '62, why not use just any-old aluminum block?

Made from aluminum? More like made from unobtanium. What a cool find, and I agree with Jack. Huge disservice to install anything on either of them other than a M.T. Hemi head. You said you're not going for "Gonzo" power with them so why not go the full nostalgia route? How cool would it be to put one in a mid-late 60's era FED and cackle it? Save the Earth rotation efforts for the racers running late model parts.

Tom S, I know where this M/T aluminum block and one off heads with intake and exhaust ports on same side is, and maybe available too

I've got three of them in my shed.

My imaginary shed :)

I think Herb has his block sold and im trying to help him sell the heads.His block does not have the joined lifter bores or the grooves for the hemi heads.His is like the one I built some years ago.Tom

Jack and all,there is NO machined holes in these blocks.The challenge is to get them machined first.I have not seen any M/T heads avil for a price I would be remotely interested in.These blocks have been around for years,there have been guys trying to buy them.The guy that had them bought them some years ago.There has been some posts on another board about them.I think Steve knew these blocks were around but might not have known they were hemi blocks.I just turned 75 a couple days ago,I have 2 RA V projects going right now along with dealing with these.Don Keefe wants to do a article for Poncho Perfection.Im going to get them out of the crates today and will post more pics.The owner brought them to me because he knew I am crazy enough to try to get them built in some form but Hemi is not in my thoughts.If I build them they will go in my cars.Tom

Oh Ok He texted me the other day about if I knew of anyone looking for these parts, pretty neat stuff! I should have figured you knew about them LOL

Tom, any clue how many of these blocks we're cast?

Mike,any pics of the valley?Tom

OK,bare alu bore 3.75,bare main bore 2.90,inside sleeve(rusty)3.95,outside sleeve 4.255,inside main web at bolt hole 1.15,outside main bolt hole 1.019.

If you ask me, this block almost screams OHC.
(we're pretty good at spending Tom's money :D)

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...0&d=1576259697

But seriously, thanks for sharing. :hail:

Looks like those things are going to keep your machinist busy.

Tom, have you ever done a DNA test? I'm hoping you may be my long lost uncle :-)

AMAZINGLY cool stuff, thank you for sharing with us!

Interesting that the block has cam bores except for the front one?

Who are you having do the machine work?

:confused:

Does the machinist have blueprints to locate and layout the drilled holes and the distributor hole? Or is there another method that is used on current blocks? I know there must be but just wondering the process.

WOW...never say never.
Be awesome if any early aluminum d-port heads where made and found for said build...

Here you go Tom.

Another one of the backside.

Good stuff Tom.

Thanks Mike,that is like the first one I had,no joined lifter bores.

Tom,

Mr Mike Noun's photos make clear it's only fair&wise to have those Blocks fully photographed, and then machined for the obvious & needed surfaces.

Keep the Crates.

Mike,that block has a casting date,these only have the D number,no casting dateTom

Tom, the first block has significant white and grey corrosion. You might want to passivate it.

Anybody know where these blocks were cast? PMD? Harvey Aluminum?
How many?
Any member here have any info to share about them?

Mike Noun- what is the block in your pictures?

Tom- if you don't mind, I'd appreciate you answering this question.

Jack, what would you call any old aluminum block?

I have wondered what all the aluminum blocks were intended for, or if Mickey just had the pull to have them made, and would use them as he desired....

IAII and MR1 are both available in aloominium

The block in Mike's picture is on display at the Pontiac Museum in Illinois, not sure of casting date thou

Jack,have any idea where I could find just any old pontiac alu block?These have a D number so im sure PMD foundry cast them.Who knows they might just go under a nice piece of glass and will be my new desk.Tom

My factory all alu engine was cast in April 1959 and it had a 61-64 bell pattern.It was a 3in main and was marked V 370 on the face of the block.Tom