<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brian Baker:
It's only been in the last 10 years of the 35 that you mentioned that any degree of improvement in parts has occurred.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
That doesn't matter.
Illustration:
Take Arnie's best times, in either his '68, '69 or '70 funny cars.
Then, take a look at what he used for:
1. block/cylinder heads/head flow cfm/intake manifold
2. crank
3. camshaft/springs
4. ignition system
5. fuel system, and pump gpm
6. blower size and rotor configuration
7. transmission type
8. tire type, size and compound
9. chassis type, design and technology & wheelbase.
Arnie:
1. factory block
2. factory cylinder heads; 421SD & RAV
3. factory crankshaft; 990
4. low rise, cast M/T blower intake
5. camshaft and springs probably mild by today's standards; probably used 4 cyl. Tempest timing chain.
6. ignition system: Vertex magneto; 3 amps
7. Enderle 110, probably 12 gpm
8. Blower was a 6-71, probably magnesium; 60 degree rotors with no teflon or nylatron strips.
Enderle bugcatcher injector; small barrel valve; no Racepack computer.
9. TH400 tranmission, mfgd by General Mistake.
10. No idea on tire size, but it definitely wasn't a 17x36 funny car tire.
11. Chassis was a Logghe square tube frame with coil sprung suspension front and rear.
Bill Mellott(or Rodney Butler): I can't comment on Rodney's hardware, as I've never seen the car. I'll stick with what I somewhat know about Bill's:
1. $3500 IA block
2. $10,000 billet heads/$2500 billet blower intake
3. Crankshaft: billet?; $2500 Crower?
4. Camshaft: I'm assuming big; 290 duration?
5. Ignition: $3,000 MSD 44 amp Pro Mag with $600 offset magneto drive.
6. Fuel pump: Enderle 1200; 19 gpm.
7. Blower: Littlefield 14-71 with high-helix rotors, probably Kobelco. With teflon and nylatron strips. $2500, used.
8. Injector: Enderle buzzardcatcher with big nitro-style barrel valve.
9. Racepack computer.
10. Lenco 4 speed; $3500 used. Crower clutch $2400 used.
11. Tire size: 16x33?
12. Chassis type: current moly/strut/4 link.
This is not meant as a commentary on either Bill's equipment or on the Kaufmann's abilities. It's simply a comparison between what I feel is fast today, and what I feel was fast 35 years yesteryear.
And I won't even begin to compare the accomplishments of the Butlers' (full-time, professional engine builders, with extensive outside R&D and turbocharger consultants on the team), and the stratospheric costs of their hardware, versus the 35 year old accomplishments of a modest farmer from Morrison, Illinois......
One can't possibly be a fan of fast Pontiac racing and not, at least conciously, make the comparison between where we are now versus where we were then.
And nobody's condemning Scott Rex's accomplishments, either. Scott could choose to use any power adder he wants; rather, he's decided to make a name for himself by going it "naked" with carburetors only.
I'm done now.
