Old Truck vs New Truck

RBHarter

West Central AR
I can't play in these lanes .....
I was there when they pushed the button on a NOS plate and 2 lines of 10 psi 1/4" 145 octane for a little 1000 HP shot on a 2 speed wet centrifugal blower fed with self regulating carburetor. Let me tell you that 5 sec shot down the back straight adds a whole level to the old expression rolling coal . 4600 up in an air cooled radial . 496 mph on a 9 mile closed course 9 lap race average.
 

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
The old Predator carbs RB. Never got a chance to play with them. I remember the first ones I seen though. It was on the original BIGFOOT truck. 2 of them!
 

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
I can't play in these lanes .....
I was there when they pushed the button on a NOS plate and 2 lines of 10 psi 1/4" 145 octane for a little 1000 HP shot on a 2 speed wet centrifugal blower fed with self regulating carburetor. Let me tell you that 5 sec shot down the back straight adds a whole level to the old expression rolling coal . 4600 up in an air cooled radial . 496 mph on a 9 mile closed course 9 lap race average.
Sprint car? Arizona proving ground stuff?Man I would like to stick me head in the dog house of something like that.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
The problem with nostalgic thinking is there is an INCREDIBLY strong tendency to remember the good times and downplay the bad times.

Those of us old enough ALL have fond memories of expertly tuned carburetors that had perfectly functioning choke pull-offs that started every time on a cold morning. Or that carburetor equipped engine that, when warm, would effortlessly start with the slightest bump from the starter motor.

We tend to forget about trying to teach the non-mechanically inclined driver the difference between starting a warm engine and starting a cold engine (I’ll avoid being overtly sexist here but all of us over a certain age had to teach “someone” the difference between how to start a warm or cold engine). Or teaching someone how to properly operate a manual choke….and remembering to disengage it.

We tend to forget that annoying carburetor that had a loose throttle plate (you know, with the screws that could only be accessed from the bottom of the carburetor after it was removed from the manifold?). Or the cracked fuel filter inlet on an abused Quadajet when some idiot mechanic cross threaded it? How about that tiny, tiny piece of dirt that held the needle valve open in the fuel bowl or the float with a pin hole?

I know how to work on carburetors, and I can make engines with carbs run like a well-oiled sewing machine. I have fond memories of American engines running at full operating temperatures on cold days. You could cruise down the highway at 70 mph with the throttle barely open and the engine would just purr forever. But it wasn’t all sunshine and butterflies.

EFI allows for control of the fuel system that just was not possible with carbs. From the driver’s point of view, starting an EFI equipped engine is the same if it is 10 degrees or 110 degrees. Mass air sensors, engine temp sensors, throttle position sensors and lots of computing power can yield the perfect fuel to air ratio, under any load. Engine oil being contaminated with gasoline is almost non-existent in an EFI engine unless something is broken. Fuel mileage can be significantly increased without sacrificing power. The maintenance required on a modern EFI system is pretty much confined to replacing the fuel filter occasionally and maybe correcting the occasional sensor failure – which OBD-II diagnoses for you.

EFI isn’t perfect but it sure has come a long way since the early 1980’s.
 

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
Had me spinning there for a second. Knowing the land speed is 760 mph straight line salt flats.
I am thinking maybe. Wheels and 496mph on a 9 mile loop. Like ye Possible, but how?
.....Wings...
I see now!!
 
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Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
I don't know if anyone knows or not but todays oil is not to be used in older engines that have a flat tappet valve train. The zinc was removed in the early 90's to stop contaminating the cat converters. And at the same time roller camshafts were starting to be the norm and they don't need the zinc for a friction modifier.

These older engines need the zinc to survive. You can add an additive to the oil or just buy Shell Rotella diesel oil. It has it in there already. I wiped out two lobes on a solid flat tappet cam in 02. I thought I just broke the cam in wrong. Now I know different.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
When I was running my Chevy 1963 Impala SS in the '90's I had heard from the "Late Great Chevy's" club that it was an issue. They recommended a Red Line additive that worked as long as I owned the car.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Certain things have and will be proven with time. Look at GM HEI for example.
Everyone thought it was a joke when it came out. 10 years later 3 out of 4 street strip cars had been converted over.
The problem with new is it has not been prove. But if nobody runs it who can prove it. So things just keep moving forward. Some for better and some worse.
I try to listen to a car show every week called "The Car Doctor", run by a guy named Ron Ananian. Great show.. Anyways, Ron says "New" means "Never Ever Worked", eg- until you know for a fact it works, it's just another shot in the dark!