and we come up with something. It started out as a rail class for drag racing. Basic rules were:
pump gas
straight six engine
normally aspirated
stock long block except the head
Displacement/weight equalization formula
Then I started thinking about a road racing class--Mavericks versus Novas versus Hornets versus Valiants, etc.
Anyone think it has appeal?
vortec 4200 would be my powerplant of choice since no turbos.
Are you limited to just ONE straight six?
I'll take an E46 M3 for the road racing class
patgizz wrote: vortec 4200 would be my powerplant of choice since no turbos.
I might suggest the 4.5 liter Jeep, made from a 4.0 liter block with a 258 crank.
All you need is a snappy title for it, and you'll have yourself a successful new racing series. You'll make millions!
I would add a factory strait rear axle with no mods and coil springs.
A straight 6-cylinder engine?
I can imagine a 6-rotor would be pretty interesting....
You could almost do a spec rear end from explorers. Factory gearing bit you can add a LSD.
Or make it interesting and mandate a welded dif. 
I'd take the slant 6 and shave the head 0.120 to bump up the compression. Most castings can go a reported .130 safely....
IH 501? No replacement for displacement....
stroker wrote: and we come up with something. It started out as a rail class for drag racing. Basic rules were: 1. pump gas 2. straight six engine 3. normally aspirated 4. stock long block except the head 5. Displacement/weight equalization formula Then I started thinking about a road racing class--Mavericks versus Novas versus Hornets versus Valiants, etc. Anyone think it has appeal?
It did around 1960, when it was tried in the NASCAR Compact Sedan Class. They ran both the oval and the road courses. It was not limited to inline sixes, but those dominated. Corvairs (flat six) and Tempests (V4) and a few other oddballs also ran. Volvo, Rambler, Morris, and Simca were also represented. Look at the results - there were some big-name drivers involved. But I digress.
Hyper-Pak Valiants whooped up on the Falcons, Larks, and Corvairs. The long-runner intake, Carter AFB, cast iron headers, hot cam, et cetera (all available from the dealer parts counter) on a 170 Slant Six made a pretty good package.
Tempests were slant four not V. One v8 block left off. Terrible engine.
I think any one of these straight six cars could beat an american sedan handily.
Although I think modern-ish BMWs would clean up.
In reply to Apexcarver:
You think so, with stock bottom ends and after being equalized for displacement with a weight penalty?
Inline six with a displacement/weight modifier, I'd be going to BMW.
Inline six with unlimited headwork, I'd look into getting an unlimited budget and a Ford 240 with some wild Chevy based cylinder head. 300 probably won't rev as high as the 240. Wait, budget is unlimited, I'll just build one of each and see which is more favorable...
stroker wrote: In reply to Apexcarver: You think so, with stock bottom ends and after being equalized for displacement with a weight penalty?
I dunno if I'd call a stock bottom end all that limiting on some of the BMW motors... I've seen someone make 500whp out of an S52 (240hp at the crank stock) with boost on a 200k mile stock bottom end 
rslifkin wrote: I dunno if I'd call a stock bottom end all that limiting on some of the BMW motors... I've seen someone make 500whp out of an S52 (240hp at the crank stock) with boost on a 200k mile stock bottom end
Boost and RPM are two completely different kinds of stresses. Altogether.
Don't forget Supras, IS300, and the like.
Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: A straight 6-cylinder engine? I can imagine a 6-rotor would be pretty interesting....
Since each rotor and housing technically have three moving combustion chambers, you'd probably be limited to a two-rotor engine.
Good point on the equalization formula. Otherwise, everybody would be running Locosts built out of E46 M3s.
dean1484 wrote: You could almost do a spec rear end from explorers. Factory gearing bit you can add a LSD. Or make it interesting and mandate a welded dif.
Or we could just do spec ford explorer.
Nobody mentions Jags?
Dude... the Suzuki Verona 2.5L!
Actually.... I wondered what one of those in a Locust would sound like.
G_Body_Man wrote:Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: A straight 6-cylinder engine? I can imagine a 6-rotor would be pretty interesting....Since each rotor and housing technically have three moving combustion chambers, you'd probably be limited to a two-rotor engine.
I think two spinning Doritos would make more power than six cylinders
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