Twin engines
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Twin engines
I'm sure at least Ironcross will have the answer to this one.
How exactly did they couple the engine's together on all the 50s 60s
twin engine dragsters, on internal balanced chevy's did they even need the flywheel, starter on the front engine.
I have a collection of mostly hot rod magazines dating back to 1953
handed down to me from an uncle, its amazing what they were doing in the fifties, short wheelbase rear engined dragsters a lot of them were built, multiple engines some setting side by side.
How exactly did they couple the engine's together on all the 50s 60s
twin engine dragsters, on internal balanced chevy's did they even need the flywheel, starter on the front engine.
I have a collection of mostly hot rod magazines dating back to 1953
handed down to me from an uncle, its amazing what they were doing in the fifties, short wheelbase rear engined dragsters a lot of them were built, multiple engines some setting side by side.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
I'm sure at least Ironcross will have the answer to this one.
How exactly did they couple the engine's together on all the 50s 60s
twin engine dragsters, on internal balanced chevy's did they even need the flywheel, starter on the front engine.
I have a collection of mostly hot rod magazines dating back to 1953
handed down to me from an uncle, its amazing what they were doing in the fifties, short wheelbase rear engined dragsters a lot of them were built, multiple engines some setting side by side.
How exactly did they couple the engine's together on all the 50s 60s
twin engine dragsters, on internal balanced chevy's did they even need the flywheel, starter on the front engine.
I have a collection of mostly hot rod magazines dating back to 1953
handed down to me from an uncle, its amazing what they were doing in the fifties, short wheelbase rear engined dragsters a lot of them were built, multiple engines some setting side by side.
They use what is called a "coupler" it was/is a male female gear that fit together not unlike an axle fits into the spider gear of a rear end. The timeing of when one engine fires compared to the other engine was something that played around with by the guys running these cars. The best running one of recent (70, 80s) was a dual alloy 427 chevys which was run at 23 degrees apart and ran very well in Pro Comp. The flywheels for the most part do not have starter teeth on them and was/is only used on the rear engine. The first dragsters were all push start and later ones usally use a blower mount starter that is plugged in at the top blower pully and removed when the engine starts. The one I use was from a P38 Allison converted by the late Jim Davis for use on the blower. Most the side by side ones ran to dual rear ends. Eddie Hills side by side had two large gears on the engine and engaged together!! (push started)
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Manuels right
Either Tony Nancy or Dean Moon had a 4 Buick engine dragster that Purdome had his first ride in. 2 forward and 2 backward, all wheel drive. The car became a Toronado Exhibition Station Wagon funny car and I believe its currently in the NHRA Museum. Several dual engine cars have come and gone. A few or at least "The Freight Train" are appearing at the NHRA cackle fests around the Country.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Either Tony Nancy or Dean Moon had a 4 Buick engine dragster that Purdome had his first ride in. 2 forward and 2 backward, all wheel drive. The car became a Toronado Exhibition Station Wagon funny car and I believe its currently in the NHRA Museum. Several dual engine cars have come and gone. A few or at least "The Freight Train" are appearing at the NHRA cackle fests around the Country.
Tommy Ivo
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
A 23 degree mechanical indexing [or, more precisely, 22.5 deg.] between two in-line engines would balance the combustion cycles perfectly. That would probably provide the smoothest operation and least complications with starting and shut-down. If you linked them directly, the rear engine's crankshaft would have to withstand the total torque of both engines. If you put the engines in parallel with some kind of transfer gearbox, the 'engine balance' problem would not be an issue.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
A 23 degree mechanical indexing [or, more precisely, 22.5 deg.] between two in-line engines would balance the combustion cycles perfectly. That would probably provide the smoothest operation and least complications with starting and shut-down. If you linked them directly, the rear engine's crankshaft would have to withstand the total torque of both engines. If you put the engines in parallel with some kind of transfer gearbox, the 'engine balance' problem would not be an issue.
Your right on the smoothness, the two engines that I know of that ran this was with both in line. These two 427s ran very easy with unbelively little wear on anything including no cracks in the cranks. This car was Hilbourn injected on gas but later went to 454s and on Alcohol with a B&J 3 spd trans and was and still is the quickest of all the dual engine cars.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
64 was the first time I went to the drags at pomona freight train was there, I forgot about dragsters were push started back then.
I have the hot rod mag with the four engine buick on the front cover.
The front engine linked up 23 degress away from the tdc of the back engine not sure what your talking about.
I have the hot rod mag with the four engine buick on the front cover.
The front engine linked up 23 degress away from the tdc of the back engine not sure what your talking about.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jan 30, 2009 at 06:44 PM.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
I can remember the hurst hairy olds going over the guard rail the hawain funny car going airborn, can't remember anything going wrong at the manufactures funny car championships at orange county.
Ironcross is old enough he was racing I think in the 60s.
Still waiting on him to tell me how he had those two L/88s coupled up in his boat.
TV tommy IVO"s "Showboat" 4 injected buicks are on the front cover of the Dec. 1961 hot rod.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jan 30, 2009 at 08:34 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
I'm forgeting a lot now I can't remember at pomona if they pushed the cars down the service road in front of the stands to start them or if the cars were pushed back in the pitts I swear it seems like I remember them pushing them down the service road.
I can remember the hurst hairy olds going over the guard rail the hawain funny car going airborn, can't remember anything going wrong at the manufactures funny car championships at orange county.
Ironcross is old enough he was racing I think in the 60s.
Still waiting on him to tell me how he had those two L/88s coupled up in his boat.
TV tommy IVO"s "Showboat" 4 injected buicks are on the front cover of the Dec. 1961 hot rod.
I can remember the hurst hairy olds going over the guard rail the hawain funny car going airborn, can't remember anything going wrong at the manufactures funny car championships at orange county.
Ironcross is old enough he was racing I think in the 60s.
Still waiting on him to tell me how he had those two L/88s coupled up in his boat.
TV tommy IVO"s "Showboat" 4 injected buicks are on the front cover of the Dec. 1961 hot rod.
They were pushed down the track side by side then turned around facing the starting line. We would signal each other as ready to push to start. While being pushed just switch the mag on and it would lite and run through the starting line and turn around now facing the starting line. but engines running. A flagman then waved us off.
You can see within a few years you had to start behind the line or be disqualified. Too much time was wasted with all that pushing..Result aircraft starters. No more push through and very easy to warm the engines up with the starter hanging on the blower..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
I have 11 hot rods for 1960 missing march issue.
November issue there is a solid red 37 fiat on the cover smoke coming off the tires. But its a rakers of long beach club car.
A/C 83 on the scoop.
November issue there is a solid red 37 fiat on the cover smoke coming off the tires. But its a rakers of long beach club car.
A/C 83 on the scoop.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jan 31, 2009 at 01:11 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: Concord Calif
Last issue first. I think i`m on the cover of January 1960 Hot Rod or damn close to that date. Red Fiat, Walts Puffer A/A 128 smoking the tires off the line at the Nationals in Detroit if I recall correctly. See i`m using words to protect myself....
They were pushed down the track side by side then turned around facing the starting line. We would signal each other as ready to push to start. While being pushed just switch the mag on and it would lite and run through the starting line and turn around now facing the starting line. but engines running. A flagman then waved us off.
You can see within a few years you had to start behind the line or be disqualified. Too much time was wasted with all that pushing..Result aircraft starters. No more push through and very easy to warm the engines up with the starter hanging on the blower..
They were pushed down the track side by side then turned around facing the starting line. We would signal each other as ready to push to start. While being pushed just switch the mag on and it would lite and run through the starting line and turn around now facing the starting line. but engines running. A flagman then waved us off.
You can see within a few years you had to start behind the line or be disqualified. Too much time was wasted with all that pushing..Result aircraft starters. No more push through and very easy to warm the engines up with the starter hanging on the blower..
yea and the starters allowed us to run the clutchs much looser. Then we all had to add a reverser to, boy I hated them. i use to like seeing my crews sweat pushing me back as I let the clutch out ever so lightly
Sure hope none of them read this!!!!
