Topics

1

Trans-Am Camaros / Javelin engine and dogleg head development (research topic)

« on: October 12, 2015, 08:42:39 PM »

I wonder, if perhaps, the 'goofy' chassis (obviously not AMC) forced the homemade headers or if they are 'pre-production' dog leg heads.

klvn8r

I'm not sure I'm following the dog leg head assumption. After blowing up the posted photos, I can't see anything definitive that one can say they are dog legs. There is tremendous speculation when it comes to these vintage AMC's, I hate to see it continually promoted. Can you please clarify?
Thanks,
Bob

Recent information is, including statements from David Tom that Kaplan had a hand in at least the one Nascar Javelin, with his part time driver, Tullius, would very highly suggest that the weird cast iron appearing "boxes" coming out odf the head port is for a dogleg exhaust. Apart from whatever Kaplan used for headers on the '69 TA cars(any close-up shots of the then used headers?), he did develop the dogleg ports, I believe, in conjunction with AMC's engine designer ( at this time a consultant or part-time employee?), Dave Potter, for the '69 season. It's reasonable to put together the reasons why, aside from sealing concerns in long, flat-out roundy-round races that:
1) there were several off-the-shelf headers available in '69 for regular production-based rectangular port heads (and had been since at least 1967) rendering hybrid headers as completely unnecessary if the ports were rectangular
2) whereas the Hurst developed 305 c.i. Paschal Javelin may or may not have had Kaplan's help or influence, there is no suggestion that the 5.0 liter engine would have used the Crane developed SS/AMX heads that were rectangular port with oversize 2.08/1.74 valves even though the Nascar engines were based on the large bore (but not as large as the 390, on which the Crane heads were mounted with a nominal .080 larger bore) 343 block
3) the dogleg heads were homologated for TA, and more important, by the AMA
4) see #1 Kaplan did take a part in the build of at least one

The above is based on more researchhaving commenced since this thread started and are talking points until I can gather up the disparate bits of information gleaned from various sources and the photographic evidence.

Steve

2

Trans-Am Camaros / Dick Lang Page

« on: October 12, 2015, 03:23:16 PM »

I don't know if this link with pictures are already posted here:
http://dicklang.blogspot.com/2008/05/1969-wolverine-4-hour.html


Steve

3

Originality / The straight skinny on post '65, pre-mid '70, Hurst shifter plating

« on: January 15, 2015, 07:02:16 PM »

The more I delve into the matter of whether factory and aftermarket shifters made by Hurst in the indicated title period of this subject, the more muddy the waters become.

Literature, including page 52 ( but I do not currently own a copy) of Pete Serio's Volume 1, 'Vintage Hurst Shifters', an email to Pete Serio in which he restates what he said on page 52 of his book, and vintage '62 and '63 Hurst ads which state under features that all Hurst shifters and hardware ( obviously not the triple chrome shifter stick ) are cadmium plated.

So what is the deal? What actual testing proof or documents outside engineering documents which usually list heat treatments, fastener coatings, etc. but are wish lists from engineering(if those documents exist at all)exist? Company memos and service bulletins sent out to customers might list actual production facts such as cadmium or zinc and chromate hardware and shifter control boxes.

Outside the above, what, if any, testing has been done to determine original, factory coatings? If they have been done, are there documents, posts, photos, and so on attesting to the results found?
Thanks.

Steve Avery