Top Fuel Transition from 1st to 2nd Gen Hemi
#2660302
05/29/19 12:09 PM
05/29/19 12:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,271 Vista, California
67Satty
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,271
Vista, California
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I was watching a 1979 movie showing footage of Top Fuel racing in the late '70s and noticed that all of the rear-engine dragsters in the movie were still using 1st generation Hemis (Donovans I assume). So it got me wondering about the transition from 1st to 2nd generation Hemis in Top Fuel and what the timeline was. Also, did anyone ever use a 2nd generation Hemi in a front engine dragster? I also read somewhere that Donovan got Garlits to switch from a 2nd gen to his 1st gen-based Donovan block at one point.
Last edited by 67Satty; 05/29/19 12:14 PM.
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Re: Top Fuel Transition from 1st to 2nd Gen Hemi
[Re: 67Satty]
#2660336
05/29/19 01:04 PM
05/29/19 01:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,210 New York
polyspheric
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,210
New York
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The challenges: 1. the G-1 is too small (4.000" X 3.906") until the stroke is too long 2. the G-2 oil system needs revision, as Garlits said when asked what he did to the passages to make the motor survive "bored some out, stopped some up"
Boffin Emeritus
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Re: Top Fuel Transition from 1st to 2nd Gen Hemi
[Re: 67Satty]
#2660350
05/29/19 01:49 PM
05/29/19 01:49 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,285 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,285
Bend,OR USA
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Don Garlits did help Donovan fix a oiling problem on the crank shaft rod journal oil passage direction early on, maybe 1973/74 I was lucky enough to have several different conversation with him at the races and off track. He is one of the best drag racers and people here on Earth
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Top Fuel Transition from 1st to 2nd Gen Hemi
[Re: 67Satty]
#2660357
05/29/19 02:22 PM
05/29/19 02:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,677 Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,677
Stuttgart, Arkansas
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I was watching a 1979 movie showing footage of Top Fuel racing in the late '70s and noticed that all of the rear-engine dragsters in the movie were still using 1st generation Hemis (Donovans I assume). So it got me wondering about the transition from 1st to 2nd generation Hemis in Top Fuel and what the timeline was. Also, did anyone ever use a 2nd generation Hemi in a front engine dragster? I also read somewhere that Donovan got Garlits to switch from a 2nd gen to his 1st gen-based Donovan block at one point. The switch started shortly after the Gen II came out. (You will see more videos explaining this.) So, yes, front motor dragsters had 426's. (The footage you saw just happened to have a lot of Donovans in it.) Most everybody was running the KB in the late 70's. And yes, Bigs ran the Donovan for a year in the late 70's. Trying to make it work. But he couldn't get it to run as good as his KB.
Last edited by rickseeman; 05/29/19 02:23 PM.
2011 Drag Pak Challenger
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Re: Top Fuel Transition from 1st to 2nd Gen Hemi
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#2660364
05/29/19 02:38 PM
05/29/19 02:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,210 New York
polyspheric
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,210
New York
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He was referring specifically to the 426 engine. Donovan = 392 G-1 @ 4.125" bore.
Boffin Emeritus
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Re: Top Fuel Transition from 1st to 2nd Gen Hemi
[Re: rickseeman]
#2660593
05/30/19 11:59 AM
05/30/19 11:59 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,668 Fulton County, PA
CMcAllister
Mr. Helpful
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Mr. Helpful
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,668
Fulton County, PA
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I recall watching a recorded conversation with Garlits (YouTube?) where he was discussing going through the conversion to the 426 seems he couldn’t get it to run and it kept hurting itself. After trying different things he decided to go against current knowledge and throw a bunch of timing at it. The thing came alive and stopped hurting parts.
If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
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