![]() ![]() The introduction of V-8s, made the two series' cars increasingly similar. The series switched to V-8 power, with a compression ratio of 9:1 (as opposed to 14:1 for Cup at the time). The cars gradually became similar to Cup cars.ġ994 was the final year that V6 engines were used in the Busch Series, as many short track series had abandoned six-cylinder engines. In 1989, NASCAR changed rules requiring cars to use current body styles, similar to the Cup cars. One popular idea was to use 231–275 cu in (4–5 L) six-cylinder engines instead of Cup Series' 358 cu in (5.9 L) V-8s. In the 1980's, NASCAR Xfinity Series competitors began looking at alternatives from the 5-litre based (311 cu in (5 L) engines, as in short track racing there was a push for six-cylinder engines in short track racing to save on costs, with some series allowing weight breaks. This engine powered the early-to-mid-1960s Ford Galaxie, and produced 616 hp (459 kW) 7000 rpm, and 515 lb⋅ft (698 N⋅m) at 3800 rpm, using a standard single four-barrel carburetor, and over 657 hp (490 kW) using a double four-barrel carburetor. But even without the cammer, the Ford FE 427 won in 1965. Ford started to sell "cammers" to the public to homologate it (mostly to dealer-sponsored privateer drag racers), but NASCAR changed the rules to specify that all NASCAR engines must use a single cam-in-block. In 1965 Ford adapted two single-overhead-cams to their FE 427 V8 to allow it to run at a higher RPM (called the Ford 427 Cammer). This made the 426 Hemi unavailable for the 1965 season. Then, in 1964 the new Chrysler 426 Hemi engine so dominated the series in a Plymouth Belvedere "Sport Fury", the homologation rules were changed so that 1,000 of any engine and car had to be sold to the public to qualify as a stock part, instead of just 500. For the 1963 season NASCAR engines were restricted to using a maximum displacement of 427 cu in (7.0 L), and using only two valves per cylinder. It became apparent that manufacturers were willing to produce increasingly larger engines to remain competitive (Ford had developed a 483 they hoped to race). Pontiac introduced their "Super Duty" 421 in Catalinas that made use of many aluminum body parts to save weight, and the Pontiacs easily won in 1962. In 1961, Ford introduced the "FE" (Ford-Edsel) 390 in a low drag Galaxie "Starliner", but 1960 and '61 championships were won by drivers in 409-powered Chevrolet Impalas. However, even without official factory support or the use of fuel injection, Buck Baker won in 1957 driving a small-block V-8 Chevrolet Bel Air. In 1957, Chevrolet sold enough of their new fuel injected engines to the public in order to make them available for racing (and Ford began selling superchargers as an option), but Bill France immediately banned fuel injection and superchargers from NASCAR before they could race. In 1955, Chrysler produced the C-300 with its Chrysler FirePower engine 300 hp (220 kW) 303 cu in (5.0 L) OHV engine, which easily won in 19. The sleek and aerodynamic Hudson Hornet managed to win in 1951, 1952, and 1953, using a 308 cu in (5.0 L) flat-head inline six-cylinder engine. However, the end of the Korean War in 1953 started an economic boom, and then car buyers immediately began demanding more powerful engines.ĭuring the early days of stock car racing, more horsepower ultimately meant more wins. ![]() Most cars sold to the public did not have a wide variety of engine choices, and the majority of the buying public at the time was not interested in the large displacement special edition engine options that would soon become popular. The motto of the day became "win on Sunday, sell on Monday."Īt the time, it typically took three years for a new engine design to end up in production and be available for NASCAR racing. The Oldsmobile was an immediate success in 19, and all the automobile manufacturers could not help noticing the higher sales of the Oldsmobile 88 to the buying public. The 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket V-8, with a displacement of 303 cu in (5.0 L), is widely recognized as the first postwar modern overhead valve (OHV) engine to become available to the public. The engines are currently used in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Camping World Truck Series, and the Whelen Modified Tour.įurther information: Fuel injection in NASCAR 1988-91 Oldsmobile NASCAR V8 engine. NASCAR, the highest governing body and top level division for stock car racing in the United States, has used a range of different types of engine configurations and displacements since its inaugural season in 1949. Reciprocating internal combustion engine NASCAR engineĦ0°-90° V-6 ( Busch Series only 1982-1994) įord NASCAR engine.
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