200....in a demo-derby?!?!

['68falconohio]

Okay, I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this, but I didn't think it fit well anywhere else(well, maybe the racing section, but that's questionable). Every summer, me and 3 buddies all build derby cars and run in the local fairs. It's getting close to that time of the year where I need to start building my car. My new victim/vehicle is a 78 Lincoln 4-door. She's currently sporting a 460 and C6. This drivetrain is being sold to offset the cost of the vehicle.

6 cylinders, two bbls, etc. are all frowned upon because they're not powerhouses, blahblahblah. I'm not so much worried about the power.... a stiff gear in a full-floater will fix that. 6's are torquey anyhow.

I want to run a 200-C4, rev a little easier than a 250, and rub it in there face when i put them out with half the cubes.

Has anyone used one of these sixes for this application? I'm not worried about the logistics of crossmembers/motor mounts/driveshafts. Last year, my buddy's car was a 73 Lincoln 2 door with a 500 cadillac engine. mix and match at its best.

My goal is to be the tortoise, hang loose 'til water is boiling out of their rads and my engine is coming up to temp

Does anyone have any recommendations for getting this particular engine to run longer hot? I know they've a rep for being robust but I've never got the 200 in my falcon hot and really don't want to as a proof of concept. I realize this kind of 'sport' is against logic for most car owners, BUT damn it's fun. I'm nice to my falcon because I depend on it everyday and I love it. I run my derby cars like they were built to be....well, tore up.

 

[ArtemisI6]

Crap, man... I love 70's Lincolns.

This makes me really sad to read.

 

['68falconohio]

Crap, man... I love 70's Lincolns.

This makes me really sad to read.

I'm sorry, but the price was right, the metals in good shape......and i'll spare you the details on interior and mileage....

 

[MPGmustang]

I don't know but sounds fun... i would think that the 200's are used mroe often due to cheap factor but i guess not...

questions that i thought of, what are the rules? can you run a remote radiator? if so put the rad in the cab... or a safer location. are you aloud to run without a fan? i don't know but i wouldn 't mind being enlightened...

-Richard

 

[shmoozo]

Just a thought, but maybe a 300 truck engine instead? It's a bit beefier, I think, and might stand up to more abuse.

Then again maybe not.

 

[69Falcon]

Add an oil cooler, but instead of mounting it up by the radiator, mount it on the driver's side of the block where the power steering usually goes. That'd protect it from being damaged, and if it has an electric fan that might help keep it cool as well.

 

[HARVEY LIGHT]

When I was younger the two most popular cars for those derbies were (a) any big Chrysler and (b) our dear Falcons. The first was that they were damn near indestructible and with 300+ hp and 2 tons o metal they were jaggernauts. The second because the front supports were such the the front ends did'nt collaps as easily. (NO one wanted to derby a Mustang with the same design front end!!!). Me, I 'm a fan of road racing, but I enjoy a good derby or figure eight now and again - having been raised in Colorado I also enjoy the rodeo (friends of PETA don't get me wrong here). As for 6's I agree with the idea of the 300 for the main reason they are more abundant and that saves the 200/250's for the rest of us fans. Secondly they do develope tons of torque in the low range where you need it in a derby (for pushing and getting up to ramming speed). Have fun - Harv

 

[GrantD]

I vote for the 300 also, more performance parts and you might need the extra size to push that big lincoln around.

 

[gtm1086]

I would either run the biggest radiator I could stuff in there or use the stock radiator and mount it way back to give it extra protection. The idea of an oil cooler sounds good too.

I also think you are on the right track by gearing the thing low.

Should be fun

 

['68falconohio]

questions that i thought of, what are the rules? can you run a remote radiator? if so put the rad in the cab... or a safer location. are you aloud to run without a fan? i don't know but i wouldn 't mind being enlightened...

-Richard

Richard,
The rules vary from venue to venue and as far as mounting the rad in the cab. We're not allowed, stock rad locations are required. Transmission coolers are not allowed at a lot of places because some of the builders are dumb. They will put the transmission cooler right next to them....few years back, guy was in his car and noticed the cooler leaking super heated fluid on his pant leg.... Well, that was the first time I saw a transmission fluid fire, and also the last time I EVER want to see it. He got out of the car alright, minor burns only. I won't run a transmission cooler, I loop the lines on the transmission in an effort to keep all fluid outside the cab.

As far as the fan goes, I usually run a clutch fan with an aluminum shear pin on the clutch. The rads are wired to the core support and we put garden hose around the wire to keep it from cutting the radiator. This also works great for stopping the clutch fan/shearing pin when the core support is pushed back into the engine.

Also, one of the guys who builds with us raced late models for several years with his dad. He swore up and down that I was crazy and he couldn't tare up something he worked so hard to build. Now, he's doing a frame-off 'inspection' of his Grand Marquis for this season \

Stephen

 

[early ford fan]

id just keep the 460 in there,unless it runs way hot you can still sell it afterwards.

 

[shmoozo]

id just keep the 460 in there,unless it runs way hot you can still sell it afterwards.

That's not a bad idea, actually.

 

[Mercury Kid]

Wow, a fellow Cowtown-er! Edison's junk yard and Pick'n'Pull are well stocked with 300 powered F-150s, ripe to be torched apart. Most of the yards in the area have tons of them.

 

['68falconohio]

Wow, a fellow Cowtown-er! Edison's junk yard and Pick'n'Pull are well stocked with 300 powered F-150s, ripe to be torched apart. Most of the yards in the area have tons of them.

Cow town is right, I'm actually from a little town hour south of columbus. Population-300 people. I havn't been to pick'n'pull for a while. I guess I should fork over the dollar and see what they have waiting for me...