All Small Six What's the most powerful 144 you've seen?

[JoeCrozier]

I know there's a lot of threads and written articles out there on why you shouldn't bother upgrading the 144 for power and instead go with the 170 or 200. And I get it, not as many mains, lower displacement, it definitely doesn't make any sense. And I know there's previous threads where people ask how they WOULD do it. But what's the most powerful you've ever actually seen? I've seen the old hot rod article where there were a few variants with like triple carbs and forced induction and they were a little under 200hp. I also know they were involved in hydroplane racing, so I'm assuming guys were pushing those. This one by Bill Stroppe was bored out to 156 and has Hillborne injectors, and in the same article they discuss one with motorcycle carbs they got to 125hp. I've seen this video on youtube by Bennett Clayton that he says in the comments has 243hp on the dyno, and while that's certainly incredible, I have no reason to doubt him. Anybody seen anything higher? Any other examples in the 200's?

I'm looking less for "what could be done" and more for "what HAS been done to a 144?" If you were to build 'the most powerful' 144, what would it have to beat?

 

[powerband]

Ford supplied 144's to the builder of a hand built sports car in 1960 which still runs competitively in vintage racing today.
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The Philson Falcon

When I was at the recent Lime Rock Historic Festival, Bob Melhado, who was the Chief Steward, said to me: “Let’s take a look at a Philson Falcon.” I agreed as I had never heard o…

stevemckelvie.wordpress.com

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I had talked to the current owner about related small six performance topics discussed on this forum and graciously got to visit the Lime Rock CT Pits with the current owner/driver a while ago .

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[JoeCrozier]

Ford supplied 144's to the builder of a hand built sports car in 1960 which still runs competitively in vintage racing today.
.

The Philson Falcon

When I was at the recent Lime Rock Historic Festival, Bob Melhado, who was the Chief Steward, said to me: “Let’s take a look at a Philson Falcon.” I agreed as I had never heard o…

stevemckelvie.wordpress.com

.
I had talked to the current owner about related small six performance topics discussed on this forum and graciously got to visit the Lime Rock CT Pits with the current owner/driver a while ago .

. . . .
.

Very cool! The engine being inclined at 30 degrees is fascinating

 

[ActionYobbo]

Very cool! The engine being inclined at 30 degrees is fascinating

All fine and dandy until you realize it’s not a 144 when you notice 5 freeze plugs. Then start estimating the distance from the freeze plug to the top of the block and hey is that a 250?

 

[JoeCrozier]

All fine and dandy until you realize it’s not a 144 when you notice 5 freeze plugs. Then start estimating the distance from the freeze plug to the top of the block and hey is that a 250?

Oh weird yea, just saw that. But its odd the article would be so far off.

 

[Invectivus]

That's what I get for not clicking your link.

I'd supercharge your 144, that article is what prompted me to buy a McCulloch VS57.

 

[ActionYobbo]

So back to the original question. Back in 1988 there was a falcon running in J class at Amaroo that really had some pep. It was a 144 with 3 on the tree. I was volunteer pit crew for another racer in a mini and this falcon was next to us in the pits. That would be the fastest 144 I personally have seen and really the only one I remember. It made me want to get an early falcon.

Amaroo Race Track was
a historic motor racing circuit in Annangrove, New South Wales, Australia, that was open from 1967 to 1998. Today, a housing estate occupies the site.

 

[JoeCrozier]

So back to the original question. Back in 1988 there was a falcon running in J class at Amaroo that really had some pep. It was a 144 with 3 on the tree. I was volunteer pit crew for another racer in a mini and this falcon was next to us in the pits. That would be the fastest 144 I personally have seen and really the only one I remember. It made me want to get an early falcon.

Amaroo Race Track was
a historic motor racing circuit in Annangrove, New South Wales, Australia, that was open from 1967 to 1998. Today, a housing estate occupies the site.

Very cool! I'd love to find some old historic photos or something of those events.

 

[ActionYobbo]

Very cool! I'd love to find some old historic photos or something of those events.

Search “amaroo appendix J” or “Oran park appendix J” also “group N” on YouTube. If you see a mini number 50 thats the one I sometimes went with. It started out green for a few years then was white for the later years.

 

[powerband]

RE: Philson Falcon :
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( "... until you realize it’s not a 144 when you notice 5 freeze plugs." )
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.... good catch' , afaik currently runs a 200, was working on Alu head in shop pics. Up close the hand formed aluminum body is inspirational.
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"seven thousand RPM all down back straight... "
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have fun

 

[aussie7mains]

All fine and dandy until you realize it’s not a 144 when you notice 5 freeze plugs. Then start estimating the distance from the freeze plug to the top of the block and hey is that a 250?

Id say it's a 221, (Australian) judging by the block height, and its got the classic inlines head by the look of it. Possibly triumph spitfire front end frame. i do like the hand beaten bodywork.