Unique SBM Engine and Intake

Locomotion said

305-4 was the Trans Am series engine size while the production T/A and AARs had 340-6.

NASCAR was trying to get rid of all of the "specialty" cars. If it won, it probably would have gotten saddled with more restrictions or outright banned.

Interesting article that mentions Petty looked at it but figured the small block would't be competitive anyway. But obviously the team, along with Keith Black, tweaked the combo enough to surprise everyone. Ironically, NASCAR eventually reduced the size to 358 and Mopar ran their 355 small block. (I think Mopar ran a 426 wedge for a short time after the HEMI, but can't find info at the moment.)


Aero Warriors - The Little Engine That Almost Did

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Rambling here but... Makes me wonder how different the American auto industry might have been if that hadn't happened. European and Asian automakers have always been constantly adapting technologies developed for racing to street vehicles but that kind of died out in the U.S. after the 1960s. The biggest manufacturer-backed racing series here are so regulated that cars are built to racing spec and have absolutely nothing in common with production cars. NASCAR technology is basically 50 years old and the only tech that comes from pro drag racing is how to make more powerful giant V8s which is totally unrelated to the modern car market. True there's nothing in common between a Formula 1 car and a 4-door sedan but at least in F1 there's a strong push to develop the most advanced technology possible as a way to get an advantage over competitors. The only way cars like the Corvette and Viper(RIP) improved was by racing in international competitions...

Imagine if NASCAR put a 305-cube limit but allowed OHC valvetrains, then one of those designs trickled down to the production market. THAT would be COOL.