340_833 dart
Well-Known Member
Last Sunday, I was in town filling my Dart with Sunoco 104 when I heard a beautiful ground shaking rumble that was evidence of some serious horsepower.
I looked around and saw a mid-'60s Jaguar XKE pulling in, being driven by a guy who was 80 if he was a day. I was really puzzled because the Jag should have had a six cylinder. But no six I've ever heard sounded like that.
Anyway, after I got done filling up my car, I went over and began talking with the Jag's owner.
He said he bought the car new in 1964. I told him it didn't sound like any six cylinder I knew of. He just smiled and said it had a 427 Ford. I asked if it was a side oiler motor. He said no, "it's just a single overhead cam motor."
Mind you, that last part didn't soak in right away. The owner said he still has the original six cylinder at home.
He asked if I wanted to see the engine and tilted the hood open. I was blown away.
Lo and behold it was a dual four barrel 427 SOHC motor. I have never seen one on the street. The last time I saw one actually running was at Tucson Dragway back in the late '60s. And that was in a funny car.
The engine sounded beautifully healthy. The owner said it was over 500 horsepower. I can believe it. It wouldn't have surprised me if it was actually closer to 600.
It has been in the car about 15 years.
He asked me about my Dart and said he liked it. It's got a pretty decent 340 but I sure would have hated to go head to head against the Jag.
Here's a picture I shot with my cell phone.
I looked around and saw a mid-'60s Jaguar XKE pulling in, being driven by a guy who was 80 if he was a day. I was really puzzled because the Jag should have had a six cylinder. But no six I've ever heard sounded like that.
Anyway, after I got done filling up my car, I went over and began talking with the Jag's owner.
He said he bought the car new in 1964. I told him it didn't sound like any six cylinder I knew of. He just smiled and said it had a 427 Ford. I asked if it was a side oiler motor. He said no, "it's just a single overhead cam motor."
Mind you, that last part didn't soak in right away. The owner said he still has the original six cylinder at home.
He asked if I wanted to see the engine and tilted the hood open. I was blown away.
Lo and behold it was a dual four barrel 427 SOHC motor. I have never seen one on the street. The last time I saw one actually running was at Tucson Dragway back in the late '60s. And that was in a funny car.
The engine sounded beautifully healthy. The owner said it was over 500 horsepower. I can believe it. It wouldn't have surprised me if it was actually closer to 600.
It has been in the car about 15 years.
He asked me about my Dart and said he liked it. It's got a pretty decent 340 but I sure would have hated to go head to head against the Jag.
Here's a picture I shot with my cell phone.