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Bullitt today at 5:45 PM

Yeah, I guess you're right, But....

Does that 675 lbs include the gearbox and clutch/bellhousing ? Either way, that's still 200 pounds (close) more than the small-block car, and all the weight is over the front wheels. And even though the big-block car has more weight over the front wheels, it still won't turn into a corner like a small-block car (at least, I can't get it to, and I've got way more seat-time in a GT500 than the small-block car), and the big-block car doesn't like bumps and weight changes.

I've driven both a GT350 and a GT500 at Thunderhill, and the GT350 (subjectively, at least, to me) was more controllable and much more forgiving on the surface of a smooth race track- not over cable-car tracks on city streets..... I couldn't compare lap times because we were using different track configurations, but the GT350 just reacted more predictably (or less UNpredictably)

Long story short

(Please don't make me claim that I use heavier weight oil... )

Oh, and don't get me started....because I could go into details. 1967s are a thing for me. I can even decode Shelby serial numbers....hell, the GT350 I drove was even the same color as the Bullitt Mustang, and that makes them almost the same....
Oh , I don't deny the difference in weight bias. The small block cars will certainly out handle a big block car all day long. I was just pointing out that the 390 ( all FE engines ) didn't weigh 800lbs.

When you add in the transmission and the other items there isn't a big weight difference. Some but not a lot. Yes every bit counts.
 
The small block cars will certainly out handle a big block car all day long.
Absolutely. You're right.

In the case of early Mustangs, it's compounded by the fact that Shelby actually somewhat contributed to the small-block cars to some degree, even though his focus was the Cobras and racing. Shelby was about racing. (I'm omitting a lengthy breakdown of SCCA Production-class racing rules at the time had to do with Shelby's development of the 1965 GT350s for Ford, but i can blabber on about that, too if anybody's interested)

Much of the 1966 289 Shelby mods transferred over to to 289 '67s (By 1967, Shelby and his crew had nothing to do with Mustangs, and Shelby Mustangs shifted to Detroit mid-year when the big-block Mustangs came around. I don't think anybody bothered road-racing the big-block Mustangs on racetracks. SF city streets apparently were different..but along with the weight, the mechanical forces of the extra torque twisting between the shock towers up front really needed to be addressed (and, full disclosure, I don't even have the Monte Carlo bar on my car to stiffen the towers, which skews my comparison even more)


None of this really changes the Bullitt car chase, though. Sorry for the diversion. Lots of folk-lore about a great chase scene.
 
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I spent most of the morning just out tooling around enjoying the weather. No repairs needed...try First On Race Day instead! :)


Backroad B&W.jpg
 
the 289 was so easy to upgrade with 302 heads.
I took a 302 and put 1969 351 W 4 BBL heads on it. They didn't have all the aluminum heads back then . The W heads offered bigger int and exh valves. Crane hyd cam 236 degrees @.050" w/.515" lift and spring kit , original Edelbrock Torqer intake , headers and a Holley 780CFM carb. Backed up with a 1 & 3/8" input shaft top loader 4 - speed with a 9 " posi rear . filled with 4.11 gears and 31 spline axels. when I was serious I shifted it at 7200 RPM ( full power shifts at that ) .

I drove it on the street daily.
 
In my original post, I didn’t say I disliked Ford, again I was making a joke….cant you comprehend that? I’m done wasting my time with this. @Winchester67 my apologies….
Sorry. No apologies necessay. I took it good-naturaledly

I thought I was joking back. If I SOUNDed combative, you should have seen me jumping up and down with steam coming out of ears.

I just saw a funny quote when I was looking up Ford GT40 production numbers-

"There were 105 Ford GTs built in the 60s. Some were wrecked. There are 250 now known to exist."

This has been a good trip down memory lane. I needed it. Thanks.
 
I spent a portion of my misspent youth trying to be Steve McQueen in a 67 Fastback Mustang with a 289 and a three at the knee manual transmission. Good clean fun!View attachment 77600View attachment 77601
Nice Fastback. Is that a '65/66 Coupe in front of it ? I noticed the wheels and wondered where I'd seen 'em before.

My buddy had two green '67 Fastbacks. A K-code and his GT350.

I gots stories. Please excuse me
 
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