SAAC Forum

Great to see other Mannix fans on here!

Thanks for the update. After looking at '68 Barracuda convertible photos, I think the Dart retains a styling edge. Any speculation why they stayed with the Dart for 2 seasons, since the show offered Chrysler a Barracuda showcase?

Will they have a scene again where the door wont shut?

Randy,
 The updated GT-40 FIA form dated 68? listed the 4,942 displacement addendum, including the 5.0L crank set (C8FE ??) and G-W heads shown in the supporting photos.
I thought that was to homologate the JWA-Gulf  G-W engine for 68 / 69 seasons??
Were the JWA-Gulf  G-W all dry-deck using the Cooper ring sealing system?
Did they use both 2 & 4 bolt mains block configuration?

Thanks for the details

According to JWAE chief engineer John Horsman, writing in his book Racing in the Rain, Coopers Mechanical Joints developed  a head sealing system. It consisted of a seperate compressible ring inconjunction with an Aero Permanite backing gasket sealing the water passages. Horsman also comments that combustion gasses entering the coolant was an Achilles' heel of the 289 when it was raced at Reims in 1964. As a side note, Horsman adds that in the 1965 season 289 engines continued failing. Ford's tear down report noted that the failures were a complete surprise. Head sealing issues were traced to head bolts stretching.

The ring was designed to fit in a 0.060-0.062-in deep groove machined in the deck face.

During the 1968 season, Ford engine department was working on head gasket failures. Engineer Don Sullivan, along with Don Coleman were involved. Water passenges were sealed off and external pipes carried coolant to the heads. This configuration was used on the Trans-Am cars.

According to Horsman, they put the arm on Wyer to use this system. For Watkins Glen, two engines were built. One had Cooper rings (number 67/18) and the other was dry-deck (number 67/11).

Horsman wasn't keen on the dry deck sealing noting that he had no gasket failures with the Gurney-Weslake heads with Cooper rings. Ironically a dry deck configuration was used in the 1968 Le Mans winning car. It was trouble free partly, he explains, because the race was run in September when it was cooler. Finally at the 1969 Daytona 24 Hours, both dry deck engine blocks cracked.


As for the main cap question, when Ford sold their interest in Ford Advanced Vehicles (which became JWAE) they included 50 Windsor blocks with four bolts on the 2-3-4 mains.

What was his finishing position?

Mr. S

Thanks for the linguistic come back. 

"Clotoide" is the only word where nothing is to translate, but when you translate the test it is
going how fast, and on which length, the car can make a 90 degree change of direction

Interesting information reflecting language subtleties. I can better appreciate when you are perplexed by english idioms.

Yet another example that Google isn't the be all end all of knowledge, although you've done wonders uncovering the information you have.

Another Caravan aspect occurred to me and that's weather, due to the November/December time frame.

Obviously, based on photos, it was mild considering what eastern weather could have been. So it is amazing that weather was never an issue. I looked up weather reports for the following cities:

Nov. 23/ Kanas City: high temp: 62        wind average 13 mph       no precipitation

Dec. 2/ Detroit:        high temp: 45         wind average  15 mph     no precipitation

Dec 15/ New York:    high temp  45          wind average  13            no preciptation

So the Caravan managed to dodge snow, rain, or deep freeze temperatures. Kanas City had a heat wave while Detroit  and NY was relatively cool with a wind chill. Not a big deal for easterners, but turn out might have been reduced. 

Great SA historical thread.

Two observations:

Looking at the map, that's a lot of miles driven particularly considering that large interstate highway segments had yet to be completed.

Also the tractor appears to be a 64/65 H-series ( in 65, HT if the diesel was turbocharged). While there was a sleeper compartment, it's not like the units today. Presumably, they stopped each night to eat and rest.

Question: Any clue who the drivers were?