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Technical Listen to a pre-war flathead V8 roadster running on nitro

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by 777, Nov 8, 2011.

  1. 777
    Joined: Jul 17, 2008
    Posts: 196

    777
    Member
    from Pasadena

    I was wondering whether or not it would be worth the effort / WoW factor to run Nitro in the Belond roadster since that was his fuel of choice.

    I like to keep this car as authentic as possible and have been kicking the idea of mixing nitro in the tank around for awhile.


    So I added this link to the roadster running on 20% Nitro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLFTO0Bx9-E

    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WLFTO0Bx9-E?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    but Sandy's "Hot Fuel" fuel formula of choice in 1942 was 58% Methanol, 20% low octane gas, 20% Nitro, 2% Castor oil, 572.0 cc Xylene per gal., 46.3 cc Ethyl Iodine per gal., 1.0cc per gallon Ethyl fluid. I Didn't blend this and I don't recommended doing it either.
    Instead I blended 55% Methanol, 20 % Nitro, 20% race gas 4% Benzol and 1% Castor oil.

    Results: When the jetting is close you can barely tell there is nitro present but as it loads up there is a bit more cackle and it does rev a little quicker. Yes it burns your eyes and people do know your running alcohol and the castor oil is pretty easy to decipher. That seems to get more people excited then anything else.
    But I also tried VP M5 which is a complex hydrocarbon, methanol blend and it does run a lot harder on that but it smells "orangey" and I'm not sure either is really worth the effort.
    At least this way if you were wondering what it would sound like if you tipped the can on your flattie, now you have an idea.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2011
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  2. My no no area feels funny!
     
  3. Hear that fucker snarl!!! Music I tell ya!
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  4. captmullette
    Joined: Oct 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,929

    captmullette
    Member

    damn!! a bad ass flattie
     

  5. flatheadpete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2003
    Posts: 10,479

    flatheadpete
    Member
    from Burton, MI

    Sounds pretty angry. I like it!
     
  6. CAL
    Joined: May 5, 2005
    Posts: 396

    CAL
    Member
    from Neosho Mo.

    Thanks, that made my day.
     
  7. SUHRsc
    Joined: Sep 27, 2005
    Posts: 5,093

    SUHRsc
    Member

  8. v-v
    Joined: Jul 24, 2007
    Posts: 91

    v-v
    Member
    from Finland

    Post some more video at your roadster, it sounds so MEAN!!!!!!!!!1:cool:
     
  9. plan9
    Joined: Jun 3, 2003
    Posts: 4,078

    plan9
    Member

    since nitromethane and methanol is expensive as shit, (plus all the other stuff you are mixing in $$$$) I'd only use it for showing off. i get what you are trying to accomplish though... wish i had sound at work!

    20% is conservative, which is good... at El Mirage we gained about 10 mph with a tail wind, we started off with 100% methanol for a baseline then mixed up a batch of 20%. the 296 flathead happily made power up through 6-6500 rpm.

    pump gas was shit during Belonds time and nitro didnt cost $25.00 or more per gallon. i bet the Castor oil was used to help preserve gaskets and seals. make sure you drain the fuel system after use and make sure you never go lean or your motor will eat itself
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2011
  10. 777
    Joined: Jul 17, 2008
    Posts: 196

    777
    Member
    from Pasadena

    Thanks for the info Plan 9,
    You might find this interesting, the old timer I got Belonds fuel formulas from told me they ran the regular gas because it would help to light the nitro.

    Also I was hoping for more cackle myself and did go as high as 50%. It was more pronounced but it seems to me that the more fuel you throw at it the more it wants and it doesn't seems to ever flood like gas does but the fuel system just can't flow enough volume to keep up with the demand.

    Note of caution for anyone who may attempt this. Advance the timing at least another 10 degrees ahead, to give the slower burning fuels more burn time, it seems unlikely that it will detonate, I went as far as 40-degrees ahead. And don't be scared to go Big on the jetting; actually I probably could have thrown the jets in the trash. My emulsion tubes are .125 and the jets are .098 for this set up.

    On jetting. Once you go way outside of the fuel curve, think more then 7 jet sizes, the A/F ratio goes to rich in the tubes and the air bleeds will need to be opened up to compensate. I tapped the air bleed and installed screw in air bleeds instead. Eventually I also need to bore all the holes in the emulsion tubes and added another set of holes.
     
  11. 777
    Joined: Jul 17, 2008
    Posts: 196

    777
    Member
    from Pasadena

    I'll work on it; I might pull the extensions off and head over to the Don Blair ceremony, uncorked, tonight at the Parks museum, if so I might be able to get something better shot.
     
  12. What are the details on your flathead???
     
  13. JC Sparks
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 733

    JC Sparks
    Member
    from Ohio

    You are going to need bigger tires. JC
     


  14. There were lots of different chemicals used to "ignite" the Nitro, because it doesn't really want to start burning.
     
  15. Malcolm
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 8,032

    Malcolm
    Member
    from Nebraska

    WOW. That sounds AWESOME -- Thank you!!


    Malcolm
     
  16. Awesome sounds great!!
     
  17. What Malcolm said! Thanks!!!!!!!!!
     
  18. jambottle
    Joined: Apr 11, 2003
    Posts: 564

    jambottle
    Member

    That makes the hair on the back of my neck,stand up.I was up at Mike Longley`s in Florida, a couple of years ago and he started up the henderson Roadster for me and it gave me the same Feeling.I wonder if he has a vidio of it running.
     
  19. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Best sounding engine ever. Ive listened to that like 5 times since you posted it on the 40's thread.


    Any chance of a run down on some of your engine build?
     
  20. Iceberg460
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 880

    Iceberg460
    Member

    Holy shit! That thing sounds f'in awesome. Thanks for posting man.
     
  21. rd martin
    Joined: Nov 14, 2006
    Posts: 2,463

    rd martin
    Member
    from indiana

    dam, im tryin to get this rpu finished, now you got me excited, im headin back to the garage to pull the dam motor out after hearing that! she really sounds good!
     
  22. chaddilac
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,021

    chaddilac
    Member

    Yeeeeeowwwzaaaaa!!!! Dig that!!!!!
     
  23. JeffreyJames
    Joined: Jun 13, 2007
    Posts: 16,628

    JeffreyJames
    Member
    from SUGAR CITY

    Never mind I found them in your pics....

    The engine is based on a production '40 Merc but was built by Sam Hanks who replicated a Miller Ford Indy engine. It features a 180-degree Miller crank, Miller heads with custom chambers to match the Miller flat top pistons, a 4X2 intake manifold, a Zephyr dual coil ignition by Harmon/Collins and of course a set of Belond W headers and extensions
     
  24. cruzr
    Joined: Jan 19, 2006
    Posts: 3,127

    cruzr
    Member

    one word................asum
     
  25. Fuckin NASTY sounding flathead dude - cam spex?

    Rat
     
  26. RAY With
    Joined: Mar 15, 2009
    Posts: 3,132

    RAY With
    Member

    What carb's were you using? Only info I see is 4 duces-so I assume 97's or possibly 94's?
     
  27. adam401
    Joined: Dec 27, 2007
    Posts: 2,856

    adam401
    Member

    That thing sounds soooooooooooo f@#%ing mean. Wow.
     
  28. afaulk
    Joined: Jul 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,194

    afaulk
    Member

    Like an old buddy (no longer with us) used to say "Fuck me to tears" --- that sounds sweet.
     
  29. tommyd
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 11,948

    tommyd
    Member
    from South Indy

    :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D ME,sorry but my face is starting to hurt! Love it.
     
  30. Pharouh
    Joined: Sep 18, 2008
    Posts: 437

    Pharouh
    Member

    Oh man! What is the size of the carbon footprint for that car? :eek:

    Love it!!! :D
     

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