Demolition Derby Question...

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Oct 24, 2006 | 11:15 PM

Jrock909

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Demolition Derby Question...

Guys a friend of mine who is deep into demolition derbies asked me because he didn't have the internet to research on what to do to keep 429/460's cooled down enough to run long heats in derby's? Most guys in derbies run small block V-8's because they are easier to cool off. I know big blocks are a little harder to cool down, but there has to be a way to run a 460 efficiently in a derby right? Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Oct 25, 2006 | 09:02 AM

gpfarrell

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From: Pittsburgh!

In my younger/dumber days I drove my '78 Marquis at least 9 miles with no anti-freeze in it after blowing a freezeplug.

That was about 50,000 miles ago. The motor was getting pretty hot/tight by the end, but it was still running.

I'd pay more attention to the tranny... I demo'd a Mark V years ago and it was a weak C6 that did me in.

Oct 25, 2006 | 12:34 PM

slinger34

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I don't know how radical your buddy wants to get with keeping the temp down. one of the forums i post on a guy wanted to run methanol instead of gas in his demo car. It burns cooler but you will need twice as much fuel going to the engine so carb mods are needed. maybe he could go to ethanol, It doesnt run as cool as methanol but is cooler and you only needs 30% more fuel to the engine compared to gas. I dont know if this is legal.
This is a pretty radical idea just for a demo. as suggested just try and keep the tranny alive. New aluminum radiator could help.

Oct 25, 2006 | 02:52 PM

monsterbaby

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From: iowa

alky is usually highly discouraged in demo derby's due to the high combustability. But the vast majority of cooling is actually done by the oil so run the biggest oil cooler he can find and put it someplace that it won't get broke and run an electric fan on it. also run a remote oil filter setup and route it so ALL the oil has to go through the cooler not a bypass type of adaptor as that only cools about 15% of the oil. Next be sure and run pure water in the system as anitfreeze isn't really as affective at cooling but it will boil faster with water if the system is comprimised but at that point it really doesn't matter anyway. And run the highest preasure cap you can get like a 17psi that helps stop boiling. Set the carb up a little rich as a lean motor will run hotter same thing with the timing back it off a few degrees, it hurts power but runs cooler.

Oct 25, 2006 | 07:48 PM

Jrock909

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You rock monsterbaby.... Thanks alot for the tips on cooling down a 460....!!!

Oct 25, 2006 | 08:40 PM

backwoodspuller

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can he run a cooler in his car? i always ran the radaitor and ice box in the back seat i never ran a bbf but it keeped small blocks very cool also i have heard back in the day guys used to run oil insted of water but i wouldnt recomend it but if he can ran the rad in the back seat and load it down with ice