OLD RELIABLE, Extraordinary performance from ordinary parts.

Above is one of the most successful projects I was ever involved with. I bought this car with my nephew Richard Peck. I used it to explore the depths of a stock based engine and chassis combination.

Essentially the engine is a legal NHRA stock eliminator 440 six pack block. Circa 1970 style. The heads were 452 Smogger heads which I ported to the max and ccd to 79.5 ccs (Stock specs for some 6 pack production engines), I installed 214.181 valves. I ran several intakes including a 2x4 Edelbrock Ch28 intake, a severely reworked Wiend Team G which I extended to internal runners to tune it for the RPM range I wanted. I ran many cams in this engine.The  best two were Racer Brown STX20 and an Lunati Cheater stocker grind for a Max Wedge station wagon. The Lunati was very hard on valve springs while the Racer Brown was not so eventually we just ran the RB cam since perfomance was identical. A very close second was the Racer Brown ST-H-42 which was a hydraulic. This cam is very unusual and I had often wished I had left it in and pushed it to the limit. Most important part was the Frank Lupo Dynamic converter of 5100 stall. I was a long time getting to using one as I am skeptical by nature but through Frank's patience and at the encouragement of the fellows from Six Pack Perfomance in Albeqerque I tried it. I am now so convinced that I  believe if you use someone elses you have rocks in your head. Lower Et, Lower finish line RPM and higher top speed were the instant result of installing Franks converter. Launch? Well this ca's race weight with driver is 4150 pounds and short times were consistantly in the 1.52 sec area. Unbelievable launch for such a big car with no exotic motor parts. The car ran a best of 11.49 at 119.11 MPH. Most runs regardless of traction and set up over a 9 year racing period were not more than 11.57 and not less than 11.49. This combo is very reliable hence the name of the book which came out of the things I discovered while flogging this combo "Old Reliable". It is in its seventh printing and copies have been sold all over the world. I have often received letters from folks who have built the combo and am thrilled to see they are getting similar results. This is not an expensive project , nor is it complcated. It is a combination that totally frustrates the big spenders and trick of the month guys since it is a very competitive, reliable, race combo that anyone with a little self disicpline can build.  Horsepower calculated from car weight and 1/4 trap speed is around 560 HP.

In this picture the car has just launched and the suspension is in full operation. In a millisecond the front weels will be dangling in the  air through first gear. The car covered (won)1/2 of its total cost its first season. I still have books left and as long as there is interest I will continue to reprint with ocassional updates.  $15 in the currency of YOUR country covers the cost of the book and mailing.

Send to

Don Dulmage

Dolmetsch Engine Development

310 Cty Rd 19

RR#1 Bellleville, Ontario

Canada

K8N4Z1

Books are mailed immediately by return mail.  Cash or cheques is best. Money orders do NOT work well.

Email me  big-d@sympatico.ca