<VV> Corvair vs Chrysler

[Tony Underwood]

At 05:42 hours 02/13/2005, Arjay Morgan wrote:
>Hello All:
>I came across an interesting Corvair Vs Chrysler story
>on a Mopar website http://www.allpar.com/slant6.html
>that I hadn't heard before. Thought it might be of
>interest to the rest of the VV mavens.
>
>Arjay Morgan
>64 Monza convert
>===================
>
>The word got out among Chrysler bigwigs that the slant
>six was going to be very effective. When it was
>announced that Daytona was going to have a Compact Car
>class for their races, all three major auto companies
>started designing variations of their eligible
>compacts for the race. Ed Cole was head of engineering
>and research and a bit overconfident about their
>Corvair. He offered to bet one of the higher ups at
>Chrysler that the Chevys would dominate the Daytona
>Compact race. George Hubner, Director of Research at
>Chrysler, said "I'll take that bet." All of a sudden,
>the research department had an infusion of a couple of
>million dollars to find ways to make the Valiant
>faster. They developed a legal Daytona car with the
>hyper pak engine and various other modifications, such
>as thinner, lighter glass and sent them down. They
>dominated the race, taking something like first
>through fifth place with however many cars they sent
>down, and Ed Cole lost his bet.


Those early CC Stockers were a hoot and yes, the Valiants did rule the 
circle tracks.   "Dick" Petty drove a #43 Valiant in those 
races.    And...  the leaning tower of power, the infamous Chrysler /6 
engine was perhaps one of the finest designs for any inline 6 cylinder 
engine ever to land in a US built automobile.    They can do just about 
anything from squeezing mileage to making power...  there have been some 
which cranked out over 400 hp via exotic mods.    The /6's claim to  fame 
was a sturdy crankshaft and a stiff block and good response to 
modifications... and it made low rpm torque.    This was the result of a 
225ci engine with a 4.25" stroke.   Even the 170ci "small" low deck variant 
still had a relatively long 3.25" stroke for its small displacement and 
still maintained a decent rod/stroke ratio for midrange torque.   It was 
available in three variants, 170, 198, and 225 ci.

It was kinda heavy for an inline 6 but it was indeed strong and 
durable.   It was even available in the "big" C-body cars like Fury, 
Monaco, etc and it yanked them around just fine, even if they were "only 6 
cylinders".


The /6 is real class and kind of a hard act to follow (no pun) for plain 
outstanding good service and run'ability.

My first car was a '61 Valiant Signet V200, 170/3-sp.   I ran it long and 
hard and it never let me down.


tony..