63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration

rpoz11 · #1 03-31-2005, 06:14 AM

Here is what I found down at the "P.A.M." last weekend...

rpoz11 · #2 03-31-2005, 06:15 AM

additional pic image...

rpoz11 · #3 03-31-2005, 06:18 AM

another pic...

rpoz11 · #4 03-31-2005, 06:20 AM

again, another pic...

rpoz11 · #5 03-31-2005, 06:21 AM

ex manifold #s...

rpoz11 · #6 03-31-2005, 06:22 AM

ex manifold...last pic image...

rpoz11 · #7 03-31-2005, 06:25 AM

I took a good look at the timing cover on this and I was not sure that it matches the layout pattern of the production ran 396's that were first released...I have never seen one before so, I thought I'd snap some pics of it to share here...Wonder what car that motor was in use originally!

**Hotrodpaul** · #8 03-31-2005, 06:41 AM

Probably a NASCAR Impala or Bel Air race car such as the one that Junior Johnson ran back in 1963. One of my old hot rodding books from the 70's shows this engine apart out of Junior Johnsons car that lapped Daytona at 166 MPH. I guess it was king until the 426 Hemi put a whipping on everbody in 1965.

Paul

Verne_Frantz · #9 03-31-2005, 07:57 PM

rpoZ11,
That "Mystery Motor" only ever showed up in Nascar '63 Chevys. Bill France bent the rules again and allowed them to run, even though probably less than 10 engines were ever made. They were never installed in a production car. The engines were shipped to racers like Smokey Yunick, Red Fox and Junior Johnson. In '63 they were faster than anything on the track, but had terrible equipment failures with water pumps and the valve train. The last race of the '63 season was won by Red Fox with one.
The head design led directly to the MKIV "porcupine" type of valve arrangement and combustion chamber, but with different ports. The engine was known as the MKIIs ("s" for stroked because it used the '63 Z-11 crank bringing it to 427cid). The cylinder case used the pan rail and timing cover from the 409 (or Z-11). Although from the outside, it resembles a big block (MKIV), I don't know of anything else on the engine that will interchange with either the "W" or MKIV motor.
When the racing ban hit in Feb. '63, work on these engines stopped. Some extra parts were made and sent to the racers, then the pipeline ran dry.
At least one 2X4 intake has been found for this motor, which indicates there were plans for real production, at least for NHRA.
It's a great story...and a sad story at the same time........

Verne

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