Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Saw on the news last night that we have lost another great pioneer in Motorsports.
Smokey Yunick died Wednesday at age 77 of leukemia.
I recall many stories of how this man had his own interpretation of the rules, particularly Nascar rules. He was in on the designing of the small block Chevrolet engine. When Chevrolet produced the first experimental Mark IV engines he was the first one to get them for use. There was an auction held to dispose of years of parts in his shop several years ago. If I recall correctly, there were 2 or 3 of these hand built engines still in storage there. I saw some pictures of parts of the shop and there were racks containing thousands of camshafts. Blocks, heads, crankshafts,etc. were everywhere.
There is a story about his involvement in designing a super fuel efficient engine that ran so hot that he used ceramic pistons. Engineers from several car makers were invited to examine this engine. A Mercedes engineer burned his hand rather severly when he touched the intake manifold.
Many of you are familiar with the use of different connecting rod lengths in an engine to change the angularity of the rod at various points in the stroke to enhance horsepower at certain RPM's. In the early 50's Smokey knew about this. Since changing connecting rod length would have been found in a technical inspection, Smokey actually moved the crankshaft toward one side of the engine, giving him the same effect. This was done on the Hudson 6 cylinder engines.
Another rule stated that you had to run the stock flywheel. Since machining weight from either face of the flywheel would be apparent, Smokey removed the ring gear and drilled holes radially around the flywheel and then covered them up with the ring gear.
As I said, we have lost a real pioneer who contributed more than we can ever know.
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92 D250 Auto Trans-Currently stock except for TCI special torque convertor. Now adding 16cm turbo housing, complete 4" exhaust, tachometer, pyrometer, and transmission temperature gauge. Injectors in the near future.
Also have 1984 Volvo D260 with inline 6 diesel made by Volkswagen.
Smokey Yunick died Wednesday at age 77 of leukemia.
I recall many stories of how this man had his own interpretation of the rules, particularly Nascar rules. He was in on the designing of the small block Chevrolet engine. When Chevrolet produced the first experimental Mark IV engines he was the first one to get them for use. There was an auction held to dispose of years of parts in his shop several years ago. If I recall correctly, there were 2 or 3 of these hand built engines still in storage there. I saw some pictures of parts of the shop and there were racks containing thousands of camshafts. Blocks, heads, crankshafts,etc. were everywhere.
There is a story about his involvement in designing a super fuel efficient engine that ran so hot that he used ceramic pistons. Engineers from several car makers were invited to examine this engine. A Mercedes engineer burned his hand rather severly when he touched the intake manifold.
Many of you are familiar with the use of different connecting rod lengths in an engine to change the angularity of the rod at various points in the stroke to enhance horsepower at certain RPM's. In the early 50's Smokey knew about this. Since changing connecting rod length would have been found in a technical inspection, Smokey actually moved the crankshaft toward one side of the engine, giving him the same effect. This was done on the Hudson 6 cylinder engines.
Another rule stated that you had to run the stock flywheel. Since machining weight from either face of the flywheel would be apparent, Smokey removed the ring gear and drilled holes radially around the flywheel and then covered them up with the ring gear.
As I said, we have lost a real pioneer who contributed more than we can ever know.
------------------
92 D250 Auto Trans-Currently stock except for TCI special torque convertor. Now adding 16cm turbo housing, complete 4" exhaust, tachometer, pyrometer, and transmission temperature gauge. Injectors in the near future.
Also have 1984 Volvo D260 with inline 6 diesel made by Volkswagen.
