The horsepower output and longevity of US iron in the 70s were pitiful, mostly due to total and complete inattention to engineering. Everyone was building for the "swap cars every two years" buyers (since they bought the most cars) and disposable was the new wave back then. Still is today, but people can't afford new cars like they did then.
US designs ran to the cheap to make slobberying dinosaurs -- the designs were already ancient, and not very good to start with. GM put overhead valves in their V8 in 1957 (which is why the '57 Chevy is such a wonder car, instead of the better looking '56), and put, amazingly, shell type bearings in! Ford flatheads (up to the introduction of the OHV engine) had poured bearings..... High output requires attention to intake and combustion flow design, reliable, non-flexible valve trains, properly designed exhaust systems, and rather expensive and esoteric fuel introduction, not a "cast to fit the space" exhaust manifold, a 1932 carb stuck on a pipe, and an oil filter consisting of a sintered bronze slug in the head. GM used the same carb from 1932 to 1972 on their sixes, only changed it in 73 because it would never pass the emissions requirement, had to run it way rich all the time to get the engine to run, we have one on the sawmill motor. Peter _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
