1968 Valiant SB 9.844 @ 134.04 - Now retired

[Jon Connolly]

Had this car approx 18 months and done loads of work to it.

Wanted to make all body / fuel / weight / driveline changes prior to doing the engine work to make sure it was all reliable and drove ok. Car is easy to drive and goes nice and straight.

Yesterday got the best out of the car, but the engine is now ready for a rebuild ( blowing oil out the rockers ). This is coming out this week and will either get bore glaze machined and a freshen up and valve job ... or, if there is damage, I will get a stroker rotating assembly and get a build done with that.

12.0018 secs @ 107.1 mph on 114 octane leaded with 411 gears. Car less driver now weighs 1128 kg.

hope to get low 11`s / high 10`s with engine build.

[Jon Connolly]

Leaf springs and shocks removed and thrown away. New comp engineering rear shocks, new caltracs, new comp engineering drag shocks on front. Lexan fitted all round, radiator shrouded, alternator removed, doors and boot floor cut away, new fuel cell goes in.

[Jon Connolly]

Crown wheel and pinion removed. Ford 9" casing and have now got a choice of 350 / 411 / 489. Caltracs go on and new rear shocks. Inner wings cut out, trans cooler and fuel line cooler go in.

[Jon Connolly]

New fuel lines go in, new fuel pump, fuel filter and fuel regulator. fibreglass bonnet and bootlid go on.

Car is now ready for new engine build. Drives very straight and is good fun to drive. I am keeping it normally aspirated small block and aiming to get it in low 11`s / high 10`s.

Car now weighs 1128 kg and ran 12.0018 on knackered engine.

[Guy]

Jonathan you dont hang around, do you great to see someone going the fast small block route

[Rogue Trooper]

[Cannonball]

New fuel lines go in, new fuel pump, fuel filter and fuel regulator. fibreglass bonnet and bootlid go on.

Car is now ready for new engine build. Drives very straight and is good fun to drive. I am keeping it normally aspirated small block and aiming to get it in low 11`s / high 10`s.

Car now weighs 1128 kg and ran 12.0018 on knackered engine.

its amazing how light you can get them A bodies i remember kenny saying that dave bil,s duster the white one with his indy 500 mtr only weighed around 2,550ibs = a quick machine

also that blue 69 coronet off nige oakeys only weighs 2,650 B bodies can be got light as well,

[Jon Connolly]

Yes Dunc.

2481 lbs at the moment, but there is plenty more metal in there that ain`t needed, should be able to get it to around 2400 lbs.

[Cannonball]

great stuff jon, did you get your wheels ??? we must have a beer at the nats matey, if you get chance have a wander over to us one of the evenins,

[Jon Connolly]

Yes mate, I did thanks.

Well chuffed with them

Yes to a beer, I`ll see you there

[Ivor]

Top job Jon, great to meet up with you at Shakey...love the custom made fuel cell and the pup and filter system along the rear firewall was so simple I could understand it!

[Anonymous]

Looks great

Something different.

[Jon Connolly]

Me and my friend Graham pulled the engine out a couple of weeks ago and stripped ready for inspection, measuring and a freshen up. It wasn`t a moment too soon; flexplate was boken, 1 valve was bent, most of the valve collet / circlips were broken.

Bores and crank were in good condition so had bores deglazed and new bearings, seals, gaskets all round. Pistons were 0.030 and were all fine and undamaged so cleaned decoked and fit new rings. Heads were ok just needed cleaning, valves all ok just needed carbon removed and reseating. New cam is going in. New oil pump etc.

This looks to be a fairly standard engine and this is a refurb to get me through til the end of the year when I ( with alot of help ) will be building a 408 stroker based on a 360 block.

[Jon Connolly]

Less than 1 week before the Nats and loads to do ... only got the shells delivered this morning.

Spent the time waiting getting the heads rebuilt and everything cleaned and painted.

THIS IS A STANDARD .030 OVER 340 SMALLBLOCK, NO NITROUS SO SEE WHAT IT WILL RUN ?????????????

New smallblock stroker build coming next year.

[Pete]

Another "mission impossible" before the Nats!

Why do we do it to ourselves
I am sure you will make it OK!