Mach 1 Club

Steven,
In answer to your question about my motor's vibration issue.
The 351C, FMX and the 9" diff were rebuilt in the States prior to me buying buying from an importer in Australia.

The motor had a wicked vibration starting from 1500rpm, only getting worse as it reved higher. My son and I pulled it out to find and fix the problem before it shook the car to pieces.

My son works at one of Australia's top race motor builders - they build motors for some of Oz's V8 Super Car Teams, as well as dragsters and sprint car motors. So, he's in the process of working it up to around 400hp - which should keep very streetable.

To date, for the rebuild I've supplied - Edelbebrock performer manifold + Holley 600 four barrel + BIG alloy radiator + water pump + flex plate + torque convertor + HEI dissy + Mutha Thumpa cam/lifters/push rods/valve springs+harmonic balancer. A major port and head job is planned - increasing the compression ratio back up to 10.5 to 1. It already had flat top pistons, a new bottom end and was fitted with a set of tuned extractors.

The vibration looks like an incorrectly torqued flex plate - I had to grind off 2 of the retaining bolts as they were over tightened and the edges were rounded off.

I've also fitted a new set of 2" lowered 5 leaf - reverse eye leaf springs, new shockies, s/steel shackles and an adjustable rear sway bar. On the front - 1 1/2" lowered h/d coils, new shockies and 1" sway bar, new tie rods, track rods, rebuilt p/steering pump and a rebuilt steering box.

The FMX is also being upgraded while it's out as well.
I'm not after a peaky top end screamer, just something with heaps of grunt.

Rod A

Steve,
It's a humble 2V, which really doesn't concern me at all. At the end of the day, it's all about torque and horse power.

As a matter of interest - I've had the rear internal plastic trim panels completely recovered in vinyl with white stiching. The plastic was so badly ozidised, they couldn't be repainted or dyed.
They look magic. I had the vinyl guy use white stiching, cause my new front seat upholstery has white stripes.

I going to replace the tacky fake woodgrain in the door trip panels with carbon fibre. I'm having some difficulty finding a reasonable rimblow. According to the marti report it was optioned with one.

regards,

Rod A

Just a bit of an update on the motor.

The motor was rebuilt in the States on a budget and unfortunately, for me - it was never going to last.
I've ended up having to replace every internal part in the motor, with the exception of the crank shaft which is sort sort aftermarket heavy duty unit.

I've even had to replace the stock rockers with a set of roller rockers in order to cope with the cam.
I've upgraded the new fuel pump and have gone to a 750cfm 4 barrel to feed the beast. My son also advised to get another torque converter; because the 2500rpm hi-stall won't cope.

Does anyone know much stress an FMX can handle? I was after 400hp - it looks like my son has gone a little overboard, and is now talking fingures well in excess of 400hp.

regards,

Rod A

It's great your son is doing a complete rebuild. Sounds like your engine is in good hands.

(08-16-2012, 07:33 PM)Bluemach Wrote: [ -> ]Does anyone know much stress an FMX can handle? I was after 400hp - it looks like my son has gone a little overboard, and is now talking fingures well in excess of 400hp.

regards,

Rod A

I do not have actual numbers and many talk down the FMX but I personally think that is unfair. It is just that the C6 / C4 have more aftermarket support. The FMX is a stout starting point and with the right knowledge can be built to handle what you will dish out.

The AOD is built copying the FMX and adding an overdrive and Lentex builds those for excess of 1,000 horsepower.

The FMX will easily stand 500+hp and similar torque numbers, with the 2nd gear band being the only weak link. Put the best quality band in it, and it'll stand anything you can throw at it. JTS 71 Mach1

My son has just informed me that the Cleveland is finally bolted together and is going on the dyno tomorrow night. He'll first break in the cam on the dyno, then dump the oil and filter before he tunes it up.

I ended up buying a set of 4V headers to help with air flow - apparently the 2V headers would have been to restrictive.

The 1 1/2" Gilmer belt system is on, and he tells me the big alloy pulleys look magic on the motor.

I'm actually quiet excited - the Mach 1 has always been my dream car, and now I own one....woo hoo!!

regards,
Rod A

Heres keeping our fingers crossed, hope all goes well. JTS 71 Mach1