I admit I have not been following NHRA drag racing for quite a few years, but I was just watching a few on TV, and saw all these Top Fuel Dragsters sporting Toyota emblems, and apparently their motors are ... Toyota?!?!
I am confused. Now drag racing has been taken over by Japan?
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
I stopped paying any attention to NHRA after about 1998, gone downhill ever since.
Dave, i would say down hill long before that. I only follow Nostalgia Drag Racing because modern drag racing sucks. I just find the cars too boring looking and too high tech. I am only interested in the cars that represent drag racing in the glory years of about 1950 to 1980. I would recommend to any one to join Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racing Association (O N D R A). Nothing high tech or boring at any of their great drag racing meets. Cheers. George
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
When Toyota wanted to get into the pick up Truck Market they needed a V8 engine so GM kindly sent some Chevrolet engine experts over to help design the Toyota V8 that powers their trucks and NASCARS. Apparently the design is basically a Chevy small block. For all the racing Toyota does I don't think they use it to their advantage in Marketing their products, not at least to the same extent as Chevrolet or Ford.
About the same time, Toyota was petitioning to enter NASCAR by starting out in the truck series. Since it had no pushrod V8 upon which to base a race engine, Toyota was given freedom to clean-sheet an engine based on what was already in the garages. Toyota Racing Development (TuRD) purchased Ford, Chevy and Dodge race engines and took more than 8,000 measurements. TuRD engineers then pushed the dimensions as far as they could negotiate with NASCAR. For example, they asked for 4.550-inch bore centers but were allowed 4.500-inch. Toyota also went with eight cam bearings, front-mounted distributor and 20 head bolts. In the end, Toyota obsoleted all the other engines, so NASCAR allowed clean-sheet designs from the other three. Chevy responded with the R07, Dodge came out with the closed-deck R6P8 and Ford followed with the FR9. All have 4.500-inch bore centers but NASCAR still mandates a 4.185-inch maximum bore to keep cylinder head development and valve sizes in check. However, the wider bore centers allow intricate cooling passages, and cooler engines mean less tape on the front grille.
I admit I have not been following NHRA drag racing for quite a few years, but I was just watching a few on TV, and saw all these Top Fuel Dragsters sporting Toyota emblems, and apparently their motors are ... Toyota?!?!
I am confused. Now drag racing has been taken over by Japan?
Dave
Toyoda sponsorship only.
All Top Fuel Engines are still Chrysler Hemi style Engines.
I admit I have not been following NHRA drag racing for quite a few years, but I was just watching a few on TV, and saw all these Top Fuel Dragsters sporting Toyota emblems, and apparently their motors are ... Toyota?!?!
I am confused. Now drag racing has been taken over by Japan?
Dave
Toyoda sponsorship only.
All Top Fuel Engines are still Chrysler Hemi style Engines.
Thanks
Randy
Thanks for explaining that ... seems kind of silly for a car manufacturer to sponsor a Top Fuel car that does not use anything from that manufacturer. But I am glad that the much-loved Chrysler Hemi motors still reign supreme.
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
About the same time, Toyota was petitioning to enter NASCAR by starting out in the truck series. Since it had no pushrod V8 upon which to base a race engine, Toyota was given freedom to clean-sheet an engine based on what was already in the garages. Toyota Racing Development (TuRD) purchased Ford, Chevy and Dodge race engines and took more than 8,000 measurements. TuRD engineers then pushed the dimensions as far as they could negotiate with NASCAR. For example, they asked for 4.550-inch bore centers but were allowed 4.500-inch. Toyota also went with eight cam bearings, front-mounted distributor and 20 head bolts. In the end, Toyota obsoleted all the other engines, so NASCAR allowed clean-sheet designs from the other three. Chevy responded with the R07, Dodge came out with the closed-deck R6P8 and Ford followed with the FR9. All have 4.500-inch bore centers but NASCAR still mandates a 4.185-inch maximum bore to keep cylinder head development and valve sizes in check. However, the wider bore centers allow intricate cooling passages, and cooler engines mean less tape on the front grille.
Thanks Randy
LOL! Every time I see "TRD" on one of their pickups, I can't help but think how inept Toyota marketing people must be to select that acronym to put on their 'sporty' models. I always think to myself: "there goes another turd...".
Thanks for the summary on how NASCAR kissed Toyota's butt. I can't help but be disgusted every time I see Toyota on a NASCAR. Don't really watch it much anymore, to be honest.
cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
