Ford powered funny car

Here's a link to Greg Hunter's Boss 9 funny car in Billings this weekend. This is the car that was basically run off from NHRA when they banned 4.9 bore spacing motors in TA/FC and TAD.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJy8I7oRqJ8

just like the cammer nascar band it after first race.

Sweet!! I never thoughtt here was any ford alky cars left in that class....cool to see that vid....has he gone into the 5's yet? Is he succesful when he races ?

He's not allowed to race any NHRA divisonal or national events, so he just does local stuff - national opens etc. I think he took the screw blower off and put a roots on so it would be IHRA legal. His best before Billings was a 6.04 at 238 at Vegas a few years ago. His fellow racers always comment on how noisy the car is...it makes good power, but he doesn't get out much, and only has a small volunteer crew, so it's kind of hit and miss for him. A bunch of us e-mailed NHRA when they banned him a few years back, but of course we were ignored - NHRA is not in the business of listening to it's paid members. Greg is such a diehard Ford guy, he even paid extra bucks for a clutch can with a 429 belhousing pattern. I think the block is C&C and the heads are Indy. The car appears to have a wrap on the body - it used to have "Shotgun" written on it.

Wow that thing sounds great!!! Love the alky with a whole bunch of overdrive.

Bill

What kind of Tranny? I heard it shift 2 times ?

It's the normal air shifted 3 speed Lenco. I have a bunch of pics I took when he had it out at our local track one day for testing, but my scanner is refusing to work so I can't post them.

Why did the NHRA ban the 4.9 spacing?

OldRedFord wrote:Why did the NHRA ban the 4.9 spacing?

Why do you think?

That is bad ass

It came about from an experiment the Austins (Walt, Pat) were planning. I'm not 100% sure on all of this, as I'd had quite a few voddy's while Greg was telling me, but what I think he said was they were going to run a "Ford", but it was basically a Chrysler with a 4.90 bore spacing, and maybe Ford on the valve covers. A lot like the Boss 500, but with the bigger bore spacing. The Austins felt they could have a more reliable engine with the bigger bore, as the cylinder walls would be thicker, and would be stronger and hold ring seal better. Their rivals caught wind of it, and understandably set up a howl, as it would obsolete thier Chrysler 4.8 stuff. And NHRA, being the deep thinkers they are, instead of making the Austins run a Ford style block and Boss heads with the factory valve angles, simply banned 4.9 bore spacing engines in TF,FC, TAD, and TA/FC, as it would help them be more like their hero's in Nascar. I'm thinking that had this been a Chevy engine instead of a Ford, they would have backed the Austins all the way instead of banning them.

Hey fellas cool thread. I had heard the Hunter Ford Funnycar was a casualty of the NHRA borespacing ban. Very cool video and I hope we can get pics up soon. If anyone is interested there is a thread on Yellow Bullet that I started that dovetails with this subject. Some of the responses got messy, just pinheads doing what they do. Anyway if you have a minute check it out......

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164510

Great looking car. I'll be on Yellowstone Dragway this coming Saturday night. It's supposed to be a great track.

OldRedFord wrote:Why did the NHRA ban the 4.9 spacing?

Here is when NHRA did it. Hunter is in the story too.

Thanks racnrick, I read that article a few years back, and hoped somebody would still have it. I still get disgusted when I think about the whole deal. Imagine if Chevy had built an engine like the Boss, and Pat Austin wanted to modernize it and run against the Chryslers - NHRA probably would have sponsered it.

racnrick wrote:

OldRedFord wrote:Why did the NHRA ban the 4.9 spacing?

Here is when NHRA did it. Hunter is in the story too.

What a load of crock.

Sounds like they are afraid of some competition. How much longer before the NHRA is all cookie cutter like NASCAR?

Guess there is no room for innovation.

John I. wrote:It came about from an experiment the Austins (Walt, Pat) were planning. I'm not 100% sure on all of this, as I'd had quite a few voddy's while Greg was telling me, but what I think he said was they were going to run a "Ford", but it was basically a Chrysler with a 4.90 bore spacing, and maybe Ford on the valve covers. A lot like the Boss 500, but with the bigger bore spacing. The Austins felt they could have a more reliable engine with the bigger bore, as the cylinder walls would be thicker, and would be stronger and hold ring seal better. Their rivals caught wind of it, and understandably set up a howl, as it would obsolete thier Chrysler 4.8 stuff. And NHRA, being the deep thinkers they are, instead of making the Austins run a Ford style block and Boss heads with the factory valve angles, simply banned 4.9 bore spacing engines in TF,FC, TAD, and TA/FC, as it would help them be more like their hero's in Nascar. I'm thinking that had this been a Chevy engine instead of a Ford, they would have backed the Austins all the way instead of banning them.

sounds like you are 100% correct,maybe now that ford sponsers the nhra now things will change.

We are still trying to get accepted to run again. We proposed to let us run with a roots blower to take away any potential advantage the Boss might have. It was approved by all of the competition committees and the racers but one person rejected it in the end. They are currently revisiting the idea that is why we need everyone we can to email them and let them know it is garbage that we cannot race. Thanks to everyone for the support!

Greg Hunter

You don't happen to know the name off the ass... errr..."person" who rejected it do you?

I believe his name is Glen Gray

I have some pictures and more to come on our website that is up and running finally! www.huntermotorsports.com Take a look! Thanks!

GregHunter wrote:I have some pictures and more to come on our website that is up and running finally! www.huntermotorsports.com Take a look! Thanks!

great looking site Mr. Hunter ... we appreciate all your effort in keeping the Ford spirit alive