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What is the Real Horsepower?

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According to a 1961 memo from Arnolt in Chicago, 137 Hp at the rear wheels could be achieved with some modifications:

537125346_Arnolt%20Period%203000%20Performance%20Tuning.jpg
 
John Turney said:
According to a 1961 memo from Arnolt in Chicago, 137 Hp at the rear wheels could be achieved with some modifications:
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I think the AEC 865 camshaft is the standard BJ8 cam. This motor producing 137 rwhp with 2" s.u. s and some head work would be like a slightly modded BJ8 motor. So it looks like the BJ8 was probably in the 130-135 hp range that Ian reports. With approx 15% driveline loss, I think the claimed 150 bhp was right in the ballpark.
 
bighealeysource said:
Hey Ian,
Just looked at your videos - absolutely beautifully prepared car ! Love the moonlit sprint one although a long time to sit for a short sprint but looked like a ball. How many times did you get to run it, 1/4 mile or what ?
Bloody cool,
Mike
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Mike,

99% of all time spent hillclimbing and sprinting is waiting! For circuit racing that number falls but unless your doing long races the waiting is still a large element. We got three practice runs and two timed runs. The last run was in full dark and if you get the 20.10 slot the sun is just setting over the hills and you can't see where you're going but Jersey with its closed public roads (very rare in the UK) is the only place you can 'drive it like you stole it' :banana:

Cheers,

Ian
 
bighealeysource said:
Rick and Frankenhealey, you guys crack me up ! Love Rick's youTube video with that lovely sounding V-8 and then he blips the throttle ! Love your Nasty Boys.
Regards,
Mike

PS - come on now Frankenhealey, you have got to put yours on youTube too !!!
Click to expand...

Mike,

Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated!
 
Well guys, this thread has been both informative and enjoyable. I posted it on a whim and did not expect the turn out. Also, I was really surprised at the price Dougie quoted ($250 for a few hours) as I thought the price would have been much much higher. I guess I won’t have to wait for my wife to win the lottery.

One of the members at our club (Positive Earth Drivers Club), hear in NJ, builds and races MGBs and showed me an engine in a customer’s car that had 190 HP at the crank. He was quick to state it was not street legal and would be a bear to drive in local traffic.

Again, thanks for your responses.

Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
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