63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

Here is what I found down at the "P.A.M." last weekend...

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

additional pic image...

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

another pic...

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

again, another pic...

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

ex manifold #s...

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

ex manifold...last pic image...

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

I took a good look at the timing cover on this and I was not sure that it matches the layout pattern of the production ran 396's that were first released...I have never seen one before so, I thought I'd snap some pics of it to share here...Wonder what car that motor was in use originally! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

Probably a NASCAR Impala or Bel Air race car such as the one that Junior Johnson ran back in 1963. One of my old hot rodding books from the 70's shows this engine apart out of Junior Johnsons car that lapped Daytona at 166 MPH. I guess it was king until the 426 Hemi put a whipping on everbody in 1965.

Paul

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

Didn´t the Hemi take first, second and third place in the -64 Daytona race ?

Anders

Re: 63 Mystery Motor...historical consideration
 

Actually, I believe they finished 1-2-3-4 in the 1964 Daytona race. Apparently, the Hemi sat out the 1965 season probably due to NASCAR's ruling that Chrylser had to produce and sell these engines in a specified number of street cars before they could race. That is how the street Hemi came about in 1966. Otherwise, there may have never been a street Hemi.

Paul