'Truth' V-8

Motorcycle Sport 1966

CHAPTER 28 -SPECIALS FOR A PURPOSE

The truth is stranger than fiction-and has proven it on quite a number of quarter mile outings at just under the 160-mph mark.

Truth, in this case is a Chevrolet V8 mounted in a special two wheeled chassis built for drag strip acceleration. Owner Norm Harrison of Long Beach, California, spent five years in its design and construction, taking pains that Truth should be Beauty as well as Speed.
The engine itself acts as a part of the frame. A specially built 10-quart oil pan is a lower frame member, while a manifold originally intended to mount a supercharger is the upper frame. That manifold now holds a fuel metering system of Norm's design and fabrication, The V-8 is a hot rod engine in anyone's books; a '57 283 block was bored to four inches and fitted with Mickey Thompson 13.5:1 forged pistons and alloy rods set to a Studebaker crank, re-machined to fit the Chevy and give a 3.625-inch stroke.
Total displacement is now 365 cubes. The heads were ported and polished by Jocko's Porting Services and hold lightened stock valves, sprung by Wilcap heavy-duty coils on alloy retainers. A Herbert roller cam times the action.
The complete assembly-less flywheel and clutch which are not used (!) - was balanced by Automotive Electronic Balancing. A Pesco fuel pump was adapted to fit in a Thompson water pump body, these mounted to drive in the normal water pump position. No radiator is used, the block being sealed each run with the coolant self-contained. A Schiefer magneto sparks the alky fuel mix.
Back to that strange lack of flywheel and clutch, the drive system is unique, utilizing a Whitney industrial drive chain of 3/4" pitch and an in-out, single-gear box with a disengaging lever. The rear sprocket turns independently of the rear wheel, originally from an F-86 nose gear, the coupling being made as rpm increases to actuate Harrison-designed torque converter mounted in the rear wheel itself.
The frame stringers that support front and rear wheels are 2024ST aluminum alloy bars, 7/8-inch square, gusseted by alloy plates and bolted together with recessed Allen bolts. The front forks are from a Vincent Black Lightening.
Rider Bob Ryan has best marks at 159.07 mph and 9.70 e.t.

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