EVEN before it was released, Ford engineers knew that the Barra was going to be A Very Good Thing. That's why they codenamed it Project Gull, as, according to engineer Gordon Barfield, they "knew it would crap on everything".
Part of the huge appeal of Ford's Aussie inline six is the ease with which you can make up to 650hp without resorting to a full engine build. Yep, the Barra is a rudely capable engine, but there is some key info to know before you get started on your first bolt-on Barra.
"Oil pump gears, valve springs and head studs are pretty much the go-to modifications," says Zane Heath from Melbourne's Maxx Performance. "But I actually tell people to start with the fuel system, which seems backwards, but Barras are under-fuelled from the factory. I always start with 1000cc injectors and a Walbro 460 off the bat."
Rather than fitting them near the fuel tank down the back of the car, Zane likes to install surge tanks up front, which saves the time and expense of upgrading the fuel lines for most street combos. "A surge tank under the intake manifold means a factory 8mm fuel line can handle heaps of power," he explains. "If you have the pumps and surge up the back, you need to upgrade the whole line to the front of the car to go anywhere near 650hp."
Fuel choice can cause other headaches in certain combos, especially for those wanting to turn the wick up on a naturally aspirated engine on pump unleaded. "If you're using a gas motor or NA motor, you're limited with your fuel due to their comp ratio," Zane says. "It's easy to set them up on E85, and while you can make 400rwhp on 98 on a gas motor, it's on borrowed time."
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Esta historia es de la edición October 2023 de Street Machine Australia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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ROYAL CARRIAGE
BENNY ROYAL TOOK A FAMILY HEIRLOOM TOYOTA CORONA, SHOVED A 1JZ IN IT AND HEADED OFF FOR FIVE DAYS OF DRAG-AND-DRIVE
DEBUT TOUR
WITH A SCREAMING HOLDEN SIX, DEAN TROUNSON'S HOME-COOKED HR STEERS WITH THE BEST OF 'EM
FULLY FRANKED
A SNEAKY 670 HORSES OF FRANK MARCHESE POWER MAKES ROB GORGIEVSKI'S CONCOURS XW A PROPER TREAT
NOMADIC LIFESTYLE
DON'T BE FOOLED BY ITS DEMURE APPEARANCE THIS '57 CHEVY NOMAD IS A RAUNCHY RESTOMOD PACKING MODERN MUMBO
PERFECT 10 '!!!!
THE SYDNEY HOT ROD & CUSTOM AUTO EXPO TURNS 10
VAN WILDER
PETER MARRIOTT BUILT THIS TOUGH, 350 CHEV-POWERED HK PANEL VAN IN TRIBUTE TO THE LONG-LOST HT VAN OF HIS YOUTH
EXPRESS DELIVERY
IF YOU'VE ever been to the Bright Rod Run (and you damn well should've), odds are you've seen Joel Beatson lapping in an early Falcon.
RED HOT & BLUE
A REBORN PROGM8 SHOOTS FOR THE TITLE OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST SHOW-AND-GO COMMODORE
PEOPLE LIKE US
WHEN Michael Gonzalez isn't busy making eight-second passes in CHOCTOP, his street-driven, LSA-fed VC Commodore, or cruising one of the many other cars in his collection, he can be found managing Springmount Raceway, home to Far North Queensland's biggest horsepower hoedown, Northern Nats (see p. 48 for full feature).
DRIVING INNOVATION
EVER WISH YOU COULD HAVE A BRAND-NEW VERSION OF AN ICONIC 1970s AUSSIE MUSCLE CAR, FULL OF THE LATEST TECH? DRIVE SOUTH IS WORKING TO MAKE THAT A REALITY