"name one engine other than the 426 that when you pulled up against it, you could already feel your second place pat on the back."
Fords' 429 Boss. It actually won more NASCAR
sanctioned events than the 426 did, though only
by very few. Gotta give credit, where credit is
due.
The 426 will always hold it's place as one of the
most "brute force" engines ever built. It's
understandable as to why they're so revered.
Where it truly shines is on the dragstrip.
Flame away if you must, but I too, love the
sound and performance of a big block Mopar.
1 year Ford 26 & 11 in a row, to 22 Mopar races IIRC
the Ford Boss 429 semi-hemi, was outlawed
some time after Daytona 1970, IIRC mid-season
Chevy was up in arms about it too, they were the benifactors
France family was a Ford family
(any hemi, had a weight penalty or had a 305cid limited, MoPar & Ford)
it did win Talladega (in 3 Talladega's by Holman Moony, 1,2 & 3)
IIRC on it's debut 1968
in cars that were never truly Homoligated,
France family let it go for a time
they did put the min. less than 500 #, in Mustangs,
but only a few Fairlane-Torino GTs (FB)/Cyclones/Talladega
IIRC Boss 429 engine, it won like
40 races total in Nascar
top teer, Grand Nationals
they were all one-off, none were body in white deliveries
or factory-built, Holman Moony built them
it was all grey area, typical back door deals,
Teams trying to skirt the rules (if you're not cheatin', you're not trying)
put a bunch of Boss 429 semi-hemis in the Mustangs
so they can get the 500#
Mustangs can't/or couldn't back then
race Nascar, Grand Nationals
not long enough wheelbase or weights
They were also
not built by Ford, they were farmed out also
to Car Craft IIRC
Ford's Boss 429, it was outlawed in NHRA
because it had greater bore spacing
like 4.85" in pro classes anyway
(it was more than the sanctioning body allowed, by like 0.100")