V-8 60 big bore

wayne munro

Junior Member
I have a 1940 v-8 60 that I think was used in a race boat. Stock bore is 2.6 in. this block is bored to 2.810 (thats close a 1/4" over). did they run these motors with that big of bore? How would you keep it from over heating? Who would make pistons for it? Is this the size they bore to to install sleeves?
 
That results in a 158" engine (as compared to the 136" stock). I'm sure I've heard of midget racecars with "60's of that size. And, yes, they may have overheated but certainly not all of them-or enough to discourage such (mis)use. Alchohol fuel helped keep them cool as well.
 
If someone bothered to build it I bet they ran it
Big bores have little to nothing to do with “running hot”
((((Old myth that is total bull squat))))
 
I cleaned all the ports with a die grinder and a rotery file then I follower up with a stone to give a smoother finish
 
Another thought: In a race boat you'd not have to worry about cooling-they didn't run a radiator; they circulated the water they were running on.
 
I'm surprised that a "60" is bored .210 over! Wow... The sleeves require about a .083 bore, give or take. There are some good guys in the flathead world that have 60 pistons still in "semi" finish, but I wouldn't think the "semis" would be .210 over. Good luck
 
I would guess someone like Egge would / could make you any piston you need. Maybe some of the 'Barns engine builders will weigh in here. FWIW
 
I had a V8-60 racing engine some years back that had very thick cast sleeves and was bored to .100" . I did'nt bother checking sizes because it was scrap iron. The webs on the mains were full of cracks. This engine also had the '40 crank rod journals ground for the '37-'39 rods was relieved and had a lot of porting work.
 
Do you suppose it's bored for a +.060 Lincoln Zephyr piston? (Yeah, I know, the pin height would be wrong too) Most likely it's bored for sleeves.
 
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