Bonneville


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By RB - Last Month
Anyone care to give an update on results? . Y-blocks MELs etc... Hopefully everyone went fast and no breakage or wrecks
By Joe-JDC - Last Month
Not sure, but Tim McMasters posted on Facebook that he went 197.5mph and lost a fairing/bent sheetmetal, slowed down on last run due to retarding the timing.  The MEL had a timing chain failure which bent a valve and knocked them out at 185mph or so.  Joe-JDC
By RB - Last Month
Boy, That MEL has been difficult to keep together....Too bad  I wanted to see it hit 200.. maybe next year....
By Ted - Last Month
The Bonneville Salt Flats M-E-L engine managed to clock 187.324 mph at the two-mile mark at which point the timing chain stretched beyond its limits and broke.  That happened on the first run down the salt.  We did find another chain in Salt Lake City but found a bent exhaust valve on #2 cylinder which effectively ended any hopes of continuing.

So, it’s back to the drawing board to engineer a better timing chain setup for the M-E-L engine.  That was a known weak point on the M-E-L and especially with the valve spring pressures that are put on that chain with the roller camshaft setup.

Tim McMaster was ever so close to the 200 mph mark at 195 and 197.
By MoonShadow - Last Month
Gear drive allowed?
By Ted - Last Month
Gear drives are indeed allowed.  The only problem with that is there are none available for the M-E-L engines.  Even just a plain double roller timing set is not available for this family of engines.  What I am looking at are the gear sets for a 429/460 Ford engine to see if they can be adapted for use on the M-E-L engine.
By MoonShadow - Last Month
In this world of engineering, 3D printing and CNC machining I would hope someone here could pick up the challenge. Of course its way out of my ability but I know it can be done.
By MoonShadow - Last Month
What engines does the MEL block share with or is it a total loner?
By MoonShadow - Last Month
Suggestions from FB. Tsubaki chain or a Belt drive.
, Jesel or Innovators West
By KULTULZ - Last Month
Ted (8/25/2025)


The Bonneville Salt Flats M-E-L engine managed to clock 187.324 mph at the two-mile mark at which point the timing chain stretched beyond its limits and broke.  That happened on the first run down the salt.  We did find another chain in Salt Lake City but found a bent exhaust valve on #2 cylinder which effectively ended any hopes of continuing.

So, it’s back to the drawing board to engineer a better timing chain setup for the M-E-L engine.  That was a known weak point on the M-E-L and especially with the valve spring pressures that are put on that chain with the roller camshaft setup.

Tim McMaster was ever so close to the 200 mph mark at 195 and 197.


TED,
If you ever fInd the time (yeah, right), could you keep the board informed on whatever modifications you perform or come across regarding the MEL?

There are many LM and J-BIRD enthusiasts out there.

THANX!
By Ted - Last Month
KULTULZ (8/26/2025)
TED,
If you ever find the time (yeah, right), could you keep the board informed on whatever modifications you perform or come across regarding the MEL?
There are many LM and J-BIRD enthusiasts out there.
THANX!

Will do.  The M-E-L and 385 series (429/460) share the same camshaft to crankshaft centerline so that’s where I will be starting from.  Right now I am looking at the Milodon ‘cheater’ gear drive set for a 385 series to determine if that setup can be adapted to the M-E-L engines.