Editing Ford FE engine (section)

===== Drag racing =====
Organized drag racing (NHRA, AHRA and even NASCAR dabbled in drag racing in the mid-1960s) was a major venue for the FE in its various forms. Many of the most innovative products were developed and used for 1/4 mile drag racing as aftermarket suppliers eagerly supported the engine design with products such as special intakes, camshafts, superchargers, manifolds, cylinder heads, water and fuel pumps, and exhaust headers.  But it was the Ford company itself which developed the most potent products and platforms for the drag-racer.  Beginning in 1962 and continuing through 1964, Ford made lightweight versions of its popular Galaxie model using aluminum, fiberglass and specially chosen components emphasizing light weight over comfort or style.  Many parts were simply not put on the vehicle, such as a passenger side windshield wiper, sound deadening, armrests, heater, and radio.

In late 1964, Ford contracted [[Holman & Moody]] to prepare ten 427-powered Mustangs to contest the [[National Hot Rod Association]]'s (NHRA) A/Factory Experimental Class in the 1965 drag racing season. Five of these special Mustangs made their competition debut at the 1965 NHRA Winternationals, where they qualified in the Factory Stock FX Eliminator Class for (FX cars only). The car driven by Bill Lawton won the class.<ref>Morris, Charlie. [http://www.cartechbooks.com/vstore/showdetl.cfm?st=0&st2=0&st3=0&CATID=21&Product_ID=2553&DID=6 "Ford's 1965 Factory Experimental Mustangs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911210046/http://www.cartechbooks.com/vstore/showdetl.cfm?st=0&st2=0&st3=0&CATID=21&Product_ID=2553&DID=6 |date=2011-09-11 }}, ''Car Tech Inc.'' website, undated article. Retrieved on August 26, 2008.</ref>

For the 1964 model year, Ford introduced the two-door Fairlane 500 sedan-based [[Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt|Thunderbolt]].  Modified to accept a 427 high-riser engine, it featured a teardrop-shaped bubble hood to clear the induction system and drivetrain components from the larger Galaxie model. The two inner headlights were eliminated and replaced with air inlets ducted directly to the two four-barrel carbs.  It was an industry first, the only time that a turn key drag car was made available to the general public.<ref>Dennis Kolodziej. [http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/message/1302782821/Thunderbolt+Details. (Ford) Thunderbolt Details.] Fordfe.com. 2011-04-15.Accessed: 2011-04-15. (Archived by WebCite at)</ref> However, the extensive modifications to the car did not meet Ford appearance quality standards.<ref name="Hot Rod disclaimer">{{cite web|url=http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0001_1964_ford_thunderbolt/index.html |title=Reprint of January 2000 article in ''Hot Rod'' Magazine describing the disclaimer plate on a Thunderbolt used on a road tour |publisher=Hotrod.com |date=2000-01-01 |access-date=2014-02-28}}</ref><ref name="1964 Lightweight">{{cite web |url=http://www.1964ford.com/lightweight.aspx |title=History of the lightweight 1964 Ford drag cars at |publisher=1964ford.com |access-date=2014-02-28 |archive-date=2014-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713162615/http://1964ford.com/lightweight.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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|''THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BUILT SPECIALLY AS A LIGHTWEIGHT COMPETITIVE CAR AND INCLUDES CERTAIN FIBERGLASS AND ALUMINUM COMPONENTS.  BECAUSE OF THE SPECIALIZED PURPOSE FOR WHICH THIS CAR HAS BEEN BUILT AND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM WEIGHT REDUCTION, NORMAL QUALITY STANDARDS OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN TERMS OF EXTERIOR PANEL FIT AND SURFACE APPEARANCE ARE NOT MET ON THIS VEHICLE.''

''THIS INFORMATION IS INCLUDED ON THIS VEHICLE TO ASSURE THAT ALL CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE THIS CAR ARE AWARE OF THE DEVIATION FROM THE REGULAR HIGH APPEARANCE QUALITY STANDARDS OF THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.''<ref>[http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0001_1964_ford_thunderbolt/index.html Reprint of January 2000 article in ''Hot Rod'' Magazine describing the disclaimer plate on a Thunderbolt used on a road tour]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.1964ford.com/lightweight.aspx |title=History of the lightweight 1964 Ford drag cars at 1964ford.com |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-date=2014-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713162615/http://1964ford.com/lightweight.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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The 1964 [[NHRA]] Super Stock meeting was captured with a Thunderbolt.  However, all three NHRA Top Stock Eliminator titles were won by Chrysler's Race Hemi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/ford-fairlane/ford-fairlane-history-2.shtml |title=History of the Thunderbolt at |publisher=Musclecarclub.com |access-date=2014-02-28}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Find a [[WP:RS|reliable source]] (book, magazine, newspaper, etc.)|date=February 2014}} Nearly half a century later, in 2013, a Thunderbolt set a new SS/A record of 8.55 seconds in the quarter mile, with a closing speed of 154&nbsp;mph,<ref>{{cite web|author=The Summit Racing Web Development Team. |url=http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=280128&Filter=100#indextop/ |title=FALL CLASSIC NO - Super Stock Qualifying, Sunday Final Order |publisher=Dragracecentral.com |date=2013-10-21 |access-date=2014-02-28}}</ref>

In 1963, Dick Brannan set the NHRA Super/Stock National record at 12.42 on a hot July day. In the biggest race of the year, the INDY Nationals, Ed Martin's lightweight Galaxie lost the Super Stock trophy run to John Barker's Dodge but at the teardown, the Dodge was found to have an illegal cam. In drag racing, the 427 Ford Galaxie was a winner in three consecutive National Events: the '64 Indy Nationals, the 1965 WinterNationals and the 1965 Indy Nationals.  It was Mike Schmitt driving the Desert Motors Galaxie to the AA/SA Class win at the 1964 Indy Nationals. At the 1965 Winternationals it was a clean sweep as Doug Butler's four-speed took the win in AA/S with a 12.77 at 114.21 and Bill Hanyon won on the automatic side with a 12.24 at 117.95. Additionally, Bud Schellenberger's "Double A Stock" 1964 Galaxie was the 1965 Indy Nationals Top Stock Eliminator with a 12.16 at 114.21. The Shelby Super Snake top fuel dragster, powered by a 427 supercharged SOHC, became the first car in NHRA competition to break the six-second quarter-mile time barrier.  It was the winner of the 1966 NHRA Spring Nationals. In every decade since, the FE has held drag-racing records. In 2011, the new decade opens with the NHRA SS/F (class rules include stock compression ratio, stock valve sizes, stock carb sizing and other [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]]-type equipment limitations) national record:  the quartermile in 9.29 seconds, with a closing speed of 143.63&nbsp;mph.