At 04:51 PM 10/31/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Good day!
>I have a question of anyone on the list. Is it possible to install a Ford
>Boss 302 engine in a Sunbeam Tiger? Are you aware of anyone who has
>attempted this installation or was successful with it?
>
>Thanks
>Gene
>Sioux City, Iowa
Sometimes the TAC program and 35 years of involvement yield some
knowledge. The first boss 302 Tiger was built by one Bill Hammaker in the
San Francisco area in the early 70's. Bill was a Brain Surgeon for the US
Army stationed at Letterman Army Hospital in the Presidio. Because the car
was well known, having attended the first Tigers Uniteds, its sale left the
buyer with a case of "Oh, you bought Bill Hammakers Tiger". The car
dropped out of sight for about twenty years and surfaced again at Tigers
United at Big Bear where we recognized other memorable features on the car
and applied TAC # 304. The Boss has found a new home, and the car now has
small block motor but the Boss modifications are still present and could
be reassembled.
As a footnote, the Tiger we TACed just before the ex-Hammaker Tiger was
the Supercharged Tiger II (B382100257) of Ron Ferraro (TAC # 303). While
this is not a Boss, this Tiger, and it's owner were also participants at
early Tigers Uniteds.
The only remaining Boss Tiger is the one built by Chuck Roberts of San
Jose (TAC # 188). Chuck passed away earlier this year but the car is still
in an assembled condition. Chuck brought it, in Boss configuration, to an
STOA meet many years ago but I don't think it ever showed at a United.
Chuck was experimenting with the Ford Cross Boss intake system and had run
the car at at least two Silver State Challenge events (flat out in the
Nevada Desert). The car was serious fast and very nicely restored by Paul
Reisentz.
So, the long answer to your question is that, yes, a Boss 302 has been
sucessfully transplanted into a Tiger. The results are mixed, and if
street application is the intent, there are more economical and perhaps
better technical solutions to the production of raw horsepower. I have
TACed 347 strokers, 351 Winsors, and 350 Chevys in Tigers but haven't had a
chance to see Jim Barrett's 351Cleveland in Florida.
You have to come down to the decision that you are either willing to cut
what some owners feel is sacred material, or that it's your car and you can
do with it what you choose. You can tell from my e-mail name which side of
the argument I fall into.
Original Owner, Tom Hall
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