Mopar Purple Cams Chrysler’s impact on drag racing is legendary. The “after hours” activities of their engineers took “factory development” to the next level and changed the face of the sport. Chrysler’s Marine and Industrial Engine Division also made racing engines and in 1962 released a small mail-order catalog called “Chrysler Maximum Performance Packages.” In 1964, many of the engineers who were active in racing on Detroit’s famed Woodward Ave were also staffing Chrysler’s Special Parts Service, allowing customers to purchase their latest innovations. In the early 1970s, those engineers established the Direct Connection Brand that offered factory-developed and factory-approved performance gear and customization products for Mopars. This eventually morphed into Mopar Performance Parts. Direct Connection was very active in racing in the 1970s, and their camshafts came with a purple coating between the lobes, thus earning their name. They offered several levels of performance for both big and small blocks.
The high-winding 289 made 271 hp with the help of a slow-ramp cam with a low lift and a lot of duration. It was introduced in the Fairlane and then the Comet before landing under the hood of Mustangs and Shelby AC Cobras. They also powered Shelby’s GT350 Mustangs to victory in road racing.
Ford 271 When Ford introduced the Mustang in the middle of 1964, high-winding small blocks were king. Though the majority of the Mustangs came with inline sixes, some were treated to a V8. The 289 lent itself well to the platform, and quickly found success on and off the track. A special “HiPo” version that made 271 hp at 6,000 rpm was first offered in 1963. It was introduced in the Fairlane, then the Comet, and finished its run in the Mustang in 1968. It also powered the first Shelby AC cobras and the Shelby GT350 Mustangs through 1967. The HiPo 289 was given the letter K, and is known as a “K-code” engine. They feature stronger connecting rods, a high nodularity cast iron crankshaft, different harmonic balancer, screw-in rocker studs, a 600cfm Autolite carb, dual-point mechanical advance distributor, and a solid lifter cam with a slow ramp, low lift, and a lot of duration that allowed a higher rpm peak. Ford only offered a four month warranty on the High Performance engine, versus the two-year warranty on all other cars. Obviously, they knew they were going to be heavily raced. Source: COMP Cams, compcams.com PPNDigital.com 109