When Banks Dominated the Water
Paul Cordell owns a piece of Banks Marine history, and he was kind enough to share photos of it. After more than a decade of building performance supercharged engines, Gale switched to turbocharging in 1970 for the first “Gale Banks” branded turbocharged marine engine. The change came about when testing revealed that turbocharging actually provided a more usable horsepower range and boasted improved fuel efficiency by using wasted exhaust gas over that of a mechanically driven supercharger.
Going from superchargers to turbochargers also proved to be less punishing to the engine, causing less mechanical wear, thereby extending engine life with fewer rebuilds between races. Endurance race teams found the engines would run under extreme conditions for an entire season before needing service. Meanwhile teams running supercharger were rebuilding engines after every race. But Banks’ biggest winning edge came from not having to pit as much as the supercharged competitors.
Paul found his prized boat in 2001 with a complete Banks Marine Racing 454 cubic inch engine. Years of neglect made this a diamond-in-the-rough a challenge, needing an exceptional amount of TLC. “It was peeling, the chrome was coming off, and the aluminum was totally corroded,” Paul confesses. “Everything you see on that engine was 32 grit grinder-wheeled off and polished way back when I was young and had more energy. Well, that’s how it started it’s re-birth, anyway.”
“Over the years, I pushed the original build, going faster and faster. The basic system is there now, but I’ve done some upgrades and modifications. The engine has gone from being a 454 cubic inch to a 540 cubic inch and has coated pistons, a carburetor that is basically an alcohol one running gas, and I got away from using the original Rayjay turbos and wastegates. They were great for the time, but turbo aerodynamics have changed, and I needed more air to go along with all that extra fuel. I got some custom-built turbos with 78 mm compressor wheels and 3″ outlets. I’m still using the original intercooler, but it’s been updated with 3″ inlets.”
“I have a few more things that I want to do, but as it stands I’ve hit 110 mph a few times. Man, I sure wish Gale would bring out an updated kit. Just think what I could do with that!”
If you or someone you know has a piece of Banks racing history, let us know. Email socialmedia@bankspower.com.