Indholdsfortegnelse for October 1987 i Hot Rod

Do you fancy yourself as a budding Mario Andretti or Al Unser, Jr.? Do you go out of your way to look for sweeping freeway on- and off-ramps so you can feel the blood drain to the side of your head? If so, there is a group of people you need to meet. They’re automotive enthusiasts and they like to go fast. The only thing is, these racers like to go fast not only in a straight line, but around corners as well. Like you, they don’t have large sums of capital to invest in a full-on, race-prepared car. But they still crave the thrill of competition. You can call these people “autocrossers” or “slalom racers.” Autocrossing is really road racing, except it’s staged at slower speeds in a parking…

Pontiac’s Super Duty 4-cylinder engine has established a formidable success record across a broad spectrum of motorsports competition. It has become the dominant powerplant in NASCAR’s Charlotte/Daytona Dash series, IMSA’s Camel Light GTP series, and is currently enjoying back-to-back national event wins in NHRA’s tough Competition Eliminator. Super Duty engines hold records and/or national championships in IMSA GTU racing, hydroplane racing, midget racing, drag racing, and a variety of other motorsports activities. With this kind of success, it comes as no surprise that Pontiac would seek to maintain their position via an ongoing engine development program. According to John Callies, Pontiac’s Manager of Motorsports for IMSA, NHRA, and engine development, current Super Duty oval track and road racing engines make about 330 hp, with as much as 350 hp on…

Of all the reasons given for the construction of a particular rod, none beats the consistency of “I built it to be different.” The rod in question may be a Pro Streeter-ized Chevy II or a high-tech highboy—neither of which is particularly “different.” Therefore, what the rodder must really be saying is, “I wanted a new car, or a car I’ve never owned before.” Danny Taylor, a custom car painter and pinstriper from Louisville, Kentucky, has owned a number of cars—all late-models, but never a true, “horsepower city” Pro Streeter. So to be consistent, Taylor decided to build a horsepower car… in just 96 days. Thanks to pals Ronnie Huntsman and Greg Francisco, Danny was able to finish his horsepower hero—based on a ’78 Malibu augmented by an R&R chassis…

There’s something ominous about the Mustang as it sits sedately in the staging lanes, waiting for its run. From the exterior, it appears to be just another late-model Mustang. But then you notice the rather large Mickey Thompson slicks bulging inside the rear fenderwells. What does a smogger need with slicks? After all, you tell yourself, this is only an ’87 Mustang. How quick can it be? Then the driver fires the motor. Again, nothing too impressive, although it does sound a bit louder than stock. The driver does a quick burnout and stages. Cresting the rpms, the Mustang launches hard, chirping the slicks through each gear. Then the track announcer calls out the time: “Right lane, 12.92 at 106.11 mph.” Welcome to the age of late-model supercars. If you’ve…

If you weren’t with us last month when we enumerated the most common Pro Street mistakes, you can see nearly all of them right here in this one car. But, like we said then, some cars are just plain bitchin’—and who cares if they’re practical to drive? We don’t mind looking at them. Actually, Joe Demyan’s 1967 Camaro from Boardman, Ohio, wasn’t built for street driving at all. With the help of his father, Joe Sr., he hand-built this 472-inch Rat runner as an NHRA Super Gasser and raced it for five years, posting a best time of 9.32 at 145 mph. Then, five months before the Super Nats, they decided to Pro Street it. Father Joe sprayed black lacquer on the steel body and ’glass front. Mickey Thompson treads…

Back-to-back winner of the NHRA Cajun Nationals, Springnationals, and Molson Grandnationals, Dick Lahaie made history when he recorded the first official Top Fuel “teen run” at the NHRA Summernationals in July. Lahaie set the pole and the new world record with a 5.171/271.32 pass. Only 840 points behind Mile High Nationals winner Joe Amato, Lahaie stands a good chance of grabbing his first World Championship NHRA title in 1987. Lahaie’s incorporation in Larry Minor’s Miller American team has certainly been a major factor in his recent success, but his June 6 marriage to long-time friend Claudia Stankiewicz may be responsible for his winning spirit. Now more than ever Lahaie’s team is a true family operation, with crewchief daughter Kim, and crew members son Jeff and new wife Claudia. Let’s hear…

STRAIGHT ARROW Here is everything you asked for. It is a 1980 Plymouth Arrow, with a Pro Stock chassis, built by Dirk Hale. The front end, hatch, and doors lift off, and the inside snaps out. Paint and lines were done by Bill Reoll. It has a 440 big-block, bored .030-over. It runs 9.40s at 142 mph. Motor built by Carlos Lawrence. Mike LawrenceCincinnati, Ohio This is the way we like our letters—short and fast. APPLES AND ORANGES In your August issue you had a small article on Lil’ John Buttera’s Indy attempt with a production small-block. They qualified at 201 mph, but were bumped. Apparently they were down on power or ran too steep a gear. A NASCAR Winston Cup motor has enough horsepower to push a 3500-pound car…

New high-tech 4-cylinders may be the wave of the future, but old dyed-in-the-wool hot rodders like Gary Zumult and J.D. Michael know that in the final analysis, “There’s just no substitute for cubic inches!” If the car has a four, drop in a six; if it has a six, drop in a V8. That’s just what they and their company, Econo Race Cars, did to an ’85 Pontiac Fiero. Now a small-block Chevy V8 resides in place of the anemic 2.8L 60-degree V6 engine—and not just a wimp 305, either. Sitting sideways in the mid-mount engine bay is a 406-inch “corporate” Mouse motor topped by Pontiac aluminum heads. According to Gary, “I started out wanting to put a bigger V6 in, but after taking some measurements, I found there was…

With the exception of the Mustang SVO, turbocharged Mustangs never really made the grade as performance cars. But John Schmitt’s 5-speed 1984 Mustang GT is a whole different story. Looking for a different approach to modifying his street machine, John opted to turbocharge the 302 Ford using available hardware and fabricated components. The stock 8.4:1 compression motor with forged pistons was an ideal foundation for a turbo, so John installed an AiResearch TO4-B turbocharger with hand-fabricated exhaust components, a 650-cfm Holley double-pumper, a boost-adjusted fuel pressure regulator, and a Holley racing fuel pump. The 3-inch-diameter exhaust system was treated with porcelain enamel and routed to a pair of turbo mufflers at the rear. To ensure reliability, a stronger rearend from a Lincoln Versailles, featuring 3.50 gears and a Traction-Lok differential,…

Tuning an automatic transmission is perhaps the most gratifying, low-cost modification you can make to your hot rod. Not only is this type of performance enhancement legal, but the degree of modification is limited only by your personal comfort requirements. Automatic transmission tuning can be defined as the adjustments necessary to dial in a tranny for a certain desired shift response. Response is divided into two categories: shift timing and quality—or feel. Most automatic trans modifications influence only one shift factor, although some, such as the installation of more expensive shift improver kits, can affect both. Most of the tips outlined here refer to American-made automatics manufactured during the Sixties and Seventies. Modern transmissions installed in later, computer-controlled cars are generally more complicated. In all cases we recommend consulting a…

A former owner of five Hemi-powered musclecars and four other 440 Six Pack cars, Mike Piazza is a confirmed Mopar fanatic whose 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda is a particularly righteous example of Chrysler’s magic formula for building big-inch, multi-carburetor musclecars. It features a Dick Landy-prepped engine equipped with factory-specified hardware. Originally rated at 390 horsepower at 4700 rpm, the 440-cubic-inch Mopar wedge engine was delivered with three high-flow Holley 2-barrels, high-compression 10.5:1 pistons with moly rings, heavy-duty rods, Hemi-type valvesprings, and a dual-point distributor. Introduced into the ’Cuda lineup for 1970, it was intended as an intermediate powerplant to bridge the gap between 440 4-barrel engines and top-of-the-line Hemis. Relatively rare as musclecars go, Mike’s bright yellow edition represents the snappy styling and big-block power that characterized the period.…

Who’s afraid of big bad Buddy? Everybody! Pro Stock racers go straight into tire shake at the very thought of Buddy Ingersoll being allowed to run against them. Corporate sponsors go completely sterile, and the rest of Detroit’s O.E.M. motorsports people lobby their collective tails off to keep him out of Pro Stock racing. Of course, there’s more than one side to any story. The HOT ROD staff pretty much views Ingersoll’s effort as a heroic attempt to advance the sport beyond its present cookie-cutter race car status. Others view it completely differently—and they have more at stake than we do. Two years ago, Ingersoll debuted his first turbocharged Regal, a reskinned car based on one of Warren Johnson’s old chassis. Running in BB/A, he was much faster than the…

How many times have you regretted selling that special hot rod in your past? While Norm Hamstrom may mourn the departure of a few early Sixties supercars he’s owned, his long-term relationship with this one-owner 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 is still quite gratifying. Norm, a resident of Portage, Indiana, purchased the weekend road warrior on March 3, 1966, from a small Dodge dealership in nearby Chesterton. At that time the window sticker quoted expenses totaling $3561.11, including tax and destination. Since that time the 16,529-mile musclecar has been garaged, seeing the light of day only on special occasions. Three such occasions include the National Hemi Owners Association (NHOA) car shows. In fact, as far as Norm can recall, the car’s original paint has been rained on only five times. Considering…

CARS & TRUCKS ’68 CAMARO. Fabulous condition, 230-cid 6-cylinder, factory air, P/S, automatic floor shifter with console, Frost green inside and out. All original, $5000 firm. Guy Kirsch, (713) 367-4803, Houston, Texas. ’74 BARRACUDA. Original owner, 95-percent restored, many new parts. Asking $4000. Dr. Stephen D. Sneed, 3301 Belle Meade Dr., Columbia, MS 65203, (314) 442-0268. ’70 CHALLENGER RT. 4-speed, 23,000 miles. Stored last 10 years, mint condition. Please, serious inquiries only. No trades. Less engine, $4900 firm. Don, Minnesota, (612) 561-6296, after 7 p.m. ’63 CORVAIR CONVERTIBLE. In good condition. $5000. Cletus L. Toddleson, 3750 Armstrong, Wichita, KS 67204, (316) 838-3988. ’46 DODGE STREET ROD. Dark red, P/S, 350 engine, 400 transmission with shift kit, restored to show condition, first-place trophy. Asking $16,000 o.b.o. R. “Smitty” Smith, 2154 Parkwood…

Fits Like A Glovebox Aspect Auto’s Pontiac Fiero glovebox matches the stock dash design and is made of tough ABS plastic in a texture and grain that duplicates the stock dash material. Installation is via four screws. Colors include graphite/gray and dark doe-skin. For further information, contact Aspect Auto, Dept. HR-10, 16850 S. Livesay, Oregon City, OR 97045, (503) 655-5042. Hamburger To Go Hamburger’s Moparts new 1987-’88 catalog contains tons of Mopar performance parts, including automatic transmission and suspension components. Send $1 for your copy to Hamburger’s Moparts, Dept. HR-10, 1501 Industrial Way N., Toms River, NJ 08753. Model For Hire The Ertl Company offers a new model car for you to build and add to your collection—a 1/25-scale ’34 Ford Tudor sedan. Vintage custom engine parts and wheels are…

In keeping with Pontiac’s increasingly aggressive stance in motorsports and hot performance street machines, their motor-sports group, under the direction of John Callies, sought to cement their leadership position in high specific output, normally aspirated, 4-cylinder powerplants by developing a state-of-the-art, 16-valve, twin-cam cylinder head for the Super Duty engine. We’ll take a closer look at their new high-tech, 16-valve cylinder head elsewhere in this issue, but the immediate story focuses on the radical Pro Street Fiero they built to showcase their new race engine technology and demonstrate its versatility when applied in a contemporary street environment. With Fieros finally beginning to enter the used car market at reasonable prices, their sleek styling is certain to attract enthusiasts who want to modify them in outrageous fashion. It’s a sure bet…

Woody Gutierrez is a 28-year-old mechanic from Grand Haven, Michigan. This is his seventh Mopar; his third Duster. All have been 1970 to ’73 models. He likes ’em. It should be obvious that this owner-painted, black lacquer, plated and polished, tubed and tubbed ’71 is a labor of love. It started out as a $1500 Stocker, but now it rolls on fat Goodyears hung on a narrowed 4.89:1 8¾ Chrysler rear sprung by Koni coil-overs and positioned by Alston ladder bars. Charlie LeFrance built the 2x3 tube rear subframe and added the roll cage inside, shared by Competition Engineering seats, a Hurst stick for the polished 727 Torqueflite, and a 50-watt Sanyo sound system. A ’glass hood normally covers the shiny Six Pack 340, fitted with Speed Pro pistons and…

If you’re into hot rod model cars—as more and more people seem to be these days—you’ve undoubtedly heard about our second annual HOT ROD National Model Car Contest. Remember, all entry photos (three black-and-white and three color prints) must be in the mail to us by Nov. 31, 1987. Of course, you’ve heard that you can enter any type or brand of model car or truck—even scratch-built—this year. Revell remains one of the major sponsors of the contest, chipping in nearly $5000 in cash prizes for first through third places in the three age categories, including a cool grand each to the Adult and Teen winners. The Erti company has just announced that it will award custom-embroidered jackets to all of this year’s place winners, and Sears will add a…

Harley built the first Sportster—a smaller, lighter version of its legendary V-twin—back in 1957. At that time it was one of the fastest, quickest street motorcycles in the world. The world has changed a lot since then, especially the world of motorcycles. But the Sportster is still here, and Harley is working overtime trying to build enough of them to satisfy the demand. The XLH1200 is the biggest Harley ever to carry the Sportster name. The engine, basically the same as the 1100cc version sold last year, has gained the extra displacement by boring only. Stroke is the same as the cheaper, no-frills 883 Sportster at 3.812 inches; the bore of the small version is 3 inches, but the new 1200 slides its pistons through 3.5-inch holes. The new bore…

It was a race that was meant to happen: Jim Bryant’s Thundercraft ’57 Chevy versus Dave Riolo’s potent ’55—reputedly the two fastest, doorslammin’, “shoebox” Chevys anywhere. The problem, of course, is that the ’57 thunders out of Knoxville, Tennessee, while Riolo holds shop in Roseville, California, and does nearly all his racing at nearby Sacramento Raceway. Well, it was the multi-faceted “Rodfather” Andy Brizio who finally got these two together for a best two-out-of-three match race last June. The place was Baylands (Fremont); the event was Brizio’s annual Muscle Car Shootout. To add to the excitement, also on hand were the Sacramento blower brigade of Bob Bunker’s allsteel ’55 Chevy and a brand-new, all-’glass, AR hemi-powered ’55 T-Bird from Wayne Torgelson, not to mention John Scialpi’s big, blown ’57 “Wappado”…

Motorcycle drag racers have been flirting with the elusive 200-mph barrier for years, and top riders such as Sam Wills, Elmer Trett, Terry Vance (on blown Fuel bikes), and Mark Miller (turbo, Alky Funny Bike) have unofficially broken it on a few occasions. No one, however, has officially gone as fast as Mr. Turbo-sponsored T.J. Hoffmeister of Westmont, Illinois, and his 1325cc, 600-hp (30psi turbo boost), 82-inch wheelbase, 425-pound, Suzuki Funny Bike. The scene was the June 20-21 Vance & Hines IDBA Sunshine Nationals at Edgewater Sports Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. After qualifying with a great 7.187/182.18, Hoffmeister worked his way up the ladder with a pair of high 180s, and stunned the competition by clocking a 7.165/200.44 against a headwind in the semifinals. After the rain stopped, the wind…