Indholdsfortegnelse for December 1990 i Hot Rod

It feels a little strange to be writing about Christmas in the month of October, but that’s the price you pay for working with 3-month lead times on a monthly magazine. Nevertheless, we’ve come upon another year-end issue, and it’s time for the HOT ROD crew to wish you the best of holiday cheer. This also gives us a chance to show you the faces behind the names on the masthead and to give credit to our tireless support, art, and production staffs, who rarely share in the “glory.” And, as always, there are a few new faces that we need to introduce to you. Starting with HOT ROD’S professor of “rod-ology” on the far left, Senior Editor Gray “Isn’t-Bonneville-bitchin’?” Baskerville sports his usual flamed and thonged attire, while next…

Wanna Go For A Ride, Baby? Brian Jamie sure is happy with this “metal-to-the-pedal” woodie built by Dick King, “the Boyd Coddington of pedal cars.” The chassis includes a dropped I-beam front axle with a two-bar, rear coil-overs, wheel tubs, a billet steering column, working headlamps, a two-watt stereo system, and billet-aluminum wheels. The 20-gauge steel hood joins an ash and teak body with leather and cloth upholstery. If you’d like one, contact King Kraft, Dept. HR-12, 1811 Baker Way Loop, Kelso, WA 98626; or call Dick at (206) 423-9970. CADZZILLA FEATURED ON NEW ZZ TOP ALBUM COVER ZZ Top’s hot, new album “RECYCLER” debuted October 16 with CadZZilla prominently displayed on the cover. The album consists of all new songs that were featured in the giant “RECYCLER” world tour,…

I didn’t meet Darrell Gwynn at a drag race or a social event. Our paths crossed at Uncle Keith’s (Black) speed emporium a few years ago. The young lion was going Top Fuel racing-having served a learning-curve stint behind the wheel of daddy Jerry’s blown roadster and his own buns-booting, alky-burning digger—and was at Black’s buying a season’s worth of gofast hardware. The next thing I knew was that another KB—Kenny Bernstein—had taken Gwynn under his wing. Using crewchief Dale Armstrong’s tune, the “Woofie,” Big Daddy’s nickname for the rising star, began barking at the NHRA’s recor book. After leaving Budweiser’s umbrella two years ago to join up with Coors, Gwynn seemingly had it made this season. He had just won the Gatornationals; his 4.909-second e.t. at Houston in March…

GARY ORMSBY: 4.881 AT 296.05 MPH On September 29, 1990, the weather, the track, the car, and the driver met in one awesome blast at the AC-Delco Heartland Nationals in Topeka, Kansas. Gary Ormsby bested Darrell Gwynn’s record e.t. of 4.909 with a 4.881 at 296.05 mph! In addition to setting a new low e.t., Ormsby beat his own top speed record of 294.88 mph. Now that’s awesome. SALT FLAT SENSATIONS The September, 1990, World of Speed event saw two long-time rivals pierce the 400-mph barrier. Nolan White drove the 4-wheel-drive, 482-cubic-inch Chevy-powered Spirit of Autopower B/Fuel Streamliner to an awesome terminal velocity of 401.828 mph, making his car the first wheel-driven, singleengine vehicle to break the 400-mph mark. At the same event, Al Teague, in the Speed-O-Motive 2-wheel-drive B/Fuel…

From resto and smoothy to high-tech and Dare to be Different, we’ve covered ’em all. But don’t turn this page! You’re looking at the next great trend in automania: rods built for the sheer fun of it. That’s what Terry Dierks’ ’56 Cadillac Fleetwood is all about. According to Terry, “I put $23,000 in my ’72 Challenger and rarely got a look. But after the guys saw my “Cadzooks,” the garages around here in Steeleville, Illinois, were suddenly full of fun runners under construction.” When Terry bought the Fleetwood last year, it only had 39,000 miles on it; but then he found he needed three months of help from pals Tom Fiene, Jack Irwin, Paul Hottes, Jan Byrd, plus Tracy, Jim, Dave, and Frank. He augmented their efforts with a…

A few thousand miles west of Monroe, Michigan, on Oregon’s central coast, another high school drag racing program is well under way. Students attending any one of five schools in the Lincoln County School District can actually earn a letter in drag racing, just as in any other high school sport. We took a look at the Newport Bracket Car Club program. To become a member, the student must be enrolled in the mechanics program or be a student aid. The “hero” at this school is Mel Peterson, an instructor who works on various club activities. The car these students built and race is a ’78 Pontiac Sunbird fitted with a 350 Chevy and an automatic transmission. Referred to as Class Act, it’s currently raced by both Jon Howry, a…

When Mike and Kathy Sydney of Spring Hili, Florida, began this project, they weren’t sure which body style they would ultimately use. They had Progressive Engineering construct a chassis with all the welds ground and smoothed. Al McMannaway attached the crossmembers, shock mounts, and motor mounts to the boxed frame. An 8-inch Ford Maverick rearend was joined with 180-pound Carrera coil-overs and 15x7.5-inch Center Line Turn Four aluminum wheels with P235/70SR15 Uniroyal Goodrich rubber at both ends. A Mustang II independent front suspension, complete with rack and pinion steering and disc brakes, utilizes tubular upper control arms. Narrowed and boxed lower arms with 15x6.5-inch wheels and P155/60SR15s handle the steering and complete the rolling chassis. A 350 Chevy resides between the rails, complete with a polished Edelbrock Performer manifold, a…

Will wonders never cease? Russia turns to capitalism. Hostages become guests. And the troglodytic SCTA/BNI finally came out of its cave and established two racetracks: one for short-course cars; the other for the real sodium shakers. Best of all, it worked to near perfection. You see, rapid readers. Speed Week is usually weak. Mother Nature, disorganization, crashes, and equipment failure usually combine to complicate the trials, and one rarely gets a week’s worth of land speed racing under his or her tires. The beginning of the 42nd running of the Bonneville National Speed Trials was going according to script. A Friday night thundershower proceeded to wash out Saturday’s and Sunday’s schedule. Even Monday got off to a shaky start. But by the week’s end, you never saw so many smiles,…

Adding a good, free-flowing exhaust system is one of the best things you can do for your car. Notice we said a “good” free-flowing exhaust system. Don’t think because you have dual exhaust that it’s the best you can get. if you run down to “Big Al’s Discount Muffler and Doughnut Shop” and get a good price on an exhaust system, what you might get is a poorly designed, engine-choking silencer complete with rattles and leaks. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find a talented mechanic who can custom-bend a good system, but this expertise doesn’t come cheaply: Expect to pay $400 or more for a good system. So what’s the alternative? There are several aftermarket companies that offer quality exhaust systems for late-model cars, but until now there…

Harley Davidson is not known for making random model modifications or changing technology for its own sake. The world’s oldest surviving motorcycle manufacturer is now teaching the rest of the biking world a thing or two about marketing. While the Japanese and the Germans are struggling to find enough customers to keep their production lines running, Harley is working overtime and still can’t keep up with its dealers’ demands for rolling stock. Harley has gotten this far by giving its customers what they want. And what they want is the long, low Saturday-night-cruiser look, with the accent on chrome and flashy paint and the Harley name written all over the tank in turn-of-the-century script. The original Sturgis was something of a technological breakthrough for Harley, with its now-ubiquitous Gates Poly…

INLINE IS FINE I have but one gripe with your exceptional publication: not enough articles and buildups on inline engines. How about some articles on 300-inch Fords, 292 Jimmys, and other Stovebolts? I realize your dislike of small motors, but a buildup featuring a Toyota Supra twin cam stuffed into a suitably small chassis and utilizing the Supra drivetrain and suspension would make an admirable street pounder. I’ll bet there are more than a few people who share my opinion-six in a row can go! My dream rod is an early Celica with a “Webered” Supra motor and drivetrain. All the Supra suspension parts would be grafted on and tied together with a roll cage. Who knows, you may want to try to build it. With musclecars fast disappearing, it…

Okay, your Streeter has the right look, the right stance; it’s slammed, tubbed, and caged, with paint so deep you get vertigo looking into it. The machine looks like a flexed muscle sculpted in steel, chrome, and glass. When you turn the key and the fire catches hold, the world falls away behind the rumble … and you are free. Selecting reverse, you begin the slow roll onto the street. It’s Saturday morning, and the local club is celebrating at the fairground 50 miles out of town. Just as you grab first gear, an image of a small stone bouncing off the freshly waxed paint slaps you out of your dream. As the security of your trailer (tucked away on the side of the garage) pulls at your sense of…

MICHAEL WALTRIP’S BUDWEISER 250 CRASH AT BRISTOL NASCAR called Michael Waltrip’s crash the worst (in terms of damage to a car) in its history. Waltrip wadded up his Grand National car when, passing Robert Pressley on the outside, Pressley’s car got loose and nudged Waltrip’s into a gate on the backstretch. The gate collapsed, and Waltrip’s car hit a concrete retaining wall virtually head on at about 112 mph—completely demolishing the car. Said Waltrip, “I was running well all day and was going up front, then all of a sudden, I was wondering what happened to my car.” Well, Michael, your car split in two: You and the back half went one way (you can see your feet just below the steering wheel in the large photo), and the nose,…

CHEVROLET/ILMORE INDY V8 When Chevrolet jumped into Indy car racing with both feet and a fistful of money, a lot of people thought Chevy had bitten off more than it could chew. But within a few years, the Chevrolet/llmore V8 engine has become the dominant powerplant at Indianapolis and in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series. As of mid-September, the engine had won every race of the 1990 series and appeared to be headed for a clean sweep. Its most recent victories have come at the hands of Al Unser Jr., who in September, rode a four-race winning streak. The engine has proved to be powerful and reliable, and it delivers these qualities for every team that runs it. The Chevrolet/llmore V8 racing engine is unquestionably one of the…

There’s no replacement for displacement if you want to survive the street wars. And these two Pro Street Camaros not only survive, but they also thrive on eating small-blocks for lunch. Charlie Davis’ ’74 Z/28 generates its power pulse through a ’68 396 Chevy big-block. It devours gasoline and air through a pair of 600 Holley carbs sitting at the end of long tunnel-ram runners, which deliver the charge to the beat of a factory L88 cam. Accel ignites the fire, and Cyclone ceramic-coated headers scavenge the gases. A TH400 directs the torque to a narrowed ’69 Ford 9-inch rearend. The narrowed axle is located by a four-link setup and ties into a 2x3-inch tube frame connected to the stock subframe. Weld Racing wheels wrapped in Goodyear Front Runners and…

One of the most popular platforms on which to build a Pro Street car is the late-model GM F-body in either Camaro or Firebird trim. Gary Moldenhauer of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, likes it so much that he purchased an existing ’86 Camaro Pro Streeter in early 1989 and rebuilt it to suit his own tastes. Making a bold statement was the first order of business, so Gary had Tim Dunfield spray the car in Scott Sullivan’s radical “Cheez Whiz” orange before Scott applied his unique style of graphics. Weld wheels with 33x21.5-15-inch Mickey Thompson rubber complement the Camaro’s sleek good looks, while a custom chrome-moly chassis by Victory Race Cars supports a first-class powertrain and fully outfitted interior. The chassis sports a Ford 9-inch rearend with Strange Engineering running gear…

Despite the fact that Buick Motor Division has had what could be called an intermittent love affair with high-performance cars for the last 25 years, some of the fastest Detroit iron in the nation still runs under the black sheep Buick Grand National nameplate, with turbo-charged V6 engines delivering an astounding 700 horsepower. There are plenty of totally streetable mid- to high-11-second Buick Grand Nationals all across the country, and there’s a smaller, near fanatical cadre of Grand National devotees who are way into the 10s and even flirting with the 9’s. The formidable cars use plenty of serious technology to turn phenomenal times and speeds, with miniscule engines displacing well under 300 cubic inches. Three of them are only a blink away from being full-fledged race cars, yet they…

Once upon a time, phaetons were as common as black Model T Fords. But they weren’t weatherproof, and inclement conditions ultimately led to their demise. By the end of 1937—the year that this Danny Brent-built tub was originally manufactured—Ford ceased to construct these family-style hair raisers. Unlike their creature-comfortable contemporaries, hot rodders still love their phaetons, which is why Lon Graditi of San Lorenzo, California, recently stepped up to buy Danny’s version of Ford’s last topless Tudor. Mechanically, the rod employs a modernized chassis, which mixes a power-assisted, pussyfooting ’75 Mustang II front suspension with a Posies-upgraded, buggy-sprung ’73 Ford third member. And if you’re looking for gobs of power… don’t! Danny doesn’t even know if the Edelbrock/Holley-equipped small-block displaces 305 or 350 cubic inches. What ol’ Danny boy does…

IMPALA SWALLOWS RAT Q What would be involved in installing a Chevy big-block and Turbo 400 trans into a ’77-’8O Chevy Impala/Caprice? I’m also planning on installing a GM 12-bolt Posi rearend. Will I need a new custom-built driveshaft for this swap? Can I install a floor shift on this vehicle? Craig Harnack Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin A A big-block Chevy bolts into the ’77-up full-size passenger chassis (B-car) using the factory small-block Chevy V8 engine mounts (part No. 459021) and brackets (334970). Typical Chevelle/Camaro-style big-block exhaust manifolds (Hollander salvage yard interchange Nos. 602 [right] and 870 [left]) fit; if you want headers, Hooker Headers’ part No. 2118 comes close, but one tube on each side must be modified. If running headers on an ex-police car, the lower control arm stiffening…

CARS & TRUCKS ’701/2 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z/28. Under 1000 miles on rebuilt 350. Original block, new clutch, upholstery, and tires. Good paint. $7500. David T. Kubin, 2033 Jerry Murphy #165, Pueblo, CO 81001, (719) 545-1455. 76 CHEVROLET VEGA, Looks good, engine’s failing. Great for a resto or swap. Lots of extras. $1200. Donovan H. Fansler, P.O. Box 1456, Clemmons, NC 27012-1456, (919) 766-0103 after 5 p.m. Eastern time. ’70 FORD MUSTANG MACH 1. Red Imron paint, black interior. 351 engine, C6 transmission just rebuilt, 90-percent restored. $8500. Albert Hall, RR 4 P.O. Box 286, Four Oaks, NC 27524, (919) 963-2226. 23 FORD T-BUCKET. New 350 with automatic. Excellent driver. $9500. (916) 842-6605 or (916) 842-6652. ’69 DODGE CHARGER R/T. Needs restoration, mechanically sound. $3000, neg. Good title. Steve Painter, 1305…

TV Tech Timeless-Entertainment Ms introduced the High Peformance Technology series of videotapes. Small Block Chevy kicks off the series. with racing-engine builder Ron Shaver taking the viewer through a buildup and dyno test of the engine During the 105-minute video, he covers everything from block prep to balancing. For more info, contact: Timeless Entertinment, Dept. HR-12,P.O. Box 5331, Torrance, CA 90510; (213) 549-3562. KB Signature Series Slugs New high-silicon alloys and diamond tooling have given engine designers the materials and equipment for performance breakthroughs. Keith Black’s Silv-O-Lite Series 390 Hypereutectic alloy is now being molded into the most affordable, feature-packed line of performance pistons ever made, according to the company. The Silv-O-Lite Series offers CNC-machined heads, a drilled oil groove, a spiral-lock lock ring, a high-top ring location, 360-degree pressure…

If you think that Steve Anderson, John Baechtel, Gray Baskerville, Marian Davis, Rob Kinnan, Joe Pettitt, or Jeff Smith—the writers who participated in this year-end enterprise called The Best of HOT ROD ’90—are totally objective, then please contact us at HRM as soon as possible. We’ve just acquired a bridge in Brooklyn, and it’s for sale … cheap! On the other hand, if you are under the impression that interest in hot rods and/or hot rodding has tapered off, is in a period of stagnation, or suffers from high-"tech-itus” or mega-moola, we offer this special section as a sure-fire way to dispel those unfounded fears. We start our anthology with your ol’ dad’s review of what we feel were the most significant cars to grace the pages of HRM over…

Few new products have as much impact as those that are official factory performance releases. The 5.7L Chevrolet H.O. small-block is a perfect example. Previewed and available in short supply in 1989, the H.O. engine has now become a formidable powerplant for the ’90s. Offered through GM dealers under part No. 10134338, it’s the perfect engine for any hot rodding project. Generally available for under $2500, it features a 9.8:1 compression ratio, hypereutectic pistons, a forged crank with a one-piece rear seal, a balancer, an aluminum intake manifold, a distributor, a water pump, and even an oil filter, spark plugs, and a thermostat. All you need to get it running is a carburetor and exhaust headers. Moreover, it comes equipped with the good Corvette aluminum heads; they are the service…

CARL McQUILLEN’S ’88 OLDS CUTLASS This is about the baddest true street car ever. Carl actually drives it to the track, to events, and on cruise nights. When he drives to the track, he warms up the tires and runs consistent 9.52-second e.t.’s through the mufflers! He ran his best e.t. of 9.31 at 153 mph at Norwalk, Ohio. The fastest he’s gone is 155 mph (with a 9.52-second e.t.) at Milan, Michigan (“Motown Showdown,” November ’90). Massaging a 3300-pound car to run in the 9’s isn’t easy. Says Carl, “There’s about 10years’ worth of experience in that car. My crew and I started at the carburetor and worked our way back to the rear tires. We’ve even been known to take power out of the car to get it…

In October of 1986,” said Canadian Dave Shieids, ’’Paul Dermo and I fabricated a 2x3-inch rectangular-tube frame that we tied into a ’77 Camaro subframe. We kept the steering, spindles, and disc brakes. The control arms had to be shortened to maintain the proper geometry in relation to the lowered ride height, and we used KYB gas shocks to cushion the ride. “Next, we hung a narrowed Ford 9-inch rear axle (4.11 gear), with disc brakes between the frame rails. Since I wanted the car to handle well,” Dave continued, “Paul and I fabricated lower A-arms to support the vehicle’s weight, as well as cornering, acceleration, and braking loads. A pair (two on each side) of rod-ended upper links runs laterally from a bracket at each end of the axle…

Heroes are getting harder and harder to find. Sure, we have our sports figures, movie stars, and comic book characters, but real heroes are few and far between. Well, we found a hero in Monroe, Michigan, the town that shock absorbers built. For the past 12 years, Rob Eppler has been admired by over 150 students at Jefferson High School. As an instructor for the automotive department, Rob has gone to great lengths to further the knowledge of those who express an interest in cars. In addition to teaching his regular classes, he offers extracurricular sessions geared toward hot rodders. Rob’s students have already constructed a 12-second Dodge and are now in the process of building yet another! Why Mopars? Partly because the first project car, a 72 Dart, was…

When over 50,000 people and 2800 cars descend upon a picturesque locale like Pleasanton, California, you know it’s for a good reason. And was it ever! Temperatures were in the low 80s with light breezes and low humidity, making the fouth-annual Goodguys West Coast Nationals one of the best rod runs in the nation! Held the weekend of August 23-26, the event attracted participants from across the country. They were dazzled by an endless flow of flawless rods and numerous customs, some of which owe their resurgence to ZZ Top’s CadZZilla. As in past years, there were over 200 hot rod vendors, 70 arts and crafts displays, huge model car and pedal car exhibits, and enough good food to keep everyone satisfied. As the crowd circulated around the grounds on…

To Gary Herman, cars are more than a hobby. They’re a way of life, and he spends every spare moment in search of speed and smiles. For speed, Gary concentrates on NHRA Pro Stock drag racing in a flawless Chevrolet Beretta. While he has yet to win a national event, he has managed the difficult feat of qualifying in the 16-car field on several occasions. He also received the Best Engineered award at the 1990 NHRA Wintemationals. But for smiles, Gary and his wife, Cindy, take to the highway in this stunning ’29 Ford roadster. Built by Magoo, it joins lengthened and boxed ’32 frame rails with multiple crossmembers for added stiffness. At one end, a dropped-tube axle joins Koni shocks, a stainless four-bar, and a Posies Super Slide leaf…

When contrasted with the enduring Bonneville National Speed Trials and viewed from a 30-year perspective, organized drag racing has undergone a total “race-lift.” Yes, sport-of-sprint lovers, the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) 36th-Annual U.S. Nationals was still a side-by-side acceleration contest. However, today’s motorsports’ quarter-mile dash doesn’t even remotely resemble Labor Day weekend’s race of 30 years ago at Detroit Dragway. In 1960, the NHRA’s infamous fuel ban was still in effect—so quick time at the “No-Nitro Nationals” was Leonard Harris’ 9.25-second pass, as opposed to Gary Ormsby’s 1990 can, lid, and label low-qualifying 4.99 in Top Fuel. In 1960, there were no Winston Championship points; no 20-event pro circuit; no 18-wheel support vehicles; no such classes as Funny Car, Pro Stock, or Pro Stock Bike; no big-buck sponsors; and…