Indholdsfortegnelse for February 1999 i Hot Rod

Everything old is new again. Swing music is all the rage for hep cats and kittens, with its attendant zoot suits and blaring horns. Chromed and stainless kitchens with retro cooking aids are back in vogue. And VW is phoning in record sales with its New Beetle. Simpler times, those. But, now… are you ready for a rejuvenated Packard? Roy Gullickson sure hopes so. Gullickson, 62, is cochairman of the Packard Motor Car Company, now located in Phoenix. The name was purchased from Packard-Bailliff Coach in Ohio, which had resurrected it from public domain in 1980. Gullickson is now working out the details on the Packard Centennial, which celebrates the vaunted marque’s century (never mind that it’s been dormant for the better part of 40 years). Dragging out an old…

It was just a matter of time before someone wedged a fat ol’ honkin’ emissions-legal bigblock between the fenderwells of a C5 Corvette. Josh Holder of Holder Automotive Performance Engineering (HAPE) sent us pix of the first one we’ve seen. His Holder Hl consists of a fuel-injected, aluminum-head 502 with 10.5:1 compression putting out approximately 600 hp and 600 Ib-ft of torque through the stock six-speed transaxle. Holder is claiming a traction-limited quarter-mile figure of 11 seconds flat at 130 mph and a top speed of, gulp, 224 mph. We’re going to get our hands on one for some winter testing here in California; watch for a full driving report. Meanwhile, if you simply can’t wait, contact HAPE at Dept. HR02, 2230 Princeton, Berkley, MI 48072, 248/909-6239.…

For those of you who can’t get enough Salt Flats racing, you’ll want to know about Thunder Down Under II, to be held mid-March at Lake Gairdner in southern Australia. The sponsoring group, International Speed Challenge, conducted the first Thunder from Down Under in 1995. Entries from Australia, New Zealand, England, Japan, and the United States have already been recorded. ESPN2 will air a special on the cars and racers who travel halfway around the world for the outback adventure. Anyone who wants to get crazy and join them can contact Executive Director Dick Williams at Dept. HR02, 15 Grove St., Watsonville, CA 95076-4911,408/722-4419.…

It was a year filled with tragedy and elation. Records tumbled over, and just when you thought things couldn't possibly get any faster or quicker, somebody cranked it to 11 and reset the bar. Pro Street Mike Moran has really been coming on strong. During qualifying, "Casper" zonked the clocks with a blistering 6.92/203.65 pass that gave Moran a shot at the low e.t. record, though he failed to back it up within 1 percent. But Moran still managed to scoot past Danny Scott and Pat Musi before locking horns with Tony Christian in the final. The audience went nuts as both drivers staged. Christian held the slightest advantage to Moran's traction-deficient launch. As they blitzed the quarter-mile, Moran's car swerved back and forth < the way through the traps,…

Even though the 440ci Mopar has been out of production for more than 20 years, there has never been more interest in this potent mill than there is We hooked up with veteran speed merchant Joe Jill at Superior Automotive in Garden Grove, California, and followed along as he, and engine-man Sam Garcia put the coals to a big wedge. In the process, they bumped displacement to 500 ci, tailored the compression ratio to a pump-gas friendly 10.3:1, capped it off with aftermarket aluminum heads, and plopped a nostalgic, yet very capable, Six-Pak induction on top of the hairy thing. The best part about this Mopar’s resurgence is that you don’t have to sacrifice your first-born child to make big power. The forged stroker crank, billet-steel rods, and forged pistons…

So you think you’ve got your street killer dialed in just right. You’ve tried your hand at the stoplight shuffle with the street rats and lived to tell about it, but now it’s time you move to the next level: the dragstrip. If you’re like most quarter-mile virgins, you’ve already convinced yourself that you’ll have no problem coming off the line like Warren Johnson. You’re in for a shock. Your typical late-model performance car, with its torquey V-8; and stiff, low-profile radial rubber, will prove more difficult to launch than a race-prepped vehicle sporting much more power. And all your practice on the boulevard will seem irrelevant after your first drag launch. It’s a traction thing, and you’re at a major disadvantage. We aren’t suggesting that you go out and…

Wed like to thank Dave Mikels of Hypertech’s Tuning Department for the data that follows. Mikels’ interest and skills directed to this phase of the company’s activities are extensive. Thank heavens the man has no grasp of the nine-to-five ethic. —Ed The introduction of Chevy’s all-new small-block has heralded fresh challenges among the aftermarket computer-hacking community. In years past, Hypertech provided chip-power programs that were based on its ability to reprogram and replace “chips” or program read only memories (PROMs) in an OEM computer. Alas, those geezers are no longer an option with OBD-II. They’ve been overthrown by “flash memory” chips that require the ability to legally unscramble OEM computer codes and program new information in accordance with increased combustion efficiency. Hypertech’s descrambler, the Power Programmer III (PPIII), enables a…

Chevy has decided to take the new Corvette endurance racing in a new factory-backed effort. Called the C5-R, the racer is powered by a 6.0L version of the LS1 that is said to pump out in excess of 600 hp. It will compete in the GT2 class and debut at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona later this month, where it will battle wheel to wheel with the Dodge Viper GTS-R, another performance icon gone road racing. The C5-R is based on the Corvette coupe, not the lighter, stiffer hardtop. One of the goals of the racing program is to make power with an engine that’s as close to stock as possible—for example, only valve angles and combustion-chamber sizes were altered for racing, according to GM Motorsports engine specialist Ron…

While Dick Dale was rattling off classics at the kickoff party, I was making some rock-’n’-roll rhythms of my own, racing off to Logan Airport to pick up HOT ROD Editor Ro, who was coming in late after tending to magazine business in LA. My chariot of choice? GM Performance Parts’ V-8/six-speed S-10 Blazer. This one just tickled me. After a couple of raucous point-and-squirt sessions on the interstate, I’ve come to the conclusion that the black buggy before you may be the closest thing to a modern nomad yet. Looks different than your run-of-the-mill S-10 Blazer? You bet: Besides the ’95 ZR-1 Corvette, wheels, and tires giving it a stout stance; it’s got a wedgy Brazilian-spec beak and front fenders on it, which are integrated nicely with factory-style wheel…

I have just returned from 1,500 miles of Power Tour East. I have been behind the wheel of everything from ’78 Malibus to Panteras, canvassing the Eastern seaboard in search of cool cars, good times, and an endless array of seafood and Italian dishes at class joints and run-down seaside shacks alike. It has taken nine days to do this, and I am utterly spent. Jet lag, deadlines, hopping from hotel room to hotel room, the effort required to act like a human being in public—all have taken their toll on my health, my deadlines, and my dwindling reserve of clean underwear. After a couple of $100-plus nights in hotels, my pockets are empty. At this stage, it would take a fair amount more than sleep for me to recover.…

Even though passing tech inspection seems a hassle, remember that safety is the primary concern. But, tech inspection doesn’t have to be a drag if you know and follow the rules—remember that as your car gets quicker, the rules get stiffer. This story is not a complete list—for that you’ll need to consult an NMCA, NHRA, or IHRA rule book, or talk to local track officials for specifics. For current rule books contact: NMCA, 800/213-4883; NHRA, 626/914-4761; or IHRA, 419/663-6666. Common Stuff That’ll Get You Busted General Safety Check: Most tech inspectors do a basic vehicle-safety check that includes: checking for functioning brakes, verifying that at least one brake light works, checking the steering for excessive play, checking the driver seat for solid mounting, looking for loose objects (clothes, tools,…

Of all the tenets of hot rodding, there is nothing more basic than the engine swap. Getting an old car to go faster with a modern powerplant has always been one of HOI RODs favorite ways of extracting eye-widening performance. More cubes, more power, more smiles, more fannies spanked at the stoplight. Some swaps, of course, are virtually drop-ins: Popping a big-block into a Camaro that did not arrive with one from the factory is no big deal, as plenty of parts are readily available. But try drop ping an engine into something that wasn’t built to accommodate it. Remember what a pain in the butt the streetable small-block/Vega swap was? There are those blazing trails with modern engines in classic sheetmetal—Ford’s excellent 32-valve 4.6 V-8 seems to be leading…

Last year’s HOT ROD Super Street champ Billy Glidden scorched everyone’s shorts on Friday night by posting a record 7.83 at 181 mph. He backed it up on Saturday with a 7.86 and, even in the relentless Memphis swelter, ran no worse than 8.0s. In case it hasn’t registered, that’s about 5/10 shy of making it onto the HOT ROD Magazine Top 10 Fastest Street Cars in America list. Flowmaster boss, Ray Flugger, was so moved by the feat that he created the Seven-Second Super Street club almost on the spot and named Glidden the charter member. Check with us next month to see who else has joined these prestigious, new ranks. AND THE WINNERS ARE… PRO STREET Tony Christian 7.019/202.76 OUTLAW STREET Rod Saboury 7.162/193.49 SUPER STREET Billy Glidden…

TOYS Hot Wheels King Cuda Hot Wheels are white-hot, and recently folks have been lamenting the loss of some of the older, more popular castings of '60s cars. The retooled King 'Coda should help assuage those fears. Originally seen earlier this year in the 30th Anniversary Spoilers four-car set (with a giant engine in place of the opening hood), the newly retooled King 'Coda replicates a '67-era A-body fastback and is painted a regal gold. The engine is detailed, original-type Redlines (with Delrin bushings!) are the rolling stock, and it comes in its own display case, mounted to a base. We suspect the Firebird and Cougar, also included in that 30th anniversary set, should he along soon. At 10 bucks a pop, it's cheaper than buying an original Redline, but…

Too tired to go to the dragstrip? Does lousy hand-eye coordination make you a menace on the road? Gas prices got you down? Your insurance company canceled your policy? Or maybe you're just too young to hop in the car and go for a spin? Whatever the case, video games offer a driving experience that is either so fantastic that you can't even begin to fathom it or so lifelike that you think you're actually there. A ton of cool car games have recently hit the market, and since none of us on staff own Playstations, we'll just regurgitate the press releases here. The idea behind Twisted Metal III (featuring Sweet Tooth the Clown in an ice cream truck breaking his clown buddies out of the pokey), the commercials for…

Our Big Cubes section celebrates the advantages of increased displacement. We’ve discussed the benefits of bigger bore volume and the extra leverage provided by longer-stroke cranks. We’ve even touched on the attributes of longer connecting rods, but how do you go about figuring out what bore, stroke, and rod length you need for your combination? Don’t sweat it. The aftermarket has already done the legwork; all you need do is decide how big you want to get, how fast you want to go, and how much you want to spend. In almost all cases, the kits listed do not include an engine block, but most are balanced and ready to drop into yours. For more details, contact the vendors, and if you don’t see what your heart desires, ask them;…

GM Performance Parts (GMPP), the corporation’s high-performance arm, has just released a new cylinder head that can add as much as 41 horsepower to the 355hp ZZ4 crate motor. These new Fast Burn cylinder heads (PN 12464298) are the result of what GM calls “cast-ported” technology. In effect, GM engineers utilized what they learned from modifying GM’s own cylinder heads and built the new heads accordingly. Designed specifically for use with a flat-top piston, the Fast Burn heads can be decked down as much as 0.080 inch for ultimate racing applications. For less radical applications, GM recommends adjustment of the installed height of the piston to increase the static compression ratio, rather than decking the cylinder-head surface. As the name implies, these heads are designed to burn fuel quickly and…

No one—not staffers, sponsors, or participants—knew what to expect out of the inaugural Power Tour East. Would it work? Would the enthusiasm be there? Would the cars be worth a damn? Would we throw a party and have nobody show? It had been a long time coming, this inaugural Power Tour East, and the number and quality of cars that came out to visit us at our myriad cruise night and gas stops along our trip down the Coast made this fact abundantly clear. This little jaunt of ours has been dubbed by some, quietly and very unofficially, as “The People’s Tour.” Why? A number of big-name companies were preparing for the annual SEMA extravaganza in Las Vegas some three weeks hence and couldn’t afford the time to amble along…

Marking Time Q I installed a Mark V 454 crate motor in a 1970 Chevelle. Other than an MSD billet distributor, 6AL box, and a Holley double-pumper, the engine is stock. The car has a 12-bolt with 4.10:1 gears, and my best quarter-mile e.t. is 13.45 seconds. I’d like for it to run in the mid-12s and was told there was plenty of horsepower to do this. I’ve received several opinions about what to do, including raising the compresion ratio from 8.75:1 to 10:1, porting the heads, and installing 2-inch headers instead of the 17/8-inchers I’m running now. Some have suggested an 850 Holley. J.R. Jones Petersburg, VA According to your specs and assuming that maximum power will occur at 6,000 rpm, the 750cfm Holley should be sufficient. In fact,…