Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2001 i Hot Rod

As I have mentioned before, my weekday sorties to and from work (140-mile round-trip) are sustained by “the other guys’” cars. On the strength of my position in the industry, but mainly because I write a twice-monthly driving impression for a local rag, I am allowed to drive all manner of iron from a glut of manufacturers. I have been privy to the other guys’ cars for more than 22 years, and began this obscure practice when I was feature editor at Motor Trend. It’s a tough habit to quit, and I consider it a privilege rather than a right. Having made the traverse more than 1,000 times in four years, I’ve become a student of the road, in this case the 405 Freeway. In order to survive, you must…

Preston Tucker: big-time dreamer and automotive pioneer, or shameless self-promoting huckster? Decide for yourself in the new Paramount Home Video DVD release of Tucker: The Man and His Dream, starring Jeff Bridges, Martin Landau, and Christian Slater, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Seen as both an energy-filled bio-pic about one man with a better idea taking on the system and as a metaphor for Coppola’s own struggles within the Hollywood studio system, Tucker is a must-have for every car lover’s video collection. The DVD includes a commentary track by Coppola, an original 1948-vintage Tucker promotional film, and more goodies not available on video. Also out now from Paramount is RPM, starring former WCW World Champion and Scream star David Arquette and X-Men mutant and ex-Bond girl Famke Janssen. This…

Gearhead is a zine dedicated to old cars and punk music. The first ten issues were released with vinyl singles included, and this CD compiles them. It’s made up, in large part, of contemporary bands doing their versions of songs by old school punk bands like the Rezillos and UK Subs. Inside the CD case is a photo (I’m guessing circa early-’70s) of a little kid balancing die-cast models on his forearms. The cars are the most wild, exaggerated creations imaginable, and the kid has a great big smile on his face… and that’s exactly what this music’s about. These bands are reliving their adolescence, or in some cases paying tribute to an era they were too young to have lived through. It’s not hard to see the similarities between…

Though import car drag racing is getting hotter every month, most traditional hot rodders grumble about the lack of American-built iron. Joe Morgan (“Poisonous Pinto,” Apr. ’99) has teamed up with K&N and Ford Motor Company to tilt the balance back in our favor. Currently nearing completion, Morgan’s alcohol-burning vengeance is a 2000 Focus wagon with 600 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, and the potential for 8-second performance from a turbocharged 2.3L. The goal, as Joe puts it, is to “embarrass the Hondas, Mazdas, and Toyotas that currently hold down the top positions in the IDRC (International Drag Racing Circuit), IDRA (Import Drag Racing Association), and NIRA (National Import Racing Association) events." Look for a full feature story in an upcoming issue. We’ve seen the real thing, and it’s a winner. CLARIFICATION…

The increasing popularity of retrofitting electronic fuel-injection systems to older vehicles has created a steady stream of hardware, making these conversions simpler. From harness kits to programmable controllers to turnkey EFI engine packages, adding modern engine management to vintage tin has gradually become less of a black art and more of a bolt-on. Despite these strides, there remains a gray area, still largely uncharted: the fuel system. No matter how simple the EFI package you plan to install, you will still have to outfit your pre-EFI vehicle with a high-pressure fuel system, one that includes an electric pump, a pressure regulator, and a return line, all capable of generating and containing upwards of 70 psi. Until someone introduces a bolt-on fuel system of this sort (don’t hold your breath), the…

You are likely wondering how emissions controls got such a bad name in the first place. The reality is that the early systems weren’t very good and often made the engine act like a psychotic infected with tuberculosis and St. Vitus dance. Remember, though, the first automatic transmissions didn’t work very well, either, but through continued development, they are now close to bulletproof. The situation with emissions systems is no different. Believe it or not, the current levels of driveability, fuel economy, and performance are largely due to the advent of digital fuel injection, feedback fuel delivery and ignition timing controls, and other devices such as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Coupled with the catalytic converter (cat), this technology provides a cool combination of driving fun and a sweeter quality of…

Biggest. Best-ever. Time-worn superlatives that have little meaning anymore. Yet they are all we have to describe the season finale Power Fest at Commerce, Georgia. Nearly 300 cars—75 more than we’ve had at any other Power Fest in memory—showed up. Why so many this time? We got wise and started advertising our premiere show across nearly a dozen emap usa titles including Car Craft, Rod & Custom, Mopar Muscle, Musclecar Review, Corvette Fever, Mustang Monthly, 5-0 and Super Fords, Chevy High Performance, and more. Even the editors of these esteemed sister publications showed up. The result? The biggest and best-ever Power Fest anywhere. Really. But this year there was more than just a car show at Commerce. We had the World Wrestling Federation’s Mick Foley, formerly known as Mankind and…

Sleek and Smooth Fluidampr Looking for a high-performance, direct bolt-on replacement for that tired and wobbly stock Camaro damper? Ask Fluidampr about its F-body Vibration Control Dampers. The strong steel billet hub, serpentine belt pulley machined on the outside diameter, and black zinc chromate finish will help your engine run smoother and longer. Information: Fluidampr, Dept. HR02, 11980 Walden Ave., Alden, NY 14004-9790; 716/937-3603. Center It Moser Engineering Moser Engineering axle components are available in both nodular and aluminum materials, and their setup includes USA-made ring and pinion gears, Timken bearings, and the customer’s choice of an ME full spool, Auburn limited-slip differential, or a Tractech Detroit Locker. Information: Moser Engineering, Dept. HR02, 102 Performance Dr., Portland, IN 47371; 219/726-6689; www.moserengineering.com. Breath of Fresh Air K&N Engineering Ride clean and…

Benz Blitzer Anyone can drop a Chevy mill into a Mercedes and run with it. To hop up a Mercedes mill is something else altogether. Dig Axel Reinert’s ’64 Benz 220SEB, with the aluminum SOHC 6.3L engine. It sports milled, decked, ported, and flow-checked heads, German Camko bumpsticks, dual throttle bodies, a full 2.50-inch exhaust with custom headers, a Tremec five-speed, and a 9-inch Ford rear with 4.56:1 gears. Flying Fairlady Marcus Dirk, hailing from somewhere in Oregon, has done a great deal to his ’70 Datsun 240Z to get it to its 150-mph top speed. The 2.8L block puts out 10:1 compression and features a 280-degree cam, E31 head, Holley 450-cfm carb, and a complete 2lf-inch mandrel-bent exhaust. It sits 2 inches lower than stock on Nissan lowering springs,…

Traditionally, 1:18 scale die-cast manufacturer Maisto has gone for exotic European fare in its models, but the lure of American steel cannot be ignored. Now available is this epochal group of American muscleage: a ’56 300B, ’65 GTO, ’72 Chevelle ragtop, and 2000 Mustang Cobra R. You want muscle? Watch these bad boys flex. The Letter Car looks regal on its wide whites and wires, the Goat (also available as a ragtop) is as fearsome as ever, the ever-popular Chevelle is spot-on, and the Cobra R is the first version of this landmark Mustang in any scale, anywhere. All have opening doors, hoods and trunks, the steering wheel cranks the correct-era soft vinyl tires and accurate wheels, and all ride on Maisto’s trademark coif sprung suspension. Body badging is handled…

Thirty years ago, every American dude of draft age—approximately 18 to 28—was sure to receive a letter from the Selective Service Board that began with “Greetings” and ended with “Report to your draft board for a pre-induction physical on such and such a date.” I got mine in 1958. Dave Lotz got his 10 years later. The doctor discovered that I suffered from asthma and that Lotz had high blood pressure, so we were judged 4F and released from our military obligations. I was working for my dad at Western Journal Co. and had began building a Corvette-powered ’53 Studebaker Starliner. Lotz went to college with his high school car, got his degree in mechanical engineering, and married his sweetheart Sharon Louise—aka “Sherry Lou.” Sherry Lou is also the name…

If you’ve been considering a swap to EFI or even a complete late-model engine upgrade, you’re in luck. The aftermarket has responded to the growing popularity of these swaps by developing parts and pieces—in individual, kit, and package form—to make these operations less daunting for the do-it-yourselfer. If you’ve ever attempted to weed through a factory wiring harness, sifting out the leads that are pertinent when installing an EFI-equipped engine in another application, you know how difficult and confusing the task can be. However, in a specific aftermarket harness intended for swaps, the extraneous leads are deleted and those remaining are usually labeled. Although there are a number of kits available to provide complete electronics for EFI engines, often utilizing programmable ECUS, we’ve limited our listings to kits that synch…

For the last month or so, I’ve been digging through the photo library, inventorying the negative files in an attempt to find out what’s there and what isn’t. The photo files, created by our lab in 1955, consist of more than a million frames of cars, car people, shops, car events, howtos, and car tests. They were taken by Eric “Rick” Rickman, Bob D’Olivo, Pat Brollier, Ray Brock, Tom Medley, Wally Parks, other photo lab staff members, and HOT ROD, Car Craft, Rod & Custom, Motor Trend, Sports Car Graphic, and Motor Life staffers. Most of their work is first rate because these guys knew cars and how to photograph them. Moreover, they used the best cameras of the day—including the large format Speed Graphics, the medium format Rolleis and…

Another sleepless night, another sun that won’t sink. Yes, we’re back on the NMCA trail at the World Finals in Commerce, Georgia, the place where many of the top racers make the final sprint and earn enough points to cash in. Others are so far behind in the points chase that it doesn’t even enter their minds; they are here to drag it out and have some fun with likeminded door-car fanatics. The one thing all these racers have in common is oil. Without it, metal meets metal and sparks fly. We walked the Commerce pits and to find out how they keep their motors running strong. RICK MOROSO GUILFORD, CT Race Results: After modest Hot Street success aboard the Moroso family race car, a 61 Corvette once raced by…

That’s right, for the first time ever, Power Tour will commence from the environs of Detroit. From there we head Chicago way, and then drop down through Missouri and Oklahoma and across the nation, paralleling Route 66 most of the way; our endpoint will be San Bernardino, California, home of the annual Route 66 Rendezvous (and site of last year’s kickoff party). We will start May 3 in the Detroit area, and arrive in San Bernardino on May 11; the party ends on Saturday the 12th. This is the 75th Anniversary of the Mother Road, and we kick off in the birthplace of the cars that we all love so. Check in with www.emapusaevents.com or Power Tour News next month for more exact route information, including the towns, roads, and…

’Glide to the Side I am very interested in the article “Over and Under” in the August 2000 issue of HOT ROD. My wife has a ’67 RS Camaro convertible with a two-speed Powerglide, and I am considering the same swap you performed in your article. I would appreciate your advice about any concerns I should have other than those listed. By the way, I plan to keep the Powerglide on the side, in order to preserve the car’s original equipment. Bob WardVia the Internet The swap from Powerglide to 200-4R should be as simple, if not simpler, than the one in our Buick. Since the 2004R has the same output spline count, and is the same overall length as a Powerglide, you should be able to retain the original…

You can stop holding your breath, Mopar fans. The hot new rear-drive V-8 coupe of your dreams will now stay there. The’ hotly awaited Charger, and its sister the Chrysler 300N, officially will not happen, according to an exclusive report first published by www.car-truck.com. Why? Boring old business reasons: Daimler, since buying out Chrysler, has not realized the economies of scale it had hoped. Investors and shareholders are getting restless, stock price is floundering, and Chairman Jurgen Schrempp has declared that $2 billion must be saved on Chrysler’s (already lean) end of things. If that means canceling the Ram-based Tahoe/Suburban fighter, postponing the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee back to 2006, and killing off a pair of high-image, high-performance coupes like the Charger/300M (all of which sounded like sales winners for…

When we learned about www.dumblaws.com, we knew that there had to be some doozies about cars in there. And so there were. We encourage you surf on over there to look up what’s going on in your state. To wit: In Arizona, cars may not be driven in reverse. (You’d think circular driveways would be more common…) In Oklahoma, cars must be tethered outside of public buildings. (That one’s been repealed. The one about the illegality of molesting an automobile has not.) The state of Massachusetts banned gorillas in the back seat of any car (explaining why our Mr. Magnante lives in California now…). In Georgia, it is illegal to spit from a cat or bus, though citizens may spit from a truck, It is also illegal for a chicken…

Contrary to popular belief, EFI does not stand for Extremely Frustrated Individual. Conversely, owners of properly setup cars consider it an Extra Fine Improvement. It is an established fact that OE and aftermarket electronic fuel injection conversions on carbureted vehicles can yield results so surprising that you’ll wonder why you didn’t take the plunge sooner. But like anything else, some basic information and the proper mindset are required to ensure a positive experience. We chatted with T.J. Tracey of Advanced Performance for some tips and clues on how to make the switch. HRM: Why convert an older car to EFI? TJ: Replacing a carburetor with electronic fuel injection offers several benefits. The most obvious are the potential for better fuel economy, better driveability, cleaner emissions, and immediate start-up regardless of…

Chances are that I’m the only HRM editor that digs jumping jive—you know, hot reet music that’s older than I am. My swinging stuff was produced by musicians called Bix, Bunny, Billie, or Bird. They brought a unique quality to our native contribution to the arts—jazz. Like jazz, drag racing has its list of contributors, too—the Bean Bandits, the Ground Shakers, the Spaghetti Benders—and such legendary monikers as Big Daddy, Snake, ’Goose, Greek, and The Loner. Loner? Hell, a “loner” in today’s corporate-conscious drag racing world is about as welcome as a final round oil-down. Today it’s teams: traveling road shows comprised of drivers and crew chiefs who are far more articulate than most politicians. It takes a verbal gymnast to say, thanks to our Bud Lite, Big Mac, True…

As we go along in life, inevitably we find people with whom we bond emotionally. Can’t help it; friendship happens. Regardless of the direction our lives take us, those relationships, whatever they are (or were), become frozen in time; they are of a place, physically and perhaps emotionally, that we will never be able to visit again. However, the memories can be comforting, and repeat throughout our lives. Childhood. Teenage years. Has your family ever moved? High school. Maybe college. Your first job. Your second job. Neighbors near your first home. The people you meet in each of these stages, whether you remain in contact or not, will stay with you forever. Occasionally, though, the timeline jumbles. Introducing people from different phases of your life is one thing, but it’s…

I’m not serious enough. I need to grow up. I’ll never get anywhere. No one is irreplaceable. I need to be a team player. So, in order to be a mover-and-shaker on the fast track, I am getting my ducks in a row. I believe that my actions will be absolutely consistent with the strategies that the management team and certain empowered employees have collaboratively worked on. While focusing on content and customers, 1 have discovered that it is important to grow the business vis a vis creating new paradigms, moving the goalposts, and encouraging a strategic fit on a quid pro quo basis so we may take it to the next level and remain in the lead position. I wanted to get everyone into the tent on this and…

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas used to be just a November trade show for the aftermarket equipment industry. Now it’s deadly serious business for truck makers, too; with Ford, GM, Chrysler, and yes, Toyota showing new trucks, new products for trucks, and stuff that makes trucks go quicker. 2001 Ford Lightning Below: Ford showed its revised, more powerful 2001 SVT F-150 Lightning pickup at SEMA. Output of the supercharged 5.4L V-8 swells from an already awesome 360 to an epic 380hp thanks to better breathing, and the truck gets a new grille, headlights, jeweled taillights. and new 18-inch wheels wrapped in new 295/45ZR-18 Goodyear Eagle F1-GS tires. Beyond that, the rearend ratio jumps from 3.55 to 3.73:1. So every rational human’s favorite sport truck becomes…

Thanks to hydraulic lifter technology and advances in camshaft design, the once-universal practice of “running the valves” to establish proper running clearance between the valve tip and rocker arm is no longer second nature to many hot rodders. Although Detroit no longer uses solid lifter camshafts, they are still unsurpassed when it comes to translating cam lobe profiles into valve movement in high-rpm applications. While hydraulic lifters (or tappets) operate at zero lash and have a built-in plunger that compensates tor normal wear, solid lifters are just that, solid, and must run with a prescribed lash value to provide enough operating clearance to allow for expansion and contraction. During operation, the cam lobes, lifter faces, pushrod ends, rocker arm fulcrums, and valve tips experience varying degrees of wear. Sometimes the…