Indholdsfortegnelse for June 1952 i Hot Rod

The hot rodders of Pasadena, Calif, have been credited with originating reliability runs. Now they’ve tried a double feature—an auto show and reliability run all rolled into one. Two clubs, the Falcons and the Gripers, made preliminary plans for the event several months ago. They knew if it was to be a success they would need outside help. They asked for help, and got it. California Highway Patrol, Pasadena Police Dept., Pasadena Junior Chamber of Commerce, local National Safety Council chapter, Automobile-Club of Southern California, the National Hot Rod Association, American Motorcycle Association, and the Associated Car Clubs of Long Beach all gave a helping hand. When the event was over, the sponsors knew they were on the right track. In the words of one police officer, the show and…

Dad wouldn’t recognize it now. but this was once a 1926 Model T Ford. Of course it’s been modified somewhat, with a few refinements added here and there, but basically it made its debut from the Ford factory 26 years ago. Lou Banta and Jack Perre. business partners in a Los Angeles service station, share the credit for the car’s fine appearance. They built it for street use, occasional airstrip drags, and “just for fun.” The engine is a 1942 Mercury with a '49 crankshaft. Transmission has a late column shift. 1951 Ford rear end has 3.78 to 1 gears. Brakes and front spindles are late Ford. Radiator shell and special metal work were done by Louis Salzgeber; grille by Art Ingells. Seats are set between frame rails and driveshaft.…

'49 CRANK IN '40 ENGINE Dear Don: I would appreciate any information you can give me on installing a '49 Mercury crankshaft in a '40 Mercury engine. Do you have to change the camshaft gear? What gear on the end of the crankshaft do you use. the '49 or '40? Donald L. Yeo Haverhill. Mass. Information on installing 1949 or later Mercury crankshafts in 1948 or earlier blocks can be found in the crankshaft stroking article in the September, 1951, issue of HRM. Crankshaft and cam gears for 1948 and earlier Fords and Mercurys differ from 1949 and later gears in that the angles of their teeth are reversed. Reversing the tooth angle changed the thrust direction of the camshaft. In all other respects, though, the gears are identical. For…

One of the regular runners at the Kahului drag strip near Honolulu is the '32 touring shown on these pages. Entered by the Kolea racing team, this supercharged job has won a good many drags. Engine is 255 cu. in. Merc with Offenhauser 8 to 1 heads and two 97 carbs. The exhaust system has Belond headers and twin pipes. Black lacquer finish was done by Mutt Nishimoto. A new engine is now being installed for running without the supercharger. New mill is a '50, fully balanced Merc with 3 3/8 bore, 41/8 stroke, Evans 9 to 1 heads, three 97 carburetors, Wico Mag.…

EARLY DAY HOGBEAR Sirs: Being a fan and also a subscriber, I hope the enclosed photo and story will be of interest to you and the many readers of your wonderful magazine. This car was built in 1900 by a Mr. Halvard Anderson of Kenosha, Wis. It was six months in the building. It has a centered headlight in a grille which is made of common house screen and melted-down aluminum crank cases. It has an air-cooled motor similar to the old time motorcycle only the flywheel was on the outside. It is a two-cylinder job with a friction drive and chain drive for the rear wheels. It has canvas fenders which can easily be removed for cleaning. The hood was made from the old Rambler. The wheel base is…

HRM TECHNICAL EDITOR The highly specialized racing engine we know today as the 270 Offenhauser had its beginning in 1931 in Los Angeles, California. This was the year Harry Miller, builder of world famous “Miller” racing engines, built a 255 cubic inch four-cylinder engine with dual overhead camshafts and inclined valves for a customer who was building a car to run in competition at the old Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles. The hottest contenders on the track at that time had Model A four-barrel engines with overhead valves in special heads with rocker arms or overhead cams. In 1932 the Miller Company went bankrupt. but production of the Miller designed engines was resumed in 1933 by a new company founded by Fred Offenhauser. Under the direction of Offenhauser the bore…

Response by the nation’s hot rod clubs K to HRM’s appeal last month for a Hot Rod Blood Donors’ Week May 26 through 31 indicates that competition for HRM’s Public Service Award will be running high. Indicative of letters received from hot rod clubs all over the country is that of Joseph R. Naber, president of the Brentwood, Mo., Rod Knockers, who wrote: “I just received my issue of HRM today and saw the article about the blood donations. I would like to make my club eligible for any honors we may be able to win. I think this affair will help to further the hot rod fellowship very much.’’ Comments from American National Red Cross officials are very praiseworthy and show that hot rodders will receive every help possible…

Heavy rains had left the surface of California’s El Mirage dry lake in a semi-soggy condition as the date rolled around for the Southern California Timing Association’s first meet of the '52 season. So, rather than take a chance of spoiling the lake bed by running on it before it was completely dry, members of the SCTA wisely switched the location of their meet, substituting a two-day drag meet in its stead. Running as guests of the San Diego Timing Association at their famed Paradise Mesa drag strip, the “dry lakers’* chipped in with a variety of entries and helped boost speeds to new records in eleven different classes. Top speed of the meet—the highest speed ever recorded at Paradise Mesa’s quarter-mile, standing start drags—was made by the “Howard’s Cam…

Less than four years ago, on July 17, 1948, to be exact, Howard Wilson of Los Angeles made hot rod history when he piloted Stuart Hilborn’s V8 powered Lakester through the SCTA’s speed traps (El Mirage dry lake) at a speed of 150.50 mph. This was the first time in the hot rod sport’s existence that one of the home-built cars had reached the elusive 150 mph mark—a goal which many of that day’s leading participants were striving for. Today, however, the situation is a bit more advanced. Having already reached the 200 mph mark on several occasions at the Bonneville National Speed Trials, the hot rods are now aiming at a 300 mph goal. Although this appears to be an extremely high mark for cars powered with modified production…

Alow-slung, stripped-down rod screeched down the runway. An electronic timer tabulated the speed: 119.04 mph.Speeds like this are regular procedure these days at the Fresno Drag strip. Cars and cycles come hundreds of miles to join in the furious competition which sweeps across the strip during a weekend meet. Run like a closed corporation, the fellowship between the Rodbenders of Fresno and the Fresno Motorcycle Club seems to satisfy both drivers and spectators alike. The spectators are packed along the side lines shouting for their favorites. The efficient operation of the drags provided a treat for the drivers. Drag races were begun at Fresno’s Hammer Airfield last year through the joint efforts of Ed Sumner, Fresno cycle dealer, and LeRoy Winters with the fullest cooperation of Lt. Ellis of the…

Exhaust Systems for z52 Cars 1952 Ford V8, Mercury and Oldsmobile 88 and 98 owners can now obtain a Belond Equa-Flow Exhaust System for their new cars. Southern California Muffler Company dealers across the nation are being supplied with the new equipment. Chassis dynamometer tests, measuring the hp at the rear wheels, show the installation of the new Equa-Flow Exhaust System delivers a 10 to 12 percent gain in road-hp. Prices have been held to the 1951 figures: Ford V8, $52.50; Mercury, $52.50; Oldsmobile. $74.50; all prices F.O.B. Culver City. For further information, write Southern California Muffler Company, 11039-49 West Washington Blvd., Culver City 1, Calif. Chrome Rings Eight out of 10 winners at last year’s Indianapolis 500 miler used chrome rings in their cars. Developed during the last war…