Indholdsfortegnelse for July 1954 i Hot Rod

For some time now, we've been pointing out the need for uniformity and standardization in the field of drag strip competition. We've cited reasons why it is of extreme importance that operating conditions for one part of the country be planned so that they coincide as nearly as possible with operations in other areas. Numerous patterns have been developed by various drag strip groups, but none of them has all the necessary requirements for universal acceptance. The big strips' programs are too extensive for the smaller strips, while the small strips' arrangements are not sufficient to provide widespread competition interest at the larger volume strips. Still, they're all agreed that a standard system of classifying and running is essential to the best interests of the sport's future. Recently, however, a…

JERRY: D-E-A-N … This animated vacuum gauge is the greatest thing since bubble gum! DEAN: Straighten up, Jer… You're too old to play with dolls. JERRY: Yeah, but I like it, I L-l-K-E it! JERRY: Wow! Dig this crazy abstract composition of components. Dean. Looks like something from Dali's studio! DEAN: Yeah, look how the bike fenders are mounted to the backing plates. JERRY: Hey, Dean, how did that guy get in the act? DEAN: Easy, Jerry, he only owns the car! DEAN: It says here, Jer, that the radius rods were handmade from tubing, and the solid louvered side panels from sheet metal. JERRY: Oh yeah, Compa', these kids are the most! DEAN: Questo e il migliore motore da corsa che abbia mai visto. In red eye terms, Jer,…

The parts of a V8 engine equipped with a two-plane, or 90 degree, crankshaft that must be sent to the balancer for a complete balancing job include: The crankshaft, all pistons and piston pins, piston pin locks for one piston, piston rings for one cylinder, all connecting rods, one complete connecting rod bearing, rod nuts, rod nut locks for one rod. the flywheel. and clutch pressure plate assembly. If only the crankshaft is to be balanced, one complete piston and rod assembly must be sent with the crankshaft. This includes a piston, a piston pin. pin locks for one piston, piston rings for one cylinder, a connecting rod, complete connecting rod bearing, rod nuts and nut locks for one connecting rod. Crankshafts of the single-plane type, or 180 degree cranks,…

Up in the far Northwest, where pioneers blazed many a trail through the dense forest, and where much of today's industry centers around lumbering, it was only natural that members of the Whatcom County Timing Association should go after their own drag strip armed with axes and machetes. They didn't use these weapons to convince their local City Fathers of their need for a strip—they didn't have to—but rather, to attack the thickly wooded area that surrounded an isolated strip of road which they obtained for their new project. But to get back to the beginning, the WCTA was an outgrowth of the Road Gents, a thirty-member car club formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1952. Originally it had been a custom car club, meeting in the Bellingham Police Department's recreation…

The time of year has arrived once again when backyard garages ail over the nation are buzzing with excitement…. Bonneville is only a few months away! True to tradition, most hot rodders who compete in the week-long straightaway speed trials conducted on Utah's famous Bonneville Salt Flats, have waited until the final few months before seriously going about the jobs of preparing their equipment. Many new creations are expected to make their appearance at this year's event, and the number of entry applications received to date has already exceeded any previous year's turnout of cars, and the deadline for entry is still several weeks away—August ist, in fact. Regular entry fee for the Bonneville Nationals week of speed trials is $15.00. Post entries (those received after August ist). suffer a…

QUADRAJET AIR CLEANER Replace your stock air cleaner with the new, improved Quadrajet Custom Air Cleaner for Holley quad and duplex carbs used on 1952-’54 Mercs and 1952-’54 Lincolns. Beautifully finished in polished aluminum. Designed to eliminate air restriction, this cleaner filters air through a triple mesh screen, permits proper engine breathing. Send $7.50 plus 75¢ for shipping. For further information write: Cal Race Speed Equipment and Mfg. Co., 6322 S. Atlantic Blvd., Bell, Calif. CUSTOM GRILLE CONVERSION Kit includes: (1) a chrome grille bar with center dress-up moulding, (2) a chrome upper grille moulding, (3) a hood fill-in plate, (4) a safety latch release and, (5) “how-to-do-it” instructions and photos. It contains every part needed to make a complete conversion. Each part is designed for simple “bolt-on” installation. Complete…

If we may be forgiven for tagging the preservation of human life with such a glib phrase, it is the purpose of this article to accent the basic fundamentals of real automotive safety, the fine points of which have been grossly overlooked in spite of many verbal passes over the field. SAFETY BELTS Consider, for example, the safety seat belt. Only in rare instances is it used in the most dangerous circumstances—on the public highways. While hot rodders and the track boys have advocated safety belts and roll bars since the “year one,” the general public still prefers to live dangerously. Next comes the question: When is a safety belt not a safety belt? The method of mounting and the quality of materials constitute the answer to this all important…

Used car lot partners Marv Gelberg and Park Dana can understandably boast of more gow per unit than any other dealer in town or, for that matter, in the world. To our knowledge their Santa Monica Boulevard lot in Hollywood, California is the only one devoted exclusively to hot rods and custom cars. In business only five months, Marv now has proof positive that his original hunch, based on a desire to specialize, was a sound one. Sporting everything from a “T” roadster up to the latest chopped and channeled sedan, Marv and Park now are reportedly moving an average of 20 cars per month and are giving some mighty serious thought toward the opening of another lot in the San Francisco Bay Area. While some of the customers are…

Culver City Roll…

Gentlemen: While thumbing through some magazines in search of a pressed nasturtium that I had misplaced a few days ago, I came upon Mr. R. Y. F.'s letter on page six of Hot Rod Magazine's May issue. Reader R. Y. F.'s feelings are quite understandable; naturally he wants to protect his secret engine design until he has a few speed records on the books. Before R. Y. F. spends any money for official timing of his missile, however, he ought to know that four associates and I have devoted the past 3 1/2 years to completing an even faster machine. Our car was capable of 450 mph over a year ago, but we have purposely kept it away from the Bonneville speed trials because we do not wish to discourage…

Being the kind of a guy who can't resist a good sales pitch. I found that we (the local bank and I) were the proud owners and possessors, respectively, of a 1954 Ford “Mainline” V8 business coupe. Not that I regret the choice; I don't, and presently we shall see why. The business coupe was chosen primarily because I don't require anything larger or more elaborate and. with performance in mind, this particular body style weighs less than others. This car has no “O-Matics” or overdrives; just a good old “bang-shift” gearbox with a 3.90 to 1 rear end gear ratio. Permitting the installation of Ford power brakes was my only concession to the multitude of accessories available from the dealer. Incidentally. the Ford vacuum actuated power brake booster will…

Frank Kurtis is a big man and a busy man. To interview him on the fundamentals of his fabulous 500-KK tubular chassis must compare with the best efforts of those who try to pin a tail on one of Kurtis's many Indianapolis contenders. At the time of our visit Frank was supervising the last of eleven “Indy” cars to be entered in the big 500-mile torture test for 1954. his fifth year at the “Brickyard” (of 80 American cars entered in 1953, 41 were Kurtis built; 22 of the 33 starters flying his colors). With the “Pukka” racing jobs stacked alongside the “bread and butter” 500-KK's, it was immediately obvious that the two models were very similar in basic construction; the Indy jobs, of course, having a more elaborate side-sway…

I WAS so fed up after the first seven months with my new car, I was ready to swap it for a bushel of bus tokens! Having just laid out quite a few kopeks for the latest “super deluxe” model, I was pretty sore when service bills began piling up. First, it was overheating; then squeaks & rattles; later two loose rod bearings, then my battery went dead; the tappets needed adjusting; wiring got a hidden “short,” etc. Frequent “tune-ups” failed to produce the smooth idling or the mileage I expected, and in spite cf two alignment jobs, my front tires wore smooth at 7,000 miles. Maybe you think I simply got a “lemon,” but if 1 told you the make, you'd agree it's one of Detroit's finest. With each…

HERE WE GO! About the time you receive this bulletin, the NHRA Drag Strip Crew should be taking off on a three months', coast-to-coast tour of the nation. Headed by Bud Coons, NHRA's Executive Manager, the four-man crew will be loaded with all equipment necessary for producing a first-class Drag Meet. Between scheduled Regional Championship meets they'll stop in to visit with as many of NHRA's affiliate groups as they can contact. The project will be a combination Sanctioning, Strip Inspection, Instructional, get-acquainted program. They plan to spend most of their time traveling from group to group, ending up for a week's finale at the Bonneville Nationals, Utah. As a “bonus” feature of the tour, Hot Rod Magazine's hot-shot photographer ''Rick” Rickman will go along to record the interesting highlights…

FOUR FINE FENDERS Sirs: Enclosed is a picture of a small sport car that I have just recently completed. Frame is a reworked Crosley (lowered and engine mounted back). The body is made of four 1938 Buick front fenders. The rear deck is the hood from the 1949 Crosley and the hood is part of a 1941 Ford hood. The engine is a full race Crosley with dual exhaust. Glen Shafer Lake Orion, Mich. 0 TO 60 IN 10 SECONDS Sirs: Enclosed is snapshot of a car some friends and I built. Frame has been “Z"ed in rear and “stairstepped” in front using Chuck Manning's dimensions. Car has stock '42 Ford truck engine except for milled heads and dual exhausts. Auburn clutch & Lincoln gears help it turn 60 mph…

Requirements of “Hot Rod Mart” are: limit of 25 words per ad, not including name and address. Ads will be placed in this column on a first come, first served basis. We reserve the right to edit ads when necessary. We are not responsible, for the accuracy of description, but we will reject any obviously misleading statements. No ads will be knowingly accepted from commercial firms. A charge of $2.00 per ad will be made and must accompany each ad. Only one car may be listed in any one ad. This limitation will not apply to parts or equipment, however. Send to Hot Rod Mart, 5959 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 28, Calif. SELL—'53 Ford OHV six, modified 140 honest hp experimental truck engine. Described in April '54 HRM. Run only…