Indholdsfortegnelse for November 1967 i Hot Rod

Boy, how time flies! We’ve had a couple of things happen to us in recent months that takes us back a few years, more than twenty as a matter of fact, to our days in the U.S. Navy. The two events were a cruise aboard a carrier and an hour in a jet fighter trainer. They were separated in time by a few months but the message we got from each was the same; what a great experience. The carrier trip was part of a four-day trip as a member of the Navy’s Civilian Orientation Cruise last spring. There are a series of these civilian cruises set up each year from Navy Air Reserve Training Centers throughout the country. The purpose is to acquaint business leaders, educators and press members…

He's going to a dance at the club. That's why the smart threads. On most of his off-work hours, he's in old clothes poking his head under the hood of a car. He's one of 15 million Petersen People. He reads, re-reads, devours, responds to, believes in, enjoys, and relaxes with one or more Petersen Magazines each month. (One of those magazines — Motor Trend — is read by one out of seven men 18 to 24). Petersen Magazines dig deeply into the world of men. What are the latest designs from Detroit? Where are the unexplored diving spots off the coast of Mexico? What are the advantages of a slide action rifle? When a man reads a Petersen book, he gets the answers — new ideas, new faces, new…

SINGLE QUAD MANIFOLDS Offenhauser has just announced a new single quad manifold for the American Motors 290 and 343 cubic inch engines. Made of aluminum, the manifold is designed for performance-minded power enthusiasts. It accepts stock quad carburetor and standard jetting in most cases, and manufacturer claims it will increase horsepower by 15% or more. Item priced at $105. Write to Offenhauser, Dept. HR, 5300 Alhambra Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90032. FIREBIRD HEADERS Doug’s Headers claims a 20% increase in horsepower with the installation of a set of Doug’s Firebird OHC “6” headers. They come complete with gaskets, bolts, and connector pipes for simple attachment to the stock exhaust system. Priced at $125 (catalog number D-140), they are available at speed shops or write to: Doug’s Headers, Dept. HR, 5533…

By almost any definition, Bob Joehnck is a hot rodder. He dabbles in cars for the salt, equipment for the “turn left and stand on it” group, formula you-name-the-number cars and drag machinery. Running as a uniting thread through this entire assemblage of car types is one predominant feature: They all perform like the proverbial ape who's just been struck with the equally proverbial hot poker. So Bob and his engine building approaches became the object of our plan … based on the following thoughts. For the past half-dozen years or so, there have been countless stories and data compiled on the subject of the small-block Chevy V8. Predictably, much of the information has become a rehash of early learned performance facts with only periodic and sometimes almost obscure bits…

In western New York we used to say if you didn't like the weather, just wait around for five minutes or so and it would change. We still say that. And after NASCAR's Drag Race Division innocently wandered into Niagara Falls, New York, for its Summer Nationals, not knowing of the western New York weather service, they say it too. On Friday, the eighteenth of August, the wind blew across the Niagara Airport Dragstrip with non-zephyrlike qualities; the next day it rained until dinnertime and on Sunday it was half and half — half rain, half sun. Monday, the day after the meet, following Gumperson's law of reverse probabilities, was beautiful, and between there was some kind of drag race. You know what boulder clay is? That's what there's a…

Water Worries. I use my 40 HP outboard motor (1961 model) for water skiing and usually run it at wide open speeds. The biggest problem I have is fouled plugs. Any idea what's wrong? C.A.B., Point Comfort, Tex. Yep. A major factor in plug fouling of outboards is an oil-rich mixture of oil and fuel. Try this: get a five-gallon container, put in a couple of gallons of gasoline, pour in the required amount of Pennzoil outboard oil for five-gallon capacity, fill up the can with gasoline … and shake well. This will make for a homogenous mix and should do it. Don't Make A Move. I own a 1966 R-60 BMW motorcycle and have been told that a detergent oil should never be used in an engine not equipped…

This is going to be hard to believe but this wild, funny customized VW can be built with no body work, no lead or putty whatsoever. In fact, I would venture to say any high school student would be able to put this custom VW together with no trouble, and a bare minimum of tools. Sound like magic? The magic is supplied by Intac, Inc. of Studio City, California, in the form of molded fiberglass components. The whole package retails at well under three bills, exclusive of the racy hardware. You will have to get your own gas tank fillers, headlight screens and boat-type tach mounting bracket. This stuff is readily available at all sports car accessory shops. The flared fenders are strictly bolt-on items priced between $30 and $35…

SHOW SCHEDULES ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA 1968 Motorama, March 6-10, Anaheim Convention Center. World's leading all-automotive spectacular. For information: Motorama, 5916 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90028. Telephone (213) 466-8534. SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA Inland Empire Custom Car Fair, November 3-5, Orange Show Center. National Custom Car Club Association, P.O. Box 571, Canoga Park, California. SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA Inland Empire Custom Car & Hot Rod Show, January 12-14, National Orange Show Grounds. Coachmen Car Club, Post Office Box 400, Maywood, California 90270. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA Southwest Speed Show, November 3-5, Community Concourse. National Custom Car Club Association, P.O. Box 571, Canoga Park, California. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA National Custom Car & Motorcycle Show, November 10-12, Sports Arena. Coachmen & Scotchmen Car Clubs, P.O. Box 400, Maywood, California 90270. SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA Autorama, November 17-18,…

WITH JIM McFARLAND IN THE PARK Dear Jim: I have a couple of problems with the '57 Chevy that I've just finished building. It's a 283 (.040 over) with 10:1 pistons, Duntov camshaft (098 series), 3 2-bbl carbs (Rochesters), a dual-point centrifugal distributor (part #110891) and '62 327 heads. Based on this equipment, I'd like to have suggestions regarding the following: What should the advance be in the distributor? What should the timing be on the harmonic balancer? What jets should I use in the carburetor? I realize that there are other related variables, but if you'd give me at least a starting place, I certainly would appreciate it. Virgil E. Price North Augusta, South Carolina You are correct. There are other influencing variables, but perhaps a couple of pointers…

His induction notice caught him with his decisions down. He waited too long to choose Army. If he had acted sooner, he would have had his pick of more J8 than 300 jobs. And his choice would have been guaranteed in writing before he joined up. So don't wait. Choose your specialty and get the best training in the world. In an outfit you can be proud of. There's no better way to become highly skilled. No better way to fulfill your military obligation. Your future, your decision … choose ARMY.…

Five months have ebbed away since Rufus Parnelli Jones coasted an injured turbine car into the inlet end of the pit apron at this year's edition of the 500 classic. Bitter disappointment prevailed in the STP garage following a fractured bearing race and a foreshortened Indy race. But the shadow cast on piston-engine cars by “Silent Sam” and an almost equally silent Parnelli Jones has reached into the office corners of US AC officialdom, the garages of Championship car builders all over the country and across the minds of automotive enthusiasts throughout the world. And yet, only one man rode the car at speeds competitive with the contemporary Indy-type vehicle. Curiously enough, he was not summoned in the US AC “investigation” that determined the immediate fate of turbine-powered race machines.…

Since the first race of the 1967 NASCAR season, Chrysler's racing director, Ronny Householder, has been registering repeated complaints with that sanctioning body, claiming that Chrysler's drivers were not getting a fair shake. They were allowed only one 4-barrel carburetor on their hemi engines while Ford and the rest of the wedge engines were allowed two carburetors. A lot of people agreed with Ronny and the Chrysler drivers, especially when Fords won Riverside, Daytona, Atlanta and several of the other major events of the season. Well, it looks as though Householder's number-one hero, Richard Petty, shot the boss down in flames because in addition to all the other “lesser” Grand National events he has won this year, Richard went out and captured the Darlington Southern 500 with such ridiculous ease…

The 1968 Sprint SS and Sprint H have a lot in common. And most of it is speed. From salt flats to scrambles track to suburbs, these are the talked-about 25O's. And here's why: Both models have the Harley-Davidson aluminum oversquare engine (holder of two AMA speed records). And it comes to you on a pair of strong, lightweight frames that have the balance and feel to match that power. Now add the lean styling of a scrambler, the newest pebble finishes, and a fast action 4 speed. That's living. That's moving. That's Sprint for 1968. Get acquainted at your Harley-Davidson dealer. But wear gloves. The new Sprints are hot.…

The traditional myth of performance carburetion goes something like “Man, with all that extra carburetion on there, I'll bet you've got to shut off the engine to fill the tank.” Such a comment is normally based on the fact that the added snap, made possible by proper utilization of multiple (or increased) carburetion, is called upon so often that the net effect is a decrease in fuel economy. When everything is going up and down and making all that pressure, human weakness enters the game and removes any inhibitions you might have to keep your “foot out of it.” It's a curiosity to the novice, but the duality of proper carb/manifold selection (based on a given set of engine conditions) and judicious use of the throttle foot can actually improve…

One of the most surprising machines of the year, performancewise, was Harley-Davidson's new 125cc Rapido (HRM test, June '67). Now comes news that the factory has made available to all Harley dealers an easy how-to-do it, hop-up data sheet to increase rear wheel horsepower on this model by 5 hp. The spec sheet, consisting of three pages, exactly describes cylinder head contouring, port sizes, ignition timing and exhaust tuning in such a manner that the most neophyte tuner should be able to come up with a super Rapido. Even with these modifications, the engine maintains a very good operating range, another advantage being that it is not necessary to purchase a bushel basket full of new parts. For the real kamakazi pilots, the factory is going to follow this warm-up…

Each year, more and more interest is developed in offshore racing here on the West Coast. The Hennessy Cup races held annually from Long Beach to San Francisco, as well as the Long Beach to San Diego races, are bringing forth some new and interesting machinery. “Invader,” designed and built by Phil Caricof of Aluminum Marine Co. in Costa Mesa, California, is one of the newest ships to be built specifically for these races. Phil built a turbine-powered, all-aluminum boat (HRM July '66) named “Whirlwind,” which was designed as a test bed for a new variable pitch-propeller-drive system. Having had a great deal of success with aluminum-hulled boats, Phil chose Alcoa's 5086 and 6161 alloy plates for the new hull. Plate thickness is 1/4-inch on the bottom, and the sides…

SELL — True classic. 1956 T-Bird rdstr w/hardtop. All power. New tires, mint condition. All original. See to appreciate. $1950 or best offer. Consider delivery. Mrs. R. F. Keller, 3531 N. 47 Ave., Omaha, Nebr. 68104. SELL — '49 Cad. fastback, 2-dr., air, engine overhauled, dual-range Hydro, power brakes, reclining seats, EZ eye glass, new red inter., Traction Masters, other extras. $875. Dr. M. L. Lehr, 3525 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77025. (713) 664-4432. SELL — 175 issues HRM from 4/51 to present and 50 misc. mags, $75. Brand new Traction Masters '57-'59 Ford, $17. Olds-Buick crank pulley for McCulloch/Paxton, $12. J. Van Lenten, 62 Van Duyne Ave., Wayne, N.J. 07470. SELL — '57 Cad. Eldorado brougham, collectors item. Orig. $14,000. Stainless steel top. White w/green leather inter. 2 4-bbl…

In retrospect, the '67 NHRA Nationals involved a number of safety-related subjects that are worthy of your awareness. And now that rules committees and administrators of drag sanctioning organizations and factory performance programs are developing their collective plan alterations of the '68 season, we might reflect for a few moments on a couple of areas which we feel should be of your (and their) concern. First, there were nine 6-second cars in the Top Fuel Eliminator qualifying bracket. Regardless of the impressiveness of these numbers (it would have taken a 6.97 to qualify if this had been an 8-car field!), there is a point of safety to be investigated. Earlier this year, gas dragsters were on the receiving end of a much-improved tire, and timing slips began reading into the…

DIAL HRM FOR EFFORT Dear Sirs: You guys are always pushing '32 roadsters full of chrome-rusting goop on all these backyard mechanics, wishing for the good old days, and your articles are unrealistic. All you guys do is say, “Yeh, we'll give Vic (Edelbrock) a call for a new hi-rise and Holley, then give Crower a call for a cam and kit and set this such-and-such engine up with Bill Thomas in a nice dry garage with all the tools you need, including torches, welders, lifts and chain falls.” Robert M. Daly Woodside, New York You overlooked a few minor points, Robert. Don't omit the calls to replace three worn-out sets of coveralls, a couple of trips to “Doc” Ostich's to patch up the nicks, and the stay-awake pills that…

Thursday at a Nationals is like no other Thursday of the year. It’s a composite of the old pros reuniting with competitors of a year past, the “semi-pro” scrambling to meet tech crew demands with which he hasn’t been confronted at his local strip, the fledgling participant running from one company truck to another gathering in the lube, decals, caps and other assorted giveaways which will become inevitable status symbols when he returns to Anywhere, U.S.A., at the conclusion of the “I went to the Nationals” event, and literally hundreds of curious, camerabearing members of the local populace. And this includes the passersby who delay the loading of grocery sacks and pre-Labor Day edibles for a look at what it is that’s packing the parking lot in the shopping center…

“Sie bedürfen Keiner besonderen handwerklichen Fahigkeiten, um den 'Shift-Star' anzubringen. Alles weitere finden Sie in der Packung.” Don't believe it? Well, it says so right on the instruction sheet which, roughly translated, suggests that you need not be a skilled mechanic to install this Porsche-type VW shift-stick; just look at the parts supplied. Fortunately, for you and for us, the instruction sheet is printed in English (as well as German), authenticating the manufacturing point of origin and facilitating use of the directions sheet for non-Germanic language scholars. The “Shift-Star” kit, a new item from SCAT Enterprises (Inglewood, California), is a direct offshoot from Porsche shift levers, effectively shortens the extremes of the VW shift pattern (particularly when used in conjunction with one of the brands of speed shift kits), requires…

You see it on the right. Our 400. Heavyweight of Pontiac's Magnificent Five Firebirds for 1968. Along with its heavy-duty but newly obliging suspension (asymmetrically mounted multiple leaf rearsprings and wide-ovals) there's a heavy-duty 3-speed with Hurst shifter. All standard. And augmented by a 330-hp, 400-cu.-in. V-8 5 Color pictures of Firebird 400 and other Great with 430ft. lbs. of torque and Quadrajet. Or you can select the new335-hp H.Q. engine, or a 335-hp Ram Air with functional scoops. But don't think we'd surround i-Tracks, specs and decals are yours for 30c (50c outside U.S.A.) you with all that exuberance and neglect elegance. Any Firebird can be ordered with knitted (just like mom used to make) vinyl upholstery. And picture windows (no Write to: '68 Wide-Tracks, P.O. Box 880B, 196…

Farm vehicles, dune buggies and mountain-climbing jeeps put air filters to a rugged test. When the filter fails, you can bet the engine is not far behind. Many of the four-wheel-drive owners use a couple of the paper-pack filters stacked together. All you need is a longer bolt on a threaded rod to accommodate the added heights. Don't forget that two filters can get just as clogged up as one — so keep 'em clean. The added element just gives you a little more time before the grit takes over. ALTERED AIR FOILS What with the long wheelbases, only a few dragsters can now be found with air foils mounted above the front axle. The AA/Fuel Altereds, on the other hand, have often found them a necessity. This roadster not…

ACCESSORY AWARD — Prize money added to the normal purse by manufacturers. APRON — low, flat edge of racetrack used in case of emergency. ARCA — Automobile Racing Club of America. BINDERS — Brakes. BITE — Traction on a racetrack. BLOWN ENGINE — When some part of engine breaks causing a puff of smoke. BONNET — Crash helmet. BOTTOM OUT — Centrifugal force on car as it enters high-bank turn on high-speed run. BROAD SLIDE — Driving sideways through turn on dirt track. COME APART — When engine blows and sprays metal on the track. CHARGER — Go or blow driver; runs at maximum speed all the time. CHEATER — Sly mechanic who can get around the rules. CHIEF MECHANIC —The “Boss” of racing operations. CHOPPING — Cutting in front…