Indholdsfortegnelse for April 1969 i Hot Rod

After losing two “big ones” in 1968. it appeared to AA some people that the “Fighting Irish’’ out Garden Grove. California, way, would continue to be bridesmaids for a while longer. Yet it seemed inconceivable that they should hold the NHRA Top Speed mark for AA/Fuel rails at 229.59 mph. run consistently in the 6’s under any and all conditions, and not turn the trick at one “big” meet sooner or later. Well, backed up by Tim Beebe, John Mulligan (the “Zookeeper’’ himself) showed them how it’s done at the 9th Annual NHRA Winter nationals, held at Pomona, California. There was a whole lot of shoutin’ going on by the 51,000 spectators in attendance as Mulligan put down another California favorite, Don Prudhomme, during the final race of the meet.…

owner: Ken Olsen Atwater, California car: ’T’ Roadster/Pickup…

Today’s high-compression, big-inch engines operate in the 210°-230°F range, despite the fact that water at sea level boils at 212°F. The advent of pressurized cooling systems, and corresponding advances in radiator and cooling system designs, have made this possible. The artificial atmosphere created by the sealed system raises the boiling point to between 240-250 degrees, although such temperatures can be reached just as quickly under adverse conditions that include heavy traffic, high-speed cruising, load-pulling, steep grades, or even on a hot day with the air conditioner running. Circumstances like these make the cooling efficiency of even a good system marginal, and virtually guarantee trouble for a mediocre one. Which reminds us: Even though the sealed system may not be boiling at over 212°F, be very cautious while removing the radiator…

Back in the dark ages of high school, a IT rowdy with a ’51 Chevy lived down U the street. In one glorious weekend, he split the exhaust manifold (with no balance passage) and snaked a batch of assorted-size exhaust pipes all the way to the rear bumper. The passage of the warm fumes was interrupted by a pair of “Smittys” which had been severely violated. The mildly warmed-up Stove bolt was hooked to a Power glide, and when this dude laid his foot into the throttle shaft at five ayem (paper route), you’d swear it was a P-51 straining to get off the ground. We’ve never forgotten that sound and consequently developed a fondness pop a smooth, high-tor quing six of any make. Ak Miller touched off some interest…

It was 1950, and a young man with the fictitious-sounding name of Her-shel McGriff drove his ’50 Olds-mobile over more than 2000 miles of brutal South American and Mexican roads to win the stock car category of the first Pan-American Road Race. Then suddenly it was January, 1969, and a 42-year-old Hershel McGriff bridged the generation gap quite successfully by winning the third annual Permatex 200 at Riverside International Raceway. He drove another GM product at Riverside, a ’57 Chevy. Eight months prior to the race, McGriff had set about building this car in his hometown of Bridal Veil, Oregon, a town with a name that seems exactly suited for a man by the name of Hershel McGriff. Hershel owns a lumber business in Bridal Veil. Hershel wasn’t one of…

Having trouble with the rear end in your Jr. Stocker? Heah come de doctor. We discovered the prescription while traveling the country and talking with various stocker enthusiasts, gathering bits and pieces of information for your particular application. Rather than explain each step of assembling a third member, we’ll write about the special components and setup tools, and give you a few specifications for clearances. Your favorite shop manual will tell the rest. Major cause of failure in a ’55 through ’64 Chevy rear end are the ring and pinion gears, with axle breakage running a close second. Gear breakage is usually caused by the metal being too hard (brittle). Stock gears tend to chip, resulting in teeth fragmentation. This problem is easily solved by using heat-treated ring and pinion…

BRUSH-OFF Couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted this trick. Ever see a push broom attached permanently to a race car? Well, you have now. This fellow believes in ’doing things all the way; none of that quick brushoff on the line, then leaving those slicks unprotected for the rest of the run. Lawdy me! What racers won’t think of next. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Since it’s too obscure for the driver to read, we suppose this popular TV slogan on the valve cover of the McGrath & Kraus SS/H Camaro was strictly for the edification and amusement of photos and other privileged denizens of the congested pits at NHRA’s Winter nationals. PICK UP ON THIS Here’s a great little idea tor the bed of your pickup truck. The ring and pin…

SHOW SCHEDULES INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA Rod & Custom World of Cars, June 6-8, Forum. Custom Show Headquarters, P.O. Box 400, Maywood, California 90270. LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA International Custom Car & Motorcycle Show, April 24-27, Memorial Sports Arena. Tridents Car Club, P.O. Box 400, Maywood, California 90270. COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO Custom Auto Exhibit, April 19-20, Phil Long Ford. Larry Smith, P.O. Box 128, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901. WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA Custom Auto Show, April 4-6, West Palm Beach Auditorium. Alice Anne Holz, 2170 West Ridge Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603, (717) 872-5802. IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO Rod & Custom Car Show, June 7-8, City Recreation Center. Dick Brooks, 216 Davidson, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401, 523-3658. ISHPEMING, MICHIGAN Rod & Custom Auto Show, May 3-4, National Guard Armory. Peninsula Pistons Auto Club, Inc., P.O.…

There’s nothing like carting your own little tune-up stool around with you while on tour. Of course it works just as well on the home sod, too. At least that’s what Dan Higgins, driver of the “Green Dragon,” out of Seattle, Washington, has found. Danny was caught in action at the recent Winternationals in California. It saves a lot of back bending come valve-adjustment time. It’s ironic, but minutes after this picture was taken (while on tour in the pits), another “wrench” was heard to bemoan the fact that a little stool would sure come in handy.…

Not only did Rod Van de Grift wrap all the fuel lines on his tri power-equipped racer in an attempt to ward off engine heat, he also wrapped the upper radiator hose with aluminum foil. This appears to be a smooth move, as the hot water in the cylinder block and heads passes through this upper hose into the radiator. While at its hottest point, the outgoing water passes under the fuel line running from the pump to the carbs. Now all that’s left is to (gift) wrap the entire engine. On the serious side, even though he’s running a cool can, wrapping the upper hose is a step in the right direction.…

From this day on, you don’t have to depend on an off-the-shelf fuel system to make you a winner. The Carter Competition Series is here. Every piece is competition-engineered for competitive driving conditions. If you’re a competitor, these components were designed for you. The Thermo* Quad(tm) era has begun. Big in performance, and big in CFM. That’s new Thermo Quad. The Thermo* Quad is the carburetor The Carter Thermo-Quad, “The Hot One that Runs Cool,” is designed for big engines, big victories. Thermo*Quad’s new and unique fuel bowl is made of mineral fill phenolic resin, not metal, so the fuel stays 15 to 20 degrees cooler than in conventional carburetors to fight vapor lock and fuel starvation. Two Thermo*Quad models—one an 850 CFM and the other an incredible 1000 CFM-give…

Chevrolet’s success with building a real true-to-mankind sports car just might be attributed to their going about it in a serious way. No weird set-ups like doors disappearing into fenders, and no discomforts like side curtains and cutaway doors which Americans have outgrown. No other U.S. car maker has even hinted at equaling Chevy’s Corvette production since the first one rolled out in 1953, complete with Power glide and six-cylinder engine. More than 28,000 Corvettes were built and sold in the ’68 model year, and more could’ve been sold if production capacity had been greater. That’s saying a lot for this generation’s affluence. Base price on a coupe is just under $5000, and the convertible goes for $4500 plus some change. Our L-88-equipped test car was over $6500, and you…

With all the midweek activity and 1;W clutch testing by the Schiefer engineers, our interest soon became overwhelming. So we simply asked with what were they currently so involved. Their answer came on strong. Another first in the clutch industry is in the works at their Monterey Park plant. In fact, we were a bit shamefaced to learn they have been working with this new clutch for the past year and a half (some kind of secrecy). After we wiped the egg from our face, we were teased enough to ask a few more questions as to their findings. Complete clutch-testing program sheets were spread out for our inspection, along with a few time slips, which told the story. For example, a D/MP car gained.15-second over an older-style Schiefer unit,…

We’ll bet every time you pull an engine apart, you run down the street to “Fred” with a box of pistons to be milked, with the excuse always along the line that you “can’t afford a new micrometer.” Yet we’ve noticed that you always let Fred mike the pistons for you, which would indicate to us that you are not sure of yourself when reading the mike. No problem. Take a little time and a bit of concentration now, and you’ll never have to depend on someone else for reading again. In the first place, there is no mysgtery to a micro meter. No matter how you slice it, a mike is no more than a super-accurate ruler; and like rulers, there are a few different kinds around. Boy, are…

“Der Wienerschnitzel,” sponsored by a chain of hot dog. parlors. is the hottest dog of them all Jim Nicoll punched a 392 Dodge out to 400 cubes to power this hairy AA/FD. The 180-inch-wheel-base frame. front end. and aluminum body arc by T-Bar Chassis Company of Amarillo. Texas. The ’58 MoPar mill, built by Jim. features a Reath crank. Arisen aluminum pistons on M/T forged rods, and heads by Valley Hood Service. Donovan 2-inch valves are actuated by a Crower trick-grind com. A Cragar manifold and blower drive arc used on a Crower-prepared 6-71 GMC buffer with Hilborn 4-port injection. Flywheel. clutch, and pressure plate ore also Crower items. A ’56 Olds center section with 3.42:1 gears and Henry’s axles carry the rear end. Crazy point job is by Tom…

Roy Farley, owner of C&F Racing Equipment in Tulsa, Oklahoma, first built up his ’37 Stove bolt in 1964. Several engine swaps only whetted his appetite for more cubes, so last year he installed a ’57 hemi eased out to 398 cubic inches. The bottom end is stock, with M/T rods pushing Venolia flat tops toward Mondello modified heads. Valve action is by a Crower cam and kit and Donovan rockers. A Cragar manifold supports the Larkin-prepared 6-71 blower mounting a Hilborn bug catcher. A B&M Clutch Flite delivers to a 4.88:1 rear end. Steering for the tubular front axle is via a ’66 Corvair unit. The Candy Apricot coupe body features a G&E ’glass front end and lace paint by Imperial Kustoms of Tulsa. Bright work is by Arrow…

Kawasaki was first among the Japanese to recognize the natural progression of affluence by the new wave of trail-bike buyers, and the eventual need for a large-capacity touring machine. Almost immediately they filled the breach with a 650cc four-stroke twin that, although closely resembling the British BSA, went them one better with a roller-bearing lower end. But it still looked like a BSA and, although it is difficult to find anyone who will fault it, one still doesn’t see many big Kawasaki four-strokes around. Never theless. Kawasaki beat the rest of the Japanese to the draw on the big bike. Now, not content with merely possessing a large-displacement four-stroke, Kawasaki has rocked the jet set with the world’s best-kept secret: their announcement of a three-cylinder 500 two-stroke (not even their…

Last month in this space we stepped off onto some very thin ice and (began a loose discussion of a few elements which we felt should be given some thought if one is serious about traversing off-road terrain at speed. Our interest last month was centered around vehicle weight and power; this month we’ll attempt some damage to the general topic of suspension — which is as sure to spark an argument as politics. Most of the heavy earth-moving equipment, capable of carrying several tons of payload, rely strictly on their massive tires for suspension. Wheel travel is nil, yet these rigs run down a secondary road at forty miles an hour — loaded or unloaded. Not bad for a unit of this size, and a prime example of what…

The name of the game this month is speed! Jerry Gleason of Yorba Linda recently racked up a 188.46-mph drag boat run to top the old record by 7.02 mph. National Drag Boat Association requires a back-up run within three percent to make the new record official. When Jerry made his back-up run in the Charger-hulled “Mr. Ed,” he must have had both the can and the lid in the tank. When the spray settled and the Tri-Form chute dragged him to a stop, he had set a new all-time drag boat record of 190.26 mph in 7.70 seconds. NDBA has a new rule that per mits the three-percent option to be either up or down, thereby permitting ine best of any two runs to be taken as the record.…

Some racers will do anything to cut down on the weight of their race cars. Jess Tyree (of Tyree Headers) runs a ’69 Pontiac funny car on the Western drag strips, and is one of those weight-conscious guys. Jess is running a complete aluminum rearend housing under his Firebird, made up from tubing and sheet stock. It cost him a few coins, but he feels it’s worth it. Even the lift bars (one is visible at lower left in back of the disc brake) are of aluminum. Maybe this is the way to go.…

Maybe all the guys on our winner’s list could have done as well with another tach. Or may be not. All we know is, when a split second could make all the difference in the world, our tach didn’t slow anybody down. We designed it that way from the start. With the redline point right on top, and an easy-to-read anti-glare face. With solid-state circuitry that makes it the most accurate, responsive tach going. You never wonder whether you’ve got another 100 RPM left. You know. The same goes for our other instruments. All we promise is that they’re honest and easy to read. And more winners use them than we could count. Or take our 240-A electric fuel pump. All it does is deliver a constant supply of fuel…

When I build a car, I build the thing ready to go race. And when I go to race, I go to race and not to work on the damn thing.” Akton Miller is a “hot rodder” at heart. He speaks in a velvet shout and knows 17,341 race (and racy) stories … and “Polish jokes.” He enjoys attacking anything which challenges man and machine. Like the time he built a Chevy-powered Devin-bodied sporty car, and our own Publisher Ray Brock and Jerry Unser dared Ak to climb the 12 1/2-mile hill known as Pikes Peak. So Ak loaded the car onto the trailer, jumped in his pickup, and headed for the 14,110-foot rock. Upon arrival in the mountainous area of Colorado, Ak met his two friendly challengers (Ray and…

Surely without qualification, the AHRA 1969 Winter Nationals meet, held at Beeline Drag way in Phoenix, Arizona, was the best yet held by this sanctioning body. There were several indications that AHRA is rejuvenating tired blood or has just had a worthwhile transfusion. Despite some problems caused by inclement weather, the meet went off in an orderly and professional manner. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, windy and sporadic showers flecked the hours-old asphalt. Qualifying was delayed and then cut short. Sunday, dawn broke dry and sunny in the desert, but running was delayed for several hours until the strip’s surface dried. Amazingly, the newly paved Beeline track offered creditable traction, despite no aging and more than a little water. Basically, this meet was a sharp contrast to last year’s meet, which…

Like a lot of guys, Larry Christo pherson got his start in dragging attending the “midnight drags.” A pair of ’Vettes paved the way to his present 440-inch Chevy II, which runs in the funny classes, and that, according to 23-year old Larry, is “where the action is.” Texas Don Hardy built the chromes moly tube frame, which carried the Phoenix-based race car down the strip at 188 mph with a quick 7.79 second e.t. on its third run. In addition to Larry and driver Mike Hamby (seen together above) the crew is composed of Dan Geare, Corky Larson, and Dean LaPole. Noted Chevy owner driver Dick Harrell gave lots of assistance when it came time to assemble the chassis. Hardy did a beautiful job on the aluminum panel work…

Pickup truck owners who use their rig for hauling a camper or towing their race car, boat, or vacation trailer, appreciate the fact that factory-installed power is frequently less than adequate for highway travel. In fact, my ’64 Ford F-100 (292 CID V8 with 3-speed trans) could not maintain legal speeds on the uphill portions of many California highways when carrying a camper and loaded for a trip. Although the 160-hp, 292-cubic-inch V8 was the biggest engine available to ’64 F-100 purchasers, it just wasn’t up to the camper-hauling/trailer-towing task. A trip to the wrecking yard netted a 1967 Dodge Coronet 383 engine equipped with Torque Flite transmission. Measurements indicated that it was possible to install the Dodge engine and trans in the F-100 as a unit. Thus, only the…

The latest in trick parts for owners of ’64-’69 Chrysler hemis is this set of spark plug sleeves and seals developed by Milodon Engineering, Van Nuys, California. A few people have seals available for the early MoPar hemis, but some work is involved to install them. Unlike these predecessors, the new Milodon sleeves slip right into the stock head cavity; a hand-push fit. Neoprene O-ring seals seat in the top of the sleeves, creating a tight seal between them and the stock spark plug tubes. Naturally, the whole purpose of running these sleeves is to prevent oil from leaking, or running, into the combustion chamber every time the plug is removed. The new sleeves make like a dam, stopping all oil flow. They fit tight enough so that even when…

American Motors Corporation announced earlier this year that they will be represented by two teams of Javelins in the 1969 NASCAR Grand Touring championship racing division, in addition to another pair of Javelins being prepared for the ’69 Trans-Am circuit. This will be AM’s first full-fledged effort in NASCAR racing and their second tour on the Trans-Am courses. During ’68, Javelins placed second in six of 12 Trans American Championship sedan races entered — not bad for beginners. Javelin also was the only manufacturer’s team car to finish every race it ran. Again, not bad. One of the NASCAR teams will be under the auspices of Hurst Performance Products, Detroit, with Bob Tarozzi as team manager. Virginian Bob Tullins will be the driver. Both have considerable experience in preparing and…

This has to be the joke of the year. At least that was the admitted consensus of a few hundred dragster crewmen when they were informed at the recent NHRA Winternationals that all plexiglass windscreens had to be taped over to prevent their being burned should a fire of any nature occur. The rules book states that on open-bodied cars, a metal or other fireproof screen must be installed “so it will divert wind, liquids, foreign matter, etc., over the driver’s head.” Thus, most drivers used “cloth’’-backed masking tape, that grey stuff affectionately known as “magic” tape because it does everything. Everything, that is, except resist fire. A few wiser people, like the owner of the car shown here, carefully unwrapped their sandwiches and enclosed their plastic windscreens in aluminum…

Engineering prototype cars usually come off looking pretty bad. However, the slide rule boys on the Ford Motor Company’s engineering staff deviated from this axiom recently by coming up with a car that’s as loaded with looks as it is with technological innovations. It’s called the Techna and it owes its existence to FoMoCo’s desire to develop a 1970-ish family car with emphasis on maximum utilization of space. The Techna bears a slight similarity to the present Thunderbird, primarily in size. It is 209.7 inches long, 51 inches high, and has a 120-inch wheelbase. The curb weight of 4745 pounds doesn’t classify it as a lightweight, but considering all the equipment on board, we’re surprised it doesn’t weigh more. The most startling feature of Techna’s design is the six-foot-long doors.…

HOT ROD MART Requirements: 25 word limit per ad, not including name and address. We reserve right to edit copy or refuse ads. While not responsible for accuracy of description, we will reject misleading statements. No ads from commercial firms. Only one car may be listed in any one ad; this limitation not to apply to parts or equipment, however. $10 per ad must accompany each insertion. When photo is included, the rate is increased to $15 per insertion. Due to normal publication schedule, allow at least two months from time ad is received until it is printed. SELL—’62 Healey 3000. ’67 Corvette F.l. engine, professional conversion, Muncie, Hurst, Sun, S-W, many extras, superb handling, performance, details, pictures on request. A-l in and out. Robert Fried-hofer, 20253 Lorain Road, Fairview…