Indholdsfortegnelse for September 1969 i Hot Rod

OLDS-PONTIAC AXLE Vic Hubbard is making 31-tooth Olds and Pontiac rear axles available in any length. Made of the highest quality E-4340 chrome moly material, these new axles are precision-machined on tracer lathes to close tolerances. Available for ’57-’63 Olds and Pontiacs, models are priced at $119.95 per pair. Write for information before ordering special lengths. For catalog listing complete racing and marine parts and accessories, send $1 to Vic Hubbard Speed & Marine, Dept. HR, 21040 Meekland Ave., Hayward, California 94541. CUSTOM AIR CLEANERS A full 12 inches in diameter, this Apollo air cleaner by Namsco lets that engine breathe deeply. Brilliantly chrome-plated, it comes with a universal neck, fitting all 2-and 4-barrel carburetors between 4 7/32-and 5 ⅛-inch diameter. A P.V.C. adapter is also furnished. The replaceable high-filtration…

The middle-sized Ford, a both as Torino and Fairlane, has moved up in size and stature for 1970. It is 5.1 inches longer than the 1969 series, with 4.1 inches of this being in added front overhang. Sheet metal is totally changed, wheelbase is up one inch, front and rear track have been widened, and the sportsroof model (fastback) is lower. The slippery-looking front end and increased windshield angle will please the stock-car builders, and the rear deck, complete with subtle spoiler, is higher from ground level than the 68-69 fastbacks. Availability of the 429-cubic-inch engine in several performance models adds credibility to stock car racing with this powerplant. The true NASCAR-type hemispherical chamber engine is offered in limited quantity, with full emission-control devices attached, for showroom customers. This is…

Boat anchors come in an assortment of sizes, shapes, and prices. Some are designed specifically for marine use; others qualify by a lack of use in any other category, like the “scattered” little Chevy that was buzzed above 9000. With no rpm limiting device, missed shifts can turn the finest engine into scrap … or boat anchors. Essentially, there are two types of shut-off devices: One is the design that interrupts engine rpm, and the other is the type that chops off all ignition pulse voltage at some predetermined rpm level. The trouble with many rpm governors is the fact that plug “retire” following shut-off is often delayed for several hundred rpm, allowing multiple fuel loading of cylinders and a corresponding possibility of severe engine damage (from excessive combustion pressure).…

owner: Carroll Caudle Amarillo, Texas car: '55 Chevy C/MP The name Carroll Caudle is very respected in Street Eliminator ranks these days. And rightfully so, because Carroll has strapped it to the best of ’em with his “stock-looking” ’55 Chevy hardtop. He was aware from the outset that his li’l rig would be competing against aerodynamically smoother Camaros, ’Vettes, etc., but he figured that only added to the challenge. Carroll’s stormin’ Chevy is a part of the family and offers an inexpensive opportunity to pair off with the big boys. And pair off he did. His combo won him the NHRA Division IV points crown and many Modified Production National Records. To date, Carroll has wheeled his screamer through the quarter-mile in 11.32 seconds at over 123 mph. Pulling 3140…

owner: Steve Hall Bellflower, California car: '64 Corvette If one were inclined toward a bit of levity, he might term this car custom by “crunch.” Steve Hall of Bellflower, California, took delivery of a ’64 ’Vette on Christmas Day 1963. In the holiday spirit, he gave the car to J&D Corvette. They removed emblems, fine-detailed it, and gave it back. Steve made it into May of ’64 before, “crunch,” he got the whole front end wiped out. He went back to J&D for a full custom front end and a block sanding job. Next stop was for a Candy Bed paint job by Larry Watson. A 32-coat lacquer job yet. From then on, Steve’s spare coins went into chrome for the engine. A few months later, January of ’65 to…

owner: Lloyd White Portland, Oregon car: '45 Jeep There’s no record of how much time and money Lloyd White has spent on his pet project. Even his reason for undertaking the project is obscure. But one thing is for certain: He is now the owner of the world’s most beautiful war surplus roadster. Beginning with a 1945 military Jeep Model GPW, Lloyd reduced it to a pile of parts. These were either polished, painted, or discarded, depending upon their suitability for the proposed project. As you can see, most of the undercarriage went to the platers. The body, on the other hand, received 30 coats of Candy Blue over Pearl Lacquer. A set of five custom ’56 Chrysler wheels were dipped, and covered with Goodyear Sports Car Special tires. They’re…

owner: Ed Petrini, Jr. Annapolis, Maryland car: '51 Austin B/G In certain parts of the country, a racer can make out pretty well by just showing up at the strip with a helmet. In some areas, though, there just aren’t enough cars to go around; and if a racer wants to run the fast stuff, the only solution may be to build his own machine. This pretty well sums up the reason “Tiger” Ed Petrini, Jr., invested $4491 and two years in his super sano B/Gasser. Starting with a ’58 Poncho engine, Ed, with a big assist from the Coleman Bros. Speed Shop, punched it out to 376 cubes. M/T rods and pistons swing from a mildly reworked crank. The heads were attended to by Ladd’s Porting Service and feature…

Finding the median between a performance package and a smooth-working, streetable combination usually requires spending many hours undoing the “redone” modifications to one’s street machine. As in most racing applications, a strong street package is nothing more than a good-working combo of wisely selected and expertly tuned power-producing components. For example, the correct carb(s) and manifold are only part of the total induction system and to a great extent depend on the camshaft timing. Also, the camshaft relies on the valve springs for a workable rpm range, and fitted somewhere in this combination is the “spark” of the matter: the engine’s ignition system. Basically, an ignition system is meant to ignite the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber at the correct timing sequence with relation to piston location and valve…

Ken Ahrweiler and Dick Peterson of New Hyde Park, New York, are the epitome of one-upmanship in the motorcycle world; you may be able to pull a taller wheelie or turn a quicker quarter but, man, there’s no way you’re gonna tool around on a five-cylinder scooter! Their fun and games for the last seven years has been the act of breathing life back into a 1921 Megola found sleeping in the basement of a bicycle shop lo these many decades. Probably the most unorthodox motorcycle ever made in quantity, only three of the 2000 originally produced in Munich, Germany, are known to exist today. The five-cylinder side-valve radial engine, with a bore and stroke of 52 x 60mm, has a total displacement of 640cc and develops 8 horsepower capable…

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—1956 Chevy Sedan Delivery. Legal M or L/SA. Waibel heads, Stiles carbs, B & M Hydro, Stahl shocks, tires, headers, etc. All or part. $1875. Jim Comer, 201 West Tenth Avenue, Gastonia,…

Take a Breather… I’ve been noticing more and more letters concerning problems with oil consumption and sludge. I used to have the same problem and would like to pass on this simple remedy to others. My mill, (like others), has a breather tube for ventilating the crankcase. It’s located either on the valve cover or on the oil filler breather cap. On the end of the breather tube you'll often find a screen. If it becomes clogged, pressure may build up in the crankcase causing excessive oil consumption. The main reason it is neglected is that people don’t know it exists. It’s simply a matter of keeping every minor part clean. Isn't that right? P.D.S., Toronto, Ontario, Canada You're correct in stating that the screen on the breather cap must…

The 1970 Barracuda can’t be spotted by any family tracings reverting to the former ‘Cuda. This new one is built on the ‘“B” series chassis, which is the Belvedere design. Front-wheel track measurement is the same on the Gran Coupe, the luxury Barracuda, as it is on the Belvedere. The ‘Cuda measurement is wider. Rear-wheel track on both new Barracudas is wider than the Belvederes. Wheelbase is the same on the '70 ’Cudas as on the *69 models, but overall length is nearly six inches less. The new short-deck Barracuda is wider and lower than its ancestral forerunner. Total design of the new car is extremely smooth, and there’s virtually no controversial line or shape either on or in the car. It’s just a good-looking car, without qualification. It will…

owner: Bob Steakley Waco, Texas car: ‘69 Camaro FC Bob Steokley has owned a string of really righteous machines, but those who’ve seen the latest say it’s the most “together” rig yet. The Don Hardy-built 427-cubic-inch Chevy mill boasts stock cast iron heads with extra-large exhaust valves, CSC hard-chromed crank, Howard rods on cutdown Chevy pistons. The cam is also by Howard; c.r. is 10.25:1 with a Vertex mag supplying the fire to the 98-percent dose of nitro fed by the Hilborn injectors. A Keith Black gear drive is used. Headers are by Jardine. Power is fed through a Hardy-pre pared TorqueFlite transmission to the ’GO Olds positraction rear end churnin’ 3.90 gears. The Don Hardy chassis and aluminum work are hidden by a ’69 Camaro ’glass shell, artfully painted…

Like any great moment in life, there’s no forecasting when truly memorable events in auto racing will take place. There wasn't the vast crowd present at Michigan International Speedway that had been expected for the debut of stock car racing in that state, but all of us who were witnesses to the Motor State 500 are now one spot closer to reaching any limit there might be on humans for viewing once-in-a-lifetime occurrences. We saw the lead change 37 times over the course of 500 miles of honest racing, we saw nine different drivers head the pace at different times, three abreast going into the turns, and a last-lap duel between NASCAR’s two shiniest stars, as a result of which only one of them finished. Cale Yarborough won his second…

We've often pointed out in our many years of covering the Pikes Peak Auto Hill Climb that it is probably one of the most interesting races in the world to watch, but also one of the hardest races to watch. There is no single spot where you can see the entire race, short of a seat in your own private helicopter. Since the air gets pretty thin for chopper blades to bite into at 14,000 feet, even this isn't too practical. So with no perfect viewing locations along the 12.42-mile course and the most ideal one close to the top of the twisting, 150-plus turn gravel road, the organizers of the second oldest racing event in this country (1916) have more than their share of problems. This year was no…

The fourth in a series of NHRA Division I World Championship drag races came off fine despite a first-day rainout at Maple Grove Park Drag-O-Way. The track, located in the heart of Pennsylvania Amish farm country, was the site of some pretty tricky racing. If the drivers weren’t having trouble getting a bite, they were sliding through the traps, brakes locked up. Makes one wonder about the validity of the records and “break-out” rules. Still and all, there was a lot of hard drag racing, and that’s what the game is all about. This humble slave to the cause made an appearance to cover the meet, but we almost left empty-handed. The elements and fate were seemingly against us. First we almost couldn’t get past the gate. Then the rains…

owner: Ron Ellis Saginaw, Michigan car: '23 T AA/A According to Ron Ellis, all the knowledge he gained during ten active years in drag racing went into this AA/Altered. In turn, the Altered went through the field and became ’68 NHRA Nationals Class Champion. For his trip to the top, Ron selected a Logghe Chassis Company 4130 chrome moly tube frame and front end. The rear end is from a ’57-vintage Olds and uses 4.3:1 cogs. Logghe coil-over-shocks are used all around. Halibrand single spot binders are assisted by a Spirit 12-foot, Triform chute. The two-piece American Racing rear wheels are covered with 13.00 x 16 M&H slicks. American Racing front spokers are shod with Pirelli rubber. Wheelbase measurement on Ron’s Altered is 98 inches, with rear tread width at…

When Chevrolet Division introduced swing axles under their 1963 model Corvettes, Hurst/Airheart jumped on the bandwagon and came out with a pair of conversion kits allowing use of their disc brakes at each corner. These brakes are known to be free of drag, chatter, and fade, along with possessing plenty of reserve stopping power to match Sting Ray’s superlative scat. They incorporate a patented actuator which automatically senses and sets the precise clearance between puck and disc, continuously compensating for heat expansion, swell, and lining wear. Another reason one would want to change over from standard “shoe” brakes to Airheart discs is that the Meehanite disc, mounting bracket, and aluminum caliper when assembled weigh only 17 pounds, cutting the factory weight at each wheel by 25 pounds. They also feature…

TRIUMPH ALL THE WAY … Factory-entered Triumph Bon-nevilles came in first and second in the British 500-mile Grand Prix d'Endurance on the Thruxton circuit (Hants). Ten of the first twelve machines home in the 750cc class were Meriden-built, and Triumph Daytonas were first and third in the 500cc class. Percy Tait (pictured) won the 750cc class and was first overall with a total of 212 laps at 84.3 mph. Second-place finisher was John Cooper, who achieved 208 laps in a similar machine. Third was another Bonneville, fourth a 650cc BSA, and fifth a Triumph Trident making this model's British racing debut (it also took seventh overall position). In the 500cc class, a Triumph T100T Daytona ridden by Ray Knight claimed first place, achieving a total of 199 laps—more than the…

There aren’t any symptoms of paranoia in me. A few days of driving the Dodge Charger Daytona proved that. It evokes comment ranging from complimentary to degrading. But it does cause comment, and that’s not all bad. No matter where you take it, people stare—if for no other reason than it is radical. Dodge hopes it goes on doing that right into victory circle at Bill France’s new Talladega International Speedway on September 14. The Daytona will be introduced there at the track’s inaugural race, which equals Ford’s introducing their Talladega last February at Daytona. It isn’t a styling exercise. The Daytona was designed in a wind tunnel, and it’s quite likely that this approach will carry over in a very heavy way on future car designs. Many engineers within…

With a little luck, we’ll have one of these 1970 Baja’s on the test bed within the next couple of months after we give you the straight skinny on Yamaha’s keen 350. Be right back. Eighteen boats entered the race, which was run over a 95-mile shore-hugging course beginning in the Long Beach harbor, extending northward along the coast to the Malibu Pier, then back to Long Beach. Not one of the twelve boats that finished, and only one of the drivers (defending champion Bob Nord-skog), was in the starting field for last year’s Long Beach Hennessy Cup race. There’ve been a passel of boats built and even more are under construction. Running offshore in Southern California usually involves navigating a major portion of the Catalina Channel, which, like its…

Electrical problems are chronic off the road—batteries fall apart, switches break, wiring chafes and shorts out, and generators have a nasty habit of throwing in the towel at the wrong moment. Many of the competitors in long-distance off-road racing are beginning to use a marine switch in order to run two batteries. For a hard-start situation, the current from both batteries can be directed to the starter; if one battery takes a sag (case cracking, perhaps), the entire system can be run off the other battery. There are any number of possibilities which you don't have if you don't have such a switch.…

GREENE POWER Dear Mr. Greene: As a heretofore infrequent (but henceforth avid) reader of HRM, and a road racing fan to boot for seven years, I must compliment you on your Daytona report. It was unquestionably the best one I read, even if I did have to read it in an automotive publication. I must also heartily agree with you re “who really won Daytona.” David Watkins must be classed beyond the winners. “Champion” would be a more apt term for him. Why he wasn’t mentioned in any of the cycle mags is beyond me. (Probably because the name didn’t ring a bell to them.) Their reporting is limited, it seems, to the factory riders, and their name list stops at National Number 10. However, I don’t mind the 50-cent…

Dodge’s new Challenger is very similar in appearance to the Cuda line, yet there are many small differences that line the Challenger up in marketplace competition closer to the Cougar. Wheelbase is 110 inches, two inches greater than the ‘Cuda, and overall length is about five inches greater. Dodge’s treatment of this new body is done in very good taste, and the car is offered in three varieties: the basic Challenger, the Challenger R/T, and the Special Edition hardtop option to fit either the basic or R/T series. Performance flavor comes with the R/T. Tread width is the same, front and rear, as the Charger. Torsion front and rear leaf spring suspensions are carried over to the new Dodge sporty car. Interior room is especially good in the front seating…

After wandering around for a couple of years in search of a personality, the Montego is now at least getting a foothold in the U.S. auto scene, which is certainly not in need of further proliferation. Mercury’s performance-character cars in their intermediate branch have received the Cyclone title. There’s the regular Cyclone, the Cyclone GT, and the Cyclone Spoiler. All are very good-looking cars, coming off better in appearance than the Ford Division counterpart. There’s no fastback offering on the °’70 Cyclones, which may nullify the cars’ use in Grand National racing. We wouldn’t bet on that right now. The NASCAR-born 429 HO engine is very much alive in the Cyclone option list. The Cyclone and the Cyclone Spoiler can be had only with 429-cubicinch engines, in various power ratings,…

In today’s youth-oriented market, “performance” is the name of the game. Detroit’s response to those who insisted that something happen when the throttle is mashed has been the many-inch mill in a pony-sized car with rear axle gearing low enough to outdig a space shot. This package may be great for around-town dicing and drag racing, but its ability to pass everything but a gas station soon gives the owner a pain in the pocketbook. FoMoCo and their “Better Idea” team are exploring one possible solution to the performance/economy problem by way of their new Mercury Cougar Streep Eliminator (June ’69 HRM). Equipped with a Dana two-speed rear axle, this low ratio/high ratio combination provides a machine that’s acceptable for the street or strip. Unfortunately it’s not on your dealer’s…

Iast month we started our dyno tests on Chrysler’s 340 engine, and through parts interchanging and many dyno hours, we I were able to produce 450 hp from a relatively stock engine. We also went on record as having said this engine could pull in excess of 500 hp. We honestly expected to tell you all about these 500-hp runs in this issue, but due to an unfortunate and unscheduled component failure, we were forced to settle for a figure of 487. What actually happened was that the distributor driveshaft sheared at the oil pump end, and consequently the engine lost all oil pressure. To top things off, this occurred on a 6000 rpm run, and by the time the oil gauge reading was spotted, power was already dropping. This…

owner: Pete Johnson Vancouver, Washington car: '23 Roadster Pickup Although Pete Johnson had given a home to several sharp-looking street rods, his real dream was to build a rod with personality. Pete spent two years and $2500 on his T’ roadster pickup, but admits it’s just what he had in mind. He made the frame from 16-gauge, 1 ½-x 3 ½-inch rectangular tubing. All wiring and fuel lines have been routed through the rails. The handmade front axle is suspended on torsion bars running parallel to the frame rails. The 4.33:1 ’48 Ford rear axle is snubbed by coils and tubular shocks. The quick-change is accented with paint and pin-striping. Pete selected Del Proudfit to spray some Golden Yellow lacquer on the Ford Duplicators ’glass body. Mark Tomlinson stitched the…

Thirty-year-old Don Grotheer, champion drag racer from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is currently conducting the 1969 series of Plymouth Supercar Clinics in locations throughout the United States. In addition, Grotheer also maintains a demanding racing schedule. The Plymouth clinics are based on the fact that many drag racing enthusiasts need firsthand technical information to help them prepare their cars for sanctioned drag competition. The rudiments of winning drag racing are taught to amateur enthusiasts in a program that includes a film depicting the history of drag racing, a technical slide presentation, and a question-and-answer session handled by Don, who also provides those in attendance with tune-up tips. Don's capabilities as an instructor are attested to by his enviable record as a drag racing competitor. In 1963, his first year in a…

There was a time—and not so long ago—when an engine swap was a real hassle, albeit a very necessary step in achieving a domestic performance automobile. Studes and Oldsmobiles were dropped into Fords, Cadillacs into Studes—and the search went on for transmissions and rear ends which would take the extra pounding. This has now changed to the point where swaps are made with little rhyme or reason save that it is sometimes easier to swap engines than rebuild the original powerplant. And besides, you always wanted to put a small-block Chevy into that Mustang. Which brings us to this swap, the small-block Chevrolet into the ’64-through-’66 Mustangs. With the swap kit available from Bill Thomas Motors in Anaheim, California, the job is apt to become almost ho-hum, and judging by…

There’s only one thing we will guarantee if you use these Cal Custom bolt-on spoilers: You won’t fly. As odd as it may seem, this is one of the few decorative bolt-ons that are actually functional. They really do develop quite a bit of downward loading force. Of course the downward force exerted is in direct proportion to the speed of the car—great for high-speed cornering. It would be even more beneficial if Detroit’s suspension systems were able to cope with this kind of performance. All we’re really trying to say is that you shouldn’t depend on these spoilers to keep you on the road if you’re really makin’ it. We even figured out a new application for one of these bolt-on spoilers. By mounting it below the front bumper,…

It's common knowledge that any component operating under an extreme amount of friction requires a certain amount of cooling to complete its expected life span. The often-overlooked clutch falls into this same category and can be cooled by inserting spacers between the bottom and top halves of the bellhousing shield. This extra step of precaution could very well add life to your clutch unit. Sorta like Medi-Clutch-Care; remember, that's MCC. It's not a bit out of your paycheck—just a free insurance policy.…

The weather was so damp that you could clap your hands and practically create rain. And yet the tradition of spending the Fourth of July at Pismo Beach came off like the Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue. There were a thousand or so water pumpers, dune buggies, and four-wheel-drive rigs cruising around—a lot of weird stuff. There were some competitive events, such as hill climbs, sand drags, and an obstacle course. No one cared very much who won, but everyone seemed to be having a whale of a good time. That’s the way it should be off the road.…

Most everyone nowadays uses some type of gas-line cooler between the mechanical fuel pump and the carb. This is fine, but what about the excessive heat picked up by the pump from the engine heat? The pump is bolted directly to the engine, so consequently the heat is transmitted to the aluminum housing of the pump and boils the fuel. What to do? Install a piece of metal around the pump and bolt it to the front motormount bolt holes (or any other hole that happens to be convenient). Pack this circle with ice, thus eliminating the heat. The fuel now stays cool, not only at the gasline cooler, but at the fuel pump as well.…