Indholdsfortegnelse for February 1973 i Hot Rod

Between December I of any given year and the following January 31 of the next year, race drivers and race teams engage in an annual program known as “finding a better deal.” This means that if you're a driver who's done well in the previous season, you check all your contacts to find out if you might be able to get a better ride for the next year. Better rides usually mean more money. And if you're running a racing team, your object is more or less the same. If your driver hasn't done well, but you know of some new prospect that possibly could do better and cost less, well, you go talk to him. Everyone is always looking at everybody else, but it seems that it's only during…

Orange County International Raceway. Southern California’s most modern and progressive drag strip, recently held their sixth annual running of the Manufacturers Funny Car Championships. Virtually all of the top Funny Cars in the nation were in attendance (with the exception of Don Schumacher’s fleet of Plymouths, Jake Johnston's Charger. Roger Lindamood's ‘Cuda and a few others) for the most prestigious of all Funny Car events. Sixty cars tried to fill the 32 open qualifying spots, but it was a virtual unknown named Billy Meyer who slipped in and blew everyone into the weeds. His low time of 6.51 during the first round stood as low e.t. of the event and qualified him for the money against Ron Colson. The unsponsored Waco, Texas, eighteen-year-old was aided only by the name of…

Triumph, the marque in British motorcycles, has just developed the finest-handling dual-purpose machine to hit our shores. Sticking with their conventional engine design and traditional styling. Triumph has also come out with the best-looking trail bike in the business. With the Japanese bombarding the trail bike market with heavy four-strokes and scads of two-stroke singles. Triumph saw an opening in the sales market for the return of their vertical twin. Decision on the powerplant was simple: Use old dependable. the 500cc (30 ½ c.i.) T 100 four-stroke twin. The chassis is merely a reshaped frame from the world-famous 500cc single-cylinder motocrosser from BSA (Triumph's parent company). The frame was wrapped around the twincylinderengine, and suspension units from the motocrosser were found to be the best choice. Handsome appearance of the…

DIAPHRAGM PEDDLIN'? The clutch in my '67 Pontiac Firebird is a factory diaphragm unit that has been giving me trouble since replacing the disc about eight months ago. The mechanic who did the job says I try to shift the car too fast and that there is nothing wrong with the installation. I say he made a mistake somewhere, because the pedal didn't stay down on the floor during shifts before he worked on the clutch. What do you think? Patricia Roach Miami, Florida You're a GIRL! What are you doin' power-changin' the gears on a … Take the car back to the mechanic and have him adjust the air-gap (space between the clutch disc and flywheel friction face at maximum clutch release). For most applications, this gap should be.035-.050-inch.…

HOT ROD MART Requirements: 25-word limit per ad, not includinig 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 equpment, however. Please state preference for street or competition listing. $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. STREET SELL—1969 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate, 425-hp 427, balanced, blueprinted, cc'd, cam gears, converter, etc. 4500 original miles, 1972 Bock trailer (deluxe), total cost $15,000, sacrifice…

RECAP … In last month's column I ran some details on the Canadian racers at (he World Finals in Amarillo, hut because of deadlines and the lime (hat had elapsed while the racers resumed. I didn't have full coverage. Gary Beck again accounted well for him self and his Eidmonton-bascd Fueler by qualifying well into the field with some 6.70s l he high altitude and the slick surface presented him with some unfamiliar prob. Icms. and Gary was not happy with his times. Aller a summer of 6.20s and 6.30s. along with his impressive Nationals win at 6.11. it was obviously an off meet for Beck, and he simply didn't have enough lime to dial The car in. Fie improved slightly in the first round with a 665. hut the…

For the two previous years of its existence, the running of the Supernationals has been nothing more than another one of your well-executed NHRA drag championships. The national competitor turnout has been respectable for a November event in California, but the local spectator response had been less than overwhelming. The first year it was the Mattel Supernationals, and the next time around it was just the Supernationals, with no outside money. The financial structuring of these two events was considerably different from your normal NHRA National event, as Ontario Motor Speedway put on the affair and hired in the NHRA to physically run the event. Normally NHRA events of this national scope are put together by the sanctioning body, with NHRA providing the financing and reaping the profits. This year…

It's often very difficult to determine why one engine outperforms another. Basically there are two factors which govern available horsepower from an engine, volumetric efficiency and thermal efficiency. Volumetric efficiency is determined by the amount of fuel/air that flows in and out of the combustion chambers, and thermal efficiency is governed by the amount of heat that is made in the chambers. Although other factors are involved, one way to build additional cylinder heat is with higher compression ratios. It's common knowledge that many of the hard-running small- and big-block Chevy engines are assembled with high compression ratios. In fact, some push the 14:1 mark. Although ratios this high are difficult to obtain, it is possible. To build a high-ratio Chevy engine, a large piston dome is required, along with…

Now that drag racing is approaching the popularity once enjoyed only by such national spectator sports as football and baseball, it is fast becoming a target for exploitation by large corporations such as Mattel, Coca-Cola, Revell, etc. In an attempt to promote a youth-oriented image and increase their public exposure, these companies have spent many thousands of dollars on drag machinery that has put well-known drivers like Don Prudhomme, Tom McEwen and Gene Snow on a par with such nationally known sports figures as Henry Aaron and Wilt Chamberlain. This big-business involvement shouldn't be scorned, however, as it has been one of the most prominent factors in the recent growth and popularity of drag racing. The day may soon come when some of these dollars trickle down into the sportsman…

The modern six-cylinder engine is the automotive equivalent of the packhorse. Overburdened and underfed, this beast works best at slow speeds, providing an adequate supply of horsepower on demand and without complaint. It is tirelessj reliable and economical and perfoms its function almost endlessly. The in-line six is a masterpiece of modern engineering, but its performance image is but a remnant of the halcyon days when Hudson Hornets, powered by 300-inch six-bangers, ruled the NASCAR circuit. Nowadays the ubiquitous V8 receives all the attention, while the noble six is relegated to yeoman's duty in taxicabs and delivery trucks. The latent horsepower of a six does exist and, like Sleeping Beauty, it can be awakened. But it'll take more than a kiss. Improving the performance of a six-cylinder engine will require…

Last month we brought you the introduction to the head swapping guide, as well as the Ford, Chrysler and American Motors information. As promised,. here's the conclusion, with all the General Motors poop. BUICK Buick is currently producing two engine families, a small-block and a big-block. The small-block 350 started in '68 and has been the same ever since, while the bigblock first appeared in '67 as a 400 and has since grown to a 430 and 455. Buick also produced the 364, 401 and 425 series from '57 to '66, and the heads from any of these engines will interchange with each other. The only caution here is to be very careful with the head gasket, because the later gaskets have offset water passage holes in the center. Make…

They're gearing up in Las Vegas for the 1973 edition of the Del Webb Desert Rallye (formerly the Mint 400). In addition to a whopping $150,000 purse, a new course has been created for this year's “most grueling” off-road race. The course will make a 400-mile loop through the Nevada desert, rather than the six-lap short course used in the past. Seems the Bureau of Land Management, which cooperates fully with race officials, felt this new arrangement would cause less strain on wildlife in the area. American Motors star Wally Booth has a brand-new Gremlin Pro Stocker that will also appear at the Winternats. It's super-trick and super-light, and it can definitely be classified as a tube-frame Pro car. The immaculate machine is a product of Ron Fournier's Race Crafters…

Over the past few months, we've stated in numerous articles (including our tech feature on Grump's 331-inch Chevy) that the main reason for the horsepower gains enjoyed by many of the Modified and Pro Stock racers has been the direct result of cylinder head development and cam timing. For those of you who have been paying attention, here's the skinny on the latest in cylinder head porting. In its original form, a cylinder head port configuration is not necessarily designed for optimum performance. Some ports, of course, flow better than others. This is one of the primary reasons why a small-block Chevy engine runs so well in modified form. Going in, the small-block Chevy port configuration flows better, with less work, than most other stock ports. Also, due to the…

It was October 9, 1955—opening day at Lions Drag Strip in Wilmington. California. Mickey Thompson was the track manager and only paid employee. He and his all-volunteer staff had no idea what to expect. They were prepared to handle up to 2500 people and possibly 50 cars. But over 10.000 people came swarming through the dusty field and down to the track that day. The crowd had no patience with the incredibly long lines at the ticket booth. They simply dismantled what little fence there was and made their way down to the logs that served as seats. Of the 400 cars that showed up that day, over 25 percent had to be turned away, due to bald tires and generally unsafe condition. The P.A. system broke down. The portable…

In 1969, the two-mile paved oval located on Highway 6, just a few miles south of Bryan/College Station (home of Texas A&M) opened its gates just as NASCAR was closing its doors on wide-open Holley carburetors. Buddy Baker, driving then for Cotton Owens, established the qualifying record, running 176.284 mph. That record has never been equaled. Reasons for this are the ever-tightening restrictions on NASCAR Grand National carburetor openings and the loss of the winged Dodges and Plymouths from GN competition. Back then, the Texas track was called Texas International Motor Speedway and was owned, or at least financed, by the American International Raceway's group out of Detroit. If you're a student of racing history, you know that AIR, and the tracks which it controlled, have suffered greatly in the…

Over the past few years. Chrysler Corporation has taken the time to evaluate a number of their more popular engine/carburetor combinations in an effort to improve the “off-road” performance of these vehicles. Now that government legislators have passed bills that have imposed strict emission standards, some street-use carburetor modifications will only be legal on pre 1968 automobiles. Even though Detroit has recently been tight-lipped about giving out performance data, there are tech-tip bulletins available which cover off-road performance modifications. The Chrysler tech sheets give tune-up tips for each of their engines. The information covers everything from suggested “on the strip” carb modifications to recommended header configurations, and even lubrication system ideas. If you are interested in obtaining any of Chrysler's performance bulletins, write to Larry Shepard, Chrysler Motors Corporation, P.O.…

October 26, 1972; write it on the wall. It marks a historic event in motorcycling, the birthday of the first six-cylinder motorcycle. Sired by the Benelli Brothers, Marco and Luigi, the Six was developed under the guidance of their new president, Alejandro De Tomaso of Ford/De Tomaso fame. The combination of Benelli craftsmanship, dating back to near the turn of the century, and De Tomaso's avantgarde styling has produced a machine which looks, sounds and feels to fulfill the new president's almost fanatical goal: to steal the lead from the Japanese. Reportedly a mere 1 ¾ inches wider than a Honda Four, the 750cc Benelli Six carries most of its growth in the upper portion of the engine, the cylinder barrels, as opposed to the cases below. There is very…