Indholdsfortegnelse for October 1983 i Hot Rod

Precedent Lincoln Lincoln Mercury’s 1984 Mark VII five passenger touring car is a truly exceptional piece of work. With a drag coefficient of only 38, it requires a mere 6.8 horsepower to maintain 50 mph. The unique new Electronic Air Suspension provides automatic, constant three-way car leveling using Goodyear air springs specifically developed for the Mark and the 1984 Continental. The Mark VII LSC version features a higher level suspension package that provides even higher vehicle performance and handling limits. Taking dead aim at exclusive European high-level touring cars, Ford has responded with a luxury class offering and enough high-performance equipment to put the Mark VII right at the top of the class. High Rollers With several Detroit automakers contemplating the use of hydraulic roller lifters in the near future,…

It’s 3:30 in the morning. I’m upside down, feet draped over the front seat backs, head crammed under the dashboard as I try to hook up a radio and speakers in my ’37. My mind is like stale pizza. I have long since resorted to talking out loud to myself.. talking myself through the ordeal; talking to stay clear headed. Someday I’ll look back at this night and laugh, I think, but right now street rodding doesn’t seem all that fun. Why am I doing this to myself? It takes a moment or two, but then it comes to me. It all started a year ago after the ’82 HOT ROD Super Nationals …. Leonard Emanuelson (HOT ROD’s Editor) and I were sitting in the Houston airport waiting for a…

Teachefs Pet By definition, a bad ride is a car that’s fast, clean, and bad looking. Paul Hart’s 1971 Olds Cutlass is all of this and more, with 350 cubic inches of supercharged Olds muscle to back it up. Paul is a school principal, and you can bet your blower belt he’s got the baddest ride in school. This Cutlass is as clean as they come, and the W-31-based engine has been carefully massaged to complement the Dyer’s 6-71 supercharger. A Competition Cams Stage II camshaft, Hooker headers, forged pistons, Wei- and manifold, and MSD ignition help to make the 350 run like it had a hundred more inches. A beefed Turbo 350 transmission with a TCI 3500 rpm stall speed converter and a B&M Starshifter direct all that Olds…

There’s no question, many of the earlier street machines look good when treated to the Super Street pro-style modifications that make most late-model cars look so nasty on the boulevard. Jerry Christenson of Minnetonka, Minnesota, couldn’t agree more, and he backs it up with one of the the baddest-looking ’56 Ford sedan delivery’s we’ve ever seen. Jerry rescued the car from a guy who was on the verge of turning it into a trailer (… if he could see it now). Jerry’s turned it into a first-class hauler… with all the muscle you could ask for. A 1970 460-c.i.d. Ford was set back in the chassis and outfitted with an Isky camshaft and a specially modified 1050-cfm Holley 3-barrel carburetor on an Offenhauser Port-O-Sonic intake manifold. Jerry ported the Cobra…

GM Automatic Transmission Swaps Swappers have been inquiring how the new-generation GM automatics compare to the traditional TH-350, TH-400, and Powerglide trannys. Some want to swap the new 4-speed overdrive automatics into older cars for gas mileage improvements (although whether they’re strong enough in stock form to survive behind a stout big-block is questionable). Others are building hot engines and desire the older transmissions’ brawnier internals. Some answers to these inquiries can be found by consulting the chart below. As can be seen, the Turbo Hydra-matic 200 3-speed with lockup converter (TH-200-C) and Turbo Hydra-matic 200-4R 4-speed overdrive (TH-200-4R) have the same overall length and the same mount location as the various TH-3 50 derivatives. While there are some long-applications, the TH-350 mount is located TH-350 extension housings used on…

Tool Crib At last! An inexpensive sheetmetal brake for the weekender. Williams Lowbuck comes through again with their new 6-foot, 20-gauge brake. This is the newest addition to the Lowbuck line, which includes a plate bender and all kinds of neat metalworking tools. The brake shown here has an adjustable top plate that allows you to radius each bend in a range from Yb to 3A inch. Although intended to be bolted to a workbench, the brake could be bolted to the floor with the help of a stand. For the complete Williams catalog, write to Williams Lowbuck Tools, 4175 California Ave., Norco, CA 91760. For $2, they’ll send you the latest in affordable benders ’n’ shapers. Editor’s Note: Those manufacturers with new or unique tools of interest to Automotive…

Tech Goof You might recall last month’s Tech Tip on swapping the new GM T5 5-speed manual trans into earlier cars. Since then, it has come to our attention that there is one more peculiarity to this trans: it must be mounted 30 degrees off vertical (that is, the top left corner is tilted toward 11 o’clock and the bottom right corner is tilted toward 5 o’clock), or the shifter will mount too far to the right. Thus, while the trans-to-bellhousing bolt pattern has the same spacing as other GM manual transmissions, the entire pattern is rotated 30 degrees on a special bellhousing, part No. 14060627. The trans’ rear mounting boss will mate flush with the crossmember, and utilize normal GM manual transmission mounts. Mopar Muscle Club Moves Please note…

That’s the Brakes CRC Chemicals has introduded a new brake cleaner and degreaser. It’s non-flammable, cleans fast, drips off, and evaporates completely leaving no trace of residue. CRC Chemicals, Dept. HR-10, 885 Louis Dr., Warminster, PA 18974, (215) 674-4300. Lights, Warranty, Action KC HiLites has introduced the first line of automotive lights, bulbs, and switches to carry a five-year warranty. KC will replace or repair all defective parts from burned out light bulbs to entire lighting systems, and usually within 10 days when shipped postpaid to their manufacturing facility. For more information on KC lights for racing, off-road, and street driving, send $ 1 for their catalog to KC HiLites, Inc., Dept. HR-10, Williams, AZ 86046. Kenwood’s Offerings Kenwood’s new KRC-3100 Cassette Receiver features quartz synthesized tuner, auto-reverse, automatic noise…

Compressors and air tools are some of the most important tools you can have in your workshop. Generally, air tools are lighter and have more power than electric tools, and if properly cared for, will outlast them. Because of their power and versatility, air tools save time and let you make a better finished product. At one time air tools and compressors were too expensive for the average hobbyist’s garage, but now through mail-order sales and most tool stores you can buy air hammers, drills, ratchets, grinders, and sanders at unbelievably low prices. Sure, they’re probably not up to commercial-type usage, but for the home workshop they’re great. This month’s HOT ROD Workshop will cover what air tools are available, how to care for them, and what size compressor is…

This month we initiate what we hope will be a continuing, though irregular, series of one-on-one discussions with industry leaders, racers, politicians, car builders, sanctioning body representatives, and others whose opinions, decisions, and attitudes affect hot rodding. We kick off our HOT ROD Interview series with a lengthy and insightful talk with Herb Fishel, the new head of Chevrolet’s Product Promotion department. Herb was recently chosen to fill the position long held at Chevrolet by Vince Piggins; he arrives from a similar position at the Buick Division, where he spearheaded Buick’s aggressive V6-based performance parts program. The Product Promotion department at Chevrolet is that branch of the company which designs and markets “heavy-duty,” “off-road,” and “bow tie” components; assembles one-off concept vehicles; and provides technical assistance and company promotion in…

Editor’s note: The following is the first in a mini-series of articles which will study an ecological problem of serious importance and consequence to hot rodders across our country—the vanishing American dragstrip. We all know that drag racing facilities have been steadily disappearing over the past decade and a half, that many of those which remain have been deteriorating for years, and that nearly all auto racing facilities in this country survive these days on a tenuous “endangered” list. This article and the ones following will look at the alternatives to dragstrip demise, and steps that certain individuals or associations have taken to provide safe, sanctioned, organized places for hot rodders to race. off of city streets. Dragstrip SURVIVAL When a brand-new dragstrip opens anywhere in the United States in…

Murphy, the famed optimist who is credited for discovering the “If Anything Can Go Wrong, It Will” law, could have been an employee of either Little John Buttera or Fat Jack Robinson. In other words, those who think a super-simple, Stroh’s Lakes-Modified roadster should go together like a well-oiled watch aren’t playing with a full deck. The truth of the matter was, the last three months before its departure from Jack’s on the Sunday before the Berea boogie were what we called a “California Thrash.” Yet, with the ample “help” of HOT ROD Super Nationals Queen Celeste Woschke-DeMilt, as the photographs show, the giveaway project culminated in a Short but Sweet ending. Epilogue … or Good Things Come in Small [Packages and Go to Good Homes] David Young, a maintenance…

Sharyn Tsicalos is a New York housewife with a flair for the unusual. Camaros are her passion, and while she doesn’t have any particular reason to leave town, one look at her ’68 Camaro convertible is enough to convince you that she could smoke it into the next county quicker than just about anyone around. With the help of her husband, John, she has turned an $800 beater into a tire-frying, street-driven terror that redefines the expression “ladies first.” Sharyn likes to take it to the streets, so John assembled a tunnel rammed 427 that’ll keep her well out in front. The ZL-1 cammed powerplant currently features ported, big port cylinder heads, TRW pistons on L88 rods, Hooker headers, MSD ignition, and a healthy dose of nitrous oxide injection. A…

Connecting Rod Prep—I Big-End—The rod journal end of the rod that rides on the crankshaft’s rod journal. Big-ends are resized for proper dimensions and roundness in a honing device after the rod caps have been ground slightly (similar to block align honing, discussed in this column previously). Small-End—The pin-end of the rod, through which the piston pin is fitted, which in turn attaches to the piston. The small-end is similarly honed to assure proper size and piston pin clearance, depending on whether pressed or floating pins are to be used. Beam—The narrow part of the rod between the big-end and the small-end. Bushing the Rod—Boring the small-end of the connecting rod out, and then pressing a bonze bushing into place. Usually performed if floating pins are to be usfed. Naturally,…

New Kid on the Block Newest of the ’84 Corvettes to appear in the Trans Am circuit is this one, designed and constructed by Rich Sloma, a veteran driver/builder employed as a mechanical engineer at Lockheed Corporation. This is the first full space frame car Rich has built, but you’d never know by looking at it—meticulous detailing and solid engineering ooze out all over this one. It’s different underneath, too. The drivetrain is a 310-c.i.d. Chevy ahead of a Hewland 5-speed transaxle (!) with the side plates removed and replaced with blanks. Trans Am rules state the trans must be in the stock location, but any box may be used. Rich also runs a quick-change rearend, giving him limitless flexibility. The Hewland can be set up with any ratio in…

We start with a near-perfect Marina blue 1969 Chevy Nova two-door sedan spotted in the Bob’s Big Boy parking lot. Turns out the car has been in storage for seven years, has 27,000 miles on it, is still running on the original tires, and, best of all, the proverbial little old lady owner is willing to sell… for $1200. After quickly unbolting and unloading the six-banger and automatic for $300, we have a $900 race car ready for some horsepower. The goal: 10.70-second e.t.’s at 130 mph. Our slide rule calculator says it takes 675 horsepower to make a 3400-pound car go 132 mph in the quarter. That’s simple enough. We’ve told you how fast we want to go … now just wait for the speed shop proprietor to ring…

You can imagine some people might be skeptical when Rick Dyer says his candy brandywine ’59 Corvette regularly wins car shows, wins Pro Gas drag meets, and drives on the street. Well, we photographed the car at the Street Machine Nats in Springfield, Illinois, and saw it on the streets for four days. In both 1981 and 1982 the Vette was ISCA class champion, so it obviously wins shows. And at the same time Rick campaigned the car at Pro Gas drag meets, taking a first at Gainesville and lasting three rounds at the tough Pop Rod meet at Martin 131, besides running regularly at the local Milan strip. As shown, the Vette turns consistent 9.90s at 140 mph. This is what you call a true triple threat vehicle. Actually,…

Ol’ Motown is famous for producing a lot of things … including automobiles, music, and “top enders.” For the record, the original top enders were what you would call, “out the back door” engineering exercises, which, during the musclecar era, used to patrol Woodward Avenue. They would go looking for fellow top enders in hopes of indulging themselves in … how would say … late-hour confrontations Those clandestine shootouts more or less died when the automakers phased themselves out of the business of building factory-fabricated hot rods. We say “more or less” because that era continues to this day, but on a more low-profile basis. Now individuals, not factory-trained engineers, occasionally meet late at night on some deserted expressway to do battle with their birds of play. Although these clandestine…

“You mean you’re gonna ride that thing all the way to Laguna Seca?” exclaimed the befuddled street rider who stared at the Honda XL600 from the saddle of a sleek GPz. “You can’t. That thing’s a dirt bike.” Well, the big 600 thumper not only dashed 325 miles to Laguna Seca, but frequently led a group of 36 street riders determined to stay at Mach I the whole way. They rode big ES Suzukis, Honda Interceptors, GPz Kawasa kis … but on the tighter, bumpier, twistier roads, the old dirt bike roosted ’em all. It actually set the pace. On the big sweepers and long high-speed straights, the XL ran about mid-pack with no problem. At the gas stops people stared at the semi-knobby tires, shook their heads in amazement,…

Address all HOT ROD Mart correspondence to: Dept. HRM, HOT ROD Magazine, 8490 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069. HOT ROD Mart requirements: 25-word limit per ad, not including name and address. We reserve the right to edit copy or refuse ads. While not responsible for accuracy of description, we will reject misleading statements. No ads from commercial firms will be accepted. Only one car may be listed in any one ad, but this limitation does not apply to parts or equipment listings. Only one month may be paid for per ad. $20 per ad must accompany each insertion. When photo is included, the rate is increased to $32.50 per insertion. Photos cannot be returned. Due to normal publication schedule, allow at least six months from time ad is received…

Tape Tricks When using electrical tape, I found that slicing across one side of the roll with a knife will allow you to tear the tape without using a knife each time. This can be a great timesaver when wiring. Rob Crick Damascus, Ohio Chassis Tips Open ends on the round tubing in a race car chassis can be capped by inserting a cup-type freeze plug insert of the appropriate size and blending the edges with a weld or body filler for a finished appearance. Freeze plugs are available in a variety of sizes at your local auto parts store. Michael Taylor Myrtle, Mississippi Oil Pan Safety Plus To keep the oil pan drain plug from vibrating loose, or possibly falling out completely, on Moroso and similar pans where a…