Indholdsfortegnelse for May 1987 i Hot Rod

Magazines are much like people. While in many respects they retain a basic personality, they do change as they mature. Oftentimes magazines change more frequently than people, and I think this is probably for the better. If you haven’t noticed yet, in the never-ending evolution of HOT ROD Magazine, things have changed again. As a result of a management decision, Pat Ganahl returns to his position as Senior Editor—while I pack my stuff at the Car Craft editor’s office and move it here to HOT ROD. Over the years I’ve been associated with hot rodders, I’ve noticed an interesting trend. When you first meet a true car fanatic, he doesn’t introduce himself by telling you about his family or his net worth. More often it’s, “Here, let me show you…

Special Events Incorporated has announced the grand prize giveaway car for participants of the Hot Rod Super Nationals. A tradition of the Super Nats, this year’s luck-of-the-draw car is a beautifully prepared, Pro Street ’67 Nova. The Nova is powered by a Crane-cammed 327 Chevy small-block. A built Turbo 350 trans, performance torque converter, and 9-inch Ford rearend comprise the remainder of the drivetrain. The Roger Lucas chassis features steamroller rear tires and a narrowed frame. Interior appointments include new weatherstripping from A&M SoffSeal, a six-point roll cage, reupholstered Corvette seats by Cars Plus of Xenia, Ohio, electrically actuated doors, and custom-aluminum dash inserts by Bob Wellbaum. The package was ultimately constructed and painted by Scott Sullivan with help from Jim Miller. For more information on this high-performance extravaganza taking…

No single automotive modification draws as much attention as a tuned exhaust note. Coupled with a hot cam, a well-constructed exhaust emits a certain harmony that will never go out of style. But while image is certainly high on our priority list, so is performance. Fortunately, an efficient exhaust system accomplishes both with equal flair. The phrase “dual exhaust” has always been regarded as hip street talk for any aspiring hot rodder. In fact, a set of duals should be among your first performance modifications. After all, an engine’s factory exhaust is barely adequate for evacuating combustion by products under the stock parameters. Consequently, by increasing flow in the intake tract before adding a dual exhaust only serves to back things up in the combustion chamber. The term for this…

Why in the world do people hot rod pickup trucks? They’re about as utilitarian and unglamorous as vehicles get. They don’t come in performance models. Yet they have been perennially popular with rodders, customizers, racers, and now off-roaders. Why? Maybe it’s the Cinderella syndrome. Hot rodding is basically the art of making silk purses out of sows’ ears, if you know what we mean. Turning a plain-Jane pickup into a boulevard head-turner is a significant accomplishment. On the other hand, maybe we rod pickups because they’re so plentiful and cheap (no one ever throws a pickup away). Then again, rodders and racers always have pickups around, to haul parts in, and … we can’t keep our hands off anything. Check it out. Terry McConnell, a talented pinstriper from the Tulsa…

Mike Erickson of Napa, California, raced this 428 Ford-engined ’61 Falcon for seven years, but finally decided it would be more fun on the street. So on went the legal goodies (lights, wipers, horn, mufflers, etc.) and Mickey Thompson street tires, and—presto chango—it’s now a 10.90/135 cruiser. The original steel body and ’glass front ride on a custom 2x3 tube chassis built by Mike and his brother Bob. Coil-overs suspend a 9-inch Ford rear and Econoline beam front axle, both narrowed to fit. The 1970 428 “FE” bigblock is relatively tame with Speed Pro pistons, Isky cam, an 850 Holley double-pumper on an Edelbrock intake, Mallory/MSD ignition, and custom headers. A beefed C-6 does the shifting. Jack Stutzman applied the intricate candy-red and yellow graphics over a blue base and…

One of the overlooked bargains in today’s rush towards owning and driving a member of the current crop of street hot rods is the once-dominant T-bucket. For a number of unrelated reasons, interest in modern-day buckets has tended to wane, even though these simple, affordable, and easy-to-assemble clones of Norm Grabowski’s “Kookie Kar” make perfect starting points for entry-level enthusiasts. About a year ago, Mickey Lauria and Jerry Gallicchio, the funny-talking team from Total Performance, Inc. (406 S.Orchard St., Rt. 5, Wallingford, CT 06492, 203/265-5667), came up with a rather unusual promotional tool. Why not offer a super-complete T-bucket kit designed for the neophyte street rodder…and make it so simple to assemble that even a pair of teenage girls could bolt it together with minimal help? So team Total devised…

Marloonsky Davis, HOT ROD Magazine’s human metronome, fell by my spacious office the other day with a most amazing question. “I got a guy on the phone who is planning to buy an aftermarket aluminum block for a big-block Chevy. So what do I tell him?” After suggesting three or four possibilities, I realized that Uncle KB had not spoken with forked tongue. Even Chevy-lovin’ tech-types like “the ’loon” haven’t, as yet, picked up on the fact that Keith Black Racing Engines (11120 Scott Ave., South Gate, CA 90280, 21⅜69-1518) manufactures more than late-hemi aluminum blocks, billet cranks, gear drives, oil pumps, etc. Black has, within the last year, begun to market both an all-alloy replacement block for fat-Rat fanatics as well as an Olds DRCE Y-block, all of which…

Bike TEST Make sure your socks are securely pulled up around your ankles—Yamaha’s clear intention with this horizon-seeking rocket is to blow them clean off. The five-valve FZ750, introduced in 1985, has stretched the limits of motorcycle engine technology past full-out race cars; its DOHC, bucket-and-shim valve actuation and three-intake, two-exhaust valve layout are simply the best, most durable valvetrain available on the planet. The competition has caught up with the FZ750 in terms of weight and chassis development in the intervening years, but now the punched-out FZR 1000—with its all-aluminum GP-replica Deltabox frame—has pushed Yamaha to the forefront again. The new mill is very closely based on the FZ750 bottom end, with bore and stroke increased to produce 989cc’s of displacement. The valves are bigger, of course, and the…

WE WEREN’T SERIOUS, FOLKS! I really liked your article “Caddy Hack.” What a great “Low Buck” feature! About five years ago I applied the same concept to an Olds 98. Mine, however, was street legal and driven 2 1/2 years. A friend of mine, Steve Groff of St. Charles, Missouri, did the same thing with a ’73 Buick Electra. Talk about low-buck head turners and rubber burners! James FreemanLouisville, Kentucky Re: “Caddy Hack,” HRM February ’87. Novel idea! Paul HealyToronto, Ontario, Canada I believe you used poor judgment in ruining a fine old Cadillac just to make it go fast. Why didn’t you cut up a Camaro? Brent GibsonSierra Madre, California i LOW BUCK SI! BRAVO! I’ve just seen a friend’s subscription copy of the February HOT ROD (I’ve bought…

Competition Eliminator is rapidly becoming the new showplace for drag cars that represent current production automobiles. Since no one offers 500-cubic-inch big-block passenger cars, Pro Stock racing is only a superficial representation of contemporary automotive thought. Consequently, Comp Eliminator is rapidly filling up with late-model body styles that run hard and win races with current production-based engines. Ron Cosner’s E/Altered 1987 Buick Somerset Regal is a perfect example. The car runs a production-based Buick V6 engine producing more than 500 hp. Fifteen years ago an Altered car would have been a bantam-bodied roadster with a small-block in it—and it wouldn’t have been as fast as Cosner’s new Regal. Technology has brought us a long way. Built at Warren Frank’s Automotive Racing Chassis out-side Baltimore, Maryland, and powered by a Cosner-built…

When hot rodders build a street machine or street rod, countless hours are expended selecting the proper major components, building the drivetrain, detailing the chassis, choosing the right tires and wheels, massaging the body, and spraying on the paint. No one pays much attention to the nuts and bolts—as long as they “look pretty” and don’t fall off. Unfortunately, because of poor selection and installation practices, all too often they do fall off, sometimes with disastrous consequences. With proper selection and installation practices, you can avoid endangering your ride (not to mention yourself). Here’s how. LOADS OF STRESS We’ll begin getting down to the “nuts and bolts” by first examining how in-use loads affect fastener design and performance. Bolts may be loaded in either tension or shear (see illustration). A…

What subcompact car has been in production virtually unchanged for more than 11 years, has a conventional coil-sprung double A-arm front suspension, a real transmission, and a real rearend? Answer: Chevy’s Chevette, still going strong in 1987 (third brake light and all) while holding its own against the cookie-cutter, front-drive, dog-and-pony acts. Granted, it only comes with a weak 4-cylinder, but thanks to the conventional drivetrain, the Chevette can be easily upgraded to a real man’s powerplant. Like the Frog Prince, all GM’s “T” car needs to win the hearts of its Bow-Tie brigade compatriots is an expert’s kiss … and the toad becomes king of the boulevard. In this case the wizard is Don Hardy Race Cars (202 W. Missouri, Floydada, TX 79235, 806/983-3774), otherwise well-known for its V8…

Hi-Lites It was just a matter of time before some enterprising rodder—like Valley Auto Accessory Mfg.—would offer one of those cyclops-style taillights for street hot rods. Picked as the “Best New Safety Product” at the ’86 NSRA Nationals, Valley Auto’s stoplight is small enough (¾ inches tall, 7 inches long, and 1 inch deep) to be both visible but not overpowering. Interested? Contact Valley Auto Accessories Mfg., Dept. HR-05, 619 25th Ave., Rock Island, IL 61201, (309) 793-4006.…

FIERY FIERO A GM product finally made it to the winner’s circle at Daytona when the Spice Engineering, AT&T-sponsored GTP-Light Pontiac Fiero of Don Bell, Jeff Kline, and Bob Earl outran the competition in its class at the 1987 Sunbank 24 Hours. The Pontiac Super Duty 4-cylinder-powered Fiero performed so well that it even allowed Bob Earl to break the GTP-L track record by nearly 3 seconds, while putting the car on the GTP-L pole with a 1:49.719 lap at 116.808 mph. At the termination of its eventful race—punctuated by a midnight electrical failure fixed on-track by driver Jeff Kline with radioed help from Pontiac Motorsports technical manager John Callies—the Fiero had covered 2243 miles at an average speed of 93.458 mph. Not bad for a car first debuted in…

Engine Tach The DT-501 engine tachometer picks up electrical impulses from the distributor or spark plug wires and a single chip micro computer translates them into rpm’s. The unit can be used from 2 to 15 inches away, measures up to 20,000 rpm’s with an accuracy of ±1 rpm, and provides updated readings every second. The DT-501 can be used on 2 or 4-cycle engines with up to 12 cylinders. For more info, contact A.B.S. Products, Dept. HR-05, 9624 Atlantic Ave., South Gate, CA 90280, (213) 564-9076. Chain Reaction In addition to cross-checking reference numbers, you can now visually verify that you’re buying the correct Cloyes matched timing chain set for your application, thanks to their new skin-card packaging. Cloyes True, Plus, and Heavy Duty matched speed sets are available…

Many people call the Chevrolet Corvette “America’s only true sports car.” Hot rodders, however, tend to see Chevy’s plastic fantastic as the apex of production-line performance, regardless of nation of origin. They go fast in a straight sprint, they haul bananas on the top end, they cut quick corners, and they look awfully good doing it. The Corvette mechanical platform—whether the early solid rear, the post-’62 IRS, or the new trick aluminum stuff—offers a plethora of performance options. And that ‘glass body just begs for slicking, smoothing, changing, and coating with custom paint. See what we mean.…

The rear suspension of a rear-wheel-drive automobile does much more than just support the car’s weight and absorb the roughness of the road for its passengers’ comfort. The springs and/or various links that tie the rearend to the chassis also have the painful task of pushing the car forward. Obviously, stock passenger car suspensions can’t be abused nor tolerate high-rpm drag-strip-style launches without some serious help. Wheelhop, loss of traction, or parts breakage would otherwise result. Bad news. The good news is that launch-time problems can easily be eliminated, thanks to a variety of aftermarket traction helpers. Traction/slapper bars, leaf links, and ladder bars are widely used by street and strip enthusiasts. Still, a more elaborate 4-link is necessary for positively locating the rearend—as well as turning massive amounts of…

Chevrolet’s Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe is the latest styling exercise on a car line first introduced in 1970. Basically an extension of the current Super Sport (SS) high-performance musclecar package, the Aerocoupe features a new sloped-back rear window to improve the car’s aerodynamics. When we initially introduced the Aerocoupe (“Super Slick,” September ’86) we foresaw two major problems. The first, and probably most significant, was availability. Only 200 Aerocoupes were due to be produced in ’86 for distribution in the Southeast. Fortunately, this obstacle is being addressed in ’87 with unlimited availability. Then, on a slightly smaller scale, the Aerocoupe—and all Montes for that matter—feature a ride height surpassed only by today’s four-wheel-drive trucks. While Chevy continues to overlook this visual detriment, we’ve decided to turn to the aftermarket to…

In this day and age of milled aluminum engine accessories, polished alloy cylinder heads and blowers, plated or polished stainless headers, smoothed and painted engine blocks, and aluminum paneling, many a hot rod engine compartment is still disgraced by an eyesore that sits atop a mountain of glitter—the carburetor. Aesthetically speaking, carburetors may be the most unsightly automotive parts ever designed, and their complexity leaves little hope for any improvement in their looks. Rather than waiting for carburetor manufacturers to design custom units for hot rodding applications (although rumor has it that Carter has something in the works, while Holley has just introduced their dress-up kits), you might as well learn to customize, dress up, or detail your carburetor(s) yourself. Here is a guide to some of the tricks that…

Steve Pierce and Jerry Se Franek own SPS Race Cars in Phoenix, Arizona, so their latest ride had to be something a little unusual. Using one of their own 4-link rear/strut front tube chassis as a basis, they decided to drape it (as low as possible) with a ’66 Mustang body. Then they squeezed in a similar-vintage 427 Ford Medium Riser big-block and Toploader 4-speed. (Too bad Ford didn’t offer this combination themselves in ’66.) Initial runs on the fresh 2090-pound car netted 9.40/147 times, but the team sees 8.90 capability. The “gennie” FE, built by Fast Eddie of Phoenix, uses a NASCAR block, stock steel crank, Arias 13.8:1 pistons, 276-degree/.642-inch-lift Crane cam with hollow tappets, SPS-ported heads, and a rare factory Ford Tunnel Wedge intake with two 660 Holleys.…

The ’82 Mustang GT will surely be remembered as the car that launched the second golden age of musclecars. It was the first of the new breed of performance cars to show some real speed, and Ford engineers have steadily refined it into one of the most capable performance sedans available. In an era when most automakers are proud to have their top performance car running in the 14’s, Ford has two distinctly different Mustangs capable of performing this feat—while matching more expensive performers corner for corner. Mustang’s credentials are worth the price of admission at nearly any performance arena, and Ford continues to fortify its position as a performance leader by developing the car to its maximum potential. The GT is the headliner in this performance duet, but the…

CARS & TRUCKS K5 BLAZER. One-of-a-kind, dual-wheel 4x4, 454 with double batteries and air horns. Custom blue paint with chrome and more chrome. Uncountable extras. $10,900, (214) 824-8356. ’69 CHEVY. 327, half-ton, fully loaded. $4800. Marvin D. McCarty, HC 63, Box 27, Ft. Towson, OK 74735, (405) 326-3959. ’70 CHEVELLE SS. Muncie 4-speed. 3.31 posi Under 20K since drivetrain rebuild and silver/black paint job. Black exterior, original interior. This California car never raced or wrecked. Car has been totally gone through. $6000 o.b.o. John Beck, P.O. Box 9306, Ft. Mohave, AZ 86427, (602) 763-5409. ’67 CAMARO RS 327. One owner, partial restoration, white with black vinyl top, black interior, 3-speed on console. Sharp car. New paint, roof, short-block (have original short-block and owner’s manual), runs great. $7000. Betty Walton, Box…