Technical Willys That DIDN'T run a Hemi

Wild and Wooly 33. Steel with glass car built by Jim Kirby, raced by Bob Woolbright, sponsored by Hayden Coolers and Valley Head Service. Here raced and displayed by Jim White and Leon Gearhart, sponsored by Speedy's Garage, while in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Injected SBC and clutchflite. Later owned by George Gallimore, Darryl Woods, and Rob Frazier.

 

Those narrow Keystone's (15x4 IIRC) were not seen all that often that I recall. I had a pair of them in the early 70's.

 

Debonis (sp/?) Garden Center in Leominster, Mass sponsored a '40 that ran B and C gas using SBC's

 

How about a Willys running a 409 for a different combination? I doubt there were to many like it.

 

It is a little remembered fact that those were listed as factory options on the economy models.

 

History is so uncool, let's re-write it. As many have already said, hemi powered Willys were the minority.

 

There was a body of thought at the time that olds motors trumped chryslers on gas due to the combustion chamber design, I don't necessarily agree, I feel that airflow comes first, and the Chrysler cylinder head has more ultimate potential in this area. As time passed, the hemis did push the rockets aside in A, but by the time that happened bbc's were coming onto the scene, and they in turn pretty much pushed the Chrysler aside in A, although it took some time, and there were always hold-outs. And the last national event eliminator win by a gas supercharged car was a Chrysler, but HAMBers don't like me to talk about that one, so...
Let's just say it WASN'T a Willys...

 

When I mentioned Olds and flathead power, that was what I read. I was not around then, so hoping I understood correctly. Nothing I hate more than contributig to history being twisted.

 

Looks like the Del Rio Bros. "Blue Dog" car ran a BBC.

 

^^was that Anthony Del Rio, that ran the A/SR later? Man that was a pretty car.
EDITid a Google search, hemi32 confirmed on another thread that this was Anthony and Wayne Del Rio.

 

It was a matter of not having tires that could keep up with the power that the engines could produce. Hard compound, narrow, recap slicks were all there was until the 60s when tire manufacturers started making tires designed specifically for drag racing. A medium size V8 was the perfect match in torque and power for the weight of the car and tire capability so Chevies, Caddys, Olds, etc., were the perfect choice. Any big block plant would way overpower the tires and go up in smoke while the smaller engined cars put all the power on the ground and won races. In fact I have a Science and Mechanix book from around 1957 with an article on drag racing that talked about how motorcycles dominated top eliminator categories in drag racing. No automotive engined car could compete. However once tires caught up with engines, the competition was over. Hemis quickly took over. BB Chevies and Fords were also competitive but the air flow capabilities of the hemi dominated to this day. Ford was very competitive with their 427 hemi 'cammer but they discontinued it.

 

Ollie Olsen.

http://eastcoastdragtimeshalloffame...ollie-olsens-will-a-meaner-remains-a-mystery/

 

Looks like the Mallicoat Brothers were on to something!!

 

Here is the Wild and Wooly 33 after George Gallimore bought it, took it to Memphis, and put in a BBC. He just about had a blowover during wheelstand, causing the paint change. Check him out at Buckwheat Racing. These are the colors it wore when I got it from the next owner, Darryl Woods.

 

I love the look of those simple steel wheels.

 

That's pretty right there. The Corvette valve covers showed some class.

 

In 1980 I bought a '33 from an East Coast seller (@Nick the bandit). The 'glass Kellison front clip had three holes cut in the driver's side of the hood, indicating it had an inline six w/ tripower previously. Ironic, because my plans called for putting an inline in it and use it for street / strip. I wish I knew more of the car's history.

 

How fast is it?

 

Floyd and Ralph Grist’s shortened, Ford-powered Willys, perennially the world’s quickest and fastest unblown gasser. Later this season, Floyd Grist would puncture the 10-second barrier for unblown, full-fendered cars. The famous gasser is currently enjoying a second life as a street rod (see “Then & Now,” Nov. ’13 HRD).

 

I don't have a picture of the engine but i do have a picture of the Grist Bros. engine which is also a 430 MEL.

 

@wrenchbender has a Willys that never ran anything but a small journal SBC.

The big olds was popular both blown and naturally aspirated. We have a very twisted look at history. it is because we want history to match our desires.

 

Phil Parkers willys "GRAN-MA" ran a 341" bown SBC. Scans borrowed from @elgringo71 in another thread.

 

Jack merkels fiberglass 33 was his last gasser and had a blown injected big block Chevy.
Went to Indy two years running had Ohio George in the finals.
George won both times.
I know jack personally,a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
When he talks about those two races,all he will say is corporate backing is hard to beat on your own dime.

 

I seen the restored car myself at the 2014 Meltdown Drags.

 

Ollie Olsens Willys had a stroked 283 in it.

 

I think in the middle photo you posted, it had been updated to a late hemi.

 

Yes, Ollie Olsens car originaly had a 283 bored and stroked out to 352 from his last car but then was switched to a 426 Hemi. The car @Atwater Mike Is thinking of s probably the Bing's Speed Shop car.

 

Yes that's what I was thinking, think his name was Ed Bignelli(sp)? I have the article in hot rod on that car and the Ollie Olson car, but I am a long ways from home right now.