Turning the 50' into a Gasser

im thinking about my 50 Olds into a g***er and i want to know what axle to use and what to do for steering? basically everything-Seann

i'll post pics of it when i get home

 

WOOO-HOOO!!!! YES YES Yes yes yes yes yes

 

You don't have to use a straight axle to have a "g***er". Merely modifying the engine makes it a "g***er". A straight axle, by itself, will not make the car a "g***er". Most cars with an independent front end were left with an independent front end when raced as a "g***er".
A "g***er" is nothing more than a car with a modified engine that wasn't allowed to run as a stock cl*** car because of the modifications. Also, cars that lacked grills or front bumpers were put in the gas cl***es, because stock cl***es required all body parts.



Mutt

 

"You don't have to use a straight axle to have a "g***er".

Mutt is correct. Here's a photo of the quintessential '50 Olds g***er from "the day". This legendary car of motor and fuel injector wizard Gene Adams set the standard for stock-bodied g***ers from day one.

Gene was the key man at Hilborn for many years and continues his work to this day - now at his own shop. In my mind, Gene is the most versatile, innovative and sucessful motor man ever in drag racing - bar none! A true engine master.

 

ooooo, thanks for the correction, my B...but yeah its got a 1960 394 in her already, 10 bolt in back.....im just looking for some sort of direction to move towards if you know what i mean.-Seann

 

It's not a olds but the shape is close...........hope this helps with your g***er project!

 

Personally, I think it's much more realistic (and traditional) to build a wolf in sheep's clothing.
With a 394 already in it, you are well on the way. You may want to ditch the 10 bolt for a Ford or Dana, though...


Mutt

 

those are cool pics....the 10 bolt was just rebuilt with posi...so im gonna keep that for awhile, i have a th400 for it, do you have any more suggestions for transmissions to use?

im looking to put a straight axle in it at some point, so i was just looking for what parts i would need for that swap

basically i would like to know all of the knowledge you guys do-Seann

 

At the top of the page is a link called Search. Click on it, and type 'Straight axle g***er' into the box. Click GO and you will get enough reading to tell you most of what you want to know.

After you have digested that, there are plenty of guys willing to fill in any blanks you might have with specific questions.

Good luck...

By the way, the TH400 will hold up fine, but the weak link will be the 10 bolt rear if you hook up the rear tires.


Mutt

 

I'm with mutt, that's the way that car NEEDS to look! I'd forget the straight axle. Maybe it's just me, but straight axle/g***er look is cool in other people's cars. I'd get tired of it. Now that car above is timeless.

 

Interesting to see this catching on, I'm building my Buick this way, wolf in sheeps clothing, about 700 pounds lighter with a power pak 283, otherwise stockish looking,with the acception of a removed front bumper. According to the NHRA rulebook the cube/weight ratio puts it in C/Gas. I love that first olds, there is truly nothing I love more than the early gas cl***es.

Deathmobile, if you find this era interesting I started a thread a while back with more information about the early Gas cl***es.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73606

 

well next winter im also goin straight axle im using a toyota manual pu box mas leaf spring kit and axle and my spindles alreadsy got the box and axle so its just the springs and perches now but for now its gonna be low in the nose
using mas or speedway is a good bet check out www.byronsg***ermadness.com good site lots of neet pics some good guys also

 

Put that 394 where it belongs: in an Anglia, where the front seat was.

Dave Mann
(602) 233-8400 weekdays
http://www.roadsters.com/

 

kool! thanks for the links and insight, i really appreciate it-Seann

 

You have to do it, there is no option.
Here is Dago88's 4 door at the digs.

 

Does that have the bolt in crossmember like the chevy's? If so i have a template for drilling 4"I beam to put between the frame and crossmember. Instant nose in the air and no other mods needed. My '53 was done like that back in the mid 60's.

 

Does anyone have anymore pics of Dago88's car??

 

Here are some more pics.The front was lifted by using coils out of a late model Ford Falcon , they fit perfectly and lifted it about 8 inches.The rest of the front suspension is stock .Any other questions ?
Cheers Dago
Sorry my pics are to big and I can't submit them ,I will post them when I get them down sized.

 

My friend and I install a MAS straight axle on my 53 chevy, with 53-54 chevy spendles cut for disk brakes. MAS is in most hot rod mags.
They come with leafsprings and with any drop that you want

 

Dago88's.............

 

Dago 88.............kool ride bro!!

 

Thanks for the pics and the info Dago and KustomG***er-Seann

 

Let's see it!

 

Thanks for posting the photos Skippy.How about some pics of the deathmobile Seann,Know off any cheap '49 '50 Olds coupes Ha Ha .
Cheers Dago

 

Mutt funny you should bring up the whole no need for a straight axle, build a sleeper thing.

The other day another HAMBer and I were talking about this very same thing. Seems most of the g***ers that I recall weren't stump jumpers at all. A lot had the grill and front bumper off and had narley motors.

Some of what I see at cruises would be more at home pre-running Baja or blasting through a mud pit.

 

Yeah, It seems as though "g***er" has reached the cult status of 'rat rod', and become an appearance thing. I think the effect is lost when the motor is revved, and it sounds like a bunch of angry bees.
The scene in American Grafitti when Toad revs the Impala, and Harrison Ford answers with the '55, is as cl***ic as you can get - I had some serious flashbacks when I first saw that!
I learned early on that it was better to put your money under the hood first, then in the suspension for springs, shocks, and gears.
It's sorta like a barking dog. The one that's quiet is the one you gotta look out for.
As I recall, that's where the no hubcap thing started, too. A serious motor would make you lose hubcaps on a regular basis, and if the car wasn't wearing any, it would be a sign to be a bit careful when you were choosing an opponent in a game of 'shifting for dollars'.


Mutt

 

sorry they took so long, but yeah here are some pics

 

oh yeah its at stock ride height now, in the first pic it was lowered 4 inches in back but that caused a lot of problems......and stories

 

Wow...don't see many coupes. Good luck with your build.


Mutt

 

Thanks Mutt.

hey Dago, did you get your car that high with just springs alone?