June Already? Another Damn BANGER MEET!!!

I just got back from a four day thrash at my Dad's in the mountains of North Carolina, and got a lot more done than I expected. Seems like the project transitioned from an idea to an actual car. I was HOPING to drive it later this year, now I am starting to PLAN on it!

I scored a rebuilt B engine since my last photo update ('32 with non-counter balanced crank) and am very excited to see how it runs in the car - sounded great on the test stand!

We are still going to remove a leaf from the rear and install a reversed eye main leaf, that should bring the rear down a couple more inches. Just didn't get to it this trip. Also still have to get the rear converted to hydraulics...

I have always imagined this to be maroon, but it looks so good in DP90 that it may stay that way for a long time. The paint turned out much nicer than I expected - not bad for a driveway paint job. Plans are for a full hood, deluxe windshield, stock roadster seat, and a handmade wooden bed.

Thanks for all of the inspiration from these banger threads!
Will Kimble

 

Will...damn. That's great. Seriously.
If it were me? As is. No hood, no screen, no bed....but that's me.

I'm jealous of ya.

 

Be a shame to get it dirty! I like the primer, looks like old times.

 

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Will, your Banger/Rod project is sooo bitch'n! If you're going to spin that "B" baby up, particularly with that crank, put a Harmonic Damper on it. You can modify a SBC damper; or get one that's been modified from Jay Steel at Taylor Engine in Whittier, CA.
Now for my contrib to the meeting:

Dian and I were able to pull of another rather successful weekend at the Wine Country Classic, held at Infineon Raceway (Sears Point), California. We were able to garner second place finishes in each day's events: Saturday's Qualifying; and Sunday's Main. Saturday's event was harder, both on me and the car; in that, I had to start in the pit lane (in the back of the "pack"). I was late to the starting grid, as I was refueling; and, in my old age, was having trouble figuring out the gas pump! OH WELL!
After sorting through most of the pack, sitting in fourth place; and getting tired, I thought of taking it easy, coasting "home". However, I saw the second and third place cars, about a half to a mile ahead of me. I guess the "Old Fire Dog" in me took over, and I "turned up the wick". In a lap, or so, I caught up with the two. Jan Voboril (an intrepid competitor) in a Frontenac Ford Indy/Champ Car, began to use his superior power (just about twice mine), to block me. I waited about a half a lap, to come to a favorite place of mine to pass. Coming down the Start/Finish straight, full on it, approaching a slower car; I made a move to the inside (we were coming to a left turn). Jan bit the bait, and moved to the left to block. I went to the outside, to the right of the slower car. I kept my foot in it (all the way to the firewall); and did one of my "outside slide jobs" on poor 'ol Jan. According to the driver of the slower car, I shot by Jan, going 30 to 50 m.p.h. faster. My momentum took me up the hill, into the second turn, right behind the second place car, Mike Cleary in a 1934 Studebaker 2 man Indy Car. Mike, being a gentleman driver, didn't try to block me. However, we both had to slow for traffic; and Jan caught up us. As we entered a fast, downhill, right hand turn called "The Carousel", Mike slowed for traffic; and Jan decided he wanted to force his way to the inside. I made a brief move to the inside, to make sure Jan would stay committed to the inside; and, using my momentum, I put my foot in it, to slide around to the outside, passing all of them. Because I had momentum, neither Mike or Jan could catch me, going up the next straight; and within a few turns, I was gone. And so, the 2nd place finish, behind Peter Giddings, a "World Class" driver, in his 1935 8C Alfa Romeo Grand Prix car.
I complained of an intermittent miss, at speed, in the engine. Russ Aves, with Sal Jacobs, took over; and diagnosed it to be a defective ignition lead. They fixed it, and we were good to go.
Sunday, I showed up to the starting grid on time. Peter Giddings, of course, had "The Pole"; I was on the outside. My goal, other than finishing the race, was to see how far I could stay up with Peter. At the rolling start, I stayed in second gear (I normally will drop into third, or high; and leave it). I was able to stay close for the first five turns; but, once we hit the first long straight, the Alfa's 430 h.p. and five speed gear box took over, and away he went. The rest of the race was uneventful.
We had a great turnout of friends: In addition to Dian, Russ and Sal, Denny Howland, Howard Melschau, Bob and Carlotta Dathe, were there for support. In addition to the encouragement of my friends, I received a lot of positive comment from spectators. I really appreciated everybody's attention. It made it all worth it.
So, hopefully, its on to Monterey for the "Historics" in August. That, of course, if I get an invite.
That's my contribution; and I'm sticking with it!
"Dawg"

 

Thanks for the kind words guys - it has been a long and spendy road to get to this point, the encouragement really helps and I sincerely appreciate it.

I don't think I have ever seen a '30-31 extended cab roadster pickup done up this traditionally before. I am still trying to figure out exactly what I've got. Artiki's ideas are interesting, it is easy to look at it and envision it more as a modified than a RPU.

As for the hood, I am going to start with a stock '30-31 full hood and go from there. It is easy to remove and run without, or alter it into just a hood top later. I need the windshield to block the air for my big head! You can lay a '30-31 windshield all the way down on the gas tank like a Jeep, can't you?

I am pretty much committed to the stock gas tank (and dash, steering column support, etc.) and it looks like I will even be able to keep gravity feed to the carb since the manifold is pretty low. So an oval T gas tank out back is probably not in the cards. But maybe... Would give me an excuse to find and hook up a B fuel pump!

One idea I had was to put a big, black trunk out back instead of a pickup bed. Any opinions on that idea?

And I am a woodworker by trade, so if I do a wooden bed it will be a cool one...

Thanks again,
Will Kimble
www.kimblemandolins.com

 

Hi Monkeybiker, here should be a pic of the s.u's .No real issues with them, she's popping a bit as the revs get up, could be leaning out or electrics .I have a twin downdraught manifold and a few 94's [81's dont seem to exist here] so i thought a pair of singles would do ,plus i can then run bonnet sides and keep the local boys guessing!! The carbs are a swapmeet pair [1 1/2" I think] . The manifold is just some pipe,flamecut flanges and a balence tube [ which also means i cant run headers] and i rigged up a idle rod from the valve cover to a bracket on the frame for the linkages [right hand drive of course] .Hope this helps, thanks Brett

 

Will, very cool engine compartment. I am curious as to who makes that intake manifold?

 

Will that ride looks so perfect.. I take it that you're using a 30-31 roadster pickup cab?? I'm in love.... motivation man motivation.. I got the frame, just need the rest and I'm thinking I'm gonna get it soon! thanks cheers!

 

Ah - and RHD too like my Sedan. So - would the carbs fit within the bonnet line with shorter ram pipes? I'm probably going to a header anyway so hope to keep them tight to the block. Or throw them away and use a 94....

 

From my initial mock-ups with SU's it seems that they will fit under the bonnet, its very close though. Don't think theres much chance of keeping a ram pipe under the bonnet.

To run SU's and a header you will have to space the carbs out on a longer manifold, which then causes more problems with the fit under the bonnet.

I don't intend running a balance tube, but I supopose you could always loop a rubber one over the header??

 

Coupehead - the intake manifold is a "Scalded Dog" from Charlie Yapp at SOSS. I cut off the front throttle linkage boss, ground off the letters, sanded out the machine marks, and had it glass bead blasted.

Retro54 - the body is an extended cab '30-31 roadster pickup from Brookville.

Lucky Star - Thanks for the input, your car is really cool! Some people say it will work without a fuel pump, others say it won't. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but I think I may have more drop from the sediment bowl to the carb than you do. I am gonna see if it will work without a fuel pump, and if it doesn't I will either add an electric one or try to get a B fuel pump.

I have pretty much decided to ditch the wooden pickup bed idea and go for a modified look with a big, black trunk on the back. Something like that black trunk on the back page of the new Snyder's catalog...

Will Kimble

 

Will, that thing looks great. I would look for a full length bed for that thing to make it complete. I enjoy the looks of Model A trucks w/ the original bed (not all chopped and shortened to make the car look un proportional)

Keep us posted on the works.

 

Will, I thought it looked like a Scalded Dog but different. You made the look a lot cleaner.

 

Been out on some back road to today - but broke a brake rod, snapped clean in two. fixed now and off for some more!

I can feel a Middle England reliability run coming on....................

 

Mid-England? You can count me in!

 

I don't post too ofter, don't really have much to say. Sitting here at home due to messing up my right leg. Hurts a bunch. Anyway, surfing the board, reading a lot of older banger threads. Switched over to craigslist and found a old chevy banger motor missing the head. Real cheap, my kind of deal, and in the neighborhood. I've got an Olds 3 port head in Kansas waiting for a motor. Gonna try and get there later today and pick it up. Now if i wasn't all banged up, i wouldn't have been surfing, and wouldn't have found this deal. Will try for some picks of the motor tomorrow. Anybody got and good info for hopping up a chevy banger??

Mike

 

Artiki your in, Ok any one else interested in a run North o' Watford Gap! some great roads around here, with plenty hills! and fords, just gotta find a pub with camping, but I have an idea.

 

I am !!

 

Two down, how many more to go, better broadcast it to the WIDER AUDIANCE
Ok serious stuff, I'll plan and get the route, some where to stop - just give me the numbers. S'pose we better invite those V8 boys (no valve covers, well maybe one or two)?

More on the flip flop...............

Staffordshire Moorlands, Derbyshire White Peak and a little tramming around! Not far honest........ only 17% hills for a mile or so, but there is a brewery town just down the road

 

Great lookin car Will.

Well since the last meeting I've had a few more parcels arrive from the states.

I have now totally replaced everything to do with the ignition circuit and had two goes at timing the motor to stop the backfiring down the exhaust manifold.

During this last week I bolted up a Scolded Dog intake and a Holley 94 - eventually got it running with a bit of idle this morning with a mocked up linkage from the design drawings sent with the intake but will make a few alterations on the proper one to get it looking neater and more like Will's but I need to find where I can get the spring loaded ball ends to make some rods to fit.

So today was a good day because after 6 weeks of owning my sedan i finally drove it up and down the drive - and it was sold to me as a daily driver!

Vince

 

Hi S.U. fans did a quick measure and my manifold tubes are 3 1/8" long [ the flange clears the exhaust by about 3 /16 '' at the back] the carbs are 4 7/8'' long and without the ram tubes the bonnet sides will just touch the front carb. If you ran a header exhaust the intake could be shorter and fit under the bonnet{hood for you Americans} hope this helps ,thanks Brett

 

I picked up an old Mallory dual point distributor for my A motor. Does anyone know what the point gaps are to be set at?

 

For those who care, or don't know...I got the old Mallory dual point going and the carb tuned and dialed in. I also got my ignition circuit sorted out and and wired up a new switch. Some inspiring stuff in these banger meetings...I always look forward to them.

 

Well, we made it. Starter took a dump, so I borrowed some tools and pulled it. Next thing was that Jay Steele was feeling poorly so he volunteered Shane Hill, one of his employees who runs a roadster with a SBC at El Mirage, I think he is also related. So I said "Have at It" We pushed and pushed and it wouldn't fire until we discovered a loose connection on the coil.
Anyway it was a push start. His first pass was 19 sec. but you can see by the ticket he improved on that his second pass. Had a good time. More cars than last year. I think there is some more speed in this thing. The track is faster, only maybe 800 or 900 feet above sea level compared to Palmdaie at better than 2,000+ ft.
I don't know where that dial in time came from they wrote 19.00 on the car.

 

Nice run! Good meeting you today Bill.
Wish I could have run my car today. Broke somthing in the engine yesterday so cars down until I can get it fixed. Damb

 

Ooh - PLEASE pick a weekend I'm not gigging!!!! Narrow roads. Check. Forded river, check. Rolling hills too, just find somewhere to fall asleep and we're there. Four of us should be enough... keep it all Four Banger!

 

Hey I kind of thought tyhat was your car. I think I was the only person with a HAMB shirt on there. missed the run down the track tho great meet lottsa cool bangers there and everything under the sun for a banger engine there also
anybody that could have came sure missed some good drags. seen a slant six HA/GR on the way out anybody know who that was?
Hangin in there
Ken

 

The slant six was parked next to us, we were introduced but I don't recall their names. One of the guys lives in Tehachapi, The car lives in L A, they ran a 15 and were having a problem. This was the second time they ran the car. They usually run in the 14's, or at least that what they did at Famosa. Nice guys, loaned us some tools. It was a good time, met a couple of HAMBERS, Crazydaddyo, and I think Scootermcrad, hard to hear with all the noise. They were running on the big track behind us.

 

I'm in as well, that makes four doesn't it?

 

My Dad dug his roadster out of hiding yesterday, so I jumped ont he roof for some pics with my coupe. Hi car is pretty stock, except the chopped windshield frame and tires/wheels.
He has 16" Ford wheels on it now, but the do not fit the stock A drums too well, the lug studs are too short. Does anyone know of a stud you can use in the stock A drums to accept a 40 style Ford wheel??