Nothing better then seeing Gregg Peterson work his magic! I can remember when I first got my learners driving permit, my mom and I were driving through the Orange Circle, Who pulls next to us? Gregg Peterson in an Injected Big Block powered CHEVETTE!! I almost crashed my moms Chrysler Le Baron checking that thundering beast out! What a legend! Jimmy White P.s. Don is that Larry Cambra's car?
I'd really like to see that article. Blair's was legendary for this, and I haven't much on details of their conversion.
Yep, that is Larry's car, and it hasn't gone any further since we finished it. What a legend! well in his mind anyway oh wait maybe you meant the car Injected Big Block powered CHEVETTE!! Another friend of mine owns that car now and it's got a Blown 468 in it and is Pepto Bismol Pink!
Timely thread on a cool look that a young lad wants to perform on his 57 sedan. Myself and afew other HAMBers (Shaggin & Johnny Angel) actually bought him a used straight axle out of another drag car. We refinished it and gave it to him as his wedding gift this summer....lol......you should have seen his face. Even the bride gave kisses to all involved. Thanks again for the pic's and info.......best of luck with the rest of the build.
We made it from raw tubing as mentioned. HA Ha, not easy! Painted with high end commercial grade epoxy and then a broom, a bucket and a mop - and most importantly, a shop rat!
I still didnt see this answered. Anyone? I would think there would be too much leverage on the pitman arm from the suspension articulation. how would you correct this if it were the case? Would you mount the steering box further forward in the car and down some?
that angle should be fine, they used to attach the drag link to the driver side arm with wacky angles, and they dont bump steer too awfully bad. if is too much angle you can get a longer pitman arm, heat and bend it. i dont see having to move the box.
Nice job, although the tie rod set up looks scary to me...but maybe its the pics that makes it look weird !? Don't get me wrong, I really like the looks of "the gasser style cars", any model .... but are we close to the point or way past it where there's more gasser style cars around today than there were "back in the days" !?? / primerkid
with all the glass, and repro steel bodies, and chassis packages you could say that about most classic cars now days. "gasser style" cars were built up until the mid 70's. thats not all that long ago. alot of the cars now are survivor cars. take those plus new build gassers, and my guess is there isnt as many now, and if there is big deal.
Hey hotroddon, what spindles did you use? I bought a Speedway axle and tried to use my original 54 GM spindles on it and the camber is way out. Did you buy P/N 910-32100 spindles from Speedway? Do they have the proper geometry?
i had the same problem when i built my 53 chevy. it pissed me off and i took the axle back out and traded it off to my buddy who put it under 37 ply coupe gasser. he had to bend the axle to get the camber right
a few years back i tried to buy this axle for a 56 pontiac gasser i'm building and speedway told me it would be too light an axle for a full size car so i just used an econoline front axle. it sure is a nice price for there set up! it was tempting to try anyway.
Yes, the spindles came with the axle from Speedway. Camber was fine As for the drag link, the one in the picture was , as noted in the write up a temporary made of aluminum so he could move the car around. Once the motor is in it will be made. As for the angle, I have driven plenty of axle cars set up like this and they are fine, as long as the spring rate isn't too soft creating lots of travel. These cars were relatively stiff to help keep the front end up to help with weight transfer which was the whole point of them in the first place.
All looks really nice. There are things that I would have done different. But don't take my suggestions as negative just suggestions. OK? I probably would have gone with a wider track width, but not seeing it with the right rollers its hard to say that yours isn't good. They cut a straighter line with less effort if the front track width is wider than the rear. Moving the wheels closer to the front is a good idea not because it looks better but it helps with handling and weight transfer. This last almost negative thing you can surely take as negative. But maybe it'll save your neck or that of some little kid in the neighborhood. The shackles need to be on the back of the spring and not on the front. With the shackles on the front they have a tendency to dodge and dive every time you hit a bump or the brakes. This would be a good time to change it. Of course you could take it out and drive it like you stole it first to prove me wrong. But you won't.
i like them all.. i do like it better when you hack off the frame it just is way cooler ..here is mine if i ever get it done .
Well I have to disagree with this statement. Not only from personal experiance of having built a few Gasser types set up this way that drive fine, but for a more factual example of the design working, Jeep built about 635,000 YJ Wranglers from 1987 to 1995 with this exact set up and they certainly haven't gained a reputation as kid killers.
I have to agree with Hotroddon, I had a 89 YJ ... my son has it now .... Drove it stock and after I installed a Rancho 2 1/2 lift. I also have had 5 55 - 59 Chevy trucks now and they are all shackles in the front too. All drive great
One comment to the current line of discussion. Gasser at 100+ mph. Not Jeep at 65mph or trail riding. Just a comment.
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