Didn't this car just come up on the Dry Lakes Hot Rod Thread? Looks really cool. '37 Ford V8-60 axle on a Early Chevy frame perhaps 1927?
It was featured in Hot-Rod. I think 1950? I wish I could buy that!... one of my favorite modifieds...
I'm fairly certain it was featured in a 1951 is of Hot Rod, even had a cutaway drawing. I'll find out which issue when I have a break. Also, it may have been in one of the (new) issues of Hop Up. One of my favorite modifieds. I'm a sucker for 3-springers.
May, 1951. Crazy OHV banger. Huge compression. really, REALLY cool car. Inspiration for my next one. Going up for auction soon. Can I borrow some $$$?
Let me in on the scoop Mark. Never heard of a franklin axle. Early Tube axle I assume since the car was featured in '51 from what they said. I love the look of them and wouldn't mind finding one for my '31 Chevy project. Any history on these axles?
This car was featured in a thread about dry lakes racers. I read it yesterday, so it's somewhere pretty close. The car is now at the museum in Winnemuuca. I saw it there last weekend at their "last Hurrah". It's scheduled to be auctioned on Sept 26 at the Peterson Museum by RM auctions. A very neat car with some tricky innovations. Rich
Franklin axles and steering boxes were the prefered setup on 30s race cars as Dreyers and such. Those involved in the restoration of those may be source.
No, that's a mid 1920's Franklin front axle. Top shelf race car item, literally. I need a Left Front Buffalo hub while we're on the topic.
Rootie, For the historical record the axle in your photo is a Chrysler tube, BETTER than a Franklin IMO.
Moriarity, they are right when they say you've got it made! The car was in Hot Rod May 1951, p. 25-27. There's even a two page cutaway drawing of it. Sorry, I don't have access to a working scanner right now, so no pics. Hope this helps.
CORRECTION; Now that the Moriarity photos are posted that photo Rootie posted could be an EARLY Franklin. Note the spindle and end forging difference from mine. There was an early one that turned up at Hershey last year, first one I'd ever seen.
Angled Mag drive and the twin Stutz distributors, how does all that work? If everyone here wins Lotto, the bidding on this car will go nuts!
The deal that looks like an angle drive mag is actually a signal generator for the aircraft tach if my memory serves me correctly and the dual ignition is for the dual spark plugs one on each side of the head. The frame rails were said to be Essex. I have a couple of those Franklin axles that I have picked up over the years . Quite a bit of difference between the 2 again early and late I guess.
Ever since I read the Hot Rod feature on this car I thought it was special. Regret selling the BB RAJO I had years ago. Did the original builder have it tucked away all along or what is it's history since its last Lakes run?
I always loved that car ever since I first saw pics of it, so simple yet stunning & so different, does anyone have a link to the other thread with this car featured
Mark, did it really have a compression ratio as high as mentioned in that Hot Rod illustration (17.3:1)? That car is in my top 5 of all time...any more photo's Mark (or anyone? in action?, every photo I've ever seen is stationary and/or on display)... Thanks in advance, Drewfus
There were a number of black and white build photos included with the car when I bought out in California. They went with the car. It ended up doing hill climbs probably because it wouldn't pass tech inspection for saftey at most venues.
The pic Rootie posted is indeed Chrysler. Chrysler has springs pads on top of the axle, Franklin has the springs pads under the axle. The forgings on the end of a Chrsyler are more Model T like in shape also. Now back to the car in question...very cool. I am gathering to build a 3-springer and this car is a huge inspiration. Great proportions. Neal
17.3 to 1? The bottom end would not hadle this type of compresion for sure. Very historical piece to say the least.