Could Nitrous be Traditional?

lol,,there was plenty of cheesy crap back then,,just not as silly

 

at least they didn't have a freaking park bench sticking out of the trunk.

 

This thread is confusing. Are we trying to excuse having it on a car, looks right or is o.k. to use? If you have a hood or go out of your way to hide it on a "period" build, I don't see a problem. True, people played around with it in the past, but most only had a pile of burned up engines to show for it. It's a complicated deal and to make any real power with it, fuel enrichment is needed and in just the right ratio to the nitrous delivered. Smokey used it in the late 50's, but it was just a bottle, regulator and a hose feeding a very small amount of nitrous. It didn't see any real competitive use till the late 60's/early 70's. Usually in cars where it wasn't supposed to be. I'm pretty sure kits weren't really available till the late 70's, many using mechanical valves. One of the, if not the first to seriously develop it's use for an automotive application on a dyno was Ron Hammel of 10,000 RPM, who was working for Wilcap at the time, starting in 1962.

 

Another thing, please don't say NOS as if it's a word. Anything but that. If you do, you just sound like a "tool".

 

It's obvious to me that this subject is certainly the most "controversial" subject that I've stumbled upon since my entry into this colorful computer based discussion forum... There's no denying that nitrous does have a history in "old skool" hot rodding, although not a history that is often discussed "openly" among enthusiasts, probably because it was a practice that leaned further towards the "sneaky" side of hot rodding, as opposed to being an issue that everybody involved would be "proud" of, it's sort of a "hush hush" situation-- Hence, the controversy surrounding even the mention of the "n" word (nitrous) in some hot rodding circles, it causes many to lose their temper and get "ornery" with each other... I get the feeling that this is an issue that not everybody can come together in mutual agreement and complete harmony with-- The use of "laughing gas" certainly doesn't induce a hearty chuckle from all members of the hot rodding community... It's an extremely "touchy" and "sensitive" issue for sure... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)...

 

Yes Smokey did it! So if you're building an old Pontiac NASCAR look-a-like I'd say add N.O.S. but make sure and hide it like ol' Smokey did.

They were not on street "hot rods."

 

We got speed the old traditional way carbs, cams, heads and headers, thats my story and I'm sticking to it !

 

If I am not mistaken didn't some of the unlimited hydro boat racers use it during the 60's? and most of them were hot rodders too

 

Yes ,BUT...

it's seeming more like folks are saying,that if it was not mainstream or that mot everyone had it ( or access to it ) ,,then even though it existed and was available back then,,and with the right know how and determination could be used ,,it can not even be considered based on its obscurity

which I think is just ridiculous

 

I remember seeing some hot rod hooligan movie when I was a kid in the late 50's, and this bad ass had a race lined up. Well, the race was real close, even looked like our boy was gonna lose, then, all of a sudden, and after a stealthy move of the hand, flames shot out of his tailpipe and he was gone!!!!! At the time and for decades after I figured that was B.S.! That's till I learned about N2O, then it all made sense. So you see, it was around but was obviously a guarded secret, and if that ain't hot roddin' I'll kiss yer ass!

 

You guys need to ask Magnet. He knows all about all the stuff they were experimenting with back in the 50's and 60's. Propane, Oxygen Injection, Methane Injection, and yes, Nitros Oxide Injection, all were used and experimented with back then.

 

more air + more fuel = more power ...PERIOD

how you choose to get there is up to you.

 

Did'nt the car in Macon County line have nitrous or something ?

 

when i was a kid 'backintheday' &ihad to choose between spending the money for a blower setup&making my own nitrous thats a nobrainer i think
the 1st was a copper tube stuck thru the holes in the carb where the choke was removed
if your proud of the $10,000 polished blower sitting on your billet street rod that you paid someone to build for you/or bought finished for$$$$$$$$$$$$ i can be traditionally proud of my nitrous you cannot even see............wanna race???????

>>>LITTLEMAN YOU ARE WHAT REAL HOTRODDING IS ALL ABOUT THANKS!!!

 

Who cares. Especially if they see tail lights.

 

My taillites even make me smile
installed in 67

 

Why did I read all this?

Shit.

 

I love nitrous. I love the very idea of nitrous. here is a substance that if added to Your motor, it will go much faster. not a little bit faster, but much faster.

 

I find it amusing how hotrodders now have a set formula to be a rebel.

If you combine parts A, B, and C, on top of flathead V, burning fuel X, in chassis Y, then you too can be rebelious non-conformist. . . . . . . . just like everyone else.

My teeth itch every time someone says something is "correct" or "allowable".

That's fine if you want to be that way, but the first guy that says my ride isn't "correct" to my face is getting a junk punch.

I'm just sayin' . . . . . . . .

 

do you want to press a button and potentially gain hundreds of horse power? well what are you waiting for??

sometimes it seems like people are more worried about building a car that won't get flamed on this message bored,

than they are about building the car they want to drive and enjoy.

**but in answer to your original question, is it "traditional or not?"
if you mean did they do it in the 50's not likely.

but i think in the hot rodding spirit of form follows function, make a light, old car stupid fast. sure its traditional.

 

Just do it and don't tell anyone.

 

Yeah, the movie was "Return to Macon County Line" with Don Johnson and they had Yellow '57 Chevy and they street raced it and it had NOS with flames out the pipes! Funny stuff, but they don't call it Hollywood for nothing! I remember watching that movie in the mid 70's and thought BS! Then in 1978 or so this guy in Guthrie OK named Berry Warren had AMC Gremlin X with a 401 4 speed, fast already, but WOW! And yes, it was a Marvin Miller System and NOS was my hereo after! Besides , then as now, a supercharger is one lump sum and NOS is a down paymeny and installments!

 

What in the hell is a "street" hot rod?! Wasn't the idea of a hot rod to get closer to the track and farther from the street? Now we're gonna pass or fail something because it was or wasn't used on the street?

O...K... Hmmmmm

 

A "street" hot rod is a car that is driven on the street, maybe raced on a drag strip from time to time. A drag car is (generic) a "hot rod" too, and my point was some have read the Smokey books and realize he played around with N.O.S. as a secret in some NASCAR stock cars, and the system was well kept a secret. So the idea of saying they were used in the old days, that was not known to street types. In other words, it did not happen.

 

traditional, not traditional...screw it. I am building a Hot Rod, not a warm rod.

 

Very cool, Nuff said.