Gasser Era Questions

When you start a thread like this here, you're opening yourself up to a lot of criticism, and opinion. Right off the 5 speed will make most people say you've strayed from tradition, or era correct. The 289 would be available in the era, but you sure didn't see many, even in the late 60's. Slicks were not very wide, and nothing like the wrinkle walls seen today. Most ran 8" or 10" slicks, and only the AA/GS or A/G cars would have run a slick as wide as 12", and then later 60's most likely.
Interior early on was supposed to be full stock, but most people made various changes to lighten or strip them, so eventually NHRA changed the rules to allow gl*** seats, and no backseat.
I'm sure most people who run the ET spokes up front today are doing so to get the spindle mount look, but still be able to run brakes. It's an OK compromise, but you have to be thick skinned around purists, as they are already tired of seeing the 10 spke bolt on faux spindle mounts. I think they look good, but I see so many I wont use them, and become part of the many who do.
I'd probably just build it the way I wanted and not ask for opinions. In the end it's usually easier and less grief.

 

Once and still is a racer, he keeps the car slow so he does not have to change the roll bar. Currently runs a 570 hp 383 sbc, leaves off idle with the car in drive, slows car down by changing vacuum modulator on ****** to shift at 5300 rpm. I have no idea what the car weighs but it is deadly consistent.

 

He didnt ask for "opinions", he asked how g***ers looked in the sixties. Two completely different things. You are right about one thing, He really shouldn't have asked , as he clearly has his heart set on a car that looks like a modern "Hamb G***er", not a car that looks like a period g***er. What he is looking for is people that will help him alter history to suit his vision. I aint playin'. And even REAL spindle mounts didnt appear on g***ers until the noses dropped in the late sixties.

 

Funny, because you can go through 180 pages of pictures in Larry Davis' book G***er Wars, and find one picture of a AA/MS MG roadster with spindle mount 10 spokes, but I can go to a car show today and see dozens of faux spindle mounts on cars.

 

Yous guys can argue all you want, the only way to build a race car to the period is get a rule book then look for what was available at the time.

I could post the '64 NHRA rules which would give the OP a little insight into early '60s g***ers but no one on here can road or understand English so why bother.

OK you guys go back to arguing about it. I am a ****er for drama.

 

Aint that the truth. And count the spokes, the real deal had 12 spokes not ten. these wheels are so OBVIOUSLY fake, that I can stand at the end of a row of cars. look down the row, and spot them as being the fakes from 150-200 feet away.
The irony is, most of the wheels that REALLY WERE used on g***ers have VERY p***able subs***utes available today. If you put American caps on, or run them capless, the 15x4 ET Vintage V's will p*** for magnesium torquethrusts until you get right up close, and examine them. same holds true for modern Cragar SS's and they were on TONS of REAL g***ers, from about '65 up. And if you want a Halibrand look-alike, theres the Wheel Vintiques wheel.
I have been told that I am an elitist *****, and I cant tell any of the above wheels from the originals until I get up 3-4' away, and really take a close look. The bogus, faux spindle mount circus wagon wheels from real American magnesium 12 spoke spindle mounts(which really dont belong on most "g***ers" anyway)? 150-200' away. But hey, really, none of this **** has ANYTHING to do with "paying tribute" to the golden age of g***ers, its all about being another "me too" bandwagon jumper.

 

Your right Benno, and I ignored this pile of steaming dung for a long time myself, but damn, those ******** "me too" faux spindle mounts are like waving a red flag in front of a bull for me. Just drives me up a ****ing wall. Had to say something...

 

bout them torque thrust two's...

 

couldn't agree more about the faux spindle mounts---

 

Not only do the 10 spokes look bad you couldnt use the real 12 spokes like was said earlier because the gas cl*** rules state that you had to have front brakes. Yeah you could argue that you could retrofit airhearts to them , but why would you go to that much work when a cragar or american 5 spoke looks so good on full body cars.

 

Ha Ha!

Seems like every time the word "G***er" comes up all the little children come out with their

WHY????

 

Why? Because on some level, those of us that were actually there hope that some time, maybe just one time, just maybe, just perhaps, we can influence just one of these guys to actually build something that actually looks at least a little bit like a period solid-axle car, instead of some ridiculous circus wagon. I have noticed our numbers are growing, and some of the new converts are guys that have built g***er style cars. Even they are starting to notce how ridiculous most of this **** looks. Call me an incurable romantic...

 

Yeah I hate that Skip went with those torque thrust 2's. They look almost as bad as those fake spindle mounts. But like Swade said, that '37 is a survivor, and does have some minor updates for ease of maintanence and safety. I saw Skip's car some years ago before he brought it out of retirement. The paint, lettering and interior ARE vintage. There might be way more authentic looking g***ers if more people referred to Montgomery's Supercharged Gas Coupes book. I do often. Even if you don't go supercharged, you still get to see the graphics, wheels and body modifications from any time during the g***er era. The book also covers rules and changes throughout the entire g***er era.

 

I find it entertaining seeing you self proclaimed experts equate bolting a set of wheels on something with “building” a car!

There is a LOT more to building a period correct “g***er” than bolting a set of wheels on it. And if you do have one, it’s the same car even if you put a set of bath slippers on it! Hell, just how long does it take to bolt a set of steel wheels on, than there is nothing more correct than that.

You guys can ignore non period radiators, cooling fans, motor mounts, no engine set back, trans mounts, hydraulic clutch actuators, rear-end arrangements, disk brakes, fuel cells, hell in some instances air conditioning!

But let someone bolt a nice set of cool looking wheels on and you’re offended!

I’m starting to believe that’s all some of you guys can spot to piss on!

I personally have vintage Cragers and 56 steel wheels with tires mounted on them. But I like these the best because they keep you old goats from nodding off!

 

Once again it depends on the year and the organization. My car was a NHRA Legal National Record Holder and it Never had front brakes!
Still doesn't and it had gone as quick at 8:60 back in the 70's

 

Not that I want to speak for others because I'm sure they will tell you exactly what's on "their" mind. But the way I'm taking it is that the wheels are just a small part of the bigger picture and one that is easilly & often wrong.

 

Amen brother, ...X2.

Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app

 

It seems to me the OP was asking what was period correct because he wanted his car to look authentic. People on this thread really are trying to point out what is and what isn't. The people who have a problem with us giving him exactly what he asked for are the ones who have strayed from authenticity themselves or have no idea how it really was. Barb Hamiltons' CC/G Willys is unrestored and is exactly as last run in the mid 60's. Guess what? The car has coil over shocks and Hurst Airhart disc brakes.

 

yea, but they gotta protect thier "turf". After all, what if EVERYONE figured out just how completely bogus most of these cars really are? Why thier "cool" status would be in serious jeopardy! And Waddyacare has it exactly right, the wheels are just a metaphor for what ******** the whole thing really is. Trust me moonshot, the idea of a "bad-*** g***er" pulling a 3 series or taller gear strikes me just as ridiculous as the bogus wheels do.

 

If it wasn't for the elitists *****s, the rest of us wouldn't learn anything. You gotta put up with cranky oldtimers if you wanna tap that knowledge. Unfortunately, if you ask a question, sometimes you get opinions instaed of facts.

 

Would you be able to sleep better tonight if I put my 5:13's in for yea? Takes about an hour.

Lets see your's so well have a better example to critique.

BTW, it was me that pointed out that perhaps you experts might better surve us lesser knowlegable folks better by not wasting your time repeatedly pointing out the obvious. I believe the OP himself pointed out he knew his choose of wheels was not period correct.

Don't you have anything more to contribute?

 

This forum is 65 and earlier so in that era brakes were in the rules.
The fantasia willys ran spindle mounts and no brakes, but that was around 67-68.

www.meltdowndrags.com

 

Also, the fantasia didnt run as a g***er, it ran as an altered.

 

The 65 rule has to do with the year of the cars, not subjects in general. When it comes to shows, trends, racing etc there is a lot more leeway and in the case of G***ers it has pretty much been allowed to discuss through the end of the real G***er era which would be mid 70's at least.

 

Why not just focus on the OP's specfic questions instead of highjacking his thread as we seem to do now and then?


My questions are this.

What size rear wheel & tires would a car in the early 60's have & what size rear wheel & tire combo would a mid to late 60's car have in this cl***? Note, no mention of front wheels!)

What cl*** would this car be in?

What would the difference be in the interior between an early 60's car & a mid to late 60's car?

What other differences would there be to a car like this from the early 60's to a mid to late 60's car?

 

The "G***er Wars" book was pointed out earlier, as a source of "back in the day" pictures, and it is good, but I would also recommend "The G***er Files" video by the Jackson Brothers for some good "back in the day" g***er views, Although it doesn't show many Henry J's, it shows most of the various cars run, and styles, from the beginnings of the cl***, up to the Nostalgia Drags in the 80's. I've worn a couple tapes out.

Here is a clip from the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A8YfQi0u8A

 

That pm of the o/t ride take some of the wind out of your sails?? Tell you what, just to show theres no hard feelings, when I get home tonight, I'll post some period photos.

 

O.k I just checked and your right. How about thr F troop car it ran the other spindle mounts and no brakes.

www.meltdowndrags.com

 

I would recomend the stiff sidewall pie crust because to me they have an older more correct look even though the Goodyears were available and are correct too. I would say a 10.00X15 somewhere close to 30" tall.

www.meltdowndrags.com

 

I'm not interest in some of your "buddies" stuff. I want to see your's! I've put mine our there for you to piss on.

Hell I got a buddy turning 6.5's in a single carbed, street driven, no power adders, small block, full dressed 55 Chevy. It doesn't make him a "g***er" authority any more than you building a motor for a 70"s something Ford makes you one.

this isn't abour me or your. Lets talk about the cars!

And of course there is never offence intented or taking, hell this is the internet ain't it!