GASSER MUST HAVES and cant haves?

I have to admit,I sometimes get kinda star struck talking to guys like him....reading about them as I was growing up,they seemed to be almost mythical.Hell,almost supernatural!
If my Dad spoke of them like they were legends,then they must REALLY be somethin'!
And here we are picking their brains and shooting the shit about old got rods with our childhood heroes...Life is pretty good sometimes,isn't it Fellas...?


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Be sure to post some pics when you get it mocked up....that sounds like a nasty little ride!


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The current "fad BS" is doing a hell of a lot for the hobby right now.
Why, thanks to the current "fad BS," several nostalgia drag races have popped up in recent years: The Meltdown Drags and Hunnert Car Heads-up come immediately to mind, and the interest in the "fad BS gassers" is what allowed me to do The Gear Jam this past weekend. I had a good many "fad BS gassers" making passes all day.

I know what you're saying, but I really think bitching about this kind of stuff is simply more of the same whining and posturing over trailered vs driven and 'glass vs. steel.
It does NOTHING good for the hobby.

And for the record, I'm going to recreate my uncle's '63-'65 National Record Holder Altered, and I'm going to put "fake" 10-spoke spindle mounts up front so I can run front brakes.
I'm sure the purist authorities will bitch and moan about that, too.

-Brad

 

We all need a good laugh once in a while...

 

True.
In my case, I think I probably just need to get laid.

-Brad

 

Hey Falcon

Its a shame you don't care for the ' Lame Ass B /Gas lettering ' as i'am sure there were more than mine that had the lettering too

Since that the only class I was planning to run in why not put it on the car

I used a Pontiac Posi 5.38 with a clutch pack on each axle end gear for the posi, and it worked great and never had a problem just broke quite a few axles

Had to save up some money for the then new ' Henrys super tuff axles ' as they were a few bucks but never broke one, I painted a 1/8" black line down the axle to look at it and they twisted about a 1/8' and never went any farther

In 63' we did not have too much to choose from in the way of drive line parts, stock Pontiac rear and stock Chevy 4 speed with a bullit proof Schiefer clutch & Alum flywheel

G Don

 

Well Put.... Amen Brother.... In the early - mid sixties grew up down the street from some brothers that ran 55 56 57 chevys and a henry j with a 348. I look back now they were crude by todays standard probably even unsafe. They ran them at the local tracks .They sat most of the week other then some test an tune up and down the street. And maybe an occasional friendly race down on the highway.

 

This car runs four hole Halibrands that are six lug. He is one of the main guys behind the Meltdown Drags.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

Here you can see the rear wheels.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

sweet car...And not afraid to run it.. thats on my list to go next year.

 

That Koopmeiner '55 is an awesome looking beast. Those rear wheels look to be American standards from the mid '60s to me.

 

I like this thread. I am slowly gathering parts for a "Gasser Style" car as we speak. I will try to find a body to stuff it all into if I ever finish with my wagon.

 

Could be. I just know that they are six lug with four slots.lol

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

Learn something new every day. Here are 5,6 & 8 lug of the wheels George was talking about.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

And a couple more sedans I found while looking for the right wheels

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

"And for the record, I'm going to recreate my uncle's '63-'65 National Record Holder Altered, and I'm going to put "fake" 10-spoke spindle mounts up front so I can run front brakes.
I'm sure the purist authorities will bitch and moan about that, too."

Brad,

Here is one a close friend built and recently sold to Bob Johnson in Gainesville. It sold for more than the trailers most of the folks that would be laughing live in.

 

I can't help but chuckle when I read people lamenting guys building modern gasser style cars today, and putting decals or gas class markings on them. I remember in high school back in the 60's many guys having the same speed decals stuck on their car, and gas class markings too! Probably less than a quarter of these cars ever hit the drag strip, but they idolized the cars and guys who did, and wanted to emulate them. But anyone trying to emulate those cars today is criticized by a small number who think it's not correct, or wasn't done in "the period".
I see people encouraging others to build hotrods in the spirit of the 50's and 60's, without concern that they're put together today, and even applauding when they get it close. But make it a gasser style, and suddenly the critics come out to say what is and isn't acceptable to them. I'm not a fan of cars that miss the mark totally, but glad to see people trying to build something that attempts to capture the look.
I think the current trend to revive the gasser look is great, and I understand a person not wanting to have a real Moon tank in his grille filled with racing fuel while he's driving around city streets. (and yes, I don't have fuel in my tank up front!) Even NHRA realized the danger of that setup and that's why the rules changed to get them inside the frame rails. Maybe we can lighten up a bit and enjoy the fact that guys are reviving interest in the old gasser style cars.

 

Maybe we can lighten up a bit and enjoy the fact that guys are reviving interest in the old gasser style cars.[/QUOTE]

71BB427-I know how you feel and I have always enjoyed the gassers from my earliest days of seeing them in magazines but don't count on any group hugs today.

Moon Rocket since this is a close friend how correct do you think the build of this Comet is to how it was back in the day?-Jim

 

My Dad grew up idolizing these guys,and when he finally had the cash and the means to build one,he knocked out a glass '41 Willys that is an absolute show stopper,built in the gasser style with a straight axle that he fabricated,moderately high but level stance,big ol tires hanging outta the fender a bit at the back,and little skinny ones up front.
He didn't build it to look exactly like any one car from the era,but drew from the overall vibe of them,and the wheel/tire/stance combo.
We initially looked at a couple of steel cars,but the entire budget would have been devoted to the purchase of the car,and getting it ready for paint.With the Tupperware he was able to keep his BBC and interior,wiring,etc in the budget too.
I guess what I'm saying is to me,you either need to emulate the spirit of the cars without getting to specific with doodads like non-functional Moon tanks etc,or you need to go all out and get every conceivable detail perfect and hit a home run.
Tubbed cars that get a straight axle transplant don't do it for me,either do extremely slow cars sporting AA/GS decals and radial...


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Yeah Jim, this is the HAMB, so I wont wait for a hug and a sing along around the camp fire!

 

[QUOTE Moon Rocket since this is a close friend how correct do you think the build of this Comet is to how it was back in the day?-Jim[/QUOTE]

Well, it's power comes from a real Ford, SOHCamer, 2 fours. The ignition is MSD. This may be the biggest liberty taken under the hood. The trans is a Jerico 4 speed, (not really sure when they showed up on the sine), V gate Hurst shifter, Ford 9" out back on ladder bars and leaf springs. Pie crust on Americans rear and you see the fronts. The car does have front disc.

All the windows are safety glass with regulators in the front doors. The roll bar would never pass strict tech inspection today although it is build period correct. The front buckets are period, new belts.

IMO the biggest difference is that this car is built to a show level of finish. Every tig weld is a work of art. Every bead roll of the aluminum interior panels is spot on. Every rivet placed just so. The body and paint work are far superior to what you would have found back in the day.

The same guy built and still owns a mid 60's Fairlane with a BOSS 9 and 10/92 BDS blower, back halved car. Talk about a street cruiser!

 

Honestly, I like them all! (Cars) It's people I screwing with!

 

I am a big fan of Comets and the car looks to be first rate in the pics but after busting Quain on the Boss motor I would have figured you for a bit more traditional. Bill's Speed Shop T-Bird ran a SOHC in 67-69 but by then the stance was probably down considerably as Bill Coon followed suit with his 57 Bird (bringing it down from its pre 67 stance). I cannot remember a Comet or gasser with that style of wheel, although they look pretty cool and would be more at home on an altered (if you are honestly talking period correct or thereabouts). Lots of guys are running them now though so can't just single out this car for sure. The shotgun scoop throws me a bit of a curve and I cannot remember any car in the day with that style scoop.

A really great looking car but then again so is the Bone Shaker come to think about it.-Jim

 

You have COMPLETELY missed the point. What I am bitching about is the practice of lettering a class designation (usually the wrong one) on a car that is not going to be raced, not lettering a class designation on a race car.

 

My bad, I didnt specify, but I was thinking of the earlier small-window ones that were on the SWC. Nonetheless, these versions are also probably rare as hell.

 

Yuppers...I'd forgotten about the ones on Mallicoats willys.

 

Doubt it, I paid $395K for my place 4 years ago...

 

I don't want to take the led off that can! And I think the Bone Shaker is a cool creation. IMO it's not something that ever raced in the day in it's current configuration, that's all.

 

You must have a nice place! You should invite us all up for a party! Don't worry, I wont show. I have strict orders from a US Federal judge not to leave the us borders.