Recently bought an early 60's front motor dragster untouched and in a trailer for over 25 years Has a 400CI SBC and a TH350 transmission. The transmission apparently had the tail shaft removed and replaced with a flat plate. After cleaning things up a bit, I noticed that the cover plate had "ROSSI" stamped in it. Can anyone give me any info on Rossi and would this have been a modified tranny or just an aftermarket rebuild? Lots of odd stuff on this car but this was in the day when they weren't just "cookie cutter" stuff. thanks.
Rossi Racing Transmissions used to be in Pomona, maybe still are? They built beefed up transmissions for racing. They had a line of parts to modify auto transmissions.
As has been said Rossi is a trans specialist and you have a "shorty" trans as was common in a dragster. Probably a good trans, does the car run and move? Pat
Haven't fired it, but engine is "free" with between 200 to 210 in each cylinder. Oil in tranny is reasonably clear and doesn't smell burned. Engine is out of car now as chassis is rough and working on that for now. Owner passed away last year and bought it from his estate. Family knows nothing about history of car so I'm just trying to put some history of the car together. Originally 120" wheelbase but lengthened to 147" and believe it's a west coast car built prior to 1964. Thanks for the info.
Do not start it after being stored that long as the front seal (torque converter) will be ripped out and your garage will look like the Exon Valdes has turned over (ask me how I know). Remove the tranny and use Vaseline on the seal area.
Some pictures taken a while back before cleaning up and some are doubled up. Also bodywork off then. .
i'm not a transmission expert , but i will jump in anyway with my thoughts in your first post you said early 60s built car, so i was thinking Powerglide...but that definitely is a th350. the first one of those was in 1969 , so it and the 400 SBC had to be transplanted later. obviously that modification was to make it shorter i see it still has the vacuum modulator installed...i wonder if that would have been eliminated and the hole plugged if it had a full manual valve body? i also wonder if there still is a governor under that cover? sounds like Dean Lowe may have the answer on finding out more about Rossi
The chassis was built prior to '64. The bottom tube on the back half is 1" and I'm told that NHRA outlawed the 1" tubing in '64. I'm pretty sure the engine and tranny are later adds. The modulator is still there but it is plugged. Why it was left on there is anybody's guess.
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