57 Chevy BelAir Gasser Build

SEGA rules are setup to ensure the cars running will entertain the people watching them. Don't expect SEGA rules to emulate NHRA rules of the period, or be a basis for a period correct g***er. Many of their rules do follow what was done back then, but some don't. There's probably not any group to watch that's as entertaining as the SEGA group is, but it's setup to be that way, and works for them.

 

I love it. I'd sure like to attend a SEGA event one day, I bet that's a blast!!! Up here in WA it's a little ways out of town for me.

 

I mentioned SEGA as place to get some help on transmission & clutch questions. Believe HAMB member “dog_patch” on his build 39 dodge g***er posted bunch info on “crash box”trans. May try a direct message to him or via “Quain Stott”boss of SEGA.

 

Thought you might like this one, it is the real deal !

 

Yea that's sweet. Cool car! Love the wheels.

 

You should plan on going to Riverdale Raceway at Toutle, Wa. in mid August for the old time drags put on by Estranged Car Club. Lots of real vintage g***ers, and other old hotrods. Even if you're not ready to run then, it's a great event to go watch, and visit with guys who have a lot of knowledge of the old g***ers we love. August 18-20th this year. Anyone who wants to race has to send pictures of their car to be approved to run, but no problem just going to watch.

 

Man that sounds like a blast! i have known guys who have attended. I'll try and go this year! Thanks for the heads up.

 

I never would have got mine going if I had to deal with rust also. LOL

SEGA has a great series. For me it was over the top to build to SEGA standards. I'm like you. I drive my car and on occasion it will see a track. SEGA races are the best going but I'd never be able to run the series. I'm lucky to get to a race or two a year.

 

No tri 5 thread is complete without Don Renfro. I know a lot have seen it but I am sure a lot have not. Make sure you put all the bolts in !

 

Damn.

 

That was extremely painful to watch.

 

Don’t know the story but I hope he was alright all things considered… you know, being thrown from a car…

 

Well I hit the swap meet in Portland today, got up at 3AM, jammed down there 2-1/2 hour drive, spent all day and drove home. Went solo so just me, the tunes and the sound of a ***mins diesel burning 5 hours worth of $5/gal fuel. !!

Anyway, didn't find any of the things I went down for but I did get a bunch of neat stuff.

Spotted Mark @Moriarity in one of the books I was browsing! Good work, Mark!



I bought Larry Davis' G***er Wars book finally:


And since I have an incurable affection for old car mags, I bought three years worth of Hot Rod from a guy who had them bundled by years (1958, 1966, and 1969). I had a few of these but not all so this was a fun find. Paid only $10 per bundle so I was happy with that.



I stopped at a buddy's house on the way home and picked up this set of Ansen Ground Grabbers that I had bought from him.


He bought these through eBay from a fella back east, and refurbished them with Ansen Orange powdercoat, and installed new hardware and new decals. He sold these at the Pacific National Auto Parts when he worked there back in the 70's and runs them on most of his old cars. I love these and they'll be right on time on the 57. I guess they makes this post relevant after all??! Other than that stuff I got a bunch of die cast cars, hot wheels, stuff like that... All in all fun day though and "almost" bought all kinds of stuff but didn't pull the trigger.

 

I made a deal on a built TH400 manual shift trans. Looks like I'm going to abort the Jerico or dog ring style trans for now and save some money. The trans is only costing me $1000 through a friend, so I need to source a good torque converter and shifter. Wasn't expecting to go that route but I think it's smart to keep things on the rails and keep some momentum going on the project.

 

No shame in that, I have one on the shelf for when the 4 speed gives it up. I'll save money for a torque converter instead of buying gears and clutches.

 

If you have a reversed shift pattern a Postal jeep shifter works great, it is like it was made for it. It might not be the look you are after though. Plus I added a " has to be in park " to start switch. One pic is off the web, the other is in my truck.

 

Cool thanks, either way it's nice to know the options or there and what people are doing!

 

Very cool project. I love the manual trans idea. And the big block is cool too. Bit personally I'd go Chrysler hemi or FE ford just to wind up the m***es.

 

Seen this photo, a hardtop with radius rear fenders and an axle

 

Even took the time to cut the gravel guard for tilt front and leave them on.

 

That's a good looking car.

 

I've run a Jerico WR4 and a Tex T101 trans in SEGA. Both were circle track units (hard gears) and both failed at about 600-650 hp. Now running a G-Force G101A and its been bulletproof. Quite a few SEGA guys used to run Hightower 4 speeds, I think they held up well but I've heard the guy is pretty much retired. The service/support from G-Force is phenomenal.

 

This is great feedback to be aware of, thanks for sharing about that. I'm hearing around here that guys are going to the G-force stuff too, but in talking with the Jerico guys on the phone, we designed me up a build that seemed to make good sense using the drag gears and the road race sliders. He told me straight up that the road race gears should never be used for drag racing and that he would expect that to happen in time to to the hardness. It's incredible that's all the difference is a little time in the oven to bring the rockwell hardness down a touch.

 

Just my experience. SBF engine and ford top loader, stock. Never [well 2nd gear once, wasn't paying attention] had a problem shifting at WOT. Because of engine set back my Hurst shifter got placed on top of the trans between the shift levers on the trans, shift rods were 3" or so long out of 4142 and strait.

 

Picked up this TH400 from a buddy who built it. Manual valve body, reverse shift pattern.

Also grabbed the dual quad scoop.

Looking at this 468 big block long block and thinking about picking it up soon too, 8:1 built for a blower, 781 oval heads.

 

Those are NOT the heads you want for a blower motor, too restrictive. Keep that in mind at purchase time.

 

Im not a Chevy guru, but iuf i'm not mistaken, all the blower manifolds for bbc are for rectangle port, not oval.

 

The Weiand 7151 is for both rectangle and oval, you use a cut to fit gasket when using it on oval, they call it "roval" ports.
I have Edelbrock rpm oval port heads on mine, with the 6-71 @ 3 lbs boost it made just shy of 800 hp and had carried over 700 ft lbs from 3200 all the way to 5500.
So yes you can make power with oval ports although rectangle would be more efficient at making the same power.

 

If you buy that setup, throw away that restrictive screen on the blower scoop!
Holy cow, think of two carbs trying to breathe through those little holes...

 

Sometimes there's even foam between the screens, I removed that and made a single piece out of expanded screen looking stuff I had, kept the rocks and birds out of the carbs on the tunnel ram.
I did pull the air cleaners when racing and put taller air filters inside on the street to try and help those little restrictive *******s, I would be hesitant to use it on a blower application just because of the small air cleaners it takes.