Love this thread! When we had our strip (1959-1972) I saw about everything...probably the most common were wagons and the guys from California (Strip was in Muncie, Indiana) ALWAYS had the best...always had torque thrusts, etc....way cool.
This is a push truck that I have had since 1978. It has a 302 5.0 with roller cam & rockers. It is two wheel drive which is a bit of a problem on a heavy wet track usually found at the start of warm-ups. The sprint car is driven Joey Saldana at the East Bay Winternationals a few years ago. Joey and the truck are still doing finr but that race track is on life support.
Cool topic. After reading this post I plan to make a push bar for my '46 Ford PU. It currently has twin "S-shaped" nerf bars in front. I think I'll make a wood one and beat the snot out of the middle of it with a logging chain to give it that "well-used" look.
Funny thing about those 2 pictures Rich is neither of those cars have apush bumper on them. Steve Host of 7th annual Nostalgia drags, show and swap coming Sunday April 5, 2009 to Speedworld.
I don't consider just using a peice of wood durable enough. then again, there are people doing this just for the 'look' too. I'm probably one of a handful here that actually built and use one. It was made out of angle iron and some pipe for strength. Then the wood was bolted to it. The pipe slides into and out out larger peices welded to the bumper brackets and it works quite well with my AA/Fuel Dragster. Here is a pic. Steve Barcak www.pontiacheaven.org <DIR>Host of 7th annual Nostalgia drags, show and swap coming Sunday April 5, 2009 to Speedworld. </DIR>
when we raced our front motor car we used a very dependable 1955 chevy 2 door wagon with a 235 6cyl & 3 speed on the column . it was a fantastic car !!!! thx .. steve
Hay Steve, not to put too fine a point on those photos, I've been wondering for years how that pickup wound up almost up to the front end. Might it have been a doctored photo? OR a spoof with a front end shoved under the truck for the photo!
So.....Let's bring it back. I've been recently approached by two Guys that own FED's, to give them a push at maybe a local event or even better, possibly Bakersfield, with one of my two "not so" HAMB freindly trucks I got. One a 69', one a 70". Lookin for MORE pictures of push plates. Show us what you got or got pictures of. come on now...Step up! 9"
Danbury Ct. Modifiers Lyndwood rail "Alley Oop" used a Chevy pickup with the bumper wrapped, and a Jeep with a real push bumper. Jeep photos are from 1962, Chevy 1961 at Dover Drag Strip, Wingdale, N.Y. That's a return road shot not a startup.
Bobby and Tyler Hilton's: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499166&highlight=bantam+malcolm&showall=1
I remember local push trucks with a 2x12 with about 6 go-cart slicks mounted flat on the front of it. I used to have a '68 chevy pickup with one.
Just found an old bias ply tire in a pile of junk out in the country when they tore down some old buildings on a farm (a recap, no less!). The guy looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if I could have it! It's going to be mounted on a 2"x12" on the front of the 49, but how is the tire fastened to the board? Lag screws? Nuts & bolts? Problem is that I can't find anything that doesn't look shiny & new and that will eventually discolor a little and look "correct". The local hardware stores and home improvement store folks also look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for fasteners that WILL rust! (Another moment) When I tell them that I am building an old hot rod, some of them kinda get it, but most of them dont. Stay tuned!!!
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