who knows a lot about Woody Gilmore front engine dragsters?

There's certainly no shortage of great ideas for books. I'd buy this for sure.... dang man, can you imagine all the rolling chassis shots and diagrams and insider stories.....That'd make a helluva great read!

 

Found this last night in a mag I was reading , it's from Jan 1968 so info is probably mid-late 1967 ..........Z.D.

 

Don said it's probably a Frankencar.

 

I would sure like to buy an issue of that Drag Racing mag. PM if you have one.

 

Well, if you are looking for something to just make passes down the track with a mild engine in it and the price is right, then why not! But, if you are looking for a real deal Woody or a future Cackle Car, then you should really pass!

 

I dont know much about Woody Gilmore dragster chassis,but I do know there is one hanging from the ceiling at the originalQuaker Steak and Lube in Sharon Pa. I have studied it several times while having wings and beer. If I recall the sign says it is from around 1961.It currently has a small block chevy with enderle injection on it. not that it makes any difference it may be Hilborn injection.

 

This appears to have been originally built as a twin engine chassis. It can get pretty difficult to determine the origin of something like this. The twin engine stuff from this era is often one off and also often built by the lesser known shops.

We had one that was a twin engine chassis from this era, and I don't remember ever finding out who built it, and never saw another anything like it.

I think you may have better luck tracking previous owners than researching design.

 

I worked on a chassis with many of the same features as this one, squared seat former bottom tube, ETC. I remember it as a davis car. Are the bottom rails trimmed with a long fillet cut to meet the top rail at the front torsion tube? Better pics would clear up some questions and help to identify it.
Darrell Karst
=D.K.ENTERPRISE=
STREETRODS/HOTRODS & HARLEYS

 

another email from Don; his experts say that it's probably, in part, a Joe Ito chassis.

dan

 

I will try to check tonight. I have a Woody G 4 page sales brochure that shows a complete car minus drivetrain and back wheels set up for Hemi or Chevy. Price? $2,450!!!!

 

In a post above, it was mentioned that Woody has a shop in San Raphael. Does anyone have an address or phone number?
I'm going to the GNRS in January and would like to to a visit if possible.

 

I used to hang out at Woody's shop in Lakewood back in the 60s and that is not a Woody car.

Rex

 

Rich you can give Lorry Azevedo at HAT RACING ENT 39 MILL ST SAN RAFAEL CALIF 94901 A CALL 1-415-457-1640 WOODY WORKS THERE.

 

This ole car has a new home here in Canada. My son bought it and we'll hopefully be out with it this summer. I want to thank fellow Hamber, Dan Strohl for pointing us to the car. My son's pumped!!

 

Hi ardyboy;
Good luck with the new hot rod..Look forward to seeing the car out..
1939fiat
(Rick)

 

I raced a 68 gilmore car that we updated known as the Valvoline Mean Lean and Clean Dragster. We ran that car to six national records and one championship nostaligia racing before moving on to jet dragsters in 1998. There are some great things about gillmore chassis, and some bad things about old pipe that you might should be aware of, like old pipe can and will break close to the engine mounts with heavy big blocks. Needless to say with draglink steering, (all gillmore cars had draglink steering) if you break the top or bottom framerails, the flex steers the car instead of your butterflys. Ours crossed the centerline at sacramento in 93 over this issue at over 150 mph at 3/4 track... dont let that happen to you, it plays hell with your confidance. Gillmore cars are VERY flexible and move on the track a lot as a result, although yours is so short it may not. Suggestion, strip to chassis to bare metal (leaving the NHRA instpection and license tag intact to assist in your next certification) and inspect the tubes and welds closely even resorting to a ring magnaflux inspection if you find suspicious areas. The nhra obviously has and will sonic test it for wall thickness, additional supports will be required to keep it legal to modern specs especially in the drivers box area. Finally dont forget that you set your huevos right on the pumpkin, dont even think about skimping on the axles, ring and pinion and rear bearings. If you have not replaced these parts already, at least mag them and make sure they are pefect (ring and pinion and axles), make sure your carrier is solid and closed not welded spider gears. Lets not mince words, front engine dragsters are bitchin and totally a drivers car (everything is in your face and between your legs) but if you skip or skimp on the details in the drivetrain or chassis, they are deadly. Feel Free to contact me at oldschoolcars1@yahoo.com with additional questions or whatever. Have a blast!! I wish I was young enough to be building my first dragster again!!! We did successfully campaign our car for 8 years in the 90's, so we know it can be done!
My Best...Michael, Pyromaniac Racing Jet Team

 

Here are some more detailed photos of the car for those of you who are still interested in identifying it. I appreciate all the help. The guy i bought the car from added that he was told from the previous owner the chassis was cut from behind the rearend completely off and updated. I think this car has been modified and updated so many times i'll never really know its origins.
Thanks again, see you at the track.

Aaron

 

more shots

 

last one

 

I hope you were able to get the body panels with it?
dan

 

yes sir and i hope i never have to take the left hand panel in front of the engine off while i'm at the track. seems that the pitman arm will have to come off to take the panel off without killing the paint.

 

*in front of the tire

 

Yes I do know a few things about Woody cars....He is my father-in-law and lives with me. Let me know what your questions are and I can ask him directly for you. He is not a computer type person and does not type. my e-mail is acelr8r@aol.com