I was able to give Jim Hetricks Hemi Coronet its first run today, on the newly installed A-100 straightaxle conversion:: http://public.fotki.com/bowtie0069/shop-projects-1/red65hemicoronet/img8218.html http://public.fotki.com/bowtie0069/shop-projects-1/red65hemicoronet/img8213b.html http://public.fotki.com/bowtie0069/shop-projects-1/red65hemicoronet/img8213b.html Its incredible how by making one change, you completely alter the vibe of the car. It was nice to begin with, but with solid mounts,and the A-100 axle and springs installed, it somehow pushes the cross-rammed Hemi to a whole different caliber of car. Now that it works and handles well, most all of it comes back off for cleaning and painting!! One bitchin ride!! Dale
That looks tougher than a two dollar steak. I'm really looking forward to seeing the work on the Comet.
Cool as hell. Question though. You elude to the the car working better, but I'm curious about actual performance. It sounds like this was just a shake-down run, but do you think the straight axle will help performance? Either track better or lower ETs? Just wondering because of all the Gasser conversions we are seeing. So I guess my question is what's the motivation? Speed or looks. I really dig the attitude of this car, and frankly I could give a rats ass about a stock Coronet with a Hemi. This car is cool. Just wondering what the intent was.
Ten or fifteen years ago, this would have been the car to check out at the cruise night, with a Hemi and a cross-ram. In this day and age, you'd walk right by it at the cruise night on your way to check out a Stromberg-carb'd spider web of a jalopy. The owner knew the car had good "bones" when he purchased it, but the car had an "identity crisis". Too much billet, not enough old stuff, etc... He wanted to bring the car back into more of the '60's era flavor, but not loose any of the drivability. Did it make the car better? As in better road manners, driveability, etc.. Really, only he'll be able to comment on that. The straight axle set-up is slightly heavier than the K member torsion bar set-up. I do know, based upon actual experiance, that alot if not all these straightaxle kits are offered with springs that are essentially trailer springs for the most part. The shortness of their length makes it very easy to install, but ride quality suffers immensely when compared to a longer full length car or truck spring. To me that plays a huge part in the build. What you are actually doing with the car. Get the look, but get the performance to go along with it. Long story short-- motivation?? It all boils down to the look. You could build a lighter front end, with better components in todays hot rod industry. In the case of this car, its all about the look. But, the car should be able to make drag strip passes,and be freeway driven without worrying about wandering from lane to lane.. Dale
Teddisnoke, thanks for responding to my inquiry. I assumed what you said, but your original comments led me to believe there was a performance or ride advantage. I agree about people walking past that car before this upgrade. Like I mentioned above, I would have been one of them. Not now though!
Wrapped it all up, tightened up the hardware, and it'll be heading home tomorrow, soon to have a Hillborn unit poking its evil head out from under the hood!! First time Jim has it out, I'll be sure to be around to see it come to life !! Axle turned out real nice, with just a taste of enough chrome for me. Upon Jims suggestion, we raised the rear end up around an inch and a half to better the stance. I left the old mounts , in case he wants it nose to the clouds again!!
The front axle moved forward! Only two inches, though!! And I needed it to help clear the soon to be installed rear sump pan!! Hey Muttley- The Comet's movin tomorrow!!! Let the sparks fly!!
Jims going to take it down to the labor day cruise, here in Southern California. This car uncorked (its a 528 HEMI) should be crazy! It won't be totally complete, without Hillborn injection, but it'll be more than enough to make a statement!!
The Jalopy Journal
