i have posted this car before. it was an old salts car that the owner has always wanted to put on the street. The pics of it in black are the before shots. I have the alcohol motor out of it. We are in process of having it converted to run on gas. After much thought and a little work this is what i have came up with. it hard to take a piece of history and change it without ruining its soul.If you like it let me know, and if you think I screwed it up, well i took it to a show in black and won best ratrod. Something had to be done.
Really cool car Jim! Like to see it on some Halibrands. What engine is in it now? Is it just the pictures, or does it have a lengthened nose? I like the proportions...
Its not lengthened. its chopped 3 inches, the wheel wells are raised, the hood, deck front bumper and doors are all aluminum. It has a 3 carbed 312 in it right now with a halibrand quick change anda super t 10 4 speed. The new motor is just to get it road worthy, then i will pull it and use it in a model A roadster I have.
Is the owner the one who raced? Would somebody who has been on the salt do that to his car? I just can't understand reverse engineering a car like that. Just not nearly as cool. To each his own.
Oh man, that is really neat. Dig the dual super charged mill. What amazes me is the amount of 'Vettes compared to T-Birds that are around as race cars/Custom/Rods today. Why is that? I think we as a community need to tear into the early 'Birds and have our way! Anyways, I'd love to know more about it!
What a coincidence. I have been thinking about a "bird in my head for a few days. To be quite honest, I like the idea Gotgas put forward with the Halibrands. I always had a soft spot for Doane Spencers T'bird. I also like it better as a salt car maybe gloss black but nevertheless you have a *****n' car.
It is still a salt car. The halibrand rear, chopped top, alminum body panels, even the ****tershield are all still there. It will be raced again. The mill will still have the blowers and all, he just wants it to run on gas, and be able to take it for an occaisional coffee run. The paint and clean up was just to make it a little less ratty, thats all.
There will be a ton of current safety stuff that will be needed to run it again. A complete cage, fire system will just be the beginning. There is the 130Club that the USFRA has for their meet that has far fewer requirements. Great old car...just wish it had stayed black,
The aluminum doors, deck and hood were built for racing, so they arent real straight. I could have filled tem with bondo, but that would have defeated the purpose of lightening it up, so red it went, black would have showed to many waves.
The Red really looks good ! The black wasn't bad but what did you do with that Y block that was in her ? What kind of times did she run with that Y block ? I really hope you do something good with that Y block !!!
A lot of the parts will be used in the new street motor. the long block will need to find a "race only' home but everything else will be toned down a lil and used.
Love the twin blown Y Block and I hear what ya saying about black. Red looks good but needs some stickers or signwritting to hint at its pedigree. Yet another job well done Jim.
I like what you've done. Just to make sure, I gotta say this, always keep a yblock in there, even if its not the twin blower setup. I prefer black but hey, Ive got one that color so enuffs enuff. Same thing goes for the Halibrands, Doanne spencer did it and some others have followed. The discs work. Keep them too. Can't see the wheelwell drop though? looks stock there to me? I'd have to see it in person. (And boy would I like too!) The windshield looks like it has been flipped and rotated to get the drop. I also wouldn't care about the wavy aluminum panels in black-just says vintage-race machine. Might handpainted giant "55" on the sides, to relate the heritage. just sayin'. Would love to have some more info on the twin blower setup for www.y-blocksforever.com Thanks for the post update. it's cool.
The Jalopy Journal
