1930's Sprint Car, Hisso or Hal? Thoughts?

Need some advice. Restoring a highly do***ented sprint car and have the option of restoring the car back to its beginnings using a Hisso 4 cylinder or the engine it ended its career with, a Hal DOHC. I got the car with the Hal and only after starting the rebuild of that motor did I come up with the Hisso. This car has been pictured on various HAMB posts by others. The car still has the original sheet metal with the exception of the nose. In the end, there will be one cool engine looking for a home.

Thanks for your thoughts....

 

If the car as it appears is the way it finished its career my inclination is to go with the Hal since it is already in the car.

I wonder if a replica of the original might be a possiblity and use the Hisso there. Best of both worlds.

 

What is there to restore other than taking the late model stickers off the car?
Either engine has a lot of "wow" built in!

 

Thanks for the thoughts. The bad paint job is only what you can see. Still has the original color under. Still had oil in the tank. Will keep everyone posted on the progress...

 

wow what a delema
i would give my left nut just for one of those engines
i say put it back to the first way it was raced and sell the hal to me
tk

 

I would say, use the Hal..I had one and they were called the poor
man's Offy..Good engine if taken care of.
It will make more hp and there would be more
parts available.
If you need the cams redone, let me know...

 

I'd leave the HAL. A little more "pedigree" there... Plus twin cams just jump out at people a little more.

Hell, keep the plane engine and build another sprinter around it!

 

Here are a few more pictures of the car. One of the photos is of Miriam Corbitt, the wife of Clay, one of the more famous drivers who piloted the car. You see very few photos of the wives. The last photo is of Clay. He was killed in 1947 at Salem. Gotta love the his logo on the sweater!

 

either way. but defiantly keep the other engine with the car too!

 

id use the early Hisso engine just because its to cool , lol keep the later one with the car for disaplay but run the Hisso

 

cool stuff, once you decide which engine to use PM me and i will get the other one out of your way for you.

Paul

 

I think I would look at it from the point of which configuration has more photographic do***entation, which is more famous (If either) and which do you like best. Once you figure that out, the motor falls in place.
I had the same dilemma with my Anglia. It only ran a Big Block for a short period (original configuration) but there were no photos with the small block and the big block was just cooler, so I put it back to that way.
Remember with race cars you almost have to pick a particular day to restore it to, because they were always changing.

 

All the original pictures have are with the Hisso. Some time in the 40's the Hisso gave up and thats when the Hal came along. Interesting story with the Hal, I have yet to find pictures of another one like it. The cam covers for it have no markings and were very well made. To good for backyard mechanic. Maybe something special made by? Will post pics tomorrow. If anyone could direct me to another example, or has pictures of a mptor that resembles it, that would be terrific! Thanks...

 

Was the "action shot" taken at the track in Greenville, Ohio? Either one is good for me. Love the twin cams, though. Love the history, too.
Thanks, Kevin.

 

Do you know Bob Swarmz in Richland Michigan?? He`s restoring one as well.

 

I am not sure where that picture was taken. It was certainly around the midwest though. Here is one of my favorites of the #22 racing. One of the few times in life that it was better to be on the bottom, then on top...

 

No I don't. Would love to talk to him if possible. Thanks!

 

That's a great pic. Talk about pucker factor. I'm surprised the drivers aren't sailing thru the air outside of the cars. Seat belts were considered dangerous then, weren't they?

 

That is a Pop Dryeur built car correct? Restoring the car as it last raced with the HAL would be the easy way IMO. However, if the project was mine I'd restore it with the HISSO, and the early grille, I just love the look of early 1930's dirt cars. We're all short on funds, but I'd really think long and hard about parting with either engine since they hve been together for so long. I noticed the HAL cam covers were different than others I've seen. Don't know if this style head is early ot late, some had a cam cover with three bolts that attached to the cam bearing caps. PLEASE, keep us updated on this project. Bob

 

Is the HISSO crankcase one that the AMBLER Brothers made?

 

If you look very close at the original picture of the car with the two gents sitting behind, you will see the seat belt hanging over the side! I always thought they did not use belts and wanted to get thrown out if the car rolled, but at least with this car that was not the case. Scary either way!

 

Bob, I have had some people tell me it is a late head, given how easy it is to work on, compared to others. The Cam covers you see in the photos are not casting, but are made up of weldments. Would have taken a long time to make, and you have to hold your tongue just right to get them on. Really precise. The bolt around the sides, not down the middle. But I have held cam covers with the correct bolt pattern, but they have been to small. Also, the tac ran off the back off left cam. Maybe they all did that, I have no idea. I bet before this thread closes, somebody will school me.

 

Bluto wil be posting soon, he has his HAL apart for a rebuild.

 

No, the only ID are on the covers over inspection windows for each rod that says Hisso Pup. I found one reference to that name ***ociated with an airplane, but no pictures. The castings are beautiful though. I have written letters to a lot people who should know about such things and come up empty. There were a couple companies that made them, but most were just built up. A few they just capped off one bank, and called it a day. I will take some better pictures and post...

 

which motor is a runner i think both motors should stay with the car one possibly the hal in it as a runner with paint to match its period and the other motor as a static display with the photos and history around it

 

Gotta love the HAMB. Check out this photo that posted over on the sprint car thread. A great shot of the Hisso motor. It is so hard to get detail with the belly pans and body work.

 

Here are the pics of the cam covers. Look through your old stuff and maybe we can find mate? Thanks.

 

First fit for the Hal in the car since the Motor was finished. Thought about detuning it, but decided to keep 13.5/1 compression raio. Should make quite a racket when we light her off. Still looking for the correct valve covers... The notches in the frame were from the Hisso. Keeping those so no change to the frame if the Hisso goes back in at some point. Pretty easy from here on out.

 

Hi everybody. It has been a while since my last post but times have been busy. Went with the Hal set up as that was what the car was configured with when I got it, but work has started on the Hisso. Had a new nose and hood made for it by Mr. Dreyer. Turns out there is a picture of the #22 in the Pop Dreyer biography. It was the only Hisso car he built. Putting the car back to the original cream color. Should have it back on the track by July 1.

We have kept as much of the original chrome as we could which was a lot when it was new.

More pic's to come.

For those that have not read the Pop Dreyer book, it is a must read. It would make a great movie on the lines of the Worlds Fastest Indian.

Cheers...

 

I have attached a video of the first time we tried to start the #22 Bowles sprinter today. The car runs great. To bad the camera dulls the sound. Can't wait to get it on the track.

Next step is to build up the Hisso and put it in the car.

Hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving. Cheers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozjs1TAIEAg&feature=feedu