Anybody from Pomona remember this gasser?

Some individuals have contacted me asking what I think about how Great Balls of Fire should be redone. I find myself compelled to make the following statements.
1) I sold the car over 40 years ago.
2) It simply represents one project completed in the past.
3) I have no desire, or right, to make any determination as to what is done to it now.
4) I am very happy that someone like 5w32 was able to acquire it, and re-do it the way he pleases,
5) I am now passionate about current projects and, at my age, I only have so much passion left.
6) With these things in mind, I leave you saying (as in old WWII movie vernacular) Over, and Out.

 

chief , i hope you understand how important you are in this resurrection, this is your project too....you are not " over and out" i am only the "keeper/ guardian" of the car for now and will try to keep it safe and as close to how it was in its glory days , it will be passed on to my son in the future who will do the same. i feel these cars are important history and need to kept the way they were for all to see ,hear and learn from.

 

Well put, 5w.

 

we made this display of images printed on plastic/canvas to put on the side of the trailer , i also have 2 large framed posters and other memorabilia to hang from the rain gutter......any other ideas?

 

engine update! wow what an uphill battle, now both the #1 engine and the backup engine are together and ready to be run on the dyno.. but the dyno is down for the count! waiting for parts and the tech to set it up again.

 

just finished taking care of the front end attitude , raised it up 2 1/4" to where it used to be

 

Looking sweet! Looks fast just sitting there

 

That thing just looks soooooo .... bad. Just perfect to look at. Congrats.

 

todays work........got the tilt front retaining pins and studs mounted with aircraft cable tethers

 

the spare "beater" engine was just run on the dyno, 580 hp, the main engine will be run next weekend we hope. i will try and post a video

 

I have been following this thread and I must say you have been doing a really nice job with this car! It looks awesome!

 

thanks kev, if you are coming to bakersfield in oct. , come over for a look and a bench race! i have followed your willys for a while , will you have it there?

 

Way to really bring her back from the dead man! congrats

 

i just read through all this, killer thread!
love the patina!

 

more tales of woe...the engine shop building the main engine(ex motor ) and the spare "beater" engine caught fire( not serious but will delay the dyno test runs for a while) , so i ran out and bought a 455 that is in a flat bottom ski boat, sounds great, 180lbs compression and 60lbs oil press. this one is going in the car for now

 

here she is , stripped of all the marine gear. ready to go in!

 

wow what a thrash, the motor is in! lots more work to go.....first time the car has had an engine in the chassis since 1974!

 

Looking awsome Steve! Can't wait to hear it fire up!

 

Wow ... How did I miss this one?

Great thread! ... Fantastic story! ... Cool old Stude! ... It's wonderful that 5w32[/B] is preserving this piece of Drag Racing history!

5w32 - You might check with Rich Venza.

 

sandblasted and painted the headers with vht white today

 

headers in and exhaust hooked up to the glasspacks!

 

put the front spring back in yesterday, tightened it up only to hear a really loud snap!! here is the main spring , looks like its been crack for a long time! good thing it didnt go SNAP when i was driving.....

thanks to pacific spring in langley, they built me a new main spring and i had it back in and on the ground the same day!

 

Egad!!! That might have started when the aluminum Olds spicer rear end exploded. When the ends of the original lift bars were ripped off during the incident, the front end jumped over a foot off the ground. The front came down really hard. We checked the camber and distance between the spring eyes and all measurements corresponded with the originals. The spring was removed and visually inspected. It appeared to be alright. I guess we should have had it magna-fluxed. However, that may well have been the beginning of the eventual complete fracture. If so, it sure lasted for a hell of a lot of passes over the years. Oh well, it was out of warranty anyway. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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Vickye and I attended a "60th birthday party" (most of the class turned 60 this year) for the class of '69 Saturday. That was the year of the reign of controversy began for GBF. Some of the Road agents were there. I collected a couple of trinkets that will add to the "provenance" of the "old girl." Am sending them to you tomorrow. I have a couple of other things in mind that would be good for the display you are accumulating for the "re-birth." I think it is great that words such as "provenance" and "patina" have become part of the classic vehicle vernacular. They sound so STUFFY. Rodders can rub elbows with the antique and outlandishly expensive foreign and custom car owners. Someone told me that they had heard that there was even a rat rod at pebble beach this year! <o></o>
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Keep up the good work, buddy. <o></o>
P.S. The headers look great!

 

This is what Hot rodding is all about ! Great thread. Well done to all involved, it's great to see a new chapter in the life of an old car is just beginning.

 

5W32

Did GBF get the nod for the static car show at the NHRA event in Seattle

 

no it got bumped out, not enough room for all the cars. wayne and i thrashed all week and finally got the old girl running again, it's alive for the first time since 1973 !!!!! i actually drove her up and down my street a couple of times, sounds awesome, i'll try and post some video

 

5W32,

I hope you approve of my new avatar. After all, I owned it when it looked like that. I'm certain it will look at least that good when you are finished with whatever theme you select.

Great news re: where it will be displayed at Bakersfield! I can't wait.

 

hey chief.... a drag memorabilia collector buddy was able to find me a copy of the 71 Pomona Winternationals entry list, you are listed! here is the cover, i will post the list later. i tried to get a 1971 Winternationals program but no luck yet. i have an original poster and Wally Parks original ticket stub and arm band from the event as well!

 

5w32
Things are looking up. My frustration level has gone way down. It appears (at this time) that I have been able to regain access to my relaxation chamber.

 

I dont know if this helps or not but cant hurt. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...KxtsEe&usg=AFQjCNHaROmWMDdpD96nAR5NJ6DJUA5Nxw