Projects 1964 Sports Car Fuel & Gas Championship Entry *HELP*

Folks, I'm looking for information, pictures, knowledge or just some good BS about this car. This is a 1964 Devin set up as a drag car for the 1964 United States Fuel & Gas Championships. Since then it spent the remainder of its life in a field in Texas then a barn in Kentucky. It now resides in my driveway trying to determine what to do next.

We know quite a bit about the Devin and history but nothing about this particular car other than the tech sticker on the dash.

Please take a look and let me know your thoughts.

Willwilly

 

Looks like the "Smokers" sponsored it. They hopefully have entry lists.

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/communityalbums.cgi?action=openalbum&albumid=9980208171365

 

Dont know where I found these pics, but it looks like this is the same car...

 

That is the same car pictured several years ago. Same owner, I'm just the grunt on this project. Not many of the "Smokers" left and I'm sure even fewer that raced in this odd group.

This car may end up as a street racer keeping it's drag heritage if that is possible. It wasn't a well built car and appears to have been done for just the single event. It was sold to the current owners family in the late 60's and then sat. It will be a complete rebuild. It is truly a frame, an engine and a body. The question is, what next!

Hanging on to it's drag racing pedigree by keeping it in some drag condition seems to be a bit of a waste.

 

also, check in with forgottenfibergl***.com - Geoff might be able to help with history thru the Devin contacts. Good looking car, needs to be restored and driven.

 

Don't think it was Smokers-sponsored, if you ran the March meet, you got a sticker like that one, seems set up for the street in both pictures, though....roll bar does not look spec even for '64, though I can't see it very well in the picures...hope you find out more about it, though, please keep us posted

 

Thank you all for your comments, keep them coming. Any help bringing this beast back to life will be greatly appreciated.

I just had a big powwow with the owner to determine the next steps and here is the plan. I start dis***embly and do***enting the parts and pieces we have. The body comes off tomorrow to get some detail on the frame, rear end, trans and such.

The plan is to keep the original theme, use the current frame, engine block if salvageable, rear end and drive line with a period Muncie four speed (We both are actually from Muncie Indiana so that is fitting) Engine will be a solid build with a mild cam, side pipes, period panasport wheels, basic but functional interior, keeping with the Devin iconic shape. All parts will be period, pre-64 except when safety is a concern.

The end result will be a low V8 road course car.

This is what we think we know.

The engine, obviously a Chevy 327 with a three speed. Block numbers haven't shown much other than age, carter carb and home made headers. The rear suspension location was poorly modified with approx. a 100" wheel base depending on which side you measure.

The body is a Devin "W" one of the last made. It is a complete body kit that came in two pieces ***embled by the builder which will most likely have to be redone.

The frame is early Mopar, 51 or so, Plymouth possibly, front coil rear leaf, drums all the way around. We'll go with disc in front on the build.

I will be adding photo's with the progression so stay tuned. I don't want to take a great deal of time on this build so things should move pretty fast.

Thanks again for all your help!
Willwilly

 

If it were mine I'd keep looking for heritage.

Found this picture in the drag cars in motion thread.
Look over the top of the comp coupe's headers in the staging lane.
I'd guess it's a Pacific Northwest track.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7177017

 

That could be it! Thank you so much for taking the time to search. Still a newby to this forum. Contacted original poster to get more information. Will update!

Willwilly

 

good luck!

I had a 62 Corvette I bought about 1977. I traced it back thru 1/2 dozen owners then dead ended. About 1982 I found a gas receipt under the seat which led me to the original owner about 80 miles from me.

 

This is truly amazing! I understand wanting to keep it "original" but this was such a bad build, correcting the issues would take it far from it's current condition other than to say it is a drag car. The current owner has no interest in drag racing. So there you go!

Again, Thank you for taking the time! This is big news for us! I have been carefully comparing the details on the photo. The suspension looks to be of the same vintage. The stance is much higher but we know this car was licensed in Texas for the road and turn signals, windshield and horn poorly added most likely to make it street legal!

All I can say is WOW!

Willwilly

 

Thank you! Great advise! I have sent him a note and look forward to hearing from him!

 

Looking through my 'track' pictures and the photo maybe Puyallup WA.
I think this photo is about 1962

 

Tom Willford (vintageg***er) on here owns the Bantam Comp Coupe in the picture, he will know the location of the track in the picture. I remember an orange Devin racing here in Oregon in the early 60's. It was a regular at the McMinnville Dragstrip. I will ask around and jog some memories, maybe someone will remember a name.

 

I knew I'd seen pics of that car drag racing somewhere. Check in the "Oregon racers" thread (click on Marty's username ^^^^ and "find more posts").

 

It looks like the scoop is open on that one, that would mean one of two things it either has a different hood or it is a different car.

This is just an opbservation not to **** in someones Maltomeal or anything.

It is a pretty neat car and actual history of this specific car would be a good thing to knwo prior to starting on the exterior. The engine should be pretty straight forward just a freshening of the old turbo fire.

 

I have been looking at that as well. I took a picture, somewhat same direction and lighting. It will be interesting to see if more info arises. I searched all the posted "Oregon Racers" pictures, covered the backgrounds, no luck. Great pictures though. I may become a converted drag racer after this!

 

I think that there are a lot of possibilities with that one. I have always had a soft spot for sports cars. Never really owned one but always had a soft spot for them.

Maybe a real quick streeter and a tire change and suspension adjustment to go racing is in order. Can you ***le it?

 

Already ***led, and very true, endless possibilities!

 

I used to like you.

Maybe someone will come up with some history, or a pic or tow to help you on your way. I can't imagine that it was raced dressed like that it may have had some lettering or graffics at some time or another.

Pretty slick little ride or will be.

 

The only info I have is ---- I want it.

 

More information and pictures.

The car was ***led in TX in 1967. The car was originally white. Not sure when it was painted orange. I have included some new pictures. Could use some help with identifying the pieces.

This is where my inexperience really kicks me in the but. I know how they work and can dis***emble, rebuild and re***emble, but what they are, I'm lost!

Anybody recognize the frame?

What transmission?

A lot going on in the picture of the hood! Several stories going on here. There really is not "filler" on this body, it was painted over the gl*** with little prep.

Rear end?

 

The front e=suspension resembles my stude, but I just can't imagine anyone useing a stude fron suspension on anything but a stude.

 

Looks like the wheels use bolts? and not studs & nuts.
Does it have RH threads on one side and LH on the other?
Same wheel bolt pattern front and back? what's the bolt pattern?

Trans looks like a common 3sp 1955-up trucks and cars (it has a casting date)
bellhousing looks 63-up

Engine looks 300HP/327 but has deep groove pulleys?
What's the casting number and date code on the engine near the bellhousing flange?
What stamp code on the front of the block?
Stamp pad is between the water pump and the generator, parallel to the fuel line.
wire brush it off and report back.

Rearend looks like it has a tag at 2 o'clock.

Metalshapes engine bay photo looks like it had a Ford flathead V8 radiator.

 

Based on the dual outlet?

 

And some pictures of the engine code No VIN code. This is a 327 Tonawanda built Nov 5th 1962. Casting # 3782870 1962-65 327ci, Low HP rating 250, High HP rating 375 (which is interesting since this is the highest rating for any small block) 2 bolt mains.

 

They only used one 327 block in '62 it covered every motor from the 250 HP single 4 to the 370 hp HI-Po with the Rochester fuel injection. I can't read the tag on the rocker covers but if it a 327 Turbo Fire it is a 340 horse engine from the factory. the 370 HI-PO was supposedly a Corvette option only.

You can find out what the original destination and HP rating was for that engine by deciphering the stamped numbers on the number pad on the front of the engine.

Unless it has been changed the compression ratios can range from 10.5:1 to 11.25:1.

 

'S' on the stamp pad indicates a 250HP for a full size car.
The intake is a 300hp version. The 340HP was aluminum.

There were two 327 castings in '62.
Tonowanda, NY and Flint, MI. All Corvettes were Flint.
Flint casting numbers are slightly larger in size than Tonowanda.

340HP and 360HP FI both received finned aluminum covers, finned harmonic
balancers and deep grove pulleys. Same engine but the 360HP was FI.

250HP cars got a 2" outlet on the exhaust manifolds.
300HP-up got a 2-1/2" manifolds (they have a much smoother appearance)
and they got the famous 'fueler' or camel hump heads

Trans main case was used from 58-63
Yours I2063 = Sept 20th 1963
Does the tailshaft housing have bosses on the side for a floor shifter?

The actual transmission ***embly date is stamped on the machined rear face of the main case on the p***enger side, between the two tailhousing-to-main case attaching bolts.

I'd say Plymouth/Dodge front suspension just because of LH/RH bolts for the wheels.

Rearend looks like 55-64 Chevy (possible Corvette)
Measure the width from outside of drum to outside of drum.

 

Well, the project is going well. The Devin is completely torn down and taking stock in what we have. The engine is a 62 327 and afraid the block may have damage. We have options with period replacement parts but wanted to get your thoughts.

Here are a couple pictures of each side of the block The third is the bottom of #5 cylinder. Looks like it lost a rod once in its life. Is this block roast? Let me know your thoughts.

William

 

I would say its done, Unless you have it furnace welded, But I think cost verses finding a good block would become a issue....JOHN