Ray Basso 32 roadster Riley V8 Overhead build

Fantastic work,HRP

 

I have seen Don Smiths car as it was being built and his motor does not look like this Riley I believe it is SOHC motor and yes its a Riley but the only ford part is the crank and rods I might be wrong !

 

Man that's cool. Riley's a great name also.

 

I am happy to present to you from Custom Auto of Loveland, Co.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiMQwHHIFHw&feature=youtu.be
IT IS ALIVE!!!!!!

Lance Baily

A positive attitude will get you there!

www.realhotrods.com
Custom Auto of Loveland Co.
970-669-6691

 

Thanks Lance, great to hear that motor run.

I love the throttle linkage.

Mart.

 

Lance,
That is simply incredible............ and sounds great!!!!
Thanks so much for posting the video.

Shoebox

 

Outstanding!

 

Lance has done a great job getting the Basso car up and running, the Riley overhead still sounds like a flathead. A few more items to sort out and some snow to melt so we can road test the car.

The FE Distributor modified and installed, a lot of work to get this to work out well.



Doug's Upholstery in Scotts Bluff Nebraska stitched up the interior, the owner pick the leather out and had it shipped to him, we still need have a top made for the car.

 

I really like this car. Will it be in Pomona?

 

dig it!!!!

 

The Basso car won't be out at Pomona this year, hopefully the owner will be able to take it out to the fathers day show in Ca.
the chrome on the left side header started to lift pulled the header off today and sending it back out. Lance finished going over the car making sure all the bolts are tight and all the fluids are topped of.

 

The header is due back from the chrome shop this week. and if the weather clears up we can put a few miles on the car soon.
The owner of the car is trying locate any additional history of the car i just wanted to see if anyone knew Ray Basso or any of the guys that originally worked on the car. Trying to preserve the history and heritage of the car and the more details we can find the better.
Here is what we have on the car.

the Riley motor was owned be Harold Johanson in 1946 the motor was put in Jim Latten's roadster and raced at the lakes in the late 50's Wes cooper and Ray Basso purchased the motor, Ray bought the roadster from a Japanese guy in 1963, the Japaneses fellow won the car in a raffle. In 1973 Pete Eastwood updated the chassis, 1974 Bird man did all the sheet metal work.
An nos quick change with 38 rear axle assembly.
1974 Kong Jackson rebuilt the drive train with a Kong ignition
39 tyranny with Zephyr gears
Lincoln backing plates narrowed Buick drums Kong modified them to fit
Early Crager axle tube center i beam ends
unsplit wish bones
Chopped windshield and roadster top
39 tail lights
32 steering box 39 banjo wheel.

 

I wonder if this is the same Riley OHV conversion?

 

Rex

I can help you with some corrections on this information.

Pete Eastwood

 

Pete
I would Love to have the correct history on the car.

Jimmy
I wonder if this is the same Riley OHV conversion?
I looked over the two motors and i cant see if there is anything that would single it out to be the motor that it is the Ray Basso car or not.

 

the weather finally cleared up and we were able to get some road test in on the car. The car is running great, we had to chase down a few leaks the oil was seeping through the valve covers, and some other small ones but those are handled now. Now the car is on the transport to the owners home.

 

Gorgeous car!

 

Hopefully its is just my computer, but are all the photos gone from this thread if so let me know and i will repost them, they are in an album on here and shouldn't bee to bad to reload if needed

 

Yep, they are gone. Please repost them.

 

yes, please

 

I will repost the photos, they must have disappeared after the update.

 

Beautiful sir. Car restoration and archival photo man......nice, and thank you very much. Phenomenally gorgeous work.

 

The Basso car will be at the GNRS this year, I will load up the finished shots here, I proably should go back and reload the photos in the thread at some point.

 

A few more

 

Yep,defiantly a work of art! You guys sure crank out some NICE stuff. Thanks for sharing.

 

Great work!

 

Thank goodness. Glad we'll be able to witness it first hand at GNRS.

 

Just to make sure credit is given out to everyone involved in the project, there is only so much room on a display board and if we didn't put it on there then I apologize every person that was involved in the project was integral in getting the car restored and completed.
Here is the main history i have on the car

The Riley motor was owned by Harold Johanson in 1946 and the motor was installed in Jim Latten's roadster and raced at the lakes. In the late 50's Wes Cooper and Ray Basso purchased the motor from Latten. Ray then bought the roadster in 1963 from a fellow that had won the car in a raffle. In 1973 Pete Eastwood updated the chassis and in 1974 Bill Stuart did all the sheet metal work. The car has an NOS Culver City Hallibrand quick change rear end with a ‘38 Ford rear axle assembly. In 1974 Kong Jackson rebuilt the drivetrain with a Kong ignition system and installed Lincoln backing plates with narrowed Buick drums modified to fit. The motor is one of only 3 Riley Overhead conversions made for the early block.

Ed Blais purchased this car From Mike Spacek and Custom Auto inc. completed the fabrication and restoration on the roadster.


Ed Blais curent caretaker of the Basso roadster
Mike Detwiler Shop Owner
Dave Crouse project leader and shop owner at the time the project was started.
Russ Harper worked on the chassis, and finished the exhaust system
Rob Crouse restored and reworked the Motor, Transmission and Brake drum set up.
Jake Yenny made the intake and throttle linkage.
Lance Bailey adapted the ignition and final final assembly test and tune time.
Jason James final assembly and mounting drive train.
Roy Kaufman wiring.
Alan Johnson Pin stripping
Ogden Chrome chrome work
Doug's Upholstery in Scotts Bluff Nebraska did the interior
Sid Chavers did the top
Tracy Bloom Media blasting Blast from the past restorations
Greeley Automotive Machine block work.
Dustin Nere Body and Paint
Fred Frank Body and Paint, Floor pans
Rex Rogers headers and light sheet metal work
Pat Swanson Gauge restoration.
Speedo Check 55 for the tack cable and speedo cable
Mark Whitman for machine work on the distributor.
Ed's Auto Paint.
And of course all the parts suppliers and to the restoration parts suppliers as well

I know i probably missed someone in the line up but we need to give credit to where credit is due. Ray Basso first and for most for starting this project.