I've just discovered an original unrestored early California Hot Rod originally known as he Barbecue Stove Bolt or Barbecued Stove Bolt. Built between 1946 and 1951 by father and son E.C. and Jim Hill of Vallejo, California. Car won some trophies in speed contests sanctioned by Cal-Neva in 1951, won an award at 1952 Oakland Roadster Show, was a feature car in the premier May 1953 issue of "Honk" Magazine which wrote: HYBRID HOT ROD They Call This Pickup the "Barbecued Stovebolt" With Considerable Reason Since 1946, Jim Hill of Vallejo, California, has had pieces of no less than 13 different makes or models of automobiles and at least one airplane. He and his father, E.C. Hill, put them all together during a six year span and wound up with a jewely little machine known as the "Barbecued Stovebolt." Here's how the components figure:The body is from a '21 Dodge touring car, the ch***is from a '27 Chevrolet. Brakes are '37 Chevy, grille is chopped '32 Ford. In the engine compartment are a '28 Chevrolet block, 1932 Ford C crank, 1936 Pontiac rods pushing a set of Jahns pistons, a '30 Oldsmobile 3-port head equipped with Buda diesel valves and rocker arms scrounged from a 1938 Nash. This is where the barbecue part comes in. To accomodate all the above parts, the block had to be built up in several sensitive spots. The center main web was filled in solidly and the rear main was rebuilt to fit a journal an inch and a half longer than the designer intended. All things considered, 26 pounds of welding rod and six bottles of acetylene were used. This kind of thing creates considerable heat, so the Hills set the block in the family barbecue to cool for a total of four days. When cooling had taken place, the block could be machined without fear of warpage. The final machining even took in a full pressure oil system complete to rifle drilled rods. Externals on the engine include a cross drive from an airplane engine which when mounted on the front of the block drives a reworked Bendix magneto on one end and the oil pump system on the other. The oil system is full dry sump with oil scavenged from the crankcase and returned via a five gallon reservoir behind the driver's seat. Another pump pulls oil from the tank and delivers it at 60 pounds pressure to the engine. An adjustable byp*** keeps the pressure constant. Water cooling is handled by a 1924 Dodge water pump. To complete the roster, the engine delivers it's power to a '46 Hi- Torque Chevy clutch to a transmission made up of parts from a Borg Warner unit, a military Jeep, a Nash and a Studebaker. Hold on - we forgot; the starter is a six-volt unit from a '28 Chevy through which the Hills put 12 volts in order to turn the 9.5 to 1 compression ratio. The Hills were rewarded in their project when the car took first prize for originality at the 1952 Oakland Roadster Show. Although the little honker was able to squeeze out only 84.4 at the lakes, the Hills feel it was over geared at a ratio of 2.54 to one and should do considerably better running a lower cog. As for us, we'll take it just as it is. The younger Hill apparently moved to Junction City, Oregon in 1955 and brought the car with him but it was last driven in 1967. He p***ed away in 1989 at the age of 62 at which point the car was bequeathed to the next owner, a resident of Alaska who stored the car for twenty five years, the last decade in Marysville, Washington. It was this person that I obtained the car from, thus I am only the third owner. What I'm seeking is additional information on this car or the builders. Does anyone remember it? What information relative to the 1952 Oakland Roadster Show is available and do the records of the Cal Neva Timing ***ociation still exist? Thank you for your help. -George Giese- Portland, Oregon [/URL][/IMG] [/URL][/IMG] [/URL][/IMG] [/URL][/IMG] [/URL][/IMG] [/URL][/IMG]
WOW......that is some amazing backyard engineering.....quite a story! Congrats on your acquisition...
What a great story and example of ingenuity. Great score! I hope you find all the info you're looking for. If it runs, videos please! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Holy smokes, how guys came up with this stuff back then amazes me ! Very cool story, and a unique hot rod, I wouldnt be able to change anything. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Now that there is one hell of an introduction! Welcome and good luck. Also thanks for the info and photos. Now get to work!
Excellent first post!! Finally, an FNG who is very likely going to be with us for very long time. And, no doubt, he'll be posting worthwhile missives. You, Sir, deserve a big hand shake for acquiring this historic vehicle. Now, I wonder what you'll do with it? Kinda a shame to redo the whole car without maintaining it's soul. Please, keep us updated. Oh, I almost forgot....WELCOME!!
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