Every once in a while, life gets a little more surreal.[/QUOTE] You have to read between the lines a bit but it was 100K to get it that way including the cost of a lot of broken parts, not 100 K in it as it sits. More like the guy you see at a rod trot who says he has 100K in his street driven hot rod that he has owned for 40 years but then you find out that he is counting the six paint jobs, five engines, eleven transmissions, three rear axles, six sets of different wheels, three new interiors and eight sets of tires. The 55 is cool no doubt and took a long time to get there but hats off to Jim for running that Nova all week with one helper along and maybe a volunteer or two at times and not a full pro pit crew. When we live in a world were a lot of hot rodders on here and a lot of folks you meet won't drive their street driven mild motored hot rod 100 miles one way to an event because it is "too far" to drive it for some lame reason or another seeing guys with built to the nuts full on race cars drive them hundreds of miles between tracks and either carry or drag their spare parts and tools in the trunk or in a trailer behind then and then go out and run respective tens and eights and load up and go again you have to be impressed a bit.
When you have a custom chassis a non chevy engine and almost nary a part on the car is GM stock componet except for the sheet metal. Its like a NASCAR race car it simply isn't the same thing . I never liked the funny cars back in the day. nuthin but a short Rail Dragster with a fiberglass body on it.
Lets hope Squirrel can get his butt in gear on the Cuda, get it sorted out and give the faster guys a run for the money.
I think the Blasphemi is a perfect combination for a gasser. True the 55 Dodge is a nice looking car in its own right, but for a gasser I think the 55 Bel Air wins. And you couldn't pick a better motor than a blown hemi for a Gasser. If that car had a ubiquitous big block Chevy in it, it really wouldn't have the magic. Besides it's nostalgic dragracing, who gives a crap about engine swap brand loyalty? I'm really surprised about all the hate towards Finnigan. He's a great guy. It's obvious that a lot of people on this forum have no clue what drag week is all about. They're having a Christmas sale at motor trend online, you can sign up for a buck a month and watch the actual drag week video. That would help some understand
I don't hate Finnigan I just don't care for the car. I would rather have his OT firebird or his wifes El Camino than that Hodge Podge 55 and I am a big fan of 55 chevys.
I thinks its ironic people could be offended by the Chrysler hemi in that 55, but the same people would say nary a word about the 10 million "350s" crammed into every brand under the sun! They named it "Blasphemi" for a reason!!!!
I don’t know old wolf should i be offended with this statement I have a real deal funny car and short rail digger with a blown hemi in it lmao
I seen early on that Finnigan said he's using the Hemi to piss the Chevy guys off. I guess it's working huh?
Car guys have each other's backs, commenters with no skin in the game are quick to jump on someone's back.
That is kind of Freiburger’s job to promote. We all know it is a reality show and they have to cut it up to keep it from dragging out and to bring in viewers. Don’t hate because they have an awesome job. CN
Naw whatever I think or do doesn't take away or put any nickles in your pocket. Cars are like women all different types are preferred or not liked. As long as your happy with whatever you have what other folks think isn't worth giving any free rent in your head. I sometimes just enjoy being contrary. I cant aggravate my wife and folks around me. They are killers who all pack heat. So I do it on the net. /i happen to like short rail diggers. There was back in the day a Hard Tail one Named Snake Chaser that raced at George Rays every week. It was fun to watch. Small block chevy with 8 short exhaust pipes.
I think Jim is a Great guy,,,,and an excellent mechanic. Look at all his pics of his stuff at home,,,and has time for family too. And,,,I noticed he was a perfect Gentleman about all of this,,,that takes class ! I am sure that the other racer is a great guy as well,,,no disputes. For me,,,,I have always pulled for the underdogs,,,I guess because I am an underdog too ? It would be awesome to get in and help on this kind of racing,,,money and stuff. However,,that would take away from Jim’s style of doing something his way. His way ! I truly have a lot of respect for Jim and his knowledge here on this board ! Extremely smart man ! Congratulations Jim !!! Tommy Oh yeah,,,after all the different avatars and how he never looks the same in any of them,,,I am still certain that he is a Spook for the CIA,,,,LoL
I think something that needs to be taken in consideration is the state of the car culture now. We can all debate the merits of a hemi in a Chevy or the corporate sponsors that give him the newest and best parts but I think we can all agree that car is instantly recognizable. There's threads on here about print dying, hotrods not selling and kids not interested in cars anymore. Cars like blasphemi are needed. When I was growing up I was lucky enough to have a job in a convenience store with a great magazine rack. I read hotrod, rod and custom and car craft religiously. It instilled a lifetime love of cars. There's a new generation growing up on YouTube that hopefully will be bitten by the same bug. Shows like roadkill come alot closer to showing the true car culture then alot of the reality show. A couple guys dragging junk home and trying to get it running. Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I moved to this street in 73. I knew a girl who lived a few blocks up the road. Her brother had a 55 Chevy with a 392 in it. Been that way for a long time. He totaled it and took their fathers gardening 57 Chevy pickup and put the hemi in it. Never cleaned up the outside. Early rat rod I guess. 92 got old and around 1990 he installed a blown 454. Haven't seen them in years, but the hemi in a chevy isn't all that nontraditional. I personally have had a hemi in a couple of Studebakers, a 32 Ford and a Vega. Cars don't care.
I put a 392 hemi into a 63 Vette for my best friend. He told me he wanted to seriously piss off some people. I have to say it was 'mission accomplished'. Mopar and Vette guys both hated his guts. He couldn't go to a car show anywhere that after he popped the hood somebody didn't start raggin' on his ass.
Dare to be different man! I'm only 50 years old, but I thought that's what hot rodding revolved around?? Damn i was wrong again!
Good reaction time, Jim. Like you've done it before. LOL Sent from my VS835 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I installed a 426 Hemi in my Model A and catch some grief from the Mopar crowd that I am wasting a Hemi.
If memory serves me right, this was powered by a 426 and ran out in CA back in the 70’s. I dig it. My twenty something son turned me on to Blasphemi some time ago. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure looks like fun to me. And kudos to Squirrel, a true gentleman racer.
I enjoy roadkill and some of the other shows on motor trend. I have watched while they built the 55 and as he’s taken it from level to level. I love the Hemi, that it’s a stick and that he drives the car and races it. He’s had bad luck and I’m sure he has some good money into it, good for him. That being said, in the 8.50’s..... that’s fast for a stock shaped tri-5 Chevy so good on him. Jim, your the man and as always, give it your all as you have shown us here in the past. Cliff Ramsdell
I just remembered. My first race car/Hot Rod was a Bantam with a Hemi Dodge in it. Not my Hemi. But my Bantam. I suppose Old Wolf thinks my Bantam should have run with a Bantam engine? Same thing for Willys and Fiat Altereds? Well then your 55 should have a 265 in it. Or maybe a 235.
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