Featured Projects Dirt Modified inline info

I've recently acquired this killer Modified dirt car from the 50s-60s and I'm looking for information or input on the engine and intake that would have been used in it. I have one low res old photo with the engine still installed and it looks to be an inline stovebolt, I suspect it's a GMC, with an aftermarket 3 carb setup which I think is a McGurk. I know these are hens teeth but I have real American Doll Hairs I'm willing to part with if anyone is willing to part with their Prescious.

 

Pic for reference

 

Around here, the big GMC truck inline 6 was the hot ticket. Can't help you with the intake though I was too only 10 yo when the coupes went away from our local track. The old timers always talked about how fast those big GMC 6s' motors were.

 

I think that is solid advice. I've been trying to get some specs on those measurements. The gasket is a good idea, without those heads to measure, I am just guessing. One thing I read said that the Mcgurk Chevy intakes only had locations for 3 carbs and not 5, and I've seen that in pics of each. If I zoom in as much as possible, the one pic I have shows stud locations for 5 carbs. That and what I've heard is that the GMC was preferred for race engine builds. Thanks for the input!

 

I think @titus has a 5 carb Margie’s for sale at the moment. I see them now and then. @cactus1 do you have any reference websites he might like? I know you got forwarded a bunch when you got your dirt car

 

What part of the world are you located? That will help with finding an engine. The GMC engines are around. The hard part is finding the "hot" one. The big cubes and right part numbers to keep up with the big guys were always hard to find. If you are just looking for an engine to power it on and off a trailer it will be easier.

 

You might try contacting jimmysix on here. I know he’s a GMC guy from way back, and also involved in dirt track cars. He’s in CA, so maybe not any local knowledge for you.

 

McGurk didn't make that intake for Chev 6, only GMC.
Count the freeze plugs on block. GMC has 5, Chev 2.
Read the code stamped behind dist. - GMC engine size is the 1st 3 digits of engine #.

 

Thanks for the leads!

 

I'm outside of Louisville KY. Car ran in the area where Ohio, KY and West, by God, Virginia meet.

 

OK thanks!

 

Unfortunately the engine was removed and supposedly scrapped...

 

Find an engine, restore it, and vintage race it.

Here's some encouragement :

 

That's the plan! Cool car!

 

This car was owned and raced by Gene Comstock, who raced in the 1950-55 Darlington Southern 500 Nascar race, first in an Oldsmobile and then a Hudson Hornet where he pushed a team mate, who's motor had blown while in the lead, for 10 more laps to the checked flag. Legend!

 

Rather than look at the intake setup......the exhaust header may be the real key to investigating the engine. There seem to be four (4) exhaust ports and they have some sort of flanges on the ends of the pipes. What inline engines of that era had four exhaust ports ? I looked at Hudson, but it has intake and exhaust on passenger side. What about Buick straight eight ? GMC or Chevrolet inline 6 engines did not have four exhaust ports spaced the way yours are. Also.....Mopar straight six......Pontiac flathead six.....Ford flathead six ......?? Great looking project by the way. Keep us in the loop. Have fun

 

Yes......I knew tha and misspoke because I was focusing on the separation in the ports which seemed equal and consistent rather than the spacing of the ports on the GMC and Chevrolet......someday I will hopefully learn more about effective communication !

 

Where is @Robert J. Palmer when you need him?

 

Pushing vintage race cars in the Rotterdam Sqaure Mall for the Fonda speedway car show.


That's a Super Modified also known as a Super Mod however depending on the part of the country you lived they went by other names.
In the Northeast/West Coast they were known as Super Modifieds, Super Mods, or simply Supers.

Some places called them Bug or Cut Downs (this was common in central/western NY.

I have heard them call Seekters (mostly Florida)

I have even called them Sprint Cars I think this is where the confusion comes from of calling Big Cars (Champ Car/Indy Cars) Sprint Cars.

If you talk to any old-time open wheel racer, they will tell you there were Midgets and Big Cars until the mid to late 50s

Sprinters didn't come along until the mid 50s.

They also look very different depending on what part of the country you live in

In California they were basically Sprint Cars with a narrowed T coupe body

Supers started out as stock cars with the fenders removed, then the bodies being shorted narrowed eventually hand formed, engine set back laid over moved to the left, starts were dropped transmissions gave way to in/out boxes, and early on they got tube chassis.

Bud Hinman with his Super Mod


Oswego Speedway "The Steel Palace" car mid to late 1950s


Noland Swift's 10-Pins Oswego 1960


Jim Shampine Oswego 1964


Oswego 1964


Then things got weird...

 

My Super Mod thread-

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/50s-60s-super-mods-post-em.1276803/#post-14645587

 

Thanks for the info Robert!

 

Sorry I called away and had to shut down before I could finish my thought.

My education guess it is a GMC and not a Chev.

Photos of the engine bay, engine mounts would help.

I was able to find another photo of the car but it's not much help.

 

I have been doing some research Gene Comstock also owned cars-

Arden Mounts (driver) with Gene's Huson Hornet at Orange Speedway, also known as Occoneechee Speedway and Hillsborough Speedway

 

I also found this vintage photo data base of Supers, so for I haven't found any photos of this car.

http://www.retrorockets.org/

 

I will check that out, thank you Robert!

 

Boy, I could spend some hours in that archive. Thanks again

 

@Roy Wainscott -I've got one of those intakes,
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