GASSER MUST HAVES and cant haves?

So how did you ever get the old tires to hook up Don? I remember a lot of peddling with my D/G '55 Chevy, and it was just a little 283 4 speed combo!
I'm having no luck with my Falcon and the 464 Chev & 4 speed combo getting hooked up! Even peddling is beyond ridiculous with the 10" Hurst pie crust slicks I'm running. I'm ready to toss the Goodyear Eagles on the back, just to see if I can hook up, even thought they sure don't look as good as the pie crust slicks!

 

Just remembered, the 61 Corvette that Jones lettered, his very first leaf job, was owned by Jack Luftkin.

 

The corvette was red, and called " The 1" and had Lufkin & Jones on the sides. Bobby Jones worked at Ak Miller Garage, and Jack Lufkin was the general manager. Stan Johnson also worked there as wel as Ak Miller himself and several other greats. The 55 and the vette were both built there. The 55's rear wheel wells were cut and rolled (inward) AFTER it was painted red by one of the expert tin men at the garage, and he did it without chipping, cracking, or scratching any if the paint. I have spent some time crawling around this car and some of it is amazing. When they cut the side trim, they folded the ends over and welded them, and they look like GM made them that way. The corvette set many Bonneville records including getting into the 200mph club in 64. The covette was eventually sold to Doug Thorley and was his first drag car. They removed the gold leaf 1 on the side and replaced it with an X, an the vette became "The X". After Thorley sold it, he built his "Chevy II Much" Altered/Funny Car.

 

What happened to the ' Gasser Troops ' did everybody all flame out at one time?

G Don

 

I have been reading but havent had anything of value to add.

Last Saturday I picked up a used tunnel ram for a good price.

 

Still here Don!Haha!
Just got side tracked for a while trackin down 427 parts for my A/FX project car.
Just bought a rear end,rear spring,and all the parts to assemble the front end though,so I should have a roller by Christmas time!

Scott


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Nice score Dave!Youve got a closed engine compartment anyway,so nobody will be able to see what you're running.
That tunnel ram should make it run like a real monster if you put the right can,heads and carbs with it.


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Good deal Dave! I have tunnel rams on my Falcon and the Austin. We're also putting together a Nova A/FX car with my buddy presently, and just dropped an old Weiand tunnel ram on his full roller 355 SBC. (I'd post pics, but it's an OT '69 Nova)

 

Nice score Dave!Youve got a closed
engine compartment anyway,so nobody will be able to see what you're running.
That tunnel ram should make it run like a real monster if you put the right can,heads and carbs with it.

Scott


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Actually have a choice with the Hudson, open or closed sides!
Couple mockup pics.
Havent modified the body to slide the motor back to the correct spot yet.

 

Looking good Dave!
You'll have acres of room to set that engine back!
Keep at it,you're moving right along now...!

Scott


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I like the open sides, gotta show off your muscle

 

My vote is open sides!

 

Damn that 555 is cool.

 

Open sides.

 

I prefer a full hood. I think it looks way cleaner, I have seen a few without hood sides that look good, but not on fat fendered cars. Just my.02

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

I think an A can look cool with no hood sides,but it might kind of interrupt those nice lines if you leave the hood sides off,and look like something is missing.
On the other hand,it will allow trapped heat to escape,and help it run cooler,if you have any issues with heat.

Scott


Posted using two Dixie cups and a medium length piece of string.

 

Sides will always be optional, no commitment needed.
Key will be hou the body color is brought into the "under hood".
Previous owner had it wrong IMO

.....and no I didnt get the car as shown. He had blown it apart and quit on it.


posted with a 386, a floppy drive and a vga monitor.

 

Good looking car, looks like a 39 Chevy's brother.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

One thing to consider is the hood sides were required to be in place in the Gas classes. Even though I like them off better. But as you mentioned, it's a quick easy change, and not permanent either way.

 

Are you sure?
Lots of pictures with no hood sides.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

No, I'm not sure. I also have lots of pictures without hood sides, but thought the rules stated that you had to run full fenders and hood in Gas class. But from the pictures (especially early years) it seems a lot ran without the sides, so maybe NHRA didn't consider those part of the hood assembly?

 

66 rules say "Hoods- Required in this section. Side panels may be omitted." Didn't look at the other years.

 

Thanks for the clarification Larry!

 

It's not like me to say this,cause I absolutely LOVE old race cars,but I almost wish the previous owner wouldn't have blown that car all apart...everything about it was so damn right...paint....wheel/tire combo...stance...
On the other hand,I cannot WAIT to see it all riled up and makin noise,done up like a '60's era race car!
You picked SUCH a nice body style to start with,that you would have to try pretty hard to end up with something that didn't look really nice.

Scott


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Thanks for the kind words but I cant take much credit.
I live on the inside peninsula of MD on the southern end.
The Hudson was being sold on Craigslist for 4K in the primered condition as shown with the frame completely redone, a seperate flat 6 and 6 speed manual from a 53, etc etc etc, 40 miles away!
I had to buy it. I had to buy it. There was NO way I could walk away from that car and look at myself in the mirror ever again.
Too close, too easy, too good,, too nice, too cool.
The only thing I can take credit for is constantly hunting Craigslist.

He blew it apart to do a complete color change and powertrain upgrade but never finished. Life happens.

 

So I went ahead and ordered a Winters Q/C for mine,with a 4.12 ring and pinion,and 3.51 change gears,which when reversed will give me a 4.84 ratio apparently.....I've never run one before,so this is all new to me.
Went and made a bunch of room out in the shop at my Dad's place yesterday for plenty of Model A parts so I can get started on mockup sooner rather than later.
Maybe you guys could help me out with this:
I was planning to do the interior of my A in aluminum panels for the doors,dash,firewall (it's going to have a pretty heavy engine setback),and the bulkhead between trunk and passenger compartment.
If the rest of the car is built to resemble a 1962-1964 period,is the aluminum panelling going to be out of whack with the timeline?Granted,with no fenders,and a big engine setback,it's technically going to be an Altered not a Gasser,but the two are very similar in a lot of ways.I just can't bear to put fenders on this A.

Scott



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I know the orange crate used some aluminum sheet for the floor and firewall, but the doors didn't have any ...just spatter paint.

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

Maybe this will help too.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=531910

MELTDOWN DRAGS
JULY 19-20 2014

 

You'll be glad you went with a Quick Change !! Chris