Hot Rods My 1ST Straight Axle/Gasser/Altered WB....I Don't Care What You Call It, I call it "STUBBY"

Ok Folks,

So I got a couple of sayings & basically both fit just fine :

Some Days You Get The Bear & Some Days The Bear Gets You.....OR

Good Deeds Never Go Unpunished.

Stubby was put away for the season in the back of one of the shop bays & was going to cover it, so bondo/primer dust didn't get to it when my Lovely Wife Laura tells me her son is coming out for a visit & it would be cool since the weather is n ice that I take him for a ride in Stubby. The kid (28 years old) has never ridden in anything other than a front wheel drive Japper Crapper! Now keep in mind I am not to pleased with this kid anyway. He reminds me of me at 16! Very immature. 7 or 8 weeks of me giving Laura 24/7 care after her spine surgery, lifting her in & out of bed, the shower, toilet, car, etc,etc & NEVER so much as a "Can I help" from him, but to make her happy I bring Stubby out & take him for a ride. I bounced the front wheels off the ground a few times & I could tell he was shocked & a bit scared at the same time I then did a big 7K launch figuring the tires were heated by then, ran all the way through 2nd gear, hit 3rd & then let off as to have time to make the bridge down the street & of course when I turned around to head back to the driveway....I could tell I broke something! Now this is a small block, so it is not a big deal. Probably a push rod or rocker. I did not have time to look as I needed to run my last two transports of the year (here to Southern Alabama, Florida home & a round trip to Denver & back)

Now I want some opinions.....I ran it all season & am already getting bored as I have kept it out of the ditch all year So do I put the brand new aluminum heads & aluminum water pump that I have on it, change to a 5 speed from the 4 speed & up the gear from 3:90 to 4:88 OR I have a wicked big block 13-1 cr 433 that ran 10's in a '69 Camaro that was basically stock other than the engine, 400 trans, traction bars & cheater slicks.

Both options have advantages & disadvantages. Going the big block route will cost less up front, but will probably grenade the Muncie 4Sp the way I drive it.

I am not one to keep things the same as I get bored quickly & the adrenaline rush goes away quickly after a few big blasts, so putting a rocker or push rod or whatever it needs & just driving it would be the LEAST popular option! LOL

All opinions welcomed!

By the way....The kid did enjoy the ride & said it reminded him of going to Cedar Point & riding on the Top Fuel ride except there were NO seat belts & he could die! LOL

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

The kid in me says big block. The adult me says fix it and install heads and pump.

 

Stuff the Big Block in it and burn the Muncie bridge when you get to it!

 

I’d hate be you with such dilemmas
Dan

 

Rat motor

 

The speedway rat motor fenderwells are cheap

 

Might as well put the big block in and then pull the 383 down to see how bad you hurt it.
A stock M22 Muncie could have shortened life even with a healthy tunnel ram 383

 

Glad Laura is doing better, sorry stubby ain’t. Go big block and don’t look back.

 

Man, Bill! Sorry. Sounds like the kid needs some mentoring. He will probably turn out ok. We all did, he's watching you now as a role model. Sometimes it's amazing what sinks in.
You know I'm a big block man, they rule! But the weight distribution is already skewed on Stubby. So you'll have to do a radical engine setback! Lol. Maybe open up the SBC and just see how bad it is. Say merry Christmas to Laura and the family for me.

 

Bill. I would first investigate and see what went south on the small block. I would have to know what I broke and why it broke, that's just how I am. However, the big block would definitely cure your adrenaline craving, at least for a while.

 

Yeah at least pull the valve covers and bar it over a full cycle. It might be something less than you think.

 

Thanks Man,

He is a good kid, but it drives me crazy him being 27 that he is not more mature! Oh well.

Good call on the weight distribution & the other thing I didn't think about is : I would not want to use the cast open chamber square port heads...Way too heavy, so the price of the good aluminum heads have to be figured in as well.

Merry Christmas to you, your Wife & little Doggie as well!!!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Oh Yeah....I will definitely pull the V.C.'s & find the issue before I do anything else, even if I pull it after. I also have to know! Obviously lots going on here around the holidays & some personal issues I don't want to talk about, so nothing will be done before the 1ST of the year except for moving cars into better bays for easier work.

Merry Christmas to you both!
God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

It has been a while, but now that the personal issues are resolved & my head is in a better place I tore into Stubby.

Turns out I blew a head gasket on the drivers side & had a bit of water in # 5 cyl. I checked everything & there are no other issues, so I could have just put a better set of gaskets in it & went on....Tough to do with guys in our hobby! Got to be better, faster, prettier LOL

Going to make it more mine & also fix the Mickey Mouse & some down right dangerous stuff. I will add the aluminum heads, roller rockers, alum water pump, etc. Also bought finned alum. V.C.s to match the scoop & will paint & detail the engine to the way I like it. Will try to get a day or two on it this week before I head to California & Washington next weekend. The ambition is there though as I have to have it ready to run against @Lloyd's paint & glass over the 4th of July weekend at the Gasser Event in London, Ky!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Looks great Bill! If I were closer, I’d be happy to come over and help!

 

Still gonna lose.....

 

Good plan Bill. Stubby will be better then ever.

 

LOL. Bill, you should start a Go-Fund-Me page
"Help me put Lloyd on the trailer" fund.

 

That's a idea, and then I need a go fund me page, to get there, and put you all on the trailer.

 

I'm in.

 

Thanks Guys,

I have seen GoFundMe pages set up for much more ridiculous things than that & morons donate to them!LOL

One thing is for sure...when Lloyd & I get together, we are going to have fun!

I am excited to get Stubby back together the way I want it (for this year anyway), I was embarrassed by the way the engine compartment looked & some of the really shady ways the person that built it did things.....Like putting the fuel pressure regulator on a header bolt & then a long rubber hose up to the carbs

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Cool stuff Bill looking forward to seeing the finished project.
Dan

 

All this Purple has got to be worth at least a "Tenth" in my match race with Lloyd!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

You saw my '60 Caddy engine, Bill....I love me a purple power plant....looking awesome.

View attachment 6407134

 

Thanks Lucas!

Looking good with that Toro air cleaner as well. I was thinking about you, but it was the middle of the night Friday when I rolled through Missoula

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

I was wondering how Stubby's been doing.

Go Bill go.
Do you like my hat?
No, I do not like your hat.
Go Bill go.

 

Since it is my fault it is taking so long to get Stubby back together, I will quote School House Rock....
"I'm Just a Bill, I Am Only a Bill"

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Schoolhouse Rocks!

 

Every once in a while my ambition lines up with my time availability, today was one of those days & I actually got something done on Stubby!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

I was able to carve out these last 3 days to work on Stubby & made good progress. I might get the plug wires & a couple of other bits done today, but I leave for the west coast AGAIN next week so it is time to get busy on truck & trailer maintenance.

Getting excited for the 4th of July weekend race, but also nervous that I have enough shakedown time before as I have two big trips yet this month to get done.

I thought it was cool that this flywheel cover was made about 35 miles from here. Just noticed that as I reinstalled it.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/