Lakster or Dirt Track ???

[exStreamliner]

I purchased this body in the late 80's at a Phoenix swap meet and never questioned its history... after starting a new frame and showing project pixs... I was flooded with questions... the body has unique mods; channeled over narrowed frame... doors welded shut... fully tubed eliminating turtledeck... reversed firewall (bolt-in)... subrails intact... holes in the doors for rear radius rods... exhaust hanger hole on passenger side... I know that doesn't seem like much but at looking through published event photos you don't see many channeled, non-turtledeck rods after the War... mainly due to racing restrictions of stock bodies for the roadster classes... I have seen early CA dirt cars with shortened pick-up bed which qualified as stock body... the well used rust free body and untold hours of gas welds will be preserved in the current build but it would be nice to know how it was raced... I know mixing current shot may confuse the issue but the car would have been six inches lower and the current Essex frame, 20 turtledeck, and Whippet grill were not originally with the car... any leads would be appreciated

[Charlie Chops 1940]

No info, but I do like the 26/27 body with an earlier turtle deck.

[exStreamliner]

My choices were limited... the double tube around the upper beltline meant that a original turtle deck wasn't and couldn't be used without modifying the body... and since preserving the body was the main purpose of the build I had a choice of a shortened pick-up bed, just a gas tank (which is most likely the way it ran), or a smaller turtledeck... actually this one has a number of mods that a racer wouldn't have bothered with... the result is differant and I haven't seen it done before... but, it was using available parts from the time...

[safari-wagon]

Based on the mods, my guess is that it's an old dry lakes car & probably also ran on the dirt tracks, but who can confirm this? With all the historical knowledge hidden in the brain-pans of the HAMBers, we ought to be able to come up with a bit of history on this old race car.

This car will be in the basement @ the Detroit Autorama in our club display. We'll be asking for input from all the HAMBers during the Meet & Greets.

[a boner]

Nice HOT ROD..........how about some more pic's.

[sota]

Nice car,keep us updated.

[exStreamliner]

I have plenty of pixs from the current build and I'll post a few more but I'm trying to find what it looked like when it raced... logically it wasn't a channeled street car and the only vintage pictures that come close are from the thirties which is somewhat logical since SCTA rules the stock bodies were required to qualify in a roadster class after WWII... why the reversed the firewall is a mystery too...

[RichFox]

I don't know how much work you have put into that body, but it seems to nice to have been a track car. With the deck on it reminds me of the Scottys Muffler Drag Roadster, but I remember that as being center steer.

[exStreamliner]

Thanks Rich... thats part part of the mystery... the body was virtually rust free... but, it was well used... every crack or seem was welded... it was reinforced in places I would have never thought about being a concern... and the workmanship is unbelievable - for exsamplethey removed the original firewall and reinforced the mounting surface with a band of steel, remounted the firewall in a reversed position... made bolt on mounting tab that connected to a tube that goes the full parimeter of the body and mounts to the tab on the other side... from the door back a secound tube sets in the channel for the turtleback and is welded to the lower tube that goes the goes the parimeter... and as far as how nice the body is - they didn't seem to care... the warpage from all the gas welding did a number on the body panels which they they used a peen hammer and dolly on both sides... I had it for years in primer and thought it was pretty straight... the closest thing to filler was dryied gum in the exhaust hanger hole on the passengers side... the rear panel had normal wear and tear dings that indicate a seat back wasn't used... the top cowl was the worst - it looked like they had trown everything but the motor on it while the were wrenching on it.... since I plan on painting it - we skim coated the upper cowl and lower panels with lead but the remained of the panel will remain untouched and fully exposed on both sides...

[exStreamliner]

I just posted a reference picture by mistake (I can only wish that was my car)... most pictures that look like mine before it was raised above the fram are in the thirties... but, while I'm reposting the correct body reference shots I'm posting a favorite Dick Kraft shot too

[-Brent-]

Do you have an overall shot of the car? It looks like a really nice set-up.

[exStreamliner]

I have more shot of the construction than the whole car... and the whole car leaves an impression of the way it looks now instead of how it would of looked... think of it channeled 6" which wasn't practical for a guy over six foot to set in... the plans are for the car to maintain race car qualities more than practical/streetable... the 33 in the background doesn't get driven enough to even bother with another street car..

[exStreamliner]

User Error - the pixs didn't show up

[krylon32]

I can't keep my mouth shut. That is gonna be one bitching ride.

[exStreamliner]

Well, a 375 HP Y Block, Zypher gears, and 3:54 gears should get her down the road but I'm mostly excited to see how a full three point suspension makes her handle

[-Brent-]

Originally Posted by exStreamliner

Well, a 375 HP Y Block, Zypher gears, and 3:54 gears should get her down the road but I'm mostly excited to see how a full three point suspension makes her handle

Wow, man... you weren't joking in your PM! Holy cow, you've got to have a brass "set" to hammer the throttle in that thing!

The car looks fantastic. What's the wheelbase? I love the look of the steelies.

[exStreamliner]

My Essex frame that was Z'd and set up for three point suspension was done in Springfield, OH... Bill Metz of Bill's Rod & Custom had also built the closed drivetrain chassis for my 33 in the 70's and has done a lot of Sprint related repairs and the years... he was responsible for the 95" wheelbase... I didn't want it that short but I'm growing used to it... the steelies are 16" Lincoln 41 rear and 15" 42-48 fronts both 5" wide... funny thing was I have Chrysler Imperial wires that were for the car but the fronts needed new 4.5" rims laced to the Imperial centers - they turned out great but I didn't get done in time for the Chopper's show so the Lincoln one got cleaned and mounted

[41 Dave]

Thom, All I can say is - "WOW !". That roadster is quite the machine. Bet that is one healthy Y-Block.
I am using a complete Marine Y-Block in my '31 "A" Coupe. Love the way these motors look.

41 Dave

[exStreamliner]

This thread is starting to go more about the car... but thats OK since I'm meeting new friends from it... the ol 312 was originally a 120 over 12.5 to 1 built in the 60's but I went to 60 over 10.5 when it went into my wagon... most of the HP was from the induction and head work... the intake is a factory 2-4 with 56 Cad El Dorato factory dual carbs... T Willy custom ground the cam and a FE Late model distributor filled the bill... I put 40K miles on it and loved it... but the 57 Wagon was blown apart for paint and hasn't been on the road in years... the the motor is going from the machine shop into the 27 which makes it nice since I know what to expect and the drivetrain in basically the same as the 33 so life should be good...

[exStreamliner]

Formost and the reason fro the post was to try to identify the racing history of the body that ended up being a car... curious car guys (myself included) tend to pick up on everything related to our hobbies... so in response to many PM's respecting the intent of the thread but still would like to know; Yes the car has been a shop hopper - I could only wish I had the talent to pull this off... I roughed in the design and collected the parts and photoshoped the intended build... next it went to Bill's Rod & Custom to turn an Essex fram into my design... then it went to Hensel's for the tube work and (due to being laid off) I was able to work with Dan on changes to the chassis along with the belly pan... the end result is what is shown at the Chopper's Show... the next phase was a "gift"... long time friend, restorer & rodder careyohio who doesn't due customer work decided to make a first base car into a home run... every detail and remaining fabrication has been at their hobby shop which normally is dedicated to their vintage drag racing projects... I love this hobby... friends help friends - I hope that anyone attending the Detroit Autorama will get a chance to look at more than the pictures... the 27 will be in front of the Singlefinger Speed Shop Garage on the lower level... thanks for the PM's and I appreciate input into the suggested origin of the body