Hot Rods "The Abomination" Henry J gasser- on the operating table

So the Henry J is due for some serious TLC. Some of the guys on here already know that shortly after last years Hunnert Car Heads-up I had some trouble and Hydrauliced the motor. Something went bad in the carb and it dumped gas into the motor. Whent I went to start it, it bent up number 8 rod. Hurray for Holley carbs.... This was last september, I just pulled off the head and found that the intake runner was still filled with gas.

I have a whole list of things on the To-Do list. I have rearend work to do, work to the front clip, some interior work, and test fit a B&M Hydro Stick Trans in it. But most of all, engine rebuild the motor is a '68 327 bored .020 over. current trans is a TH400

Here's the rod



The motor made one half revolution and lodged the piston against the crank counterweight. Looks like I got lucky. No visible cylinder wall damage. The rods were stock, so I believe that may have saved my ass. A forged rod may have stood its ground and took it out on somethin else.


The steel tilt clip is easy to remove for these kinds of things


And out comes the motor

When I built the car, I swiss cheesed the crossmember to make it easy to drop the pan. Otherwise the motor has to be pulled. The holes not only lighten, but make it easy to access the pan bolts.



So the motor will be completely tore down. I just ordered some forged I beam rods. I'm going to replace the one piston. The pistons are Keith Black Hyperutectic 10-1 pistons. They will hopefully hold up. I'm going to obviously rebalance the motor and while I'm at it I plan to do a cam swap to a solid lifter Isky cam and do some port work on the heads. Re-ring it, new bearings, and some minor dress up stuff.

 

When I got the motor out, I decided I didn't like the way the motor mounts looked.

So I boxed them and put a sleeved hole through to make it look cool




I felt like drilling holes in something heavy and my brake pedal lever looked like it could use some.


Much better, lighter too, yet still plenty beefy

 

Awesome.

 

Lookin' good, That rod is a work of art. Will you be ready for the Hunnert?

 

I hope to be ready for Torque fest on May 1st

 

I had a motor that locked up #8 also. I ran the same pistons you ran. Problem was I drove the car down to Carbondale IL and that is where it let go. It made for a bad weekend.

Looks like you are keepin busy over the winter. Nice work.

 

c'mon Ryan...dish on some pics of that hydro-stick trans you got yer hands on

seriously, looks great so far and it's going to be better than ever.

 

thanks man,

Haha, the pics of the Hydro will come. In fact that little hint of red behind the front clip and eelco tank is it hiding under the pinball machine.

 

I hate Holley's. That rod is a show piece...

 

you and your pops sure have some cool shit!~

 

did I see you at wild wades sunday?
best of luck geting it back on the road for vintage torque fest

 

Nothing cooler than a J.

 

I don't believe so. I haven't been going to many events. I did got out saturday for a drag expo, but that's it.

 

Ha! thanks man. we have some neat pieces, but I still don't hold a candle to Kiwi Kevs collection

 

dang,,, you do got alot of cool stuff..... and id like to see the B&M Hydro Stick ya got...... what shifter you gonna use on it????
btw how old are you?????? you look pretty young..... lots of talent.....

 

Kick ass Ryan. Keep it up. I expect burnout pics sooner than later.

 

That rod is kind of like "art" now.

I hope both cars make it to the Heads-Up. Too bad you can't race yourself.

 

is that a 55chevy steering box???

 

VON...It's a good time to drop a 350 in. wouldn't you like 4 bolt main cap's i'am just saying. man in 1964 i jazzed a 327 up to 10,000 r.p.m. i would have killed for 4 bolt main's...POP. it's your FEET! HA!

 

Cool man. Now just take the rod and make a shifter out of it for another project.

 

Well, I'm missing some parts to the trans. that's why I'm just going to do a test fit to see how it clears the floor. It may be a next winter project.
I'm missing the flywheel, starter, and yoke.

I'm going to make the shifter. I've pretty much figured how to make one with substantial detents and neutral and reverse lock outs. I bought an old 3 speed truck shifter from The Warshawsky muffler man shop for $2 that will be perfect to modify.

I'm 20

 

Ryan, Good to see you making progress on the "J". Best of luck brutha!

 

Von,

It looks like you got a few things on your plate, give me a buzz when you have time to fly my way. Love the brake lever, can a guy really make anything too light?

Dashman

Custom Speed and Hot Rod Parts

 

I'll spit out the info on the front suspension now, cause I have a lot of people ask.

It's a 38 willys axle, willys springs, willys spindles, 67 volvo disc brakes, 68 mustang close ratio steering box with a 37 chevy pitman arm. And 84 Cadillac shocks.

 

I probably shouldn't be sharing this...

I'm not gunna lie, it crossed my mind. Too bad it belongs to my brother and he won't part with it. This is going on the model a in the background. But what the hell, why not see what it looks like.



That is an all magnesium Mooneyham Blower with a Bowers back plate. Weiand carb adapter and intake.

 

"Too bad it belongs to my brother and he won't part with it"
heck,,, that practiclly means it yours to use,,,, dont it.... haha...

ive been trying to find a hydro for myself for quite a few years.... the thing that sucks is ive missed a couple for pretty cheep... one was here on the hamb for like $300..... the other was on ebay for less than $100(no bids),,, years ago before people were going crazy for them...(the guy wouldnt ship) i should have drove to oh. and got it...
....stupid me....
btw.... i have some pics of a shifter for a hydro i can post......

 

Please post it. I'd love to see it.
I've learned a lot about mine from old hot rod magazines. The most helpful info I have is from the 1961 HOT ROD Annual and also from the HOT ROD Technical Library books, all of which I scored from an old lady on a garage sale fo freee.

 

That J is a damn cool car!!

 

i stole these pics of the hamb....
are you gonna go to the hamb drags????

 

I like the stance of your car. Is that a Willys axle under the front?