Hot Rods After 800 some passes, something had to give on the Rebel Reaper!

nice!!

 

cool!

 

Everything is in. Had a little drama with the yoke on the rear. Had to use the original for now. Drove the car up and down the drive way a couple times. Noticed a wierd noise, one of the zoomies was busted, so did a quick weld on that. Car is loaded ready for the Gasser Nationals in Marion this weekend!

 

WIll you be at the Vintage Torque Drags at Cordova in August?

Jeff

 

Jeff, don't think so, but not sure. I will look into it.

Don

 

Don good luck in marion.

 

Can you say "weldment porn"? I would get it chromed even if I had to sell my spleen.

Bob

 

Outstanding, you should be proud of yourself, Don.

 

Unfortunatly, there is another update. I made a nice easy pass friday mourning. Then went around, got back and the staging lanes and let it have it! All was well till around 100mph. Got a wierd vibration. Didn't go away all the way through the end of the quarter. Got back to the pits and jacked it up and looked at the u-joint. With all the messing around with it, I thought maybe I didn't get it in right? It all looked good but maybe....no next pass did it again. The car was where it usually was, 11.02 at 117. somthing but still had the vibration. Curtis (Ernest's helper) thought that the drivers side wheel looked like it was woobling, but that was at the starting line? MCR never is a good starting line, and this time was no exception. So I just figured he saw the slick wash boarding....So after the 3rd pass I took and put the car up on jack stands and put it in second gear. Sure enough it was moving around pretty good on the drivers side. So I took off the wheels and drums and started the car again. You could see the run out in the axle flange! Not good. I called Mark Williams to see what they would think, should I keep running or call it for the weenend. First off, they said they never have seen a flange bent. Next, no worry about the flange breaking off. So after I got off the phone I started to look closer. There is a spacer collar between the bearing and the axle flange. Not sure why that is not part of the machining of the axle, but it is very loose, both sides. I figure that can't be good, so I call back. Yep, not good. Supposed to be tight. So that finished the weekend for me. On a side note, the Gasser Nationals was small and the vibe was not too good. Not alot of guys making passes. Maybe the heat? Then the owner of the track really f---ed things up by running a bracket race today and cancelling it for tomorrow! I feel for the people that traveled to see or participate for this event. They didn't even tell Ernest! It won't be back there for sure!

 

One of the locals here broke her axle off right outside the bearing and messed up her quarter panel on a two day old paint job.

 

Don, not sure if the AMC 727 is the same as mopars 727(probably is) but A&A trans offers a bolt in rear sprag for 727. Sorry to hear about the carnage, looking forward to seeing you at the jalopy drags.

 

I'm really looking forward to seeing your car at the Jalopy Drags. Looks like a handful!

 

Dame!!....You guys are killing me with willy's fever??....between your "rebel reaper", Kev's "Nasty habbit" and Bill's solo speed shop cars......I got to have one......problem is it is tough to talk the ol' lady into letting me have one when they are priced more than my house was.....LOL

 

Don-

It was nice to meet you yesterday, I really feel for Ernest. That was BS on the tracks part for pulling the plug without talking to him first, several of my racer freinds where leaving in the afternoon for Dragway 42 since it was so close and had a nice payout for Sunday. Thats one of the great things about living here in Ohio, we have so many dragstrips.

 

your right on the steel cars...too much, but I built my car for under $10k and have a blast with it. Also, maybe prices are starting to drop?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0627029076&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

Dave, yes, nice meeting you too! I guess there was some funny car action at National trails too! Your right about tracks in Ohio, the heart of it all!

 

Don; Sorry to hear of your troubles! It seems like when all goes well for quite awhile, things go south for awhile! I guess it's to keep us humble. I went to 42 yesterday. The track is looking better. Still typical 42. Track prep for the AA/GS cars was humorous. A powered leaf blower and a broom to clean the pebbles off the starting line. Then they sprayed some glue in the tire tracks by the starting line. First qual round of AA/GS cars had very little water in the burnout box. Biggie Rat came off line, went left, but gathered it up. Good run. A 6.17. Runs up to 6.80 were typical of first round. Second round, Biggie Rat had it figured out! 5.40 pass. Top qualifier. Gang busters off the line, straight as an arrow down the track. One of the best runs down that track I've seen in years. Lots of bracket card, rat rods and street cruisers. Three live bands. I live down the road a bit from the track. So it seems like I made the right decision. Too bad about La Rue! But hey, maybe Thompson will get it back! That would be my choice! Aaron Dupont

 

Congrats to Gordon! I love that car!

 

My brother and I drove down to the Gasser Nats, and was greatly dissappointed with the turn out, and we usually have a great time no matter what, but after talking to Don and see he was still having problems, Hand shaker didnt show, jack warren didnt even pull his car out till after 2 that left us with no choice to head over to 42 ourselves. It was a great turn out, i have never been a huge fan of 42 when it comes to the quicker cars thought, i know it has to be expensive to upkeep a track but over the last decade 42 has regained popularity and the should be able to raise the money to fix that track. And the announcer was very miss informed about some of the cars and of the gasser era. I enjoyed beaver springs except for the drive, and have always been a huge fan of Thompson. As long as you guys build we will show to watch and hopefully make our fed a reality someday too.

 

I got suckered at LaRue. I was VERY disappointed and I felt like I got took. I hung out and watched the brackets and talked with "Ohio" George for about 45 mins, trying to make the best of a bad situation. I went mostly because the Reaper was going to be there but I only got to see you leaving on the trailer. Very disappointing after the great time I had last year at Summit. Probably will be a few years before I try again. I could have spent the $20 plus gas money on beer and car parts and been happier.

 

I would like to say that I am sorry that you had to see me on the trailer. I tried my best to make it happen for this weekend. It just didn't. I have no control over what other racers, track owners or even promotors do. I do know this, I doubt there will be a gasser race anytime soon at Marion. (other than a paid show) Never a Gasser Magazine race. Earnest came over today before finding a flight back home. He really looked bad. This has him really down. He says he had a good time etc even though you could tell this really got to him. I feel for him and all the people that planned to go on sunday. I can't believe that the track owner did not take that into consideration before changing every thing up. All I can say is I wish I had the money to buy Thompson and make things all better.....

 

Thats call "getting air"....wow!!!!!

 

i would like to see the GASSER'S stay in Ohio.........we need to offer them something sound.............just my 2 cents

 

Great action shots and of the aftermath. Those Pontiac/Olds rear ends are really stout and 800 passes is amazing. Sounds like you have your rear end
rebuild figured out but sometimes the parts are hard to find. Fabcraft Metalworks out of Texas usually have everything needed for the 9.3" rearends if you or your rear end guy don't already know of them. (fabcraftmetalworks.com) .Think they actually may have a Willys of their own! Good luck on the rebuild!

 

Rebel Awesome:
I like the Olds Pontiac Rear Axles............Real Old School Gasser........ladderbars seem to be the trick for nice wheels up launches..........finally got my 1960 Pontiac Rear Acel Vintage Ladder Bar working.