Hot Rods Dry Lakes racer, oakland Roadster show car, Build Thread Pics

Last Year I Got a chance to buy an old Dry lakes racer that was racing in the early 1950's that was then converted into an Oakland Roadster show car, and compeated from 1958 to 1963. The Owner John Zunino Of Stockton California had the car since 1947, well into the 70's His Nickname might have been Big John Zunino, and he was a member of the Kingsman Car club in Stockton. It has been guessed at by a few folks here on the hamb that the customization of the reveals might have been Harry Westerguard, and that the striping was likely Tommy The greek. I am not sure on these facts and am still trying to track down the full history on the car.


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Now it has come time to get this car back on the road, I want to keep it as close to what it is as possible, there is a lot of neat parts and Ideas on this car.

I have hooked up with my buddy Clay of Claytons hot rods, to get it back on the road, Clay is a master at Traditional Hot rods and we is very quick and very good, so stoked I can have him do the car up right.

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Cool !

 

The first pick there looks like it might be this same car, but the owners dont match up.

 

Here is the front end blown apart, we need lots of parts, swapping out the axle as it looks like weak silly putty.

 

The guy before me was going to street rod this car, I am so glad I saved it from that fate. He did hack out the trans mount though so that has to be replaced, We am upgrading the Master Cylinder and Pedal assembly as well as brake lines for safety. Clay made quick work of the old cross members and all the parts are on order.

 

we need a new (old) chromed drop axle, dont want to buy an off the shelf one, needs to be old School.

Deciding on tires and rims, chromed 40 ford rims or Artilrey rims. Thinking whitewall for the dressed up look.

 

Nice to see you working towards making this a runner and restoring some of its former glory. I vote for chrome '40 steelies as it is more in keeping with the cars history, where Artillery wheels aren't as suited to that time period.

 

I will keep that in mind for sure thanks Jimmy B

 

Go with the 40 Chrome Smoothies. Nice bild keep the pics coming

 

The axle looks funny becuase it has been stretched and hammer-formed. It isnt weak.They do look odd compared to what we are used to now,There is a fair chance it was dropped by the same mob that did the one under the car Im doing. I just restored an early fifties built rod with one of these under it, to me it was an integral and valuable feature of the car, and I kept it.
If you decide to change it out I would love to buy it from you!!

 

Thanks I think I am going to Keep the Axle just in case someone wants the original one.

 

Clay is making quick work of the new pedal assembly now that he got the old cross member out.

 

that is a large hole of nothingness...
looks like that brake setup should be much more better

 

Like the front axle, I'd keep the original pedal assembly too, in case somebody in the future wanted to reinstall it.

 

Trans is pretty roached, so we will be rebuilding it, or if that fails replacing it.

 

Engine is a 57 has 2 different heads, also needs a rebuild, gotta find a head for it.

 

looks like that has not seen oil for a few decades

 

Great save!

I agree it may be stronger than you think... once you get it running again... see if it will flex under braking or has any handling issues...

 

Engines are just air pumps, they dont care what heads are on them. Once when I was dirt broke I had a bronco with one 289 hipo head and one 302 big chamber van head on it. Ran like a top ! Neat piece of history you have there. Personally if thats the way it was Id leave it like that

 

Thanks for the feedback, I still havent heard from the guys son I am hoping he hits me up and has a buncha pics from back in the day, that would be so sweet.

 

You should be re-using the axle that came with the car, its a dago dropped axle, just get some new spring perches and a spring and set it up as spring over.

And trust me, its plenty strong, i bet its the same axle thats been in its since it was built, the dagos were very early.

heres a pic of the front end going in my 32 coupe.

JEFF

 

So YOU'RE the one who ended up with her. I remember the go round when it was featured on BaT as a '32. All the woohah about how it couldn't be authentic with an SBC in it instead of a flathead.

 

Me, too (axle AND pedals)
Why repro shit on such a car??
I don`t get it

 

I would certainly keep the front end as it was. No frame mods and the longer spring base rides nicer. The front end is an important feature of the car!

 

Here is a picture of the Axle in front of my 28 its about 4 inches wider than the axle in my 28

 

Now I am really torn on using the axle that was in there or a new one, Safety first for me, I was told it might break being very stretched thin like that.

 

Ok we are going to go back to the Axle that was on there and run that, if it breaks and I die I am gonna come back here and yell at you guys.

 

Brake lines are goin in.

new headers goin in



we are definately going back to running the original axle now.

 

I don't suppose we could talk ya out of the headers... Headman tri-y style ceramic coated and then top coated with header paint to add a vintage touch would work just as well and look era correct...