Today we visited our friend Pete Aardema who is a well known innovative hot rodder and Bonneville car builder. Many years ago Pete developed the overhead cam heads for small block chevs and a few other engines and also built a couple of rear engined cars,the first being his white 33 coupe and his 37 roadster that he still owns. He also has a 33 roadster running a big block Chev with Porsche overcam heads adapted and all late model drive train (not HAMB friendly I guess). His Bonneville history is extensive with overhead cam Model A engines in a Model A roadster and then later in his streamliner. That car did over 240mph with Scotty Geitz driving. While we there there Pete was preparing the car(now a Lakester) for El Mirage this weekend but the weather may prevent him running. His next project is an all aluminium V12 that is completely built in his home workshop. This is similiar to the Allison engines of the past.This monster will be 1200 cubic inches developing 3000hp with 5 inch bore and twin Paxton style superchargers. All this and more. Check out the pictures of this shop and other stuff including his overhead cam motors etc.
Being a skilled trained experienced machinist with access to some of the coolest stuff in the industry I'm still amazed at what some brilliant people come up with. I'm lucky enough to make valve train components for some cool race engines. Some of these guys are just amazing. A few are butchers and send me stuff to fix that I just can't help but wonder where these guys lured their trade. We have a wall of shame board with pictures in out engineering office.
Yes Pete and Ladine lost their house and the original workshop including a lifetime collection of tools, some of his early engine conversions, some cars, his custom motor bike that used half a small block chev with an overhead cam head, and lots of irreplaceable memories. They rebuilt everything and he got his passion back.
Im glad to see that they rebounded from that. The man is genius, I think. I thought I remembered a story I had read about them Pretty much losing it all in one of those wildfires out there. Didn't he do some overhead cam stuff on some Harley's for Ness?
This is amazing! I can't wait to see the V12 when it's finished. I found an article about Pete's sheet metal engine here: http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/1412-how-to-build-your-own-sheetmetal-engine/ Is the V12 built the same way?
The Jalopy Journal
