Hot Rods 1957 Chevy 150 Gasser Build "Midnight Special"

57 150's are just bitch'n......57 150's that can run down the track are super bitch'n! Thank you for sharing!

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I replaced the steering linkage and it took care of my death wobble. You can see the bend in the original tube, it was 5/8" or 3/4". I knew it was too small diameter, but when it drove ok on the street I was hoping it would be ok. I probably wouldn't have had time to get it fixed before the Trifive Nats anyways. But now I replaced it with 1.25" DOM with welded in bungs and 11/16 heims. Much better!
I have joined the group Nostalgia Gassers Association and will be racing with them. They have two races left this year and I hope to make both of them.
Last good news I have is my t-shirt design is ready and I will have shirts in two weeks. If anywhere here is interested they are $20 and I will work with you on shipping.

 

Had a great time running at Central Illinois Dragway Fall Nostalgia Event this weekend. I met a few people there who knew the car from here on the HAMB, good to meet you all I hope you enjoyed the show! The cool air really allowed for some great passes. Friday night test and tune I made my fastest pass to date and went out Saturday and made an even faster pass. 1.36 60' wheels up launch to a 6.64 1/8 at 99.98 mph! Our last two passes we did flag starts so we didn't get timeslips, but we had a lot of fun! I was in the running for winning best burnout and on the last pass of the night I was paired with the Henry J that was also in the running, we both did a burnout to the 330' and the fans loved it!

Here is where I need some opinions. My 60' is really fast for my overall ET. Convertor too loose? I called JW who freshened the convertor for me last time when it was in the other car and they recommended going through it and tightening it up. If I have the convertor freshened/tightened up will my 60' slow down and ET improve? I don't want to give up my hard launches

My shirt order came in before we left for the race so I was able to sport my new shirts and sell a few as well! Have you ever seen such a good looking pit crew?

 

I have to advice to offer on the trans but I love the pics. Good looking pit crew!

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I meant I have no advice to offer on the auto trans delemia.

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Very cool!I am glad to see that it ran so well!

 

Any shirts in xl

 

Sure do!

 

Well I’ll be a son of a gun....gosh dang it you’ve made some progress on this thing!! I first saw it a couple years ago and lost track of it for some reason. The latest pics look great!! Hangin’ the hoops at least a foot to bottom 11 second timeslips, man you got a cool ride. Major props for putting all the 150 trim and emblems back on, and the correct 150 wheel looks a lot better in there than some aftermarket thing. Looks good without a front bumper too. You’ve done a hell of a lot of work in a short amount of time great job.

 

Really inspirational thread...........................................................

 

Thanks guys I appreciate it! Sorry for the late response. I have been away from the HAMB for a while after the birth of my newest crew member in early Feb. Looking forward to race season. I did some maintenance to the car in January and it is ready to go. I will be posting up my tentative race schedule soon.

 

Congratulation on you new crew member.

 

I was wondering what are your rear gears and rear tire size, that's a really good 60 foot.

 

Yeah it is, he’s got that rear suspension about dialed cuz that thing hooks hard!!

 

4.11 Rear gear and 28" tire. Leaving off the transbrake. I have decided not to do anything with the converter for this season unless it starts giving me problems.

Recently found this picture of my last pass of the season at Central Illinois Dragway. This is right after the Henry and I both did halftrack burnouts.

 

Well mother nature hasn't been playing nice for racing this year! My first two races have been rained out. At Gateway on Friday May 10th I did get to make one pass, but unfortunately the car didn't run the number I was hoping. I discovered after the pass that #6 plug wire had got on the header and burnt and #5 wire was completely off. So I figure an 11.6 wasn't too bad for a six cylinder! I didn't get a chance to fix it and run any better as it ended up raining the rest of the weekend and the race was cancelled. I got some different wires and just got them installed with some new plugs last night. Now I am ready for the Spring Nostalgia Race at Central Illinois Dragway (Havana, IL) this weekend. If any of you guys are there come up and say hey.


The rest of my season looks like this:
June 7-8 Eddyville, IA Midwest Nostalgia Race. Nostalgia Gassers VS. Brew City Gassers
July 19-21 Byron, IL Glory Days
Aug 8-10 Bowling Green Kentucky Trifive Nationals
Aug 17 Eddyville, IA Fuel Altered Nationals
Sept 7 Rogersville, MO Fall Nostalgia
Sept 14 Havana, IL Fall Nostalgia

 

Well that was short-lived: race is cancelled due to flooded pits and more rain chances.

 

yep another weekend shot to hell
I would have loved seeing you there
I first remember that henry J if its a guy named ken
as I use to go to the nostalgia drags at wentsville mo. Mid-America
I hated when they closed that place down those were great times

 

love the 150, I have had a few 57s and love them. You have done one so tasty and it runs real nice. Congrats!

 

Yup that is Ken Kapper. I used to go to MAR as well with my Dad. I was 15 the year they closed, never got to run down that strip.

Thanks!

 

Love that car! Looks like you're having a ball.

 

Well this can't be good:


Some shit hit the fan



Spun a bearing and kicked out a rod at Eddyville on 6/8. Exactly 367 days since first startup. It has been a real kick in the teeth. Block, Crank, rods, and pistons are all done. Luckily the top end is all ok. I haven't determined what I am going to do to fix it. Can't afford to build another 496 right now. Might use the 454 crank and rods from the previous build and build another 454. Glory Days race is out for sure, hoping I can pull something together for the Trifive Nationals.

 

Sorry man. It sucks, nowhere to go but up from here. Blocks aren't that scarce. Also, it's possible to install a Mark IV crank in a Gen V block with an adapter. Opens up more years worth of engines to you. Gotta buy an oil pan anyhow...

 

YIKES

 

Ouch

 

That was a awful quick E.T. for that kind of mph. Your convertor could need to tightening or you could call Alan Pope Racing down in Callahan ,Fl. and have him build you one the best convertors you will ever get. He built several for me and stands behind his work. I ran a 70 Chevelle 3700 lbs. with me in it and 468 home ported oval port heads and a hydraulic flat tappet cam with a turbo 400 and his 4800 stall convertor it foot braked to 6.99 at 102mph. It had a 4.10 gear and a 10x29 inch tire.
Tough luck on your blown up big block. My 2 bolt main cast crank 468 went a little over 500 passes before it pulled a rod journal and bent to Eagle rods almost double. Found another boat block, bored it .060 and ordered two rods and two pistons and stuck it back together. Ran it another season and sold it to a guy and he ran it 2 more seasons. I built a .100 over 477 and liked it better than a 496. Cheaper too.

 

Ugh....been there with the Henry J, sucks but then you get it fixed, have more fun and forget all about it

 

Yeah the convertor was giving me trouble and slipping more at Eddyville prior to the engine problem. Making nice shiny metal flake fluid. So I am going to ship it off and see if it can be saved or what I can do. Funny you say that about the 477. Looks like I might be using a .100 over block with my old 454 crank and rods, new Ross pistons, and reuse the top end off of the 496. Hopefully it will make a good motor.

I remember following your issues with the J. It sure does suck, but I agree once I get over the hump and get it back together it will be back to having fun.


I want to thank all of you guys who are following and posting along here. I have done a few build threads on various forums before and have never received the great feedback and comments that I have received here at the HAMB. Thanks for sticking around, I will get this thing back together and start posting some more fun content again!

 

Wish I had something to help you out, the last spare spare big block (468) I had got stolen.

 

That sucks! I appreciate the thought though.