Hot Rods Does Preformance Really matter anymore

Does Preformance Really matter anymore

No but my wife says performance matters. Sadly at my age I've lost my pre-formance and performance. But also at my age that really doesn't matter. I haven't found any virgins that want to perform!
This comment makes as much sense as most of the others! By the way what is a preformance? Does it have anything to do with foreplay?

 

Here's a great story that illustrates a REAL hot rodder....

A number of years ago when 5.0 Mustangs were the rage, a young guy enter a 5.0 into the Silver State Classic. If you don't know what this is, it's an annual race over 93 miles of (closed) public roads in Nevada. Top speed is the name of the game. Now, they ran 'classes', and the closer you got to your class maximum average speed, the higher you placed. The top 'class' speed was 175 mph, above that was unlimited where you found the purpose-built cars and your Lambos and Ferarris. This kid enters the 175 class...

He 'breaks out', running well over 180 mph. In fact, he had the fastest average top speed for the whole race, beating the high-dollar unlimited cars. Because of the breakout, he doesn't 'win'. Super Ford magazine decides he merits a feature, so they contact him and ask if he'll bring the car in so they can shoot some pics. He agrees, and they ask how much room he'll need for his truck/trailer combo. Silence for a moment... 'Uhh, I don't have a trailer. In fact, this is the only car I own. I drive it to work....'

That folks is a TRUE hot rodder.....

 

I guess you preformance is what you do before your performance.

 

Denny, a double dose of Viagra and a quick application of Shellac will boost your performance immeasurably.

Regarding automotive performance on the HAMB, there are more threads relating to disguising an SBC 350 to look like a 283 then there are posts about increasing performance. Threads about installing tri power with only the center carb working are also quite common. The old drag racers are now in the minority. Posing has since taken the place of performance.

 

Yep me too, always thought it was kinda like a get out of jail free card.

 

"A flat head is too costly to get alot of power out of, spending 3 grand to get 80 HP from a banger is a waste of $$$? really, not to me."
Well, I guess that can depend on how much money you have too.

 

I couldn't agree w / this more , that's why I drive a tbucket , 1790 lbs.- 400= hp & a 4-speed "it's " there if I want it !!
dave

 

heading over to your thread, gotta cleanse the taste of vomit out of my mouth...

 

And how much knowledge you have too.

 

FUCK yes!

 

I must be getting old because I do occasionally find myself thinking about the u-joints with 160,000 miles on them in my daily when I snatch second gear. -Dave

 

I'm not 'talking down' the vintage stuff, simply pointing out that the majority of owners seem more interested in preserving it instead of using it the way it used to be. Or 'pushing the envelope' which in my mind is the essence of hot rodding. FalconGeorge points out that most of these are 'detuned' compared to what the were 'back in the day', or have been fitted with modern parts to improve reliability/comfort. T5s? Automatic overdrives? C4s behind flatheads??? Can somebody explain to me how this is 'traditional'?

Ryan founded this place to 'bring the gospel to hot rod hooligans' if I have the phrase right. Us hooligans are feeling rather outnumbered...

 

I'm 62, laid off. Can barely see , have constant pain from a shoulder injury, no garage and no tools. I have to think about surviving "retirement".
Unless something REALLY changes my mechanic's days are over!
No projects, no motors torn apart.
But can't I STILL enjoy cars, especially the HAMB worthy ones?
Do I need to pass somebody's test?

 

Hey, I'm in the same boat; bad knees/back so swapping broken transmission/rearends is pretty low on my choices of things to do. I can afford the parts OR the outside labor, not both. The way I see it, build what works for you. Just don't claim it's something it's not...

 

Performance- without a doubt! Properly tuned, combo maximized for nothing but the most I can get out of what I have. You can only get so far with parts=limited HP/TQ,but soooo much left in the rest of the whole car....weight,suspension,gearing.....
If I can't break the tires loose for a long ways,bark/lay rubber in the next gear,or feel like I'm being "pulled" and have to "drive", then i'll just hang it up for good......
I don't think that's ever going to happen........
My sh$t better kick some ass=mine,or I'm just playing the game and fooling myself........

 

You're reinforcing the point I'm trying (and apparently failing) to make. You're talking about your '39 being a 13 second car when it's done. In this day and age that's not exactly cutting edge hot rodding that is placing a lot of priority on performance. By your own words you've got to travel back to 1961 to feel like that's what a REAL hot rod should run. Not bitching about it, just saying that if you want to build a certain style of car, choices need to be made regarding performance. (Now your '65 Falcon sounds like it'll be a terror).
Hell, even the owner of this site has a long term project going on with his '38 Ford coupe to replace that crazy fast NASCAR small block Chevy with a Y block as I recall. I'll shit in my hat and wear it if the car is faster when he's done. I'm guessing he made a conscious choice to give up SOME performance to get a different look and vibe for the car. I get what he's doing and I love it. But I have friends that only care about going faster. Overhead cams, turbos, EFI and whatever else it takes. I get where they're coming from. It's not what I want to do in this hobby called hot rodding but different strokes for different folks.
Go have a cold Canadian beer falcongeorge and let your blood pressure drop a bit. If you were closer I'd buy the beer. I enjoy your posts and don't want you dropping dead on us.
This is all philosophical bs in the end anyways but it can be entertaining to have these discussions.

 

I agree with you that it's more of a STREET RODDER attitude these days for about 85% of the builders out there today and only the Bonneville guys and the guys that still take their cars out to the drag strip on a regular basis are the TRUE Hot Rodders.

 

WOW, really? ^^^^

 

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I wanna be Fuzzy when I grow up... any guy over 60, who drives a model A roadster with dual holleys from CA to BC every year is my hero! and we both own way too many old falcons too.

 

I consider my car a Hot Rod.
It's a reliable, 14.2 second, 96 mph, flathead powered, street driven 32 Ford tudor sedan.
I built the car to be exactly what it is:
290 inch engine (3.345 x 4.125)
Potvin "Eliminator" cam
Big intake valves
Stock Aluminum Ford heads (Canadian)
2 Holley series 4000 4 bbl carbs (1956)
Center-dump headers

4 speed transmission, with a Laycock overdrive adapted (8 speeds capable)

4.11:1 rear axle ratio (converts to 3.2:1 in Overdrive)

Good Lincoln brakes front, Ford truck rear
No power anything
Exceptions to period correctness or traditionalness:
Radial tires, cuz I don't trust the current bias offerings, and an alternator driven from the rear axle, cuz no room in the engine area.
And yes, most here I think are closer to the Street Rod mentality mentioned above

 

Me too. That's a quick flatty! Nice!

 

I think a lot of the need for performance decreases with age. When you're young you want the fastest car in town, when you get older, you think, "What have I got to prove?". I think we all enjoy the kick in the pants feel and sounds of a really high performance engine. I know I still do. If I want to go scary fast, I'll jump in my OT 86 Corvette, if I want to just enjoy driving an old car, I'll get in my 47 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe with the stock 75 model Chevy 350. Both have their purposes. The Lincoln would probably be considered more of a custom than a hot rod, but to me, it's still enjoyable to drive, and that's what it's all about to me. It's all about the fun in getting there.

I know there are guys older out there still racing, my hat's off to them! I would love to take a few trips down the drag strip in a fast hot rod again, and might someday, but for now, it's not in the picture. The real world gets in the way anymore, there are obligations to be met, so I am happy with what I do have. Some won't like it, but I don't care. It makes me happy, so that's good enough.

 

I have one question and I ask it of all my older friends, so I'll it of you guys too.

Here it is

Did you quit doing it because you got old, or did you get old because you quit doing it?

 

In my case I quit doing it (all out performance) because of starting a business, a mortgage, 3 kids, college approaching for the oldest of those kids and trying to set aside something so maybe I can retire befor I die. Yeah I know, dare to dream. I guess the short answer to your question is I got old and a little more responsible. Just a little though.

 

Yes

Mike

 

College sucks the life right out of you......at least paying for 2 at once does.

 

Kinda neither....... Went thru the as fast as I could afford stage=race car,then, how far could I go stage,which is current...... It's a fine line between drivers,or not.....raged edge,or,reliability.
Hopped up just brings more worries..... and I mean hopped up.
I can have my cake and eat it too.........A man's gotta know his limitations.......(Thanks Clint). I can go crazy fast in this day and age,but ,it's a decision........I'de rather play more,than pay more.....
Do I miss it= F YES!

 

I don't have any money, wich is why I got what I got. BUT, I could put the biggest, baddest, lumpiest engine you ever seen in my rod & there would still be this little evil voice in my brain saying, " Do you think I could get anymore out of it?".