XXO/BVGC '38 Chevy Coupe Build

[38flattie]

I thought I'd send some pics of the engine that motivates this build. The owner tells me it ran at Bonneville in 1950, and was a AK Miller build. I have been unable to verify the 1950 runs.

It's a pretty radical engine- domed pistons, huge valves, extra head bolts,Chrysler rods, front mount blower, crank weights cut WAY down,adjustable solid lifters,modified lifter blocks, and water ports all down the side.

My goal is to build a little more modern version of the engine.

I'd run this one, but Aaron won't sell it to me!

Well, it wasn't AK Miller's, but I found out who did build it!

I was talking to Doug Robinson yesterday, and we started discussing Cadillac flatheads. It seems he owned this engine, and is the one that sold it to Aaron. He told me it was Don Blair's, of Blair's Speed Shop. It was in a '32 roadster, that ran in the early '50's.


Doug didn't know how it faired on the salt, but I would sure like to know!

[SPARKY]

Why couldn't you use 1/4 springs and a drop frt axle and move the frt crossmember?

[4-barrel Mike]

Parallel leaf is simple to implement:



Cross steering wouldn't be a problem either.

Mike

[dw230]

Send an email to Jim Miller, American Hot Rod Foundation, he has an extensive collection of all things dry lake. Jim should be able to come up with some data on Don Blair's Caddy.

miller212.842@sbcglobal.net 
 
DW

[38flattie]

Why couldn't you use 1/4 springs and a drop frt axle and move the frt crossmember?

Ok, educate me Sparky- What do you mean by 1/4 springs?

Sparky, Mike- I agree there are ways to make this work in BVGC class. Bottom line, though, is time and money. I'm married to a Saint,but even Saints have their limits! This build is WAY over budget, so for this year, changes that cost money are out.

I will find a way to run BVGC, but not this year. We will concentrate on getting the engine dialed in, fine tuning the car, and getting our licenses and some experience this year. Next year, we can take another look at this. Thanks for the ideas and advice!

DW, thanks! I just sent Jim Miller an email. I'll share whatever history I find on this car/engine combo!

[Skip Pipes]

Hi Buddy,

Here are some pics of ¼ elliptic springs from my HA/GR drag car. Posies sell kits, however I made these by just cutting a conventional traverse spring in half and making my own mounts.    http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com

However I’d second 4-barrel Mike’s suggestion on parallel setup as this would be easy to work with and it would give you a lot of open space.

Thanks, Skip

[GH]

Buddy, I used trailer springs on my Stude and a Vega steering gear (cross steer).

[RICK]

Buddy,  You are not special. We have all done it.

  It would be so sweet to have the wife run to Walmart or my local hardware store and have her pick me up a "set of frame to engine mounts for a 38 Chevy to early Caddy motor for the XXO/BVGC class please"  And the only reply the sales clerk has is, "Would you like that in paper or plastic?"

  But the truth of it is,,, We get to make all that stuff.

Maybe the best thing to do now is to 'Get in DEEPER' with the guy that is going to build your cage. Gary has several successful cars on his resume,,, so he has probably learned the hard way what works, what doesn't work, how to make what you have work, or fabricate a whole new piece that will work. And he's a Hillbilly,,, so he's thrifty.

     Good luck,  RICK

ps,   What happened to the original straight axle?

[Stan Back]

Coulda had knee-action.

[RICK]

Coulda,,,, Hard to tell from the first pictures,,,, Woulda been rare in a coupe.

   So Buddy,,,,,,What did it have??

 Curious RICK

[38flattie]

Sparky, Skip, Mike, Gary- Thanks for the ideas! We'll look at changing the front end, and getting legal for BVGC next winter. Our goal next year will be to run in only that class, and see what we can do.

Stan, Rick- The car did not have the independent type front suspension, with knee action shocks. Rather, it had a solid axle, and lever type shocks- I still have this setup.

Rick, I sure don't think I'm special! After reading a ton of build threads, I realize that I'm simply experiencing some of the build pains that many have, before me. When we first mocked this up, we had room!

Ok, we didn't! I thought I understood the setback, but didn't. On top of that, we decided to add a crank snout girdle, and now I need more room in front of the engine block.

We currently have a 5" drop axle.The engine is in place, and setback 13%. Next year, I may do away with the front suspension, solid mount the axle, and move the engine to a legal 2% setback.

I started this build with 12 months to finish it, and no experience on the salt. In addition, I did not know anyone with salt experience, so I 'winged' it. The further I get into the build, the more advice I get from experienced individuals. Therefore, the more I realize that I need to look at some aspects of the build again.

Rick, believe me- I'm trying to get 'in as deep' as I can with Gary, and anyone else with experience that will tolerate my naive questions!



In the mean time, the engine is setback, and the sheet metal is going back on, so we can trim the blower openings.

[RichFox]

Altered is a better class anyway.

[dw230]

Gonna be tough to get a head off when the record is set.

DW

[38flattie]

Gonna be tough to get a head off when the record is set.

DW

Haha!

Just in case we have that 'problem', we're leaving plenty of room to work on it, and making an airtight access panel.

I heard back from Jim Miller on The Flatcad that ran in the early '50's.

"The  car was the DuNah-Goldman entry from Pasadena. It had a 347" '36 Cad for power. It ran 133.130 mph in '50 and 133.729 mph in '51 at the salt. It also ran 143.31 at the lakes in '50. This car was a '28-29 roadster body with a belly pan and race car nose without a grill opening. A picture of it can be found on the ahrf.com website, key number GGC_167."

The website is download protected, but I'm trying to get a picture of the car, from Jim Miller.

Thanks DW!

[Richard 2]

Hang in there 38 you'll get her.