National Hotrod Reunion- Bowling Green Ky.

[gearhead409]

just got back late last night. very good show, the biggest ever. if this event keeps growing they will run out of room next year. it was standing room only, the largest bunch of gas and fuel dragsters, altereds, old time funny cars and gassers i have seen in one place. the GEEZER GASSERS ( 40-41 willys style) about 75 of them put on a good show. there was about 40 super stock cars there including Allen George's bluescreamer and Fred Totton's Soo Sad 63 impala. Allen said he won his class at indy last week and he got into the 10s friday night and sat. here at bowling green ( great job Allen! ) Fred broke his clutch linkage again friday night and was still having some engine problems sat. his car looks to be a strong performer once he gets it all sorted out. got to see Ronnie Sox and Malcolm Durham and there were others but i had to get home for a family gathering, really hated to leave, i was having so much fun ! P.S. after seeing Fred's starting line launch sat. my 10 bucks will be on Fred!

[JimKwiatkowski]

Gearhead,sounds like a fun time,did you take any photo's :dunno

[gearhead409]

big mistake on my part, my wife needed the camera this weekend so i didn't argue. i hope Fred will have some to share when he gets back.

[SS425HP]

I didn't have time to take many photos, if any. Might have a few. As gearhead said, had clutch troubles again. Friday AM, Carl Bucks and his helper came down and we ( HE ) pulled the tranny, to get the clutch ball back in place. It had screwed itself clear back as far as it would go. He took it out and extended it, and we locktited it. Worked well. Finally got the car to tech Friday PM. Went through tech OK. Then went up to see Allen and the MANDRA guys. Stopped and the clutch rod from the Z bar to the clutch arm broke the tip off. The 63 has a ball and socket at the clutch arm, and the rod has a pin that goes through to hold it in place. Found an arm in the swap meet area, but it was short. Found a guy with a welder, and we cut and spliced the 2 together to get the right length. He even had a piece of chromoly to put over the rod to strengthen it. Worked good. Finally got to make a timed run. This is with new ignition stuff. 12.49 @ 108+ MPH. Of course this was side by side with Allen George, who half tracked me. I did get him on the light. He was distracted by the wrong et showing on his side. Any way, went back to the pits, and later on I got my timing light out. It has the dial on the back so you can set total timing. We had set it before at idle with 10 degrees advance. Well, total checked out to be about 28 degrees. reset it to 38 degrees.
The next pass came in eliminations. The car ran better. 12.022 @ 115+ on this run. Problem was a red light . .003 red. So close. Not sure if the guy could have run me down if the light had been green. Anyway, the car had picked up almost 5 tenths, and 7 MPH. 60 foot was 1.7. Getting there. Still have work to do. Thinking the car will launch harder. Got to get the line lock in. I have to get different rear rims. Got too much backset. Think I can get a 10" tire in if I get the right backset. That should bring the 60 foot down.
Bowling Green was GREAT. Many neat cars, many fast cars. A show not to miss.
Gearhead, wish you had come over and said howdy. What a show.
To top it off, Sunday AM, the A/C belt on my truck broke. Got a new one, and found the tensioner was bad. It did hold up coming home, though. Got lucky there.
Saturday evening, we had a little memorial service for Dean LaPole. We had a lot of his friends there.
Was pitted with Jess Tyree and his family. What a great bunch. Also Mike Leiby was there. He built our last funny car. He built Jess's car. That 63 Tempest runs like a scalded ape. Never saw anything leave the line like it does. On alcohol, runs easy 8.60 for B Gas.
Had a great time, with great people. Can't ask for more than that. Hated to leave.

Fred

[JimKwiatkowski]

Fred,why did you name your 63 Soo Sad?

[SS425HP]

That's a name Dean picked. I think he had that name on a quarter miget he ran before he got into drag racing. It was on the old car in 65.

Fred

[jim_ss409]

:bow "12.022 @ 115+" :deal Wow that's motoring! :beerbang Have you installed the modified intake yet?

[SS425HP]

Stock intake and heads. Nothing done to them. I think I can get a little more from launching at a higher RPM. It doesn't bog, but it seemed to me that it came out better the last time, and I think it was at about 3000 on launch. I never had one jump like that before. And the shift light came on fast. Got to get used to this.

Fred

[region rat]

Fred, Glad to see your car coming around. I know there's plenty more in your combo. What have you done with the driveshaft? I didn't nose around enough at Norwalk. Cars like ours can really hook with all that ballast hanging out in back of the rear end( the car's, not our's).I used to try and come out at at least 5K and with old school M&H's, 10.65 X 28.5 it would go1.45 for 60'. How big did your motor end up and what kind of cylinder pressure are you getting? Got another outing coming up soon? Love to try and come to help. Bob

[SS425HP]

Bob, the drive shaft is a heavy Inland Empire shaft. 2 piece with the heavy duty carrier and 1350 joints. The motor is 445", Ross pistons and Eagle H beam rods. The pistons are lightened. They weighed 721 grams. Cylinder pressure is ???????? Don't know. Haven't checked that yet. Rather small solid lifter cam. Just shy of .600 lift, 250, 258 @ .050. Small by some of today's standards. Will probably go to a roller sometime soon. Depends on funds! Tires are 29 X 9 X 15 Hoosiers. I'm sure there is more there. Bigger tires might make me have to dial the clutch pressure up higher. Seems to be near right, now.
Bob, I can't make it, but there is an NSCA event in Michigan this weekend. Denny is going to try to be there. You might check it out. I have to see what is going on. Not really interested in bracket racing with a stick shift. Do you know of any good happenings?

Fred

[JimKwiatkowski]

Fred,what dragstrip in Michigan is the NSCA event?

[SS425HP]

Jim, the link below will give you the info. Milan, Michigan is the place.

Fred


http://www.nsca-racing.com/

[region rat]

Years back Denny told me they did more research on 9 inch tires than any other because they sell tons to stock eliminater guys. He said if I got aX30 hard tire I would never turn them. My Pontiac motor guy wrote me a prescription for a disc. I got a 10.5 " solid hub with a 5135 sintered iron lining . He makes 900 HP and runs less than 1000# static pressure in his disc and claim it won't slip. He's cracked 8's @ 3250#. The disc is from Titan. I'll get it in this week and try and get to the local track so I don't make an axx of myself in public. There's a good meet in July I think at Cordova. Might be super stocks running at a dael at Byron soon too. I'll let you know. The kid down the block wants me to go to Super Chevy.at Indy. Real crowded but fun. My son lives near the track. Don't need an alarm clock. You can hear the cars. Bob

[JimKwiatkowski]

Thanks Fred, thats only 150 miles for me,I'll have to see if I can make that. :D

[region rat]

Fred Do you know the specs on the old Sig Erson R990 roller? I picked one up and it seemed to have less area under the curve than the 990-B. Bob

[region rat]

Milan is a nice trck. Haven't been there for years. Only day I could go would be Sat. Thinking of going Fred?? Bob

[DIV1RACER-2]

If you guys get a chance come over to Milan for the day. Not many "409" cars running Nostaglia Super Stock. I may be the only one , lots of other interesting cars though! If i don't have any more dang problem's i'll be there ! :dunno You can find the only aqua 62 Biscayne there, Should be in early sat am .

Denny

[SS425HP]

Fred Do you know the specs on the old Sig Erson R990 roller? I picked one up and it seemed to have less area under the curve than the 990-B. Bob

Bob, Dean had the cam card on the 990B at his house. Didn't we send you that? Sent it to someone. We never had a roller. Just the flat tappet. I have one in the garage, but it is old. Took it out 10 years ago. Was driving it on the street. Was too radical for the street. No bottom end. Was a terror from 3500 up, though. I think there are probably better profiles on the market, today. The 1000 was basically the same grind. In 65, the Erson cam really woke the 409 up. I know Tom Jacobson used it. Hayden introduced us to Sig when we were out there in 65. Quite a man in his day.

Fred

[SS425HP]

Milan is a nice trck. Haven't been there for years. Only day I could go would be Sat. Thinking of going Fred?? Bob

I have to work this Sunday. Saturday would be the only day I could go, too. Hadn't thought about that. Might look at that. Wouldn't take the car, just drive up to watch. Need any pit crew, Denny?

Fred

[region rat]

Fred, Dean sent the cam card for the 990B. That's the cam I've been using. I tried running it in at 103 1/2 . Dean told me it ran best at 103. I just made a lucky guess. Running it that early picks up some bottom end but semed to run out of pull around 7000. I'd go through the traps at 7200. The R990 was a roller Sig made. That's what I needed specs on. Can't seem to find John Erson to ask. Also picked up the 1000X from Phil. Not sure what specs are on that . Need to put a block on the stand and check them. Now I have the 990B in at 110 and the bottom end is gone. Bob

[SS425HP]

Fred, Dean sent the cam card for the 990B. That's the cam I've been using. I tried running it in at 103 1/2 . Dean told me it ran best at 103. I just made a lucky guess. Running it that early picks up some bottom end but semed to run out of pull around 7000. I'd go through the traps at 7200. The R990 was a roller Sig made. That's what I needed specs on. Can't seem to find John Erson to ask. Also picked up the 1000X from Phil. Not sure what specs are on that . Need to put a block on the stand and check them. Now I have the 990B in at 110 and the bottom end is gone. Bob

I think John Erson is in Hawaii. Call and ask Steve Tanzi. We never ran that much RPM as I remember. Dean did with his SBC in the Chevy ll. We ran a 4.56 gear as I remember, and a 2.20 low gear. Left at 6000. With a steel flywheel. What was the lift on the 990? Wasn't much over .595 I don't think. Dean was working on some cam designs. Not sure where that stands. I'll try to find out.

Fred

[region rat]

Fred I had Jacobson looking for him in Hawaii. I think one of his kids was out there. Hopefully he's loafing on a beach somewhere. I think 990 lift was .622

[SS425HP]

Ray, shot no ducks at Bowling Green. Installed a Crane electronic ignition, Accell coil, new plugs, distributor cap and rotor, and wires. Was clean up to 7000 RPM. Didn't go higher than that. I think the car will definately go into the 11s. Seemed the higher the launch RPM, the quicker it went. The 60 foot was down to 1.70. The car doesn't bog at all. I was happy with it :)

Fred

[Tom Kochtanek]

Fred, it sounds like we need to put together a rematch with you and Ray :).

Glad to hear that new engine is getting a workout, and that you "have your ducks in line" :).

Best,
TomK

[region rat]

Fred. I'm thinkin' the faster you get to the finish line, the wider that grin on your face gets. Bob

[SS425HP]

I took a few pictures at BG. Not much to look at. Took some of the pit area. I'll post them. Not anything to get excited about!!!!!

[SS425HP]

A couple more. The picture of the guys at the motel are west coast friends. The guy on the right is Mike Leiby. He built Jess Tyree's car, and built our last King Camaro. A great car builder.

[Tom Kochtanek]

Fred, I noticed you have added some new lettering on your '63, in memory of Dean. Very touching. Glad to hear the event went well.

regards,
TomK

[JIMS409]

Just wanted to share a note from Doug Marion with you all

Hiya James!

I went to the NHRA Reunion in Kentucky. Car show and drags.
In S/S, there were 44 qualifiers. 18 Chevys and 15 Mopars.

A '65 Z-16 396 Chevelle went 9.749 on a 10.00 ET index!
Charlie Kuenster's 409 powered '59 out of Wisconsin went 11.89
on a 12.00 index.

Allen George's Blue Screamer '62 went 10.99 on an 11.00.
A '61 409 went 11.48 on an 11.50.
Rusty Symmes' red '62 racer went 9.34 on a 9.75 index.
Fred Totten drove his black '63 to a 12.02 on a 12.00 index!
A hopped up '66 Biscayne 427 went 10.64!
A C/FX '66 Chevelle went 9.80!
Valerie McCombs from Wampum, PA went 10.85 on an 11.00
index in her '62 409 Impala. She then came back and went
11.015 on an 11.00 and qualified #2.

A '65 Z16 was #3 at 11.017 on 11.00.

Dave Whitaker from Boynton Beach, FL won a "Memory Lane" car show
award with his white '62 Impala complete with M/T crossram.

John Ginn got an award with his '62 409 Bel Air.

Rusty Symmes got an award for his blue Z-11 '62 AND his hauler.
He brought it to the starting line for the presentation and laid on
the air horns a few times. The crowd went crazy! :clap

In the Hot Rod, Muscle Car and Classics classes, Chevys were 99%.
Many many stories to come in Chevy Rumble.

Pass this on to the 348-409 website. Bet the members would like to know that 409's still RULE! :brow

Doug