Norm Grabowski T Bucket

It has been a sad weekend in the hot rod world as several have recently discovered that hot rod pioneer and legend Norm Grabowski has passed away. The news that he had died was received by Norm’s  web site Normsnews on yesterday morning October 12, 2012, he was seventy nine years old.

I had initial heard of Norm several years ago, once I was just a kid. He had appeared on an episode of Jesse James’ Monster Garage, were he and a cluster of hot rod legends (including the late Dick Dean) built a sectioned and lowered yellow fifty four Chevy. Little did I apprehend at the time that Norm Grabowski was a hot rod legend who is legendary for building the terribly initial T-Bucket!

Norm Grabowski is referred to as the Father of the T-Bucket, he  invented the T-Bucket hot rod after he left Military service in 1952.His invention came regarding when moved to Southern California and started attending native automotive shows. Whereas attending this car shows he became fascinated with the hot rods that he saw at these shows, he determined that he was going to make one amongst his own.

He soon purchased a Model A truck for $one hundred but the truck wasn’t in good condition, so he then purchased a 192a pair of Model T touring and placed it on the Model A frame. The next he did was he connected the bed from the Model A to the Model T’s body. The solely thing he required was an engine, he set to borrow a 1952 Cadillac engine from his oldsters recent automotive and he put a GMC three-71 blower on high of it!

The automotive was soon fired up for the primary time, with the turn of the key it roared to life and also the T-Bucket was born! The automobile was able to run be Norm revealed that he had to make some adjustments on the automotive.  There was a problem with the steering, steering that was from an old milk truck was backwords! The automobile would go the opposite direction of that manner the wheel was turned!

The fifty two supercharged Cadillac engine was eventually replaced with a 1956 Dodge engine that was equipped with a Horne intake manifold that held four Stromberg double-barrel carbs. The automotive was then giving it’s famous blue paintjob with the flames on the facet and therefore the pinstriping on the grill! The last detail of the automobile was the shifter, Norm loved to carve and produce things out of wood. He wanted to make one thing that was unique and would stand out therefore he carved a skull to be used as a shift knob on the automobile!

The automotive become such a success within the native Thus-Cal scene that it ended obtaining it’s own half in the hit 1950?s TV show  77 Sunset Strip! The T-Bucket was driven by a character named Kookie, which is why his T-Bucket is nicknamed the Kookie Kar.

The car wasn't only known for it’s smart looks however Norm use to pull raced the automobile yet! This cause the automotive being featured on the cover of Hot Rod in 195five as well as being featured in an exceedingly story in Life magazine in 1957!

The automotive was therefore influential that Norm came home in the future to search out then hot rodder/actor and later NHRA Drag racer TV Tommy Ivo in his garage getting the measurements of his T-Bucket. Tommy asked Norm many times if he could live his automotive however Norm refused. Therefore Tommy snuck in Norm’s, got the measurements himself and went on to build a T-Bucket of his own..The 2 of them would drag race their Hot Rods frequently, this was covered in life magazine.

Within the late 1950?s one of the actors crashed Norms hot rod whereas film on set, this led to Norm eager to drive his own car for appearances TV and films, so he became a stunt driver. Norm additionally later became an actor where he made appearances in movies like High School Confidential, Darby’s Rangers, Hooper, The Cannonball Run, and several others.

Norm would continue to build custom Hot Rods, remaining a well-known hot rod builder for the rest of his life. He would also continue his second passion of wood carving in addition, carving many skull shift knobs, cars and alternative pieces of art all out of wood.

Norm Grabowski can be missed in the recent rod world however it's time for him to create Hot Rods for the great lord currently.

Bill Grumpy Jenkins Grumpy's Toy

As most of you know Drag Racing Legend Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins’ died back in March of this Year. Grumpy Jenkins was in all probability by way the most Innovative Professional Stock Drag Racer of all time! Even additional Innovative than the Professor himself; Warren Johnson! He helped pioneer several innovations within the motorsport creating things such as the kick oil pan, strut front suspension, cool cans, electrical water pump fans, slick shift manual transmissions and his biggest innovation of all was most likely his Gas Ported Pistons.

He was nicknamed Grumpy for his “no nonsense” attitude at the strip and his Mannerisms of perpetually keeping a straight face, invariably wearing shades and Puffing a Cigar whereas creating every single pass.

Jenkins was also known for having quite a hive of cars and every one of them were appropriately  nicknamed “Grumpy’s Toy” though these machines were something but toys. They were the foremost innovative and well engineered machines to stage on the drag strip. The initial Grumpy’s Toy was a 196half dozen Chevy II L-seventy nine that was painted Regal Red and powered by a 327 SBC.

Jenkins raced the Chevy II within the A/Stock class, a class that was dominated by the mighty Mopar HEMI’s back in 1966. Jenkins strongly believe that although he had a smaller engine thanks to his Innovations and his light-weight weight he would have the faster automotive.

Jenkins managed to squeeze out 420 horsepower out of the limited 327 and he used each ounce of it, along along with his lighter automobile to beat the mighty Mopars.The 327 had solid pistons which were gas ported and fitted with Dyke’s Piston rings.

The heads on the little block were milled to allow minimum chamber volume that brought the compression up to 11.6:1. The cylinder heads that Jenkins originally used 461 numbered castings. Grumpy’s Toy used a 550 flat- tappet camshaft with a 108-degree center-line and Crane Rockers.

Fuel and air delivery was inhaled by an Edelbrock high-rise intake manifold and a modified Holley 585-CFM Carb. The exhaust originally was exhaled through a group of Doug Thorley’s Tri-Y headers however  Da Grump later switched to Hooker when they became his first paying sponsor.

All of this power was connected to the famous Muncie M21 four speed transmission. Jenkins shifted the 4 gears using custom Hurst three speed shifter that he had modified himself. Grumpy was known for being excellent at drag racing with a manual that he once made 250 straight passes with out missing a gear! The Chevy II raced with 4.88:1 rear gears.

Jenkins had lots of success with Grumpy’s Toy I he set a record in 196vi by creating a pass of 11.66 that was the fastest pass in Super Stock at the time. Grumpy’s Toy was ready to consecutively flip times within the eleven second vary.

Sadly Grumpy’s Toy I was short when finishing 2nd at the NHRA Nationals in the ultimate round against Jere Stahl where Jenkins lost as a result of he Red Lighted at the beginning, the Chevy II was destroyed in an exceedingly toying accident on the means home from the Nationals.

Crew Member Bruce Tucker passed out while driving the tow rig and caused the Chevy II to crash. The car apart from the drivetrain was totaled (that was salvaged) and Grumpy’s Toy was sent to its final resting place at a Junkyark where it had been recycled once twenty years.

Hank Young's Flying Pan

The Flying Pan has to be one among my favorite Choppers of all time! The bike is built by Hank Young of Young Choppers and it is one of the nicest bikes I have ever seen! When I initial saw the Flying Pan a few years ago on Biker Build Off and i feel in love with the bike at first site.The main reason I feel in love with the bike is its retro look rang a bell in my memory of a vintage aircraft.

When I look at the Flying Pan it makes me think of  the Golden Age of Aviation of the 1920?s and 1930?s. Looking at the bike gives me pictures of the daring barnstormers who lived on the edge simply for the joys and thrills of flying. It makes me suppose of all of the pioneers like Charles Lindbergh, Howard Hughes,Amelia Earhart, and Jimmy Doolittle who pushed the envelope in aircraft innovation and by creating daring flights through out the globe. It makes me suppose of a aircraft that was build to be edgy and daring, nevertheless full of class!

Hank Young's Flying Pan was engineered back in 2003 within the Young Choppers search. Hank likes to create elements from his bikes out of recent automotive elements and therefore the Pan is not any exception to his building style. The Front Frametube is constructed from a Superbell dropped axle from an previous Hot Rod. The rear wheel of the bike is made from a 1932 Ford wheel, Hank extended the wheel size by two inches to fit the motorcycle tire.

The rest of the frame was hand created at Young Choppers and is distinctive as a result of the gastank is secured in side the frame, rather than being on top of it. The front end is a hand made reproduction of a 1930?s Indian Chief Front Finish. The gas tank was hand created by molding the metal around a wood cut out, then the wood was hammered into shape before being welded into a Gas Tank.

What makes this bike, is its tiny details from using a Superbell axle to help give the bike an recent look, using tiny brass elements to help to provide the bike a Retro look and Giving the Bike an Art Deco look with its streamlined shape and Red and Gold paint job.

The Flying Pan looks prefer it ought to be shown off at a 1930?s World Expo. The Flying Pan ought to be shown off on an enormous display at the center stage because the custom bike of the future and be rewarded for its Innovation!

Road Rage Performance’s the Dark Ride

What can I say about Road Rage Performance’s Chopper the Dark Ride? She is a bike that's all vacant bones and chrome free. A bike that was built to be powerful, rugged, however look clean with smooth lines and curves! The Dark Ride was engineered by Road Rage Performance and it's owned by Mike Thornton of Fesno, California. What gives the bike its clean nonetheless rugged look is its Road Rage Performance’s custom Handle bars and gas tank together with the West Coast Choppers CFL frame. As well as its black magic paint job done by Frank.

The Dark Ride is built on a West Coast Choppers CFL Frame, with a 1 of a form hand made Road Rage Performance slope black gas tank, and hand made Road Rage W14 handle bars. The Grips and also the Pegs are each custom designed by Road Rage Performance. The Front end could be a custom engineered Road Rage Springer Front end.

The Dark Ride is powered by a strong Ultima Black a hundred motor, that is connected to a vi speed transmission with a 3 open road rage exp primary to deliver all of the power to the ground. The exhaust is distributed out of the motor by custom West Coast Choppers pipes.

All of this sits on eighteen inch and 21 in. spoke wheels which rolls on Metzeler tires.

The Dark Ride is everything you could want in a very bike, it’s clean, has nice lines, and it is sinister yet easy. It's one of these Bikes that when you first look at it, you know it is a great custom bikes. Its options are nice, I very love the sleek form of the gas tank and therefore the darker additional sinister shape of the handle bars they very blend together well. The Bike extremely could be a peace of design on wheels.

Don Prudhomme's Pepsi Challenger

Thirty Years Ago on May 29, 1982 at the NHRA Cajun Nationals Don “The Snake” Prudhomme in his Pepsi Challenger Funny Automobile set a new NHRA record throughout qualifying by being the primary Funny Car to succeed in 250 MPH in the Quarter Mile! This historic qualifying pass was created against Raymond Beadle who was in the opposite lane in his Blue Max funny automobile.

Later that year on September four, 1982 at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis Don Prudhomme ran the Challenger in what has been considered by fans and therefore the NHRA the greatest Funny Car Pass in History! Don Prudhomme pushed his Funny Car to the boundaries and ran an E/T of 5.63 which was a pair of/10 of a second quicker than any alternative pass at the time! However throughout this run as a result of Don pushed his automotive to the limit the engine’s internals suffered huge harm. After this pass he said on TV “If I hadn’t of been there myself to work out it, done it myself. I don’t know if I would of believed it!”

Through it’s years of racing the Pepsi Challenger remained very dominate, but like several different funny automotive it wasn't with out its issues. Break downs happened, engines had there issues however overall the Funny Automotive was terribly dominate especially in its early years.

What created the car therefore Dominate? Well per “The Snake” himself reason was because the funny car’s body was based off of the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am. The Trans Am had a terribly sleek body vogue, it was a very Aerodynamic style which helped the car run quicker and fast times in the quarter mile.

While developing the body of the automobile Prudhomme and his team where factory backed by Pontiac, so that they had access to Pontiac’s Wind tunnel that really helped them out.Due to the testing in the wind tunnel Prudhomme and his team got all of the bumps out of the front finish and made certain the Automobile was sleek all around. According to Don “Aero wise, the automobile was the best package out in drag racing at the time.”

The other major factor that contributed to the Pepsi Challenger’s dominance was it’s monster power plant. The funny automotive was powered by 484 Cubic Inch, All-Aluminum Hemi Engine one amongst the first All Aluminum engines drag racing. The engine was engineered by the legendary and famed engine builder Keith Black. The Hemi was connected to 2 speed drag racing transmission. The engine, transmission and body are all mounted on to a Hand Made chrome-molly tubular chassis.

On May 19, 2012 nearly 30 years to day of Don Prudhomme’s historic pass at the Cajun Nationals the Pepsi Challenger sold for $250,00zero to a lucky drag racing fan at the Mecum Auction. Hopefully this piece of drag racing history remains in smart hands, thus generations of drag racing fans to come back can see an incredible part of its past.

1963 Nova Surf Rod

This may be a 1963 Nova Surf Rod owned by Dennis Marshall and Jonna Marshall in Xenia,OH.

I bought the automobile at a swap meet back in Might of 201one, whereas looking I was told that the automobile had been sitting in a old barn for the past 12 years. I ended buying the automotive because I loved the wagon look and thought it would be neat to try to to a wagon in the rat rod vogue.

Once I started tearing into the automotive I had to put in all of the new floor pans. The Nova was originally a 3 speed on the column however I moved it and bought a replacement Mr.Gasket floor shifter. The founded is now 3 on the ground! The motor powering the Nova is the first factory 194 Inline half-dozen that has been overhauled.

When I initial got the wagon there was hardly any interior left in within! Since then I have had all of the seats re-padded and recovered. I am still working on some things in the interior like the door panels and obtaining the carpet but I am getting to them slowly however surely.

For paint I invariably wished to try and do a flat paint job on the automobile to grant the automotive that rat rod look. What I did was use Hot Rod Flats-Aqua with a white shiny high.The automobile was painted by my father Gary Stollings. The wheels are sandblasted and painted to match that automobile. The Nova has thirteen inch tires that are wide white walls.I needed to administer the car a unique surf rod look, so I found a surfboard to set it off,(that I would possibly add surfboards are terribly arduous to find in Ohio).

The Nova has been lowered 3 inches and every one the chrome has been powder coated to a chrome end. All the work has been done by my father Gary Stollings, my son Ty Marshall and myself.  This has been one of many cars i've got restored/engineered. There’s nothing sort of a previous Hot Rod!!!!

Mickey Thompson's Big Red

In honor of  the 2012 Baja five hundred I am going to travel a very little off topic by doing an article concerning Mickey Thompson’s legendary Baja truck Big Red! Mickey Thompson Chevy C20 Big Red  could be a kind of a special automobile for Mickey since it was the truck he had his best finish in the Baja 500 (2nd place) and was the sole truck that he raced for additional than one season!

Originally Mickey’s 1st truck was a 1972 Chevy C10 that he used for Off Road racing.  However, the C10 couldn’t take the punishment that M/T put it through so he set on a bigger truck for next season. The truck he selected: a 1973 Chevy C20 Truck which became Huge Red.

Huge Red is powered by a 454 Massive Block Chevy which was estimated to have over 60zero horsepower! The 454 was attached to a changed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission which was changed by B&M. The transmission was fitted with two transmission coolers, which was done do to the extra weight and the high power to stay the transmission from overheating in the desert.

Huge Red encompasses a fifty five Gallon fuel cell that is mounted in the bed (One amongst the first off road trucks to do this I believe). The fifty five gallon tank had a fill on each sides to make in-race refilling a lot of faster. For further strength within the desert M/T created the roll cage and the front bumper of the truck out of titanium. However this did increase the weight of the truck that ended up being 5600 pounds!

Throughout his past few racing Experiences in the desert Mickey encountered many issues. This included ignition not working, alternators breaking, and a few other issues. With the help of his son Danny, Mickey fixed this issues by creating the positive the truck had two of everything! 2 alternators, two separate and independent brake master cylinders and a dual ignition system that would be switched by the motive force and therefore the co driver whereas the truck was driving!

The suspension and rear end of the truck was completely customized and fabricated similarly. All of the brakes on the truck were converted to disc brakes, there have been also three shocks for every wheel on the truck.  The rear end had a custom designed full-floating rear axle, the rear finish itself was designed to carry additional fluid and had a replacement innovative system to help keep the fluid cool throughout an extended race.

Another plan M/T came up with was to use aircraft hoses for all of the hoses on the truck. This was done to stop oil from leaking in case of a roll over.

Using its 60zero and horsepower Massive Red had a prime speed of around 165 MPH whereas Off Road. During the Baja 500 and therefore the Mexican 1000 Mickey averaged a race speed of 109 MPH!

Mickey’s first race using Big Red was in November of 1972, he raced in the Mexican a thousand. During the Mexican one thousand Huge Red was robust for the primary few legs of the race, sadly M/T had some problems together with losing the hood and Huge Red broke down and needed to be towed a manner. Mickey ended up with a DNF for the Mexican a thousand. He later went on to race the Baja 500 where Mickey earned his best end in the five hundred with a  Second place! The truck would race Baja yet one more time in 1974 that once more would result in a DNF.

I have to mention I am really impressed with Massive Red. I have continuously been a friend of Mickey Thompson and his innovative hot rods and trucks but I have to say Big Red is one among the simplest. It very shows off the innovative talent Mickey had. Coming up with a number of the systems that I mentioned above that are still utilized in the Trophy Trucks today! Massive Red could be a one of a form truck that's currently sitting in an exceedingly look in Eugene, Oregon fully untouched since it’s last race.