Blower or Nitrous

As a Hot Rodder only one thing matters and that thing is power! Everyone wants more Power, hot rodders, mob bosses, women, the Soup Nazi, and even Iron Maiden became powerslaves (why did they have to die, why couldn’t they just live on)! Anyway we know that more power means more speed and better performance.

            In the Hot Rod world two of the easiest ways to make power are Nitrous or Supercharging (theres turbo too but we will get to that another time). Both have there advantages and disadvantages and there are a few types of both.

            Superchargers have been around for a long time, since the beginning of cars themselves! There basic concept is simple, be either an Air Pump or a Compressor for an engine. Normally Aspirated engines taken air by atmospheric pressure, what a supercharger does to an engine is either pumps or compresses even more air into an engine!

            For Superchargers there are 3 different types of them that are used. The first type is the Roots Supercharger. The Roots Supercharger is as old as the automobile its self, maybe even older! It was first invented by the Roots Brothers as an air conveyor for mine shafts back in the 1880s, since then it has been used in all types of cars and racing. Roots type Superchargers are easily identifiable, usually seen sticking out of the hood of classic muscle cars or hot rods. They usually come in a 2 or 3 lobe rotor design and are best for Low RPM power.

            The 2^nd type of Supercharger is the screw supercharger, the screw blower in looks similar to the roots but works differently. The roots works more like an air pump and pumps burst of air into the engine working as where the screw works more like an air compressor that steadily flows air into the engine. The screw supercharger makes most of its power at low rpm and very high rpm.

            The other type of Supercharger is the Centrifugal Supercharger. The Centrifugal looks like a turbo and works similar to one too. However instead of using exhaust to build pressure they are belt driving buy the crankshaft, which spins the impeller, which then dischargers air out into the motor. Centrifugal Blowers work the best in mid and high RPM ranges (similar to turbos).

Nitrous

            Nitrous has a similar concept to a supercharger, which is getting more air into an engine but it works in a different way. The chemical formula for Nitrous is N20 (Two Nitrogen Atoms and one oxygen atom), what the one oxygen atom will do is oxidize additional fuel in the engine. Nitrous is usually stored around 900 psi in a pressurized bottle and it is stored as a liquid, when the liquid gets in the engine it cools way down which increases the air and fuel mixtures density allowing it to burn faster and make more power! Also despite the common myth that nitrous is flammable and explodes its not! It actually makes an engine less likely to detonate!

The 3 different types of Nitrous are Dry, Wet and Direct Port.

How Dry works is only nitrous is injected into the intake manifold. No fuel or air is added. This is good for low horsepower increase for about 30-50 HP. Wet Nitrous works by injecting nitrous with fuel, this is the most common for carb engines (since a nitrous plate has to be placed beneath the carb aka the plate system). Last is Direct Port Nitrous (aka Fogger) which nitrous is directly inject through each intake port in an engine this system is usually used for all out race cars.

Now which is better for your engine? Well both will give power right away and both have there Pros and Cons.

The Pros for Supercharging are:

Instant Power when you hit the throttle

Minimal Maintenance Cost

Easy to Install Bolt on Kits

Works great with Carb, TBI or EFI

Extremely Durable

The Pros for Nitrous are

Low Start up Cost

Instant Power

Easy to tune

Easy to hide

The Cons for Supercharging are

High Start Up Cost

More Violent Throttle Response

Adds Weight

Takes up more engine room

Nitrous Cons

Bottle Refills will get expensive

More Maintenance

Limited use for each bottle

So both are great for making more power, really what it all comes down to is preference. Whether you want to install a supercharger or go the nitrous route it all depends on your engine building skills and style.  

Hot Rod Transmissions

Did you just find a 41 Willys body?, or are you building a 33 Chevy Hot Rod or do you have an old Dodge Coronet that you want to restore?  Maybe you have a 55 Chevy that has a TH400 in it but you want a rockcrusher or a lenco racing transmission. If you are on a tight budget but need a transmission, buying one used or even junkyard shopping is going to be your best option (unless you got an inside connection on how to get a Lenco for cheap that you might want to let me in on, hmm). Anyway you may have to go looking for a transmission but you may be not sure how to find one.

Step 1. Research- Make sure you know what transmission you want for your build. Make sure you know all of the varations and changes from year to year of that transmission. Everything from bolt patterns, drive ratios, length, and other things can be different on the same model transmission from different years.

Step 2. Learn About Transmissions- This step really is common since, but it is a step many people do not do! Learn about how a transmission works, what a transmission does, the different parts of a transmission. Plenty of info is on goole and I am sure there are Youtube videos on basics of transmissions as well.

Step 3. Plan out the build- Make sure you know what parts you are going to need to install your transmission. Make sure your transmission will bolt on to your engine and to see if you will need an adapter or not. If your transmission will require those parts make sure you get them before you install your transmission to have them on hand.

Step 4. Inspect the Transmission- Whether you are going to a junkyard or to pick up a used transmission from craigslist. Try to bring with you someone who knows something about transmissions. One you get to your transmission be sure to inspect, even bring a flashlight with you to inspect the inside. If the transmission you want is still in the vehicle ask the junkyard staff to see if they can pull it for you.

Inspection Automatic Trans- When Inspecting an Auto Transmission remove the drain plug (its usually small, so this is where studying transmissions helps), drain the fluid, check to see how dirty the fluid is. Turn the transmission upside down and remove the pan, check the condition of the input shaft. Also check the internal rotating gear assembly. Move the transmission through all of the gears both up and down, the transmission should go into all of the gears if it is good. Also look for any cracks in the gears or the transmission as well. Inspect the gear teeth for any wear or damage. Make sure the output shaft rotates as well, also when doing this listen for any grinding, or meshing noises. If so this may not be a good transmission.

Inspection for Manual Trans- Inspecting a Manual is the same concept as an Auto but with a few differences. Again remove the drain plug and drain the transmission. Look for any pieces of dirt, small pieces or metal or anything else in the gear oil. If the gear oil appears cloudy or milky there could be water (and of course rust) in the transmission which is a bad sign. Inspect the condition of the input shaft for signs of the bearing failure. Again shift through all of the gears in the transmission both up and down to make sure they work (don’t forget reverse).When shifting look at the output shaft, it should spin when you shift into gear. Also listen for any grinding or mesh noises if you don’t hear anything and no derbies in the gear oil and no problems you most likely have found a good transmission!

Step5. The Build- Now that you have your transmission and hopefully the parts you will need its time to install it in your Hot Rod!

Rat Rod Rockers!

A while ago I have talked with director and writer of D.A. Sebasstian about Rat Rods and others things when he ask me If I would like to review his latest movie Rat Rod Rockers! I was interested so I agreed to. I am not big on underground and “campy” style films but since this one is about Hot Rods I had to give it a shot (plus free DVD, who would say know to that).

            So I got the movie in the mail a few days later, a long with pictures of some pin-ups (eye-candy). The DVD cover and it has that old style B-Movie look to it, so that’s what I was expecting.

            The movie is about a family the Mildues (seriously that’s there last name) who by a property in Anywhere, Washington that they do not know has money from an moonshiner named Old Man Kanker ( seriously that’s his name) and the Mad Kats car club are hired by the Russian Mafia to find the money from the property but the Mildues having just moved in makes this difficult.

            The movie is low budget, the quality isn’t Hollywood quality but is much better than phone or home camera quality and the acting isn’t great.

            There are a lot of Hot Rods in the movie! A lot, everyone in the small town owns a hot rod, even the Mildues own a 56 De Soto as there daily driver. There is  a black Model B Sedan, a 56 T-bird Gasser with a 514 big block stroker!, a Tri Five Chevy Gasser, a roadster and many other Hot Rods!

            I was disappointed that there wasn’t a lot of car action or car talk in the movie. The Hot Rods where used as just regular transportation and daily drivers. There was a short drag race between the 56 Hot Rod to Hell T-Bird and a 55 Chevy, as well as the only car chase I ever seen that started with Mr. Mildue spying on the Mad Kats and the Russian Mafia, trying to take a picture and he accidently Honks his horn and it ends with him running out of gas (I am not making this up).

When I was watching the movie I wasn’t sure if I liked it at first when I was watching it. It seemed really home made, with goofy acting, and a simple plot. I was disappointed that there was only one race scene, and one car chase and more foot chases in a movie titled Rat Rod Rockers. However after I watched the movie I kept thinking about it for a few hours afterwards and it became funny to me.

            The bad acting, the goofy names, the foot chases,the Character of Harold Mildue  it all seemed funny after I watched the movie. I actually started laughing about everything afterwards. Would really made the movie great was Harolds goofyness, the character tries to be the stereotypical 50s TV Father, however it seems more like his mind is stuck in the 60s. He is naive, light hearted, always happy even when he is locked up by the Russian mafia, he doesn’t seem to have a care in the world.

            Other things that I started liking in my head was the Mad Kats Car Club and there “leader” Jimmy Knight’s determination to get on the Mildues property for the money any way possible. From trying to poses as government officials to claim the property had radiation which Harold doesn’t believe them, he tries get the Mildues out of the house long enough to go look around on the property which again back fires, so he decides to just try and kidnap the Mildues.

            Overall I liked the movie, when I first heard the name Rat Rod Rockers I was expecting a movie more like Two Lane Blacktop but in one town, with Rockabilly bands (the trailer on youtube showing the drag race also made me think of this) but instead I got an entertain, and very funny thriller film with lots of Hot Rods. The Film could be considered a parody of thrillers. If you like goofy, campy humor, low budget films, hot rods, rat rods, surf rock or rockabilly I recommend it!

PS the theme music will be stuck in your head for days!

Bonneville Speed Week

What is Bonneville? You may have heard or seen this name a few times before. You probably seen the name on a Pontiac and just thought it was some fancy name for a Sedan. Maybe you have heard the name Bonneville on the History Channel, and because of this you learned that Bonneville is the name of the Salt Flats in Utah where scenes from Independence Day, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

            Little did you know that the Bonneville Salt Flats are Americans Ultimate Proving ground, a place where machines built as wild as you can imagine are tested, a place where you can run anything to see how fast it will go as long as you have the guts to stay in it!

            The Bonneville Salt Flats are the remains of what was the prehistoric lake Bonneville. Thousands of Years ago, the lake dried up and has been the Salt Flats. The flats are named after Benjamin Bonneville, who was an Army Officer that explored the Oregon Trail.

            Since 1914 Bonneville has been a proving ground for top speed and who can ever build the fastest things on wheels. The First Bonneville Land Speed record was set in this year by race car driver Teddy Tetzlaff.

            In the 30s Bonneville gained nationwide attention when American racer Ab Jenkins and British racer Sir Malcolm Campbell went out to compete for speed records. This got the worldest attention and by 1949 an official track and annual events where now being held at Bonneville.

            By this time, the Famed So-Cal Speed Shop had started building Coupes and Roadsters just for Bonneville. They were 32 Fords painted there famous red and white. In 1948 So-Cal Speed Shop built the first bellytanker meant for top speed, it was a Belly Tank from a P-38 fighter aircraft and powered by a Mercury V8. So-Cal later built the first Streamliner in the early 50s powered by an Edelbrock equipped Mercury V8.

            By this time in the 50s many Hot Rodders where now build cars just meant for the Salt Flats, usually 32 Ford Coupes and Roadsters. The parts company MOONEYES even made a wheel just meant for Bonneville and Top Speed known as the MOON Disc. The MOON Disc is believed to help Increase top speed and versions of it are still used today on many cars at Bonneville.

            In the 60s the 300, and 400 MPH barriers were broken and man was going faster on land then it had ever dreamed! However Man wanted to go even faster and soon Jet and Turbine powered cars were appearing in the 60s at Bonneville. Guys like Craig Breedlove was the first to break the 500 MPH, and 600 MPH Barriers all using Turbine powered 3 Wheeled Streamliners known as the Spirit of America.

            This record was then broken by Gary Gabelich in 1970 with his Rocket Powered vehicle Blue Flame. Blue Flame would go 630 MPH and the record would stand or 27 years! It would stand till 1997 when a team of British engineers built a vehicle known as Thrust SCC which was powered by two Afterburner Rolls-Royce Spey engines broke the sound barrier on land, which is still Bonneville’s fastest record today!

            Today Bonneville still exists and everything from Jet Cars, to Streamliners to diesels to even traditional style roadsters still make runs at Bonneville. Once a year the Southern California Timing Association still hosts the 6 day long event know as the Bonneville Speed Week.

            There is a lot more History to the Bonneville Salt Flats. From Motorcycles like Burt Munro’s Indian, to generations of Hot Rodders and Cars that have made passes on them. There is just so much about the Bonneville Salt Flats that it is Hard to fit it all in one article!

            Bonneville is a name known by every Hot Rodder. It is a Historic Land Mark and is part of mans desire to go faster than before. It was a place where the Imagination can run wild with Ideas and dreams can true. 

Hot Rod Dictionary

When you go to the Drag Strip, Cruise or to a Car Show you may here a lot of terms and slang you haven’t heard before like the term “Big Block” or “Rock crusher”  or “Rat Rod” or “Nailhead” and you may be unsure of what these terms actually mean. So I decided to make a list for all of the Hot Rod Slang you will probably hear.

Antique- Can mean a car 25 years or older. Now usually used when talking about really old cars from the 1930s and older.

Appletons- Fender mounted side lights, usually seen on older cars. Named after there manufacture.

 Balanced- An engine with a balanced rotating assembly (crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods, bearings, etc).

Blower- Mechanically Driven Super Charger, usually a roots type Super Charger.

Blueprinted- The Documented assembly of a race or performance engine.

Blue Oval- The Ford Logo.

Bondo- Putty used for Body Filler

Bored- To increase the diameter of the Cylinders to increase displacement

Bottle- Nitrous

Bowtie- Chevy Logo

Bullets- Bullet-shaped extensions used on bumpers, grilles, and wheels.

Business Coupe- A Simple Two-Door coupe with out a rumble seat, built between the 30s to the early 60s. Usually referring to the 32 Ford Business Coupe.

Cam or Cammed- Cam is a camshaft and cammed referrers to a car that has a performance camshaft.

Carson Top- A solid, removable roof that is covered with a soft material.

Channeled- Cutting the floor so the body rests around the frame rails rather than sitting on top of the frame, to lower the car.

Chopped- To lower a hard top roof on a car, since you have to chop the roof.

Cherry Bomb- Glasspack Mufflers, made by the company Cherry Bomb.

Classic- A car 25 years or older.

Crank- crankshaft

Crate Engine- A Ready to run Engine straight from the Factory.

Cubes- Cubic Inches of Displacement

Deuce -32 Ford, usually referring to the Coupe or Roadster.

Dragster- Type of Drag Car made just for the strip

Dropped- A lowered car

Dual quads- Two Four Barrel Carbs

Dutchman Panel- The metal body piece between the rear window and the trunk

Elephant- Chrysler 426 Hemi Engine

Fat Fendered- Really Wide Fender cars, usually referring to 35 to 48 Fords.

Fender Skirts- Body panels that cover the rear wheel wells.

Flatty- flathead engine, usually refers to a Ford Flathead

Frame-off Restoration- A restoration project in which the entire vehicle is completely disassembled.

Frenched- headlight slightly sunken into fender

Gasser- Type of Car used gasoline-only drag racing classes from the late 50s to the early 70s.

Glass packs- Loud, free flowing Mufflers usually Cherry Bombs or Porters

Goat- Pontiac GTO

Headers- A performance exhaust manifold

Hemi- A type of engine that has hemispherical combustion chambers in its cylinder head. Popularized by Chrysler, usually the 426 Hemi is referred to as just a Hemi.

Highboy- Customized Model A Ford (sometimes now referrers to Model Bs as well)  that sits at stock height.

Hot Rod-  Traditionally, an older vehicle with "low-buck" performance modifications. However the term has come to mean any American car modified for performance, usually street and strip performance. However there are exceptions to this.

Hopped up- An engine that has been built for performance.

Lakes Pipes- Side-exit exhaust pipes located under the rocker panels. Named for first being used on the Dry Lake Beds.

Land Yacht- A Large Luxary Car, usually referring to a large 60s car like a Cadillac De Ville, or a Chevy Caprice.

Leadsled- A lowered, late-forties car with molded body seams, named because the molded body seams was usually done with lead filler.

Lowboy- Customized Model A or Model B Ford that has been channeled.

Lowered- A vehicle that sits lower than stock height through suspension or frame modifications.

Lowrider- A vehicle that has been lowered by a hydraulic suspension system that can bring the ride height up in order to drive it.

Louvers- Slots or Vents punched in Body Pannels. Usually referring to the vents in a custom Hood for the 32 Ford.

Mag- Magnesium Wheel or a Magazine (usually Hot Rod, Ol Skool Rodz, Car Craft, etc)

Matching Numbers or Numbers Matching- Meaning the VIN numbers for the Engine, transmission and the body match. Now sometimes just means the VIN for the Engine and Body Match. In simple terms meaning that block can with that ody from the Factory.

Mill- The Engine

Moons or MOON Disc- Type of solid wheel or wheel cover made by MOONEyes. Used for top speed.

Mouse- An older term for a Small Block Chevy

Mountain motor- large Displacement Engine. Named for there size and for being used by Moonshiners in the Mountains of Appalachia.

Muscle Car- A North American intermediate or mid-sized low cost car produced between 1964 and 1972 (with a few exceptions) with a large displacement V8 engine. They were typical meant for Drag Racing.

Nailhead- Buick Motors made from 1953 – 1966 named for their small valve sizes, where the size of nails.

Nitro- Nitromethane fuel which is used in Drag Cars.

Nitrous- N2O aka Nitrous Oxide a gas used to increase performance in a car. IT IS NOT FLAMABLE! It is laughing gas.

NOS- Nitrous Oxide System, a brand of Nitrous made by Holley. Also stands for New Old Stock, meaning  Parts purchased from the manufacturer that were made at the time of the original vehicle but never sold. Also an abbreviation for Nitrous Oxide System.

Pancaked- An older term meaning hood modified to a lower profile, meaning its flat.

Pink Slip- Before the days of modern Auto Titles, the ownership titles in California where colored pink. Races would bet pink slips to win each others car. Where the show PINKS got its name.

Post- The pillar located between the front and rear doors of a four-door sedan.

Pro Street- Street legal car that is meant to look like an NHRA Pro Stock car or even a Pro Mod Car. They have large rear drag tires. Can also refer to the NMCA’s class of 7 Second street legal cars.

Project Car- The car you are restoring or building as a drag car.

Q-jet- Quadrajet Carburetor

Raked- The front end has been lowered more than the back.

Replicar- A completed reproduction of an existing automotive design, usually sold only as a turn-key, or 100% complete, car. Usually is a 32 Ford.

Resto Rod- An original looking car with modified for performance

Roadster- A convertible without side windows.

Rockcrusher- Muncie M22 4-speed transmission. Named for the loud sound it makes when shifting. “It sounds like its full of rocks!”

Rocket 88- 50s Oldsmobile Engine

Rolled- Bumper or gas tank removed and replaced with custom panel that "rolls" under.

Rumble Seat- An open, fold up rear seat located where the trunk would be. Usually in 30s Cars.

Running Board- The metal strip running between the fenders and below the doors of early autos and trucks used as a step or to wipe one's feet before entering the vehicle.

Sectioned- Removing a horizontal section of the body to lower the overall height of the body.

Sedan Delivery- A two-door station wagon with solid body panels instead of windows on the sides at the back of the car. Was usually used as a delivery vehicle.

Shaved- Door handles and body trim that have been removed and smoothed over.

Shoebox- A name for a car made from 49-57 usually referring to the Fords and Chevy’s. Named for the slab-sided appearance.

Six-Pack- Three two-barrel carburetors.

Sleeper- A car that doesn’t look fast but it is.

Split Window- Usually referring to the rear window - one that has two planes of glass with bodywork in between.

Street Machine- dual-purpose car, capable of being a daily driver and a weekend drag car. Also known as Street and Strip.

Street Rod- A type of Hot Rod meant more for cruising rather then performance.

Stroked-  Increased stroke, to increase displacement; usually by adding a longer-stroke crankshaft.

T-Bucket- Fenderless, topless, highly-modified, Ford Model T.

Triple Deuce- 3 two-barrel carburetors.

Tunneled- Lights deeply sunken into fender.

Turn-Key Engine- A ready to run engine, usually referring to a crate motor.

VIN- Vehicle Identification Number, the vehicles serial number that is stamped onto it, usually under the windshield post, the driver's door post, or on the firewall.

Wheelie Bars- Rods used in drag racing that extend from the back of a car and are connected to wheels that help keep the car from flipping backwards during sudden acceleration.

Wombat - Nickname for Chevy’s W series engine 348-409 cubic inch, made 1958-1964.

Woody- A vehicle that incorporates natural finished wood for structure of exposed body panels.

Zoomies- Short, straight pipe exhaust headers that do not merge into a collector.