Threaded View
-
12-21-2010 11:37 PM #13
One of the biggest shortcomings of driving a race engine on the street is heat....but E-85 Ethanol, just like methanol, runs very cool...sometimes at the drags we have to keep an oil heater plugged in between rounds while the gasoline guys are still trying to cool their cars down!!!!!
An automatic with a big stall converter is a real PITA on the street, mine will be either a 4 or 5 speed manual.
Driving on the street also has a lot to do with where you live...Madison has about 6,000 people and only 2 traffic lights in the entire town so the stop and go 1 block at a time stuff doesn't apply.
Race clutches are light pedal pressure these days, no more insane pressure to hold the clutch in.
The car will be (and has been for years) a gasser for all intents and purposes. Granted the engine will be a bit wilder and the car will have better brakes and steering then it has ever had but as I said in an earlier post I won't hold off on safety items to have "the look". Technology has improved immensly since the '57 was originally built as a drag car in the mid-60's sometime. With where I live and my intended use for the car, I don't really see any shortcomings of having a raspy nasty race engine on the street----I've had lighter cars with more power and ran them on the street with no problems---well other then an episode or two with the cops when things got a bit crazy.
Like Pat, doubt seriously if the car will even get close to 1,000 street miles a year. All it will really see is a bit of cruizin' once in awhile on Saturday night to go out and play with the other kids..... Around here we just don't have a lot of traffic to put up with, the majority of the cops are kewl, and my one and only neighbor is a gearhead also. I'll probably hit a number of out of town car show, but the '57 will make the trip in the trailer...
Finally, had I known guys like Pat, Richard, Jerry, and many of the other members on CHR back in the mid 60's probably would have built an engine much the same as this one will be.... I didn't mind spending a few extra $$$$ on parts back then either.
Anyway Gary, no offense taken and none given. My cars have always been a tad on the radical side, as I mentioned I have a very loose definition of streetable. I've had a number of street driven cars that would run high 9's to low 10's on the track with very few changes in the tune up or equipment from street to track. But ya gotta remember that I live out in the sticks and we can get away with a lot of stuff here that the city kids would get locked up for.Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
Carroll Shelby
Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!
I saw last night on fb about John. The world sure lost a great one. I'm going to miss his humor, advice, and perspective from another portion of the world. Rest in Peace Johnboy.
John Norton aka johnboy