Short Stop, Part 2In the September issue we documented a disc brake installation on staffer Damon Lee's '51 Plymouth wagon. At the time we were unable to back up our efforts with any testing, but we promised to get you some results. Promise kept.
The stock four-wheel drum brakes needed a staggering 340 feet to haul the car down from 60 mph to a dead stop. That wasn't very reassuring-for Damon or anybody in front of him.
We recently did some retesting to see how much improvement the Ply-Do front discs and Master Power booster and master cylinder had made on the old Mayflower. One thing that hadn't changed was the car's acceleration-the old flathead six still took some convincing to reach 60 mph. The 60-0 distance shortened considerably, however, down to 240 feet. We think it could have done even better; our testing equipment malfunctioned on the first two runs, and the brakes were a little warm on the third pass when the 240-foot result was recorded. Regardless, shaving 100 feet-about six car lengths-off the 60-0-mph distance is nothing to sneeze at, even if it doesn't get us into new Corvette performance territory. Fresh tires and additional adjustments may improve the numbers even more, and other chassis upgrades are in the works that might help, too. We'll keep you posted.
Cyber Roddin'Cruising Canadawww.canadianrodder.com
Here is a very cool and extensive site from our neighbors to the north (we're talking about Canada). This E-zine produced "by Canadians for rodders everywhere," is loaded with features and photos. On our last visit, we found extensive buildup stories of several rods, numerous articles on painting and graphics, event coverage, a message forum, classified ads, galleries of rodders' rides filled with more than 100 rods and customs, and several interviews with various well-known folks from the rodding world. Our favorite page was the Under Construction Zone, featuring not-yet-finished rods.
Gearhead Mallwww.americanrodsandrides.com
American Rods and Rides calls itself the car enthusiast 's premier Web source for street rods, classics, musclecars, custom cars, race cars, antiques, and automotive accessories, and they might be right. It's sort of a virtual bulletin board for any rodder trying to buy or sell a car or parts. The site also features listings of vendors offering products and services in several categories, along with want ads and merchandise (translation: T-shirts) for sale. There is also an events page, but no events were listed when we looked. Whether you're in the market to buy or sell, or just to look at photos of project cars, give this site a few minutes.
Featured Artist:K. Scott Teeterswww.precision-illustration.com
K. Scott Teeters has had his work published in countless musclecar and drag racing magazines and catalogs. If his name isn't familiar, his art will be as soon as you open this site, which offers more than 200 prints of his detailed and accurate pen and ink illustrations for sale (at affordable prices too). Teeters specializes in '60s and early-'70s musclecars, and drag cars from the same era, such as the Stone, Woods & Cook Willys and Don Garlits' original rear-engined dragster. Prints are color or black-and-white done on tan parchment. There are several sites online offering Teeters work. This one is a good place to start.
A Hot Rod TraditionIn this great hobby of ours, no one lets a little rain bother him. Such was the case this year when, for the second year in a row, an all-day Saturday soaker attempted to put a damper on the NSRA Street Rod Nationals East in York, Pennsylvania.
And for the second year in a row, street rodders demonstrated that rain won't keep them home. Friday and Sunday were filled with the usual jam-packed activities that make the Nationals East such a popular event. Saturday's rain saw participants and spectators donning raincoats and ponchos, sitting under umbrellas, canopies, and tents, and filling the aisles of the exhibitor buildings, much to the delight of vendors.
With the huge new exhibitor building open, the former main vendor building filled and the usual outdoor vendors, there were countless street rod products for enthusiasts to see and business appeared to be brisk. Women's World, always a popular attraction, was expanded to a second building this year. All of this is a sign that the Nats East keeps getting bigger and better. You'll get no arguments about that from the rodders!
The NSRA staffers quickly adapted too, moving evening entertainment inside and deciding not to have the vehicles chosen for awards parade before the large crowd in the grandstands Sunday afternoon due to the soggy infield. With a new location, the NSRA safety inspectors never missed a beat all weekend and the swap meet had its usual variety of parts and project vehicles.
As always, the weekend ends too quickly and Sunday afternoon means it is time to head for home. One rodder was teasing another about having to clean up his sedan. Without hesitation, his friend responded, "Well isn't that why they make towels?"
The Nats East is a premier East Coast event. York will once again host the event next year, and no matter what, plan on having a good time!
Pointless ClarificationOur "Shootin' Sparks" story in the September issue had some misleading information on the Ignitor and Ignitor II electronic ignition conversion packages from Pertronix. We indicated that all Pertronix kits involved installing a Hall-effect pickup and reluctor wheel to convert a points distributor to electronic operation. In fact, some Ignitors work using lobe sensor, or LS, technology, which means the pickup senses the original cam in the distributor and therefore doesn't need a magnetic shaft sleeve or reluctor wheel. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.