Exhausted
Q.In your January issue, you featured the Atomic Punk. I would like to know where to get the ribbed exhaust tubing or how it was made.
Jerry Peterson
Via E-mail
A. Aaron Grote, who owns the Atomic Punk, told us, "It's just ripple pipe that used to be found at any parts store. It's kind of hard to find now. The chunk I had was found in Dave Shuten's garage. He wishes he would have kept it now. Ha ha ha!" So now you know! Check out old hardware stores.
Under Pressure
Q. Is anyone making/modifying a GM, Saginaw-style, power steering pump that is set up for a Mustang II rack? I've already installed RB's pressure valve and also cut half a loop out of the spring, but the steering is still too sensitive. Since I already have a GM pump on a serpentine belt system, I'd like to stick with the GM pump.
Steve Arnold
Via E-mail
A. GM power steering pumps generate around 1,000 to 1,200 psi which, while fine with GM steering boxes and rack and pinions, will make the steering too sensitive when used with a Mustang II rack and pinion, as you have discovered. This can be corrected by adjusting the pump's flow control valve to generate the correct pressure for the Mustang rack.
Bill's Hot Rod Company offers a power steering pump flow valve kit for GM pumps for just this application, the kit including instructions, shims, an O-ring for the nut union, as well as a tool to hold the unit in a vise while installing the shims. Bill's also sells GM-style pumps set up for the reduced pressure that your Mustang rack needs. Whether you want to tackle the job yourself or buy a ready-built pump, this sounds like this could be your answer. Bill's Hot Rods is at(626) 332-1915 or www.billshotrodcompany.com.
Measure Thrice Before You Slice
Q. I'm a longtime reader of your magazine. It has impacted my life in a big way, and it has made me a big fan of Fifties cars. I bought a '52 Ford Customline that I'm in the process of turning into a custom rod and one of the things I want to do is chop the top. How can I start the process? Any info will help.
James Reisinger
Via E-mail
A. You don't say how much bodyworking experience you have, James, or whether your '52 is a two-door or four-door, and a roof chop really isn't a job for a beginner. Take a look at the roof chop story we ran in the April issue and it will give you a good idea of the work involved. The front half of the roof chop in that article will be similar to what you'll have to do, though the rear will be different. You may be able to lay down the rear window section and add a compound curved filler piece of steel approximately 18 inches long (and almost full width) to get the roofline to flow in a uniform curve from the top of the window to the rear of the front section of roof, or you may elect to move the entire rear section forward and keep the backlight at the same angle. Either way, you'll have to figure out how to keep the stock rear glass and make it flow with the chop, or replace it with the rear glass from another car, as you can't cut down the rear window, only the laminated windshield. I wouldn't want you to ruin your car, so think long and hard before you make any cuts, or take it to a professional.
Teutonic Alternative
Q. There has been lots of discussion lately about cool four-cylinder engines for rodding. I have a radical suggestion. How about the 2.0L four from '67-75 2002 BMWs? The block is configured like the old Dodge slant sixes and it is one stout engine. If you want to go the junkyard route, they made a gazillion of them (some years are better than others; check with a BMW maven). There were several carb options-two-barrel Webers were common but there was a setup for sidedraft Mizunis too. With the Webers, they put out 140hp or so. There was even a fuel-injected version, the tii, but it was a little primitive and probably not that suitable.
An outfit called Metric Mechanics has what amounts to a crate engine version bored out to 2.2L. They make these in several horsepower options at a decent price. You'll want a tranny from the slightly newer 320i-it had a five-speed where the 2002s had a four-speed. BMW rearend options ranged from 2.76 to 3.50 or so if you want to go that route. And, if you're really into the handling events, you might try a custom frame with the stock 2002 suspension.
Mike Morrison
Via E-mail
A. Our recent look at four-cylinder engines focused on late-model domestic motors, but there are a number of suitable earlier four-bangers out there. For instance, we didn't touch on Ford's 2.0L and 2.3L OHC four, which has a vast aftermarket dedicated to it. We know drag racers in the UK who are running 10-second quarters with modified 2.0L Ford OHC motors in street cars. We're not sure the BMW is a great base for horsepower though, and there are plenty of other motors that look a lot nicer. Check out the Fiat DOHC 2.0L engine that came in 131 and Mirafiori sedans (called the Brava here in the U.S.) from '74 to '84. They're a great-looking motor, almost Offy-like in appearance, and can be built to put out good power. The 131 Abarth was a very successful rally car, winning the World Rally Championship in '77, '78, and '80, making 212hp in race spec.
Of course, these are older engines, using carbs and contact breaker ignitions, and there is a wealth of newer, injected, and computer-controlled four-cylinder rodder fodder out there waiting to be used.