Do you remember when?

[Rchop]

http://cruzintheavenue.com/CarsWeDrove.htm

Wow, what a trip down memory lane. The cars, the music, the movies, the car magazines and even the pics from Carlsbad raceway! Fins, headlights, bullet tail lights, drag racing and hot rods!

[Deans BMW]

Oh wow Randy. I graduated from Hi School in '61 and drove to hi school that last year a '29 Model a Ford that I had spent the year before turning into a Hot Rod with a 265 Chevy V8, Caddy La Salle tranny and '48 Ford running gear. That thing would spin rubber all the way down the block.

There was a drive in called The Bear that all of us Hot Rod guys would drive around with our dual Glass packs. We had Hi School football pep ralleys at that drive in. The sights and sounds..........

[BobFV1]

When I was a kid, my dad had a 1964 Buick Electra 225 with a factory 445 and dual 4-barrel carbs. It was a ragtop, and he had it painted a non-factory, bright orange-red color. I loved that car - and as I recall, it could move pretty well.

[Rchop]

My first car was a 63 Ford that my brother had wrecked and we parked it on the side of the house when it was towed home. My dad was going to take it to the junk yard and I convinced him I could fix it and make it driveable. He gave it to me and so started my mechanical career. My next was a 64 Chevy That I bought sans motor and built my first V8 for it. I installed the new motor and drag raced with all my friends. After that, I bought my first motorcycle and have never looked back.

[Dirty Doug]

My first was a 50 Ford business coupe that didn't run. Got it when I was 15 and started work on it right away. Out came the flat head 6 and in it's place went a 300 cubic inch Mercury flat head with a JC Whitney 3/4 grind cam ( what ever that was ), Offenhouser (SP) heads and three 2 barrel Stromberg carbs. I installed a Fention floor shift conversion kit, painted the rims red and installed porta-walls white sidewall for those that might remember them. Paint was flat black which I shot myself. That took a year of my time and every dime I could come up with but when I started my junior year of high school it was finished and I was in the catbird's seat. Spent many a night at the drive-ins and doing a little street racing after dark. I would love to have that car back.

Dirty Doug

[Donson]

A 300 cubic inch Merc flathead, JC Whitney cam, AND 3 dueces! How cool is that! There has been a 50 Ford Business Coupe for sale here locally, every time I see the ad, I start thinking about a Rod....

[Arby]

When I was a kid, my dad had a 1964 Buick Electra 225 with a factory 445 and dual 4-barrel carbs. It was a ragtop, and he had it painted a non-factory, bright orange-red color. I loved that car - and as I recall, it could move pretty well.

Back in the day, that was known as a deuce and a 1/4, Bob. At least in the Balto-Wash area.

Great link, Randy! Thanks.

RB

[Sir Limpsalot]

Obviously I don't remember any of that stuff first hand, but I've seen so much of it in the movies that it feels like I do! Most enjoyable. What was the "409" the Beach Boys were singing about? I wish we could've heard more of Nat King Cole's version of Route 66. I haven't heard that before, the earliest version I remember was the Rolling Stones!
Pity old Dangerous has been taken prisoner and locked up somewhere (well, what else would keep him from the Cafe so long?) he'd have loved it..

Si.

[Donson]

"She's real fine, My four-o-nine" actually something of a boat-anchor ,Si. But "fine" ,and "409" rhyme quite nicely!:)

[JCsman]

Si,

The 409 referred to the displacement in cubic inches of a big block Chevrolet motor of the early 1960's. It was offered from the factory - a rare option - with three two barrel carbs. But it was IIRC only offered in the largest Chevy body styles (Impala, BelAir). For a while it was a mean set up. But the advent of the smaller Chevrolet cars (by the standards of the 1960s) like the Chevelle, Nova and others with freer winding"smallblock" engines made the 409 somewhat passe.

[panthercity]

The Chevy 409 was an outgrowth of their original 348 cubic inch truck motor.

The 348 became available in the `58 Impala (first year of the Impala). By 1960, the hot ride was a Chevy Biscayne with the 409. The Biscayne was the lightest of the full-sized cars. No amenities. No power windows, vinyl bench seats, rubber floor mats, etc.

Although there were "425 Horse 409's" that was gross power (run on an engine stand with no parasitic accessories such as generator, water pump, etc.), their real claim-to-fame was their prodigious torque. Remember, horsepower gets `em off the showroom floor but torque gets `em off the line.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Thanks guys, I love it when you talk cars. It's a bit like being in a foreign country with only a vague grasp of the language, certain phrases stand out I can sieze upon..

Cheers,
Si :)

[Donson]

Si, You mean stuff like,"three on the tree, knee deep in rubber, radio, AND overdrive".?

[panthercity]

Si, You mean stuff like,"three on the tree, knee deep in rubber, radio, AND overdrive".?Then there's the age old question:
Q: What do you call a double date?
A: Four on the floor...

[Donson]

Any one remember "curb feelers"?. How about the 2 orange plastic horseshoes ,that You could stick on the trunk lid.(the Turtle deck)

[Sir Limpsalot]

OK, you've got me hooked. What are curb feelers?

Si.

[Rchop]

OK, you've got me hooked. What are curb feelers?

Si.

Curb feelers: http://www.wbhs1957.com/curbfeelers.jpg

http://www.thehotrodgirl.com/curbfeelers.html

[Donson]

:cool::cool:Thanks, Randy, just ordered a set with skulls, for the Harley!

[Rchop]

:cool::cool:Thanks, Randy, just ordered a set with skulls, for the Harley!

The skull toilet brush holder is the one for me!!

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/thehotrodgirl_2094_27777760

[Sir Limpsalot]

Randy, thanks for the pic. "Nonplussed" is a word I don't use often, but it best describes where I am now. :)

Si.

[BobFV1]

The Chevy 409 was an outgrowth of their original 348 cubic inch truck motor.

She's real fine my 409. :shade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKKP_cZuk54

[Donson]

I still have that on vinyl. Also, one of My favourites: Black Denim Trousers, and Motorcycle Boots by The Cheers." He had a Hot Rod sickle, that took off like a gun, that Fool was the terror, of Hiway 101!". I think it was written about Dean. In the 30's. Or 40's. YouTube (graphic,high speed hijinks)

[Arby]

The Chevy 409 was an outgrowth of their original 348 cubic inch truck motor.

The 348 became available in the `58 Impala (first year of the Impala). By 1960, the hot ride was a Chevy Biscayne with the 409. The Biscayne was the lightest of the full-sized cars. No amenities. No power windows, vinyl bench seats, rubber floor mats, etc.

Although there were "425 Horse 409's" that was gross power (run on an engine stand with no parasitic accessories such as generator, water pump, etc.), their real claim-to-fame was their prodigious torque. Remember, horsepower gets `em off the showroom floor but torque gets `em off the line.

I thought (probably incorrectly)that '61 was the first year for the 409, with '62 being the first year for the 425 HP version.

Back in my former life, I installed a '60 348 w/ a single 4 barrel(250 hp) and a four speed trans in a '56 Chevy 2 dr sedan. Had to install the front coil springs too, to compensate for the added weight.
It made for a decent street machine, considering the budget I was working with.

As I recall, we had clearance problems with the wide valve covers hitting the firewall (cowl) and the left exhaust manifold rubbing the steering box. The rest of the installation was straight forward.

The 348/409's might be considered boat anchors now, but back in their day they got everyone's attention.

The good ol'days, for sure!

RB