Hot Rods...Alive and well, Different but so much the same Options

[awd4kicks]

Have any of you seen that special on the SPEED channel for ‘Hot Rods’? I watched a small portion of it the other day and it is cool. It also helped me put my finger on something I had not before.

The term ‘Hot Rod’ has been around at least since the WWII vets hopped up their daily drivers and ran them at the Salt flats before drag strips were even built. The theme to their hobby was cheap light weight vehicles that they could modify for the most performance. Their version of performance was straight line top speed that graduated into the fastest car in a given distance. These guys were masters at home built mods because they didn’t have any other choice. They reground their own cams, installed cylinder heads from other engines, balanced cranks by hand, and pulled every pound of weight out of their cars in an effort to make them faster.

Ever since I can remember the term ‘Hot Rod’ has been in my vocabulary. I have always dreamed of these wild speed machines and having a few in my grasp. Since I got into the DSM scene in 2000 I felt maybe I was straying away from the lineage that had built this hobby up from the beginning. After seeing this special on TV though, I think that the heart of ‘Hot Rodding’ is living on in a very real sense with the DSM owners. There are other brands and nationality of makes that get similar treatment, but few other groups have the raw style of no-flash-purpose-built-mods like the DSM owners.

There are quite a few members in our own local area that really live by this theme. I think it’s obvious that akamiami and his ‘jalopy’ can be considered the modern day version of ‘Hot Rodding’ in the most pure sense.

My hat is off to all you that keep the heart of this hobby alive!

[JMoushon]

For some reason I can completely picture Krisgrinding his own cams, while wearing a garter, high heels, and a smile...

[xian 1g]

hmmm... that's interesting. so in effect, all those 'show cars' that i thought were hot rods, have really strayed away from the heart of the dream, while all the broke pooper yanking out the back seats of their car have carried on the tradition.

imho volvoturbo is another good example, he's had to create a lot of his own mods. unfortunately thought i think he packs an extra hundred pounds of grocery's in the trunk of that sleeper.


james, you crack me up....

[SCCA Stang]

I think that along with akamiami, ncgalant is another good example of a true "hot rodder" with most of his parts being fabricated with duct tape and parts purchased at places like Menards and Nina's true value.

good post AWD4Kicks
i think that you are right with DSM's being the modern day heart of hot rodding.

[JMoushon]

Much love for the "customization." I'll have you all know that I am carrying the torch in true Hot-Rodding fashion, with my shifter linkages held in place with shoelace and 2 paperclips. Been like that since before Slo-Pny Day. Straight custom. not quite "mad tyte," but sweet nonetheless.

[grimy4]

I hate to break it ta ya guys, but i think AWD4KICKS has just had a shot of reality! He is right if it was'nt for the early 1900's we would be driving leadsleds with no power!
I come from a family of domestic car freaks! Grimy 5 with his 65 SS Chevelle, Me
( Grimy 4 ) past projects & 95 Chevy Truck, Grimy 1 with a Home built car that dates back to 1940, My dad with his 67 Chevelle Convertable. This is what I have learned for the past 21 yrs. of my life ! I dont regret learning this way at all ! What you guys do to you're turbo cars for years is the same as what I have been doing for years with my past and current projects ! MORE POWER !!! It is all the same for domestic and import "modify , rework , swap this , swap that " !! Pure Show to daily driven, it's all craftmanship !! Hats off to everyone that has this need for speed and the will to keep HOT RODDING alive !! Who cares if ya have to use a shoelace and papperclips, if it works now , fix it later!! Can't Forget GRIMY 2 with what he has left behind for me! Fond memories of working with him on his 78 Z28 !! Beloved Brother and Uncle !! If it was'nt for him I would be dead too !! Just kickin back and thinkin of it , What we do now, our kids will take to even higher levels and make it even better !! The past reflects on the future !! Keep up the awesome work Guys and Gals , Our kids depend on us !!

[awd4kicks]

Your respectful maner is very admirable Grimy.

Just to let you know I was V8 only for performance until I got my Talon in 2000. Yep, 14 years of domestics for me before I found a new fresher way to make power inexpensively and productively. I agree with what your saying whole heartedly, I'm no stranger to the domestic side either. I just can't get over the look on faces of V8 owners like mine after they have been taken by a cheap little 4 banger with a snail on it. It's like an adictive secret wepon!

[grimy4]

Thankyou AWD4KICKS !!
It's nice to know that I'm not alone when it comes to the cast iron rat motors! I have only had 1 chance to built a 4 banger , that was back in high school (1990).
I blew the head gasket on a 1.9 Chevette motor. Yes a CHEVETTE . The car was free. I had a custom ground cam for it ,plus I did a multiple amount of other free but time consuming mods to it. It turned out to be a screamin lil motor. Thankgoodness for 4gears and a 4:11 rearend. The guys that I ran with that it was a big joke until I started to take money from them. After a bout the 5th race in one nite someone decided that I might have put a 6 popper in it ! Boy they had ahell of a surprise that nite ! That car was my daily driver while I was building my 80 Z28. Now 4 bangers are more powerful , higher reving , and jacked up on inhalers (snails) !! I'm impressed !! Right now I'm stuck when it comes to v-8 & 4 bangers . Not because I'm closed minded or anything ! I just don't know of any one willin to hook up a 28-32 ft. boat with a import!! I would have to give up my Chevy 4x4 to get in to a Dsm . Maybe sometime in the near future I'l geta taste of a DSM !! Althoughon my way back from Peoria Saturdaymoringin my semi ,Idid see a meanlookin Import truck!! HMMMM. V-6 Supercharged 4x4 Toy Truck !!
I know still stuck in 4wheel drive !!Sorry ! Maybe the taste that I need is a day of hands on !! If i can't own one , who says I can't help give a extra hand to some one who does !! By they way NOPI T.V. IS awesome , been watching it since it first aired!! 4 BANGERS & V-8's = to much fun !!!!! Enjoy it all !! Later Grimy

P.S.
I know when my time comes DSM vs. domestic truck
My jaw will drop! I hope it's done with respect !!

[natedogg]

Most of us are stock on 4wd as well. Well...AWD anyway. Part of the allure of the DSM. Terrific traction whenever you want it...on the street or at the strip.

[grimy4]

I have finally figured out the allure to awd dsm's . This weekend I took a kill using my 4-hi. Unfortunaley I'm limited to about 65 mph in 4-hi. Unlike awd!
I geta lot more power in 2wd , So I guess that is about asclose as in come to the allure that you guys have! As far as the traction ,I think terrific is an understatement! IT'S INTENSE !! Espeacially in my situation 4x4 with AT tires that are a semisoft compound.. By th way , were is the local ( C/U ) hotspot forhangin out ? I would like to meet some of you guys that I've been chattin with !!
Later Grimy

[TotalEclipse97]

i'm going to have to second the motion on ncgalant being a true "hot rodder". when i went for a test drive in his car it put the image of chrome everywhere,exspensive parts left and right and high tech gizmo's and gadgets. boy was i wrong....he popped the hood and there it was in all it's ducktaped glory and pvc pipe pride. the powerplant looking like it was held together with scotch tape and pipe cleaners. i can see why he needed to sign a waiver to get it dyno'd.

so i'd like to give a DSM Central award to ncgalant for keeping the true Hot Rod alive in us all. *clap clap clap*