Performance in Motion Magazine Vol. 18 No. 1

MAGAZINE

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VOL.

18

NO.

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CANADA

SPRING into EFI

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Performance in MOTION

PIM

PERFORMANCE DIRECTORY Late Model, Classic & Muscle Cars

E VERYB O DY ’ S AUTO M OTIVE MAGA ZINE

The Best Garage in Town

Published Oddly VOL.18 NO.1

Publisher Editor Writer Proofreader

FEATURES

Bob McJannett Rob McJannett Bonnie Staring Carol “Spike” LaVigne

Contributors Chad Dugan Traci Hrudka Ronn Hughes Jim Madigan Andrew Ritchie Len Sly Dave Thomas Les Tuck David Wilks

Tom Hough

519-753-9722

Editorial............................................................................. Bob McJannett

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Motorama 2018 ............................................................................... Len Sly

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The Bucket Seat Podcast....................................... Rob McJannett

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14 Dundas St. E, Brantford, Ont. N3R 1R5

Quarter Mile Foundation.............................................. Traci Hrudka 10 Try Again: Project Why Wait comes Home...... Dave Thomas 12 Spring into EFI................................................................... 1968Fastback 16 Converting to EFI with Rusty Speedwerks................. Les Tuck 18 Rockabilly Rev Up........................................................... Ronn Hughes 20 Book Review: The Rodders Journal ................................... Len Sly 2 3 Centennial Street Rodders 50th........................ Bob McJannett 24 Closing the Gap...................................................................Chad Dugan 26 Reluctant Passenger.................................................. Bonnie Staring 30

ON THE COVER: Andrew (@ridic_u_loose) Ritchie took the cover shot (and the inside pics as well) of the glowing Sniper EFI being installed on @1968_fastback in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In the upper right corner Jim Madigan captured one of the “Southside Vixens” at the Rockabilly Round Up in Port Dover, Ontario.

MOVING? Please let us know! Email both your old and new address to: info@performanceimprovements.com Performance in Motion Publications, 87 Advance Road, Toronto, ON M8Z 2S6 • Phone: 416-259-3678 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40609642 • Canada Post: Please return undeliverable magazines to: 87 Advance Road, Toronto, ON M8Z 2S6 PERFORMANCE IN MOTION is published irregularly. Circulation is 30,000+ (ISSN 1703-8421) Performance in Motion Copyright ©2018 by Performance In Motion Publishing. 87 Advance Road, Toronto, ON M8Z 2S6. Be good to the environment, recycle this magazine – give it to your friends! We respect your privacy, and do not sell our mailing list. All opinions are those of our writers, (the usual gang of idiots) most of whom think gas fumes are acceptable as aftershave. The information presented is via said gas sniffers from which there can be no responsibility by the Publishers as to legality, completeness and accuracy. If you enjoy our magazine, be sure to let us know! • Sorry Mr. Hughes for ever calling you an extremely modest moronn. •

www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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Editorial

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As

I write this, we are only a week away from the Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo. Mind you, by the time you are reading this, the show will be over. This year’s show will be full of interesting features that we are all looking forward to seeing.

In a slight change, Gary Challice is bringing in a number of high profi le vehicles. In addition to the hundreds of Canadian hot rods, customs, and race cars — Gary added from Drag Week Jeff Lutz’ 1957 Chevrolet and David Schroeder’s 1955 Chev and spectacular 1966 Corvette. From SEMA, Ty Hauer’s 1929 Ford Roadster and Lincoln V12-powered 1931 Ford Coupe graced the floor. Also from SEMA was Mike Heim’s 67 Camaro, Anton Lanesky’s B52 Studebaker and Eddy Peitus’s 1963 Corvette. Something for everyone. Amongst the numerous personalities in attendance was the 2017 NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps. All and all, it is a great way to start the car enthusiast season for 2018.

But is it the beginning of the end for the car enthusiast? Will first, the electric car, followed by autonomous vehicles strike the death knell to our hobby? Certainly, if you listen to the politicians and pundits, the gasoline era will soon be over. “Everyone wants electric.”

In 2017, GM announced two all-electric vehicles by 2018 and another eighteen by 2025. Also in 2017, Volvo announced no more gas only vehicles in their line, by 2019, they will be either all electric or hybrid. Numerous countries are looking for ways to ban ICE’s (internal combustion engines), particularly France and Germany.

“Everyone wants electric” Interesting eh! My wife purchased a new car last October. I went with her to the dealership for a seminar on the features of her new car. The dealer principal was the speaker.

When asked about electric, his response was “we have one”, he pointed it out, “but nobody wants it, even with the current cash incentives being offered.” In my circle of friends, there is only one person with a Tesla, and it is a second vehicle at his home. I certainly don’t see hordes electric vehicles on the streets. Why?

No one is convinced that the infrastructure is in place or will be in the near future to support the need for electricity. Right now, they encourage you to run your dishwashers and washing machines at odd hours when the demand is lowest. So imagine on a street of 50 houses, if everyone plugs in their 50 EVs what will happen? If you live in Ontario, you have lived through ice storms that took out the grid and left us in the dark for days. Or during the hot summer months when everyone is running the air conditioning systems, the governments request you turn them off to prevent brownouts.

In 2017, GM sold 302,826 vehicles, of these 6,400 were electric or 2.1% of sales. In Canada, there were over 2 million vehicles sold, and many of these manufacturers are not making EVs so if 1% of the total (which I think is high) were EVs that would be 20,000 sold in 2017. It is just not practical to think we will have enough surplus electricity to support even 1% of the vehicles on the roads in the future unless there is a massive investment by ???? to create a huge amount of electricity to serve these vehicles.

So don’t sell the Hot Rod yet, it will be awhile before we are forced off the roads — besides there are ways to step up the performance of electric cars. If you don’t believe me, check out the next “Formula E” race on TV. All they need is a “vroom vroom” soundtrack and you would never know they were electric.

bob@performanceimprovements.com

www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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MOTORAMA 2018 Don Gasiunas 1947 Buick was a finalist for the Motorama Grand Champion Award.

Story by Len Sly • Photos courtesy Dave Thomas

2018

was the fourth year for the combined motorsports and car show and Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo really upped the ante.

In addition to 300,000 square feet of cars, the show had awards presentations, autograph sessions, discussion panels, media announcements and much more.

“We have so many amazing vehicles on display, it’s very hard to highlight just a few,” concluded Gary Challice. “These cars, I guess, can be described as our guests, but there are so many unique vehicles, including those in our ‘Barn Finds’ display, that Motorama show visitors will have a tough time deciding on their personal favourite.”

The show floor was a unique mix of cars seen at the SEMA Show mingling with home-built creations.

Hats off to everyone who put this event together, it was definitely a classic.

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Performance in MOTION

Andrew Legacy took home the Grand Champion award. This is one absolutely wild 1956 Chevrolet Truck engineered from the ground up around Hitman Hotrods chassis.

www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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Canadian Automotive Podcast

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he Bucket Seat — Trevor Byrne and regular guests discuss current, future, and past automotive topics at length. The twist, he’s Canadian.

In a medium littered with specialized shows, the Bucket Seat Podcast just might be one of the most niche out there. It’s hosted by Trevor who loves talking to people about their love of cars. Trevor is a true gear head and loves talking all things automotive.

Most episodes sound like two aquaintences getting to know each other, sitting around the kitchen table and discussing a shared love.

Trevor inquires about how each guest got started, the spark that got them into cars. Some guests are involved in the OEM Automotive Industry like Lawrence Yap, while others are more DIY like Racer/ Dyno Tuner Sasha Anis and his Tesla-powered Evora in Episode 39.

A recuring feature is the “$15K Used Car Challenge” where Trevor tries to hunt down a fun car (with a stick) for Summer driving, that fits within his arbitrary budget.

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In a world fi lled with people screaming at each other on News shows, or fake fighting on cable TV “car shows” it’s nice to hear people just talking about their passions. Learning the origin stories of people’s infatuations can be enlightening. High School is a formative time for many reasons, including automotive interests.

Some of the early episodes have mic placement issues, but those early technical issues have mostly been overcome. What comes through in all of Trevor’s interviews is the inclusive nature of the love of the automobile.

Members of the extended P.I. family have been on the show already, including: Jover “Papa-G” Papag, Mark “Targa Truck” Bovey, Justin “Hates Back to the Future” Sookraj, and Dave “Stance is Everything” Thomas, making this podcast the audio extension of Performance in Motion magazine.

Next time you’re working in the garage, try a podcast instead of listening to the same old playlist or commercial radio.

Podcasts - keeping the hands free and the mind full.

How to Listen: Download past episodes or subscribe to future episodes of The Bucket Seat by Trevor Byrne for free on iTunes or SoundCloud.

Check them out: @thebucketseat on Instagram or Facebook — the current sources for all of your Bucket Seat goodness.

2018 RACING SERIES CAN/AM Stock Super Stock Series 2018 May 19 – St Thomas Raceway Park May 20 – St Thomas Raceway Park June 23 – Empire Dragway June 24 – Empire Dragway July 14 – St Thomas Raceway Park July 15 – St Thomas Raceway Park August 4 – Grand Bend Motorplex August 5 – Grand Bend Motorplex September 1 – Toronto Motorsports Park September 2 – Toronto Motorsports Park September 15 – Empire Dragway September 16 – Empire Dragway SPDA Driving Events 2018 April 21 - Test & Tune - Toronto Motorsports Park April 28-29 - Advanced Driver Clinic Powerade Centre May 12 - OTA School - CTMP (Mosport) DDT May 26 - OTA Event 1 - Toronto Motorsports Park May 26 - CASC Event 1 - Toronto Motorsports Park May 27 - CASC Event 2 - Toronto Motorsports Park June 2 - ATTS 2018 Event #1 - CTMP (Mosport) DDT June 9 - OTA Event 2- CTMP (Mosport) DDT June 10 - OTA Event 3- CTMP (Mosport) DDT TNT SUPER SERIES 2018 May 25 - Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway May 26 - Empire Dragway June 9 - Toronto Motorsports Park June 10 - Toronto Motorsports Park June 23 - St Thomas Raceway Park June 24 - St Thomas Raceway Park July 13 - Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway July 14 - Empire Dragway July 28 - Toronto Motorsports Park July 29 - Toronto Motorsports Park August 17 - Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway August 18 - Empire Dragway September 15 - Empire Dragway September 16 - Empire Dragway DriftJam 2018 June 17 - Tech Day - Gamebridge Go Kart Track July 28 - Round One - Shannonville August 12 - Round Two - Toronto Motorsports Park TBD - Round Three - Sunset Speedway October 20 & 21 - Spooky Vibes - Gamebridge Go Kart Track Drag Syndicate 2018 May 26-27 - Season Opener - Toronto Motorsports Park (TMP) July 14-15 - The Grand Bender - Grand Bend Motorplex August 18-19 - Mid Summer Meltdown - (TMP) September 29-30 - The Grand Finale - (TMP) www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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Quarter Mile Foundation

Info from Traci Hrudka • Story by Bob McJannett Photos courtesy of the Quarter Mile Foundation Archives

F

ollowing the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner in 2009, a group of drag racing and performance aftermarket legends gathered for some after-dinner drinks at the hotel lounge. “We began to discuss the number of legends and pioneers of the sport and the industry who had passed away, or were having serious health issues.” said Traci Hrudka. “As we talked, the discussion turned to some comments about how it was a shame that no one had interviewed these people, and got the entire story of their career and how the sport or industry grew from the very early days.”

The time spent at the bar evolved into the Quarter Mile Foundation with Traci Hrudka becoming the chairman. Their goal, interviewing and filming a diverse group of the sports Pioneers and Legends, then creating an exciting multi-episode documentary for television interspersed with dynamic action scenes that explains how the sport developed, giving birth to the huge performance aftermarket we know today.

Next, the work began.

The Quarter Mile Foundation is a not-forprofit, educational foundation. Its primary goal is the production of the PROJECT 1320 documentary, which will capture the history of drag racing and the birth of the performance automotive aftermarket, from the post World War II period to the end of the 80s. It will also serve as a historical repository of film, photographs, documents and other similar materials for the sport and the performance automotive aftermarket.

The PROJECT 1320 documentary will feature first-person interviews of the surviving pioneers telling their story from a personal point of view. Some of today’s heroes will be featured, but it will focus on yesterday’s legends, as they tell their experiences and explain the Who, What, Why, When, Where and How of the sport’s early days and how it grew. You will see how a multi-billion dollar industry – the performance automotive aftermarket – grew with the sport as ingenious racers built new parts to make their race cars go faster, and then sold duplicates of them to fellow competitors.

Legendary engine builder Ed Pink began building winning race engines in 1958. Over the last 60 years, he and his staff of craftsmen have built winning racing engines for virtually all forms of motorsports. Imagine the stories he tells in his three-hour interview!

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To date, their single greatest success has been the gathering of 350-plus hours of interviews from the people who have played important roles in our industries amazing growth and achievements. “Our biggest reward to date has been getting the interviews of those who died shortly afterward,” says Ms. Hrudka. “Little did we know at the time, that we were recording the last interviews of Carroll Shelby, Joe Mondello, Vic Edelbrock, Jr., Louis Senter, ‘Speedy’ Bill Smith, ‘Grumpy’ Jenkins, and others.”

Other notable interviews include Don Garlits, Dave McClelland, Jon Lundberg, Sr, Ed Pink, Harvey Crane, Joe Amato, Linda Vaughn, Joe Schubeck, Kenny Youngblood, Nick Arias, Alex Xydias, and many more.

Art Chrisman, one of the legendary hot rod builders and drag racers of the 1950s and 1960s, in his famed No. 25 dragster.

Chrisman was the first drag racer to exceed 140 and 180 mph and the first winner at the Bakersfield U.S. Fuel & Gas Championships in 1959. Before his death at 86, he sat down with the foundation to tell his stories.

With 350 hours of film in the can, the process of starting the documentary’s “Pilot” is in the “staging lanes.” An escrow account has been set up solely to fund the “Pilot”. To accomplish this, $60,000 is required. Ms. Hrudka observes, “Honestly, this process will require from everyone the support, determination, passion and loyalty to our legends’ history to see it through.

The overriding challenge to the Foundation is securing predictable funding in time to complete the project. Since a crusade of this magnitude has never been done, time is the enemy. Our heros are leaving, and one by one, the giants of our past are slipping away.

The day will come — and it is happening more rapidly — when they will all be gone, their stories ever dimmer memories. As we bid each one a sad farewell, we realize the importance of this project. Save the past while we can!

“The hurdle to get financial support has been the biggest frustration,” states Ms. Hrudka. “We felt, given the size of the sport and the aftermarket, including enthusiasts and fans, there would be more solid financial support to preserve and celebrate our legend’s stories. “We must not allow our history to disappear… to become nothing more than faded pictures and faulty memories.”

A donation to the Quarter Mile Foundation will ensure that history will be preserved, that the tale of how we became who we are today as an industry will not be lost to time and that, in a way, those who blazed the trail will always be with us. Imagine for a moment, listening and watching our legends tell you on film before they became a drag racer, they were in the seminary to become a Priest, or that the owner of a Midwest Gasser race team is still collecting royalties from the Olympic Committee, so they were able to use the team logo. And yes, even a chicken egg gets an Oscar for playing a huge role in perfecting the shape of the ports on the cylinder heads.

“Please, before you do anything else, become a part of our critical mission to ensure this vital history lives on.”

The Hrudka brothers, Joe and Tom, founders of Mr. Gasket Company, at the first SEMA Show, held in the basement of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Mr. Gasket pioneered one-piece performance gaskets.

One we missed. Unfortunately, Mickey Thompson left us before our mission had begun.

A hot rodder since his youth, Thompson increasingly pursued land speed records in his late 20s and early 30s. He achieved international fame in 1960 when he became the first American to break the 400 mph barrier, driving his Challenger 1 to a one-way top speed of 406.60 mph at the Bonneville salt flats and surpassing John Cobb’s one-way world record mark of 402 mph.

You can mail your donation in the form of a cheque or money order payable to: Quarter Mile Foundation 6210 Beverly Drive, Cleveland, OH USA 44130 For more information, or to make a secure online donation visit: www.quartermilefoundation.org

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It takes years for gifted individuals to achieve legendary status in his or her chosen field, but Don Prudhomme became a larger-than-life figure in drag racing when he was barely out of his teens. He won his first professional race at age 20, drove top fuel dragsters for the next 11 years, switched to funny cars in 1973, back to top fuel in 1990. Retired from driving in 1994, retired from being an owner in 2010. You could say he has done it all. Too many championships to list, but we have his interview!

www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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TRY AGAIN COMES HOME PROJECT WHY WAIT

Story and Photos

by Dave Thomas

It’s

been a long time since I’ve penned an update for Project Why Wait, and honestly, I shouldn’t have left you. At least not without an update to flip through.

Yes, I am still making heavy-handed references to song lyrics in my updates, and yes, despite a two issue hiatus, Project Why Wait is still humming along nicely.

The last time my 51 GMC appeared in these pages it was at Taylor’d Customs where we knocked a few things off the chassis to-do list.

From there, it went over to Stripping Technologies in Cambridge who blasted the frame free of rust and coated it in POR-15, before painting it in a beautiful metallic gunmetal. At that point, the chassis, and later the cab, was returned to my garage where I could begin putting this giant model kit back together.

That was last March, and since I’ve managed to dedicated a few hours each week in the garage. Because this is my first build of this calibre, you would be correct to assume that there have been setbacks along the way.

The first setback came by way of my shock mount positioning. Not sure what we were thinking when we originally tig-welded in the rear shock mounts, but they simply wouldn’t allow the truck to air out.

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Of course, I realized this only after I painted my chassis. After carefully removing the old mounts, welding in new mounts, and

refinishing the affected area, I could bolt in the rear suspension. To my credit, the front shock mounts were positioned adequately

First setback was my shock mount positioning. I removed the old mounts, welded in new mounts, and refinished the affected area before I could bolt in the rear suspension.

The all new air management system from Air Lift Performance uses both height and pressure sensors to provide the most innovative air suspension control ever. Height sensors give the system the ability to automatically adapt to changes in vehicle load. and that all went together with no major issues to report.

With the suspension mounted, I was able to turn my attention towards the ins and outs of the Air Lift 3H suspension management.

This is a ride height sensor managed system which meant that four sensors, two tanks, and a manifold all needed a home.

For the tanks and manifold, I fashioned an upper tank mount that runs from one frame rail to the other. It’s mounted to the frame via polished button head bolts and is tied

together by a lower mount that runs from one compressor mount to another.

It took some time to figure it all out, but I re-taught myself how to weld (I’m still no pro!) in the process, so it was time well spent.

The next step was to mount the height sensors. For anyone about to tackle this themselves, patience is key here.

The senor range template provided by Air Lift Performance also makes the process as foolproof as possible. Fingers crossed when I power it all up, I got things right.

With everything, aside from the battery, having a home on the chassis, it was time to turn my attention to plumbing.

I quickly learned that I don’t much like doing brake lines, so the less said about that the better. However, I will say, an in-line flare tool is much easier to use than the medieval torture device that is the bar style tool.

What wasn’t a nightmare to run was my fuel system. Thanks to the Aeromotive Stealth pump I picked up during PIs Black Friday sale, planning out the system was

www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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pretty painless. Pop a hole in the tank, insert the pump, and plumb it up to my filter/ regulator combo.

Simple. Well, it could have been simple, except I decided to get creative and run my fuel lines through the rear boxed section of the chassis. I also decided to make a little bulkhead for it and raid the PI selection of AN fittings to make it all work. Some Russell Pro Classic II hose, and a trip to Home Depot, for some snake tape, and it was run.

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At this point, the chassis is to the point where I need the motor to continue. It is currently, however, getting a visual and mechanical refresh.

In the meantime, I’ve turned my attention to the cab. From the start of this project, I’ve wanted a shaved firewall, but given my current level of sheet metal welding skill (read: none), filling in holes one by one was a bit of a daunting task.

Thankfully Lange’s Shop, out in Alberta,

had a solution for me with their LS Fabrication line of filler panels. The firewall shaving kit comes with easy to follow instructions even a weekend warrior like myself can make their way through.

In a nutshell, to fill your firewall using their fillers requires cutting out some of your existing firewall and welding in their panels.

Sure beats filling a number of small holes and figuring out how to cut a perfect circle with an angle grinder.

As you can see from the pictures, I have plenty of welding and grinding yet to do to blend the panel in, but I am happy to report that I didn’t burn through the firewall at all during the process.

As for the rest of the metalwork, I’ve already put an order in at Bill’s Truck Shop for the sheet metal this truck needs, so if you want me for the next few months, you can find me under my welding mask.

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Follow Dave Thomas’ Project Why Wait on: Facebook @stanceiseverything, Instagram @stanceiseverythingcom and of course stanceiseverything.com .

While building a truck of their own, Lange’s Shop noticed a significant gap in the market when it came to quality custom filler panels for the Advanced Design 1947 – 1954 Chevrolet/GMC trucks. Using these fillers offered an extremely rare opportunity to support a Canadian manufacturer while building my truck. Being able to pay in my native currency and not have to worry about extra brokerage fees is a plus. LS Fab are available through instagram at @ls.fabrication, or email langesshop@gmail.com. www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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SPRING into EFI 16

Performance in MOTION

Story by @1968 _ FASTBACK • Photos by Andrew Ritchie

W

hy did I switch to EFI? dramatic changes in weather. Those aren’t

Well, simply because I wanted the reliability of a modern vehicle in my 1968 Fastback Mustang.

Electronic Fuel Injection has come a long way in the past few years. When some of the first Holley systems came out, not only were they confusing to install, but the computer software was also extremely slow. However, a lot of that has changed recently when Holley released their new EFI system—The “Sniper.”

For starters, has anyone ever seen a perfectly functioning carburetor? Probably not. Carburetors are technology of the past, they simply do not have the tune-ability or functionality as some of the modern computer-based technology. Mostly to do with the fact that they’re a simple fuel delivering piece of equipment. Carburetors work great in ideal conditions, or in places that don’t see a lot of climate change, but here on the west side of Canada, we’ve seen everything from 35+ degree weather, to 3+ feet of snow. We have some of the coldest starts, and some weather that is susceptible to vapor lock. Unfortunately, ideal conditions are never consistent at any location though.

However, these new Holley EFI systems are designed to adapt to compensate for the

the only reasons why I switched to EFI though. The fuel injection system maintains more of a constant air fuel ratio, gives a slight boost in power and torque, and it also helps with fuel economy just a little bit.

Why don’t more people convert to EFI? Well, my personal belief is that people are not too familiar with the whole “computer-based tuning” side of things. Even if some of the old school guys understand the concept of EFI calibration, I am sure there is a sixth sense in their head that tells them not to play with a mouse and keyboard to get an EFI system functioning perfectly.

Which is totally fine! Everyone has their own opinions, and to be honest, I couldn’t blame some of the guys who prefer carburetors.

Is it expensive to convert to EFI? Yes. It certainly isn’t cheap. But is it worth it? In my eyes--Yes. There’s something nice not having to worry about cold start carburetor lag, and there’s something nice about the added benefits which were listed above.

All in all, I am very satisfied and happy with my purchase of the Holley Sniper EFI Master Kit through Performance Improvements, and I am sure I will be shopping here again.

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Be sure to follow @1968_Fastback and @Ridic_u_loose on Instagram

www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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CONVERTING TO EFI with

The Bronco arrived with a Holley, we borrowed an Edlebrock carb from another truck as a temporary solution before the EFI swap.

RUSTY SPEEDWERKS T

his modified 1978 Bronco came to our shop to sort out a fuelling issue with the Holley Carb that was originally installed. Our customer had purchased the Bronco as built, and we have spent some time over the last year correcting a number of problems with the suspension and drivetrain.

No matter what we did, he continued to be unhappy about the performance he was getting from his 460 big block Ford.

The motor was supposedly built for 500hp

Story by Les Tuck • Bronco Photos by Dave Wilks

and has a lot of goodies, but the carb just wasn’t set up right. The customer had taken it apart and rebuilt it several times, with little success. Given that this truck rides on 40” swampers and was built to play in the mud and rocks, we suggested switching out the carb for an EFI conversion.

Our top tech and lead fabricator, Dave Wilks, goes way back with the McJannett’s and Performance Improvements. Dave’s dad Bruce and Bob McJannett have been

We like to use the Walbro pump for its ease of retrofit, proven reliability, and easy replacement if it does fail. Setting up the FiTech is really easy and can be done by entering in just a few numbers in your Handheld Controller.

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involved in the drag race scene for years. A chat over beers at this year’s SEMA show, led to a plan to have a Fitech GoEFI 600 shipped out to us from P.I.s Etobicoke warehouse.

We chose to pair the GoEFI kit with an inline Walbro fuel pump on this installation rather than go with the in-tank unit available through FiTech. Installation has been very straightforward and we look forward to seeing how it performs out in the mud and rocks on this Bronco.

Rusty Speedwerks is a small shop in Calgary, Alberta, that loves ratrods, motor swaps, vintage imports, custom alignments, tire installs, servicing & fabrication. At Rusty Speedwerks we do not focus so much on a particular marque or model – more an interest in classic sports cars but with a modern twist. One offs that we can get behind. Fun to drive, fun to make, fun to look at. Resto-mod import sports cars and sedans from the 60s, 70s, and 80s are our favourite, but we like to build almost anything that is unique and fits our aesthetic.

Common elements of our style include a sense of function over form, although there is an intentional element to the design that keeps form as important as function. Matte paint, steelies, recycled materials and parts taken from other cars (not necessarily being brand loyal for motor swaps, suspension swaps, etc.) and fast motors are hallmarks of the Rusty Speedwerks style.

Last winter, we had the pleasure to build a 1961 Willy’s Rat Jeep with a Cummins 6BT engine, custom frame, suicide axle four-link front suspension with a transverse single front leaf spring sitting on 35’s. Surprisingly, the most talked about feature of this build is the “Danger Diff.” The front differential has been chopped and the cover left off so you can see the ring and pinion gears.

Our shop truck is a 1969 Datsun 521 pickup with an SR20DET motor swap. We are currently also building a 1974 Datsun 620 Rat Rod mini tow-truck with a VW TDI engine swap and vintage wrecker deck.

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Photo Credits: Max Krewiak & Alicia Blackley

Rusty Speedwerks Inc. / Bowest Motors www.rustyspeedwerks.com • 403-288-4426 Follow @rustyspeedwerks on Social Media www.PerformanceImprovements.com

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Story by Ronn Hughes Photos by Jim Madigan

On

Saturday, May 20, 2017. Suzie from “Suzie’s Bombshell Boutique” in Port Dover, Ontario, along with her “Southside Vixens” gang Anna Shier, Mandy Kowitz, Karen Awesom, hosted their very first Rockabilly Rev Up event.

Over forty Hot Rods and Customs from locations as far away as Barrie, Brantford, Cambridge, Etobicoke, London, Mississauga, and Niagara Falls came to participate in what turned out to be a fantastic day.

The ladies dressed the part by wearing their Pin-Up dresses, poodle skirts, blouses, sweaters with hairstyles that harken back to the va-va-voom styles of the Fifties. The

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guys sported their turned up blue jeans, white socks, black leather shoes, T-shirts and slicked back hair. Some even had a pack of smokes tucked in the sleeve of the T-shirt.

The day started at 10:30am with everyone converging on Market Street outside of Suzie’s store. The cars and the ladies vied for the attention of everyone; at that point I think the ladies won!.

Suzie started her Rockabilly Rev Up cruise at 11am thru Port Dover down Radical Road to Port Ryerse and along Front Road. Their first stop was the Burning Kiln Winery where some took part in the wine tasting and lunch while others seized the opportunity to check out the Hot Rods. The cruise then

wound its way through St. William’s and onto Andy’s Corners and stopped at Andy’s Drive-In. Andy’s is really an interesting place, foot-long hot dogs, burgers and really great ice cream, plus the walls are laden with Coke memorabilia. Many of the participants lingered enjoying the sunshine and the food with lots of conversation.

Once the ice cream was gone the cruise continued through Walsh and on to the Frisky Beaver Winery, again more wine tasting and admiring of the cars. Their last stop on the cruise before returning to downtown Port Dover was at Clonmel Castle B&B, more time to enjoy each other and their Hot Rods.

This may have seemed like a full day for

some, but the Rockabilly Rev Up part was just getting reved up. Action moved to The Brig under the Norfolk Tavern. Doors opened at 4pm for food and drinks. Then at 5pm dance instructor Sarah Kate offered “jump n jive” instruction for those who may have forgotten the steps. The main event started at 8pm with The Hellbent Rockers

providing the rockabilly sounds that got everyone movin’ and a shakin’, the dance floor soon fi lled with hep cats showing off the steps they learned!

Suzie was over the moon on what a huge success the day had been. The people were excited and said if Suzie and the “Vixens” planned another they would be back,

bringing more Hot Rods, more Customs and more friends. Suzie was pleased with the strong support from the hobby and promised version number two will bring more bands, more dance instructors, more of everything to the second annual “Rockabilly Rev Up” classic car event.

True to her word, Suzie’s version 2.0 will

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be Saturday, May 19, 2018. Meet at The Brig (Norfolk Tavern) parking lot at 9am for a show and shine and chance to chat with old friends. The cruise will leave at 11am with three interesting stops, destined to arrive back it the Brig by 4pm. There will be a professional dance instruction team to help you get your jive and stroll moves back plus there will be prizes for the most improved dancers. From 7 to 11, two of Ontario’s finest live music groups will be on the stage. The Hell Bent Rockers and The Greasemarks will

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really get your blood flowing!

Advance tickets $15 or $20 on May 19.

Visit www.suziesbombshellboutique.com or Facebook and Instagram for the latest information. Plan a trip to Port Dover on the 19th, it’s a great event in a great town.

If you are in the Port Dover area be sure to drop in and check the amazing styles carriesdat Suzies Bombshell Boutique.

Support the business that is supporting our hobby.

Our hats are off to Suzie and the Vixens

for creating an event where the participants really get to use their cars. Don’t miss version 2.0.

•

Southside Vixens will be at the Vintage Spring Fling, with Special Guest Miss Victory Violet, Saturday, April 7, at Clonmel Castle in Port Dover.

About the Author: Ronn Hughes is handsome, personable, charming and extremely humble.

_REVIEW With the very best in hot rod and custom photog raphy, writing, and history, The Rodder’s Journal is unmatched amongst automotive publications.

In each issue, you will find a carefully crafted blend of traditional hot rods, classic customs, early drag racing, the best newly built cars, and the rich personalities behind one of the world’s most unique and passionate pursuits.

The Rodder’s Journal is produced by a team dedicated to offering you the best in hot rodding and custom cars, and to publishing one of the finest periodicals in the world.

The result is a richly informative and visually extraordinary magazine built with the same careful touch as a show-winning hot rod. In 20 years, The Rodder’s Journal has established itself as unique in its field, and has provided numerous special issues, and an increase in page count. Issues of The Rodder’s Journal are even more valuable on the secondary market—they’re worth considerably more than they cost!

The Rodder’s Journal is produced by a team dedicated to offering you the best in hot rodding and custom cars, and to publishing one of the finest high-quality periodicals in the world.

The result is a richly informative and visually extraordinary magazine built with the same careful touch as a show-winning hot rod. Published quarterly, don’t miss an issue.

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Most issues have 170+ pages of hot rods, customs and vintage race cars from every corner of our hobby. From a mildcustom ’40 Ford Fordor to a channelled Deuce pickup to a Model A street Gasser, this magazine covers it all like never before — but like every issue of The Rodder’s Journal, it’s more of a book than a magazine.

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23

Centennial Street Rodders 50th

Story by Bob McJannett Photos by Jim Madigan

Fiftieth

anniversaries are designated as “Golden.” In fact, if you’re married for 50 years, you would be out buying your mate something in gold. However, 50 years is a long time ago. Just a few of the interesting items and events from 1967: The movie “Bonnie and Clyde” debuts, the Beatles released “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,” The Monkees sold more records than The Beatles and Rolling Stones combined, and on July First, 1967, Pamela Anderson was born, making her Canada’s centennial baby.

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In 1967, a group of young men in Toronto’s west end formed the Centennial Rod and Custom Club. Still going strong today as the Centennial Street Rodders. To celebrate this milestone, the club held a party at the Toronto Humber Yacht Club on the banks of the Humber River. Local car enthusiasts were invited, the weather co-operated and the turnout was great. Lots of unusual cars arrived, and their owners were treated with burgers, dogs and prizes. A great way to celebrate Centennial Street Rodders’ golden anniversary.

•

CLOSING THE GAP Story and Photos by

Chad Dugan

t certain help but get excited abou n’t ca u yo , job ur yo is When your passion Mike Bennett yday of horsepower” — he the in ly ral lite are e things. “W

In

today’s world of Hybrid electric vehicles and near four-digit horsepower numbers from factory production vehicles, you can really do just about anything with an automobile.

At the recent PRI show in Indianapolis, I was incredibly pleased to see the number of manufacturers who continue to push the boundaries of what was thought to be impossible before today. Complete engine management systems and wiring made more user-friendly by companies like AEM Electronics. Safer solutions for fuel cell

applications by Fuel Safe, with a complete line of ultra-lightweight cells and custom in-house build to your specification solutions.

There was a ton of safety products, tooling equipment, and thousands of horsepower.

I had the opportunity to meet some great people and establish relationships that will continue to grow as my career in motorsport and the automotive industry progresses.

Coming back to Toronto having been kicked into high gear, I was anxious to get back wrenching on my own cars.

Driving a car that does exactly what you

want it to do, when you want it to do it, and consistently, was my ultimate goal for this car. I originally purchased my Genesis Coupe new in 2012 and had already solidified my modification plans even before picking it up.

I wanted a car that behaved like a new vehicle with all the tech and comfort, but could still throw down at the track.

With the drivetrain permanently installed and the suspension sorted from previous years, I was ready to upgrade my fuel delivery and get a bit more power out of the new 500hp LS3 crate engine. I decided

I chose AEMs CD-7 for its ability to display multiple pages of diagnostic information, text and graphic warnings, a dedicated alarm page and 7” display direct sunlight visibility. Its aluminium construction and water resistant housing make it motorcycle and marine friendly. A smaller version is also available which we hope to use on some upcoming projects at the shop. The CD-5 will have the same logging and display characteristics of the larger CD-7 but in a more compact size.

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Performance in MOTION

The chassis is fully equipped with Parts Shop Max USA’s multilink and steering angle kit, modified slightly to work with my style of driving. Stainless steel long tube headers and Vibrant performance materials used throughout. A larger 6.5L capacity Canton road race oil pan was added with internal baffling to keep oil where it needs to be while drifting.

AEM’s new CD-7 display and Infinity ECU would handle that job with ease. Utilizing AEM’s transducer pressure sensors for both fuel and nitrous oxide, monitoring the additional 200-shot will be a breeze with programable nitrous control and real-time bottle pressure displayed on the CD-7. An automatic bottle heater set to 950psi will keep the bottle at just the right temperature and reduce the risk of any catastrophic failures.

With the additional nitrous oxide, I needed a better, safer way to get more fuel

into the engine where there was no risk of starvation or overheating while at track or spirited driving. I opted for a Fuel Safe 10 gallon Spectra-Lite cell which is the lightest in their fleet and of the highest quality.

Mounted in an exoskeleton between the rear strut towers for better weight distribution with twin Bosch 044 pumps feeding the LS engine, there should be no shortage of fuel pressure.

To handle the additional torque, a twin-plate McLeod Racing clutch and flywheel were added to a built T56

transmission, a reinforced differential and a custom one-piece aluminium driveshaft built by Ottawa Driveshaft and Steering in Ottawa, good for around 1,000hp. The service from these guys was incredible, delivering the driveshaft in person on Easter weekend to meet my deadline. The morning of my attempted install, I realized I had ordered the wrong yoke, called ODS and had a Sonax chromoly yoke flown in and was able to get it to me that very same day.

With the rear-end complete, fuel cell mounted, and basic engine accessories in

I wanted to ensure the fuel cell enclosure is built strong and can be removed when needed. I had Rene at Centerline Motorsports, in Brampton, Ontario, CNC plasma-cut and gusset some brackets to be bolted into the trunk.

A rear bulkhead firewall separates the fuel cell from the cabin.

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27

place, I am now plumbing the entire fuel and cooling system, nitrous lines, and getting the wiring situation figured out.

The plug and play 58x harness from AEM is as straightforward as they come. A power distribution centre with five fuse-protected relays, flying leads for fuel pump, fans, and accessory power are included to make this harness especially swap friendly.

For the fuel, oil, and coolant system plumbing, there was no better solution than Vibrant Performance. Vibrant has been offering leading fabrication components, consistently growing their selection of fittings, hoses and clamping solutions since as far back as I can remember.

Working with larger AN fittings, it’s always a challenge to keep the hose ends from being scratched or damaged when securing the line. A proper-sized AN wrench and appropriate Vise jaw grips, plus a little painters tape should ensure a clean and tidy

seal. Still to be completed are the feed and return fuel lines under the car, the remote oil filter lines and to pick a permanent placement for the Infinity and power distribution centre.

With high hopes for big gains and smooth power delivery, I am excited to get on the dyno and see how all of this will turn out.

I could not have gotten this far without the help of the team at Performance Improvements and the front counter staff in Etobicoke. They have consistently been my go to resource for the specialty tools and, of course, the parts needed to get the job done. A super knowledgeable group of guys who are all well invested in the performance automotive trade. If they don’t have what you need in stock, chances are they can get it in a timely fashion and handle all the logistics.

•

Bolting up the RXT twin plate clutch, trimming the bell housing for starter cle and finishing it off with a arance Canton racing fly wheel co ver to seal out any debri entering the bell housing s from compartment.

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Performance in MOTION

Muffler That friend who always talks too darn softly when he or she has some great gossip to share.

A

nticipation fills the air as drivers and passengers alike check out weather forecasts for the true, absolute arrival of spring. It’s when our rides can run free without worry about icy roads, body-destroying salt and those idiots who don’t clear snow off the top of their vehicles.

To help you prepare for those upcoming occasions when talk turns to suspension, mileage and torque, here are some more automotive terms. As usual, I’m sure I’ve provided the correct definitions, so you can demonstrate your vehicular vocabulary with confidence.* Alternator fan The loud guy behind you in the stands who cheers for both teams at sporting events.

Barrett Jackson A man who can make hundreds of thousands of dollars disappear from an automotive enthusiast’s net worth in three minutes or less.

blamed for anything that goes wrong at work. It also increases their likelihood of being promoted.

Cruise night An incredible experience that can leave you feeling proud, impressed or seasick—with small groups looking on in awe.

Dash indicator light The emoji that appears on texts from a person you’re dating who is likely to disappear from your life.

Glove box One of the most legendary items from Michael Jackson’s estate. It should be noted that Barrett Jackson and Michael Jackson are not related. At least that’s what Google says.

Harmonic balancer The one choir member with the pristine gown or robe who claims that everyone else’s pitch is off.

Boost gauge The iPhone app that plays any song titled “I’ve Had Enough” when you’ve had too many meal replacement drinks.

Hood pins Piercings found in a variety of places on loyal gang members, normally with glittery, dangling bits.

Carnauba wax The substance that coats your coworkers that makes it impossible for them to be

Lane assist New technology, brought to you by BestFrame Inc., installed in bowling alleys to keep your ball out of the gutter.

Low-profile jack A male neighbour, small in stature, who bears a uncanny resemblance to JFK.

Rear valance Dancers who appear at the back of the stage during musical numbers. If they cross to the front of the stage, their ankle monitors give them a good zap.

Resistor The screaming child in a grocery store who won’t leave the cereal aisle until a box of Sugar-coated Double Yum Yums is in the grocery cart.

Shaker hood A neighbourhood filled with people who believe in sharing everything—including your BBQ, your hot tub and your simple yet gorgeous dining room chairs.

Shifter boot When you get kicked in the butt by a werewolf.

Wheel spacers People who stage genuine wagon parts at flea markets and trading posts. Splinters are a common workplace hazard.

Window regulator The super-secret schedule that dictates when Microsoft will release new versions of their operating system.

There you have it – you’re all set to take part in all those car conversations that are bound to happen throughout the year.

Enjoy the ride •

About the Author: Bonnie Staring is a comedic triple-threat (writer, performer, coupon user), and she appreciates the road of life a lot more than she might let on. Bonnie has plans to master social media one day, right after she learns how to machine rotors. www.bonniestaring.com * Please note that the words “correct” and “definitions” may have been used incorrectly in this sentence.

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Performance in MOTION

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