Second Wind - a Packard Gasser

[05snopro440]

Originally Posted by zzrodder

Another puzzle piece came today, Gear Vendors Overdrive unit to add onto the Turbo 400 to make it more livable on the road with the 4.88 rear gear.

I wouldn't mind having one of those myself. Looks like a great collection of parts!

[Skip]

Wow. Just wow. I have no doubt the stance will be perfect.

[zzrodder]

The 4 link kit I got is nice and beefy with 1 1/2" tubes and large poly bushings that are greaseable but the link bars were kinda long at 26", so I cut off the bungs and shortened them to 20". The axle mounts that came with the kit are now notched to fit the crossmember and I added some more adjustment holes. Had a local shop laser cut some new axle mounts (which I'll have to cut and weld back together to fit the axle tubes). I'll weld a plate to the back of them to mount the coil overs. The frame shape is evolving as you can tell by the
scrubbed and re-drawn outlines - chaulk is cheap........

[Dr Crankenstein]

A true gasser, by the rules, must have a level rocker panel. Anything else is an altered class car.


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[05snopro440]

Originally Posted by Dr Crankenstein

A true gasser, by the rules, must have a level rocker panel. Anything else is an altered class car.


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Well, 90% of the cars that are called Gassers these days are street freaks anyways

[Torchie]

Originally Posted by 05snopro440

Well, 90% of the cars that are called Gassers these days are street freaks anyways

Yeah..........
Nice 4 link ZZ. It's beefy for sure.

Torchie

[zzrodder]

Originally Posted by Dr Crankenstein

A true gasser, by the rules, must have a level rocker panel. Anything else is an altered class car.


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I guess I'm just another victim of the "me too" herd mentality that applies terms like 'gasser' to what in my mind conforms.
Kind of like, ummm, 'rat rod'...........

[bob w]

Doesn't matter anymore if you meet the rules of any gasser era. There are several "Gasser" associations around the country. Each has its own rules. The Southeast Gasser group runs to the 1967 rule book. But they don't require a level rocker panel. In fact, "Nose up" is desirable. The Ohio Outlaw Gassers require a nose up attitude.
If I'm not mistaken the upper classes of Gassers that run the NHRA Heritage series have fiberglass/carbon bodies and tube chassis.
For the street, pick the gasser style you like.
I dug this 1967 pic out of Jim and my '33 Willys gasser. I was surprised to see it sits "rocker level". Didn't even know it was a rule then, but it was. Kudos to Doc for knowing that. BTW, we had to run Altered class because it wasn't finished to Gasser requirements.
Incidentally, when "Gassers" evolved (devolved) into pure race cars and no longer were street legal vehicles, the Modified Production class was invented. Doc might have some interesting insights about that.
Sorry to get so long winded on your thread. But you know you have to indulge us old people.

[MercuryMac]

ZZ, I like the way your mind works. You say that if I think my creation is a 'ratrod' then it's a ratrod in my mind.
I guess, though, we have to accept onlookers thoughts that differ from ours. Sometimes someone else will say "that's not a ratrod, it's a low end streetrod". Or "that's not a 'gasser', that's an 'altered'". It's all in their minds.
People are funny, sometimes.

[earthman]

I must say i am surprised about the imperfect body plan ZZ. I anticipate however that you will enjoy comfortably not worrying about paint chips.