My other project. VW gasser

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

RE: My other project. VW gasser

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Here it is. doesn't look like much. Intake and headers have to go on in the car. Adjusted the valves today.

don

vw motr.jpg

Playin Hookie · HUNTSVILLE, ONT

Love it.

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Nice Don.

JPB · AYLMER, ONT

Can't wait to see the finished product smile

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

JPB wrote:
Can't wait to see the finished product

me too

don

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

I hobbled to the shop today as I am bored stiff. Spent about a 1/2 hour reworking an electronic distributor for the slant six. That was enough for today. Not a huge deal but progress is progress.
don

dodge38 · MISSISSAUGA, ONT

Don wrote:
Here it is. doesn't look like much. Intake and headers have to go on in the car. Adjusted the valves today.
don

Looks perfect to me, maybe a bit too high tech and new

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

It couldn't be hi tech because I am always accused of using old technology. I think the motor though is 1968. I like it in hemi orange
don

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

I have been spending about a 1/2 hour per day working on the gasser engine. Pain is still very high from my adventure but can't watch TV forever.
don

BARRIE, ONTARIO

take your time better to heal properly then not ..77.

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

OK, As I start to move around bit it is like relighting the fire. This is gonna take a lot longer then I thought.
I recurved the distributor this week and finished it today. Hard to escape the discomfort when sitting. When doing something, anything, the distraction is wonderful.
don

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Take time Don to recupe, i'm sure enjoying your'e informative interesting postings!!

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

As an aside several people have asked me if I was going to write another book, this time about the Sr dragster. I didn't think so but my wife sat me down this week and spoke straight on about it. I still wasn't convinced but that night a fellow from Ottawa phoned and asked me as well so I have begun. The Book is called "Just for Fun" with the subtitle "The Story of The Development of The Senior Dragster." I am in a few chapters now. All the tech stuff will be there and how I got to each step but the story as well. What I thought and how it morphed into what it is now. It started off as a mule to test the snowmobile carbs and nothing more. I had hoped others might build somewhat similar rails with six cyl power of their choice and we could have little races with in a race bit no one did so I had to squeeze it so I could play with the big boys :>)
don

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Can't wait to to get the book Don, sounds great, love that stuff!
(And yes, your'e wife is correct! Lol)

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Was back working on the gasser today. Distributor is indexed and ready to install. And then I was poking around gathering stuff for the dragster book. I found two old videos someone made of its very first run which was with the six snowmobile carbs.
It worked perfect that first pass. in fact I don't know if I mentioned here but I made the one run and went home. A couple of my friends asked why I wouldn't make another pass and I said that I had built it, came and unloaded it and it ran perfect right out of the box which is right up there next to impossible when you consider its induction system and I didn't want to ruin that experience for anything. A decision I never regretted BTW. But I digress. Eventually I removed the six carbs and tried a host of other deals. However I was looking at the video and the carbs today and decided if there is room in the gasser they are going back in service there. I found the fuel pump for them, a low pressure stocker. I have everything else. Biggest problem was they need a squirt to start but I saw a set up on a friends dragster for FI that was easy and worked well so it is gonna happen.
Look out Bill! Here comes another VW gasser!
don

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Sweet Set UP!! Love it!!

TIME TRAVELLER · NIAGARA REGION, ONT

Don, if you write the book with the passion and excitement that you put into your posts on this forum and others, it will be a winner. Bring it on!

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Thanks. I am doing it DVD format rather then paper as I can include a lot more photos and some video as well.
I converted my first book Old Reliable to that format after selling out its seventh printing and it seems to be well accepted as orders are still coming in. I added the test video Global made about me that they gave me with permission but kept the $ the same. Easier to ship as well. Hopefully this will work out too. I write when I wake up in the night about 2 am as there are no distractions then and it comes easy.

BTW if you like that style of writing, I have an article in this months Hot Rod Deluxe and an article in this month's Chrysler Power. I have written for CPPA (The Chrysler Power Publisher) for over 20 years so he tells me. Where did the time go?!

He got me started from a letter I wrote and he talked me into publishing the first book. It has been a fun past time for me.

-- Edited by Don on Thursday 16th of October 2014 11:34:47 AM

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

All the best with this cool endeavor Don!

parklane · St THOMAS, ONT

Good for you Don. Keeping busy keeps you young.

wolfman1 · ST GEORGE, ONT

Very cool project Don
Glad to see you're going to continue to race
It's really great to see a guy sharing his knowledge the way you do, thanks !!

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

I have become painfully aware that my racing days are now behind me. I have ceased the project and sold it. I kept the dragster as it sustained no significant damage in the accident. In fact I just fired the monster 6 a few minutes ago. Going to empty the shop and build a display for it. It exceeded every dream I had for it so it will stay here. Some one asked would I sell it. Perhaps but there will be no negotiating price. Anyway I am about to take the 63 for a drive. Spring is finally here!

don

-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 01:29:53 PM

-- Edited by Don on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 01:31:11 PM

parklane · St THOMAS, ONT

Jeez Don, we haven't heard from you for so long, I thought maybe you died, and went to heaven.

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Not yet but that is the long term plan. (:>) Took a lot more of a physical beating then I first realized. Only the last four weeks could I get out of bed sort of normal like .Winter time though I usually play radio as VE3LYX. Got an old WW11 Tank radio going this year and on the air. That is kinda fun.

Been digging in the garage all morning getting the bug ready to leave and finding all its extra parts. I have had a lot of fun over the past many years with many projects but it is time to shift gears and enjoy driving the 63 Dodge and polishing my old dragster. Debating whether to sell the milling machine.

don

54vicky · OAKVILLE, ONT

sorry to hear of your medical problems.I followed your postings I feel you will look back with regrets but you will hopefully at least be alive to look back.there were a lot that did not have that luxury.good luck in your enjoying what you are keeping and ENJOY them

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Thank you.
Don

51 chev coupe · HASTINGS, ONT

Don, sorry to here the bug is gone.We must get together soon. Shannonville drivers meeting this Sunday.My car is in Gasser Wars Magazine. Larry

Don · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Super cool Larry! Yes we are over due. Once I reduced the initial super dose pain meds I was almost beyond travel till about 4 weeks ago so I have hardly been anywhere till this month. In fact I hadn't seen my Dad in 9 months. I fixed that last week. I was wondering yesterday how I made it up to Hiawatha's for lunch that day.
I am OK with the bug deal and racing in general. Have had a long and enjoyable time with it but for me I knew it was coming to an end. If I kept the bug I would finish it even though I wouldn't race it and spend money I don't need to for no real good reason. My $$$$$$$$$ supply is dwindling anyway although I am close to my cash for life age(about a month to go.)
The 63 needs some TLC and the dragster needs a display in the garage so that will keep me busy. I look forward to seeing the Gasser article. Somehow although older then me you are physically younger. Me I knew I had reached my "barely safe anymore" point and had already decided it was time to quit. "Just one more" was too many. The dragster though exceeded my wildest dreams with its performance and that is a wonderful memory to retire on. To be able to run with the big block dragster and altered crowd and occasionally steal a win here and there is a lot to ask from a similar weighted(I am only around 70lbs lighter then most ) 246 cubed budget built six cyl car. I have to be happy with that and got try a lot of interesting stuff including two cams of my own design plus the snowmobile carbs and Hb tunnel ram. Been a blast! It survived the accident too, totally intact. I guess it is a lot tougher then I am.
don

pint and a pound · GTA

It's great that you had fun with the dragster.

That being said, I never understood why you never took it to a true drag strip, for timed runs, to determine the actual performance of the car ... both initially when it was completed, to obviously determine a baseline, then after each modification (sled carbs to tunnel ram etc), to determine whether or not there was a true advance in performance after the change (or changes).

Running against big block dragsters and altered's on an unprepared, used only two times a year, makeshift drag strip just wouldn't be enough to satisfy me as that is not a typically accepted "yard stick" to honestly determine the true performance your little machine is capable of.

The first question out of pretty much anyone's mouth (of virtually any age) when they see ANY race car is inevitably "how fast does it go". I know I wouldn't be happy not having a definitive answer to that question. I'd be putting someone experienced in that seat, telling them to refrain from pulling back on the brake arm during the pass biggrin , and finding out what times that little buggy really is capable of producing .... and only then, retiring it.

For a guy who (I think) owns his own flow bench (which can be viewed as a drag strip of sorts), I was always surprised you never created an actual baseline with the car (like a person would before making changes to a cyl head), then observed how any changes you made, affected it's overall performance. Kind of like grinding five angles on the valve and seat, or smoothing out the "short side", or port matching, or smoothing and enlarging the intake port, or roughening and enlarging the exhaust port, or shortening and narrowing the valve guide boss, then calling the modifications a "performance success" when you never verified that with a "run down the flow bench drag strip".

I'd be putting someone experienced in that seat, tell them to refrain from pulling back on the brake arm during the pass biggrin , and finding out what times that little buggy really is capable of producing.

I read a comment or saying somewhere that goes "it's not how fast you went, it's how you went fast" .... well, I've always understood that it is a universally accepted absolute FACT that in racing, it actually IS "how fast you went" ... I just couldn't accept not knowing how fast that really was.

Different people, different points of view ..... Oh, and before this degrades into the usual "have YOU ever had anything timed at the strip?" .... well as a matter of fact I have, both at Cayuga and Sparta .... went 11.60, made several mods, returned and went 10.70. Never truly "raced" it at the track, the only times I have are from Test and Tune days.

Cheers

54vicky · OAKVILLE, ONT

I do not think he built it for that purpose I do not know many who did what he did to have fun.I think it was more a matter of I want to try this or that and he did.yes I drag and circle track raced and I built my own stuff for me it was a matter of trying what others had not and have the trophies and championship to prove it.won every award along the way.some have different goals in life.oh and we had FUN

wuga · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ONT

It's OK Don, it is just another 'Readers Digestion'. We all get it once in a while.

Auf wiedersehen mein freund

Warren

51 Styline · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Right Don. The only thing that matters is did the car YOU BUILT do what you wanted it to do and did the changes YOU DID satisfy YOUR EXPECTATIONS and did you HAVE FUN COMPETING. If all your answers are YES then you are a happy satisfied man.

toomuchjunk · S/W ONTARIO

Some say ----IT'S NOT HOW FAST YOU WENT,,,,, IT'S HOW YOU WENT FAST,,,,,,,,,,,

pint and a pound · GTA

Let me try a different tact ... Below is a copy paste of a different post Don made last year.

Long ago in what almost seems like another life I used to run a shop in Belleville's west end. It was called Power Tune Up. To put it in perspective this was about the time Bill Jenkins book The Chevrolet Racing Engine first came out. At the time Bill had written that to date his best result had been 637 hp which was and is pretty impressive. At the time I ran a 63 Dodge post car powered by a 426 Hemi. I had traded a real nice 383 I had built for the damaged hemi and had redid it with 12.5 to 1 and a real good Sig Erson cam (999xxx) that is now no longer available. It was a pretty good working car in it's day and in fact was I believe Belleville fastest car at least with doors at the time. Trap speeds at Cayuga regularily exceeded 120mph and in the early 70s that was pretty darn good. I used to park it every night in my shop on the old chassis Dyno. One afternoon I was closing up for the day and a 66 or 67 Chevelle pulled up out front. The driver and several loyal minions got out and filed into my shop walking into the dyno scope room and circling the front of the old Dodge whose hood was open exposing the big hemi. I remember they walking like little roosters, their chest puffed out and their arms held like their chest muscles were so big they wouldn't hang straight down. I realized I had just experienced a Trenton Invasion. I walked in behind them. The leader who drove the Chevelle spoke. "How Much Horsepower does this thing have?" he asked belligerently. I replied," Using the weight of the car and the MPH in the 1/4 mile it works out to right around 550 hp." (This method was developed by DR Dean Hill of U of Nebraska and was used by Chrysler in much of their development work to judge track HP. It is reportedly accurate with in 2% and I still use it today. It used to be on the back page of a NHRA rule book.) "Is that all?" was the reply. "My Chevelle, out front, has 660 hp from a small block and I drive it on the street!" I swallowed hard resisting the urge to smack him 'longside the head. Bill Jenkins had only gotten 637 to date with all his experience and knowledge and here was a fellow walking around in public who had 660 hp and was driving it daily on the street. Amazing to say the least! I found my footing and spoke slowly and softly. "Do you hang around Trenton A&W?" I asked. "Yes ." came the reply. "Well " I said, "When this car is at the A&W it has over 1000HP!" Not another word was spoken. He turned, walked to the door with his loyal minions following behind him. Several looked back at me like I had just run over their pet poodle. I was later told he had headers that were worth 70hp according to the ad. He had a 350hp cam so there is 120 right there. The Holley carb and Z28 manifold was good for 83 hp and the Accel coil and dist had to give at least another 60 hp just because. So now we are up to 563 on a 300 hp small block. 20 more hp for the cloyes roller chain and 20 hp for the pretty aluminum rockers and we are now over 600 hp! And so it goes. That was how and still is how some figure it. Me? If it doesn't show on the MPH, I have a hard time swallowing it.

don

ME AGAIN:

For a guy so into numbers regarding horsepower and performance (based on his above post), it (as I've tried to explain) surprises me that Don never determined what Sr Dragsters ET's and horsepower numbers really are (originally, as a baseline and after each modification, like the tunnel ram). In my world, ET stand for Elapsed Time, not Estimated Time. Saying "well, it kept up to some high horsepower cars on an unprepared, with no timing equipment and only used twice a year as a race track means it's fast" (btw, unprepped and used twice a year as a track means "crappy track ... which high horsepower cars WOULD have trouble hooking on) is akin to saying "my Chevelle has 660 hp from a small block and I drive it on the street". Both comments are completely meaningless without actual facts and proof. No facts, no proof, then isn't it virtually impossible to call a "race" car a success? Sure is in my mind ....

Don't know the guy, don't hate the guy, don't understand retiring an unproven car either though .... isn't Sr Dragster simply a different iteration of the 660hp Chevelle.

-- Edited by pint and a pound on Monday 20th of April 2015 10:54:29 AM

parklane · St THOMAS, ONT

Pint and pound................ you seem to be pretty sharp with your mouth about a man that you have never met. I believe that Don has forgotten more about making HP than you'll ever know. He uses the trial and try method, and I believe, has gotten more improvements in a engine that is mostly unused. What and how he rates his achievements his prerogative, and you slamming him for it is pretty low - even for you, which is saying a lot. As had been said on here, if there is something you don't like, just ignore it, and go on to the next post. JMHO

54vicky · OAKVILLE, ONT

parklane wrote:
Pint and pound................ you seem to be pretty sharp with your mouth about a man that you have never met. I believe that Don has forgotten more about making HP than you'll ever know. He uses the trial and try method, and I believe, has gotten more improvements in a engine that is mostly unused. What and how he rates his achievements his prerogative, and you slamming him for it is pretty low - even for you, which is saying a lot. As had been said on here, if there is something you don't like, just ignore it, and go on to the next post. JMHO

exactly x10

TIME TRAVELLER · NIAGARA REGION, ONT

Pint, that’s a really cheap shot and totally undeserved. Don’s most important legacy to rodding and racing is the inspiration he has given others with his many exploits over the years. It’s one thing to build a car and an engine from a catalog but quite another to design and build your own hard parts, design and build your own testing equipment like a flowbench, build a car to test everything in, then to race it enough to prove that everything works as you intended. The performance of his car wasn’t fiction, it was real, right out there for the whole world to see. The BS’ers don’t have any real evidence to show for their imagination, Don has plenty. Don was happy with the car’s performance – numbers be damned – and that’s good enough for me. I should be so lucky.

JPB · AYLMER, ONT

parklane wrote:
Pint and pound................ you seem to be pretty sharp with your mouth about a man that you have never met. I believe that Don has forgotten more about making HP than you'll ever know. He uses the trial and try method, and I believe, has gotten more improvements in a engine that is mostly unused. What and how he rates his achievements his prerogative, and you slamming him for it is pretty low - even for you, which is saying a lot. As had been said on here, if there is something you don't like, just ignore it, and go on to the next post. JMHO

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ what he said.

pint and a pound · GTA

"Don was happy with the car’s performance – numbers be damned – and that’s good enough for me".

I hear you loud and clear ... however, "numbers be damned" doesn't wash when evaluating the performance of a race car.

I do NOT see it as "bashing" the owner/builder, I simply stated that I (that's correct ... I'm speaking for ME here) could NOT retire a drag car, NEVER knowing what times it was actually capable of, or if any of the "successful" modifications I made, actually were successful.

As stated, the first question out of anyone's mouth (in regards to a race car) is always, "how fast does it go?" ... I couldn't tolerate not knowing the answer to that question and I'm surprised the owner/builder, who obviously has found silly little details like horsepower and elapsed times and MPH, rather important at one point in his life.

Based on the support he is getting, either I'm wrong (and et's in drag racing actually ARE meaningless confuse ) or I'm chatting with a few too many of the "wash it, wax it, trailer it to a show and open up the lawn chair" crew ... smile

Cheers biggrin

-- Edited by pint and a pound on Tuesday 21st of April 2015 12:43:22 PM

51 Styline · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

This has turned in to a really interesting post, and a little controversy too. On one hand its how fast and quick can I make it go, and on the other its I think I,ll try this and see how it will perform and then I,ll try again .It,s just what you as an individual want and are happy with. If you come up with an idea and apply it and it works and you are happy with the outcome that's all that really matters. Your biggest and most critical critic is yourself. The comments and thoughts of others are just comments and thoughts . If you,re happy who cares.

fatchuk · ST MARYS, ONTARIO

pnt..Said

I'm chatting with a few too many of the "wash it, wax it, trailer it to a show and open up the lawn chair" crew ...

We all have different reasons, commitments, levels of the hobby..I don't see what makes you the decision maker on what anybody else does or enjoys in this hobby..You have made many posts nitpicking on others who have had the courage to post where and what they are driving, doing, enjoying ..Don has shared all of his trials, goals and I have not seen him make a negative post about anyone..you could glean some manners and respect from his posts.. I haven't read anything meaningful from you except some sniping know it all remarks in several of your posts ..I enjoy the odd sit and visit with some friends occasionally.. I also enjoy driving/cruising I am past the racing stage in my life but I have sure enjoyed Dons posts and his wisdom from hands on experience and his personal history. Your history on here is bullspit..

Don..Thanks for your time to share the posts and storys..I have appreciated your posts I never once felt the need to give you advice I rather appreciated your wisdom..

Offset · HALIBURTON, ONT

You know I have a friend who was a very successful stock car racer. However his thing was really not driving it was building, he just loved it and continues to build very potent motors for the circle track crowd.

I have not been here long enough to have read all of Don's posts but it strikes me that like my friend the challenge of the build is what is exciting to him. Technology and innovation. Maybe the racing is secondary to him.

Opinions. Everyone has one but it is all in how they are presented.

parklane · St THOMAS, ONT

P&P..............I believe that there are very few members on this forum that actually give a $hit what you think, or say. The only time you open your pie hole is to change feet. I for one would love to put one of those feet, or my own up your other end - about up to the knee. You are a disgrace to this board. JMHO but I think that if the world had 2 a$$holes, you would be both of them. You discuss me, and that's hard to do.

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

To late John ... The dancing chicken has left the building..... For the turd or fourth time.

studeshaker · BUCKHORN, ONT

hey don, how about an 1/8 th mile N/G door slammer for shannonvilles new nostalgia series ? with your experience and tech expertise i bet you'd have alot of fun.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

parklane wrote:
P&P..............I believe that there are very few members on this forum that actually give a $hit what you think, or say. The only time you open your pie hole is to change feet. I for one would love to put one of those feet, or my own up your other end - about up to the knee. You are a disgrace to this board. JMHO but I think that if the world had 2 a$$holes, you would be both of them. You discuss me, and that's hard to do.

Times 2

191 posts -- NO Topics Started. Just sitting in the weeds waiting to pounce. Adding nothing positive to this forum. Bye - Bye.

wuga · PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, ONT

Well, you know how I feel about this guy. I started writing so many entries in defence of Don, but kept realizing Don doesn't need to be defended. He knows what he is doing and has been happy doing it. Anyways, I concur, Bye-Bye and to Don I say, have a good trip to Germany buddy.

Warren

parklane · St THOMAS, ONT

I agree Warren. Don should be and is a inspiration to most people on this board. Always enjoy his posts.