Ask the Expert
On this page, we hosted a feature whereby hot rodders could ask a personal question of our Expert of the Month via e-mail. The Expert, most often a pioneer, would answer the question over the telephone to us, and we would then post an audio clip on this page (see below). Unfortunately, we have had to end the feature, primarily because most of the pioneers did not want to answer a question “off the cuff”, but wanted instead to think it through, write it out, and then read it. We felt we were asking too much of them. In addition, many questions we received were not about hot rod history or traditional builds, but more about a muscle car or street rod (or even a question better put to Click and Clack!). So we were forever writing e-mails to say, “sorry, we can’t ask them that one.”
At any rate, we now have a nice archive of questions, many answered by the pioneers themselves, and we hope you will find this fun and useful.
Thanks to all rodders who participated in Ask the Expert!
Browse our Q & A Archives
Category: Hot Rods
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QUESTION
what engines did they put in the hot rods back in the 1930s and 40s (the most popular)? im doing a history project and i need to know the history of muscle cars and self made hot rods.
ANSWER
Audio File Only
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QUESTION
I am interesred in what info, if any on the first rear engine D roadster or top fuel car built or when it first hit the drag strip. I believe I have quite a bit of info. on this subject.
ANSWER
Audio File Only
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QUESTION
I was told the term hot rod started when on the way to dry lakes rodders stopped their cars on top of a long grad to cool the motors down. That was at a filling[ gas station] someone at the station made the comment here come those hot rods again referring to the motors.
ANSWER
Audio File Only
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QUESTION
what is the absolute sure fire way to look at the cowl of a model A and determine whether it is 1928-29 or 1930-31 ?
ANSWER
Audio File Only. Ed Iskenderian and John Athan.
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QUESTION
A discussion has come up about the term " Hot Rod ", my understanding is that it came from the dry lakes guys in the late 30's. I remember it was referred to parts of a blown up engine. AS the racers would pick up the engine pieces they would burn their fingers and say "that's a real hot rod". What's you take on this? Thanks, Gene
ANSWER
Audio File Only.
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QUESTION
What do you consider to be the optimum rod length-to-stroke ratio?
ANSWER
Audio File Only.
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QUESTION
Did you run two engines in your "T"?
ANSWER
Audio file only.
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QUESTION
What are the differences in the 40 Ford front spindle and the 40 Lincoln front spindle? Will they both work on a 37-41 Ford straight axle?
ANSWER
Audio file only.
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QUESTION
Vern, I am building a 1927 lakes modified type roadster. Yes the wheel is on the wrong side I am in New Zealand. My question for you is regarding my choice of wheels/brakes. I have used 1940 Merc front drums and 1946 p/u truck diff, onto these I will be bolting 1935 Wire wheels, but the wheel centres dont contact properly and the fronts are distroting the drums when the nuts are tightened. What sort of spacer/adapters are available or should I consider ditching my wheels?
ANSWER
Audio File Only.
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QUESTION
i would like to know the color green that was on sam's 49 mercury. was it metalic or nonmetallic? also, what did he make that wonderfull grill bar out of?
ANSWER
The color was a metalic, dark kelly green.
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QUESTION
Last night I was reading a feature on your '31 roadster in its flathead powered days in one of the little east coast custom magazines. I vividly remember the R&C feature on the car a bit later with the Chevy engine. The last little R&C and the first big one were my introduction to this whole scene when I was about 12, and your car appeared in there not much later. Its craftsmanship really stood out even in the fuzzy little pictures, especially in that little eastern mag full of bad welds and torch-cut angle iron! The feature intrigued me--the car turned 108 at the drags, really good by any standards, and the article mentioned that you put a lot of time into improving roadability as well. What can you tell us about that car's technology, what you remember of the chassis and running gear? It seems to have been a cut above in performance as well as craftsmanship, and I would like to know more abot the works! I've been thinking about that car since it was mentioned as one of the most important missing rods of the fifties and sixties. Do you have any idea what became of it? Bruce Lancaster
ANSWER
Audio file only.
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QUESTION
I read a great article in American Rodder Sept 2003 about your efforts in Hot Rodding after the war. What was the rivalry like between the roadsters and coupes? As quoted by Bob " Oh how I loved beating those roadsters on the street". And of course with the S.C.T.A. guys wearing those funny hats in their roadsters. Also the COUPES car club were big in beginning of Russetta Timming Association. What was it like back then? Thank you for taking the time. "Any time a coupe beat a roadster, it was a good day"! - Bob Pierson
ANSWER
audio file only
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QUESTION
I keep thinking of more questions as the days go by. I was wondering what the colours of yours and Nelsons Roadsters were. What gauges you used - back in the day, was it your every day car and what happened to it. Also I was hoping you could tell us a few stories of what it was like just after the war in California, was everyone building something Hot, and was there a real need to keep going faster.
ANSWER
Audio File Only.
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QUESTION
Art...So I'm wandering around the 1989 Streetrod Nat's in St Paul, Min., trying to get some ideas for a car I was building for myself. I was taking photos of all the cool frontends when I happen past your old Glass Slipper. Now, I know this car is a survivor from waaaaaaaaaay back and was blown away by the filed,sanded, polished and plated front end pieces. I wondered if it has always enjoyed this high a caliber of front suspension parts or if has been updated through the years. Was it a cobble job early in it's life? I think [and thought in '89] this front was pure poetic function... Love it! Very well done. I stood and crawled under and around the car for about 1/2 hour, devouring many of it's detiailed construction techniques.
ANSWER
audio file only
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QUESTION
Regarding your T and the wheelbase of the car - it looks about 106 inches can you let me know the wheelbase length and how the car handled at the lakes at speed. Your car is the inspiration for my T Roadster I'm using a 25 T Touring body which I'm going to shorten into a Roadster.
ANSWER
audio only
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QUESTION
When I saw your T roadster at the NHRA Museum in 2000, I took loads of pictures but didn't look at a couple of things which I've wondered about ever since. There didn't seem to be a Gas pedal in the car - did it have a hand throttle or any other way of operating it. I also can't figure out how the rear axle is located to the frame. Did you use rear radius rods moved further toward the centre of the rear axle, or a 4 bar type linkage, as on early sprint cars.
ANSWER
audio only
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QUESTION
I've always liked your 32 3 window, and was wanting to know what running gear was in it, besides the 12 port? Also how much was it chopped?
ANSWER
Audio file only
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QUESTION
Dean, just wanted to say hi...my name is Ron Menchey from Rochester NY and my self and some of my Rochester Street Rod buddies have visited you and your shop a few times when we were in Calif for the drag races.Just wanted to see how ya were doing,and hope you are in good health...how is Pop Rivet and the rest of the boys? This is for the rest of the Guys on line...If ya ever get the chance to visit Dean in his shop,go for it.You will spend some time with one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and will hear some stories from the "golden" days of Hot Rodding. Well take care and hope to get back to Calif soon for another visit Did ya ever finish your GT40? Mench (Ron Menchey)
ANSWER
Listen to audio file below.
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