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
Expert: Tommy Ivo
QUESTION
Did you run two engines in your "T"?
ANSWER
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QUESTION
How many sets of aluminum heads were cast up back in the '60's for the nailheads? Thanks, Gary
ANSWER
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QUESTION
When was the first Nationals run at Kingdon Drag Strip in Lodi, CA? Does ANYONE have ANY info on this track and the races run there? Thanks, Bob & Donn
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Something that I have always wanted to ask T.V. Tommy... About the four engin "Show Boat" How did you steer it...? I doubt if it had an hydraulic steering mechanism... all that weight and tire drag must have been tough to just crank through a pitman arm.
ANSWER
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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
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QUESTION
Greetings, I am curious, was that your "T" in the movie "The Lively Set"?? Thanks, Joe
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Hello, and thank you for reading my question. I currently own two nailhead powered cars, a 66 GS and a 64 Riviera, and I am getting ready to start an A sedan project with a 60 401. My question is pretty broad, but I was wondering about any does and donts with these engines as far as rebuilding and generally hot rodding one. I have had a hard time finding anyone who really has in depth knowledge of nailhead performance techniques. Any information about, induction, porting, cam selection, etc. would be greatly appriciated. Thank you again for your time and knowledge.
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Tommy I was woundering if you had any if at all memories of Great Lakes Dragaway or The Grove as it was called I remember as a kid when you came there to race with the glass sided trailer it was so neat. Do you still own any of the cars or haulers that you had or is there a place to see some of your history or is it all at the NHRA and Don Garlits Museum.The image that I sent with my Question is from that era and in my collection because of watching you. Thanx for the cool memories Pete
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Do you remember a guy who used to crew for you named Ron Jelick if so he is a good friend of mine and I would like to surprise him if you could call him. he would shit !!
ANSWER
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QUESTION
I was just looking at a shot of you taking the corvette of one of your early trailers/trucks for your dragsters. It must have been about twenty feet up and the tracks looked a bit rickety. Ever get spooked taking it down (or putting it up) after a long night?
ANSWER
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QUESTION
I'm curious to know what combinationsyou had the best luck with... Bore and stroke and what cams you where running... Porting that helped and what didn't work. Many thank's Stevie G
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Tommy, you are still my favorite racer, new or old. My question is pretty simple... who was the first person to give you the nickname "T.V."? We know how you got it, but who gave it to you?
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Did you really fill The Snakes room with ice from the hotel ice machine?
ANSWER
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QUESTION
1ST OFF, HONORED TO SPEAK TO YOU. I HEARD A STORY DECADES AGO ABOUT HOW THE BRITISH RACE FANS SCOFFED AND LAUGHED AT HOW NASTY ONE OF YOUR NITRO CARS RAN AFTER YOU GOT IT STARTED...THAT IS UNTILLYOU WHAKKED THE LOUD PEDAL AND THEY ALL RAN FOR COVER. IT MAKES ME LAUGH JUST THINKIN' ABOUT IT AGAIN. WHATS THE REAL STORY?
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Have new times laws and rules let all of you dare devil nostalgia racers down? cheers, Drew, age 15 from Leicester, England.
ANSWER
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QUESTION
Were there any spoked front wheels in the 50's??
ANSWER
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QUESTION
i have a 215 buick all aluminum v8 with 11:1 pistons and an isky cam. do you think this is enough motor for a 40 ford pickup? i am adding a suicide front end, no fenders,hood or running boards. it will have a 3 speed manual tranny.
ANSWER
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QUESTION
whats it like to pull away from the startline with all that power whats the buzz like?
ANSWER
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QUESTION
What was it like going down the strip knowing that your big v8 engined dragsters that were travelling down the strip at up to 250 mph knowing that it was made by yourselves? did you hve trust in your own work?
ANSWER
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QUESTION
You are synonymous with Buick Nailheads. What was it that first attracted you to the engine, and how did you see the racing pontential despite those small diameter valves? Can you share some performance /power secrets for Nailhead builders?
ANSWER
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