Controversal SS

Gary Smith · 07-23-2007, 04:15 PM

I thought this car was the most impressive SS car around during the late 70's. But I heard recently this was probably the most controversal car in Super Stock back then.

http://www.nhra.com/2007/gallery/pow/photo22.html

I was hoping someone could shed some light on how it got labeled as being "bogus". Although I'm no Mopar expert, I noticed the shape of the hood is odd, not to mention how the body panels line up (something I even remember while looking at it during a Div 7 race years ago)

SS/FA937 · 07-23-2007, 04:31 PM

Gary nothing is bogus with that car, I'm the owner of it since 1997.
Any questions you have, I'll answer them.
Check my website http://www.moparperformance.se

Take care.

Gary Smith · 07-23-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS/FA937

Gary nothing is bogus with that car, I'm the owner of it since 1997.
Any questions you have, I'll answer them.
Check my website http://www.moparperformance.se

Take care.

Not that the car wasn't original or anything

, but bogus in the sense there was "hidden" and
"illegal" work done, whether the engine, or in the chassis. I did not know Paul personally, but know people who knew him during that era, but was never said until recently how this car "flew under the NHRA rules radar". Just a really interesting story, nothing more.

I have visited your site on a few occasions and was thrilled to see the videos on youtube. I'm guessing that when Sylvia Hauser raced it they made several changes to it, including (I believe), the original powerplant. Although it sounds really stout, I was somewhat disappointed it doesn't sound the same as it did in '78 & '79. I frequented OCIR (Southern California) and on many occasions could identify Rossi's car approaching the lanes before seeing it as it had a distinct sound due to the gear drive and valve train (like a huge fan attached to a Harley Davidson).

Nonetheless it's really great to see it back to it's "Rossi's Dodge" condition. Seeing and hearing it again has brought back some fond memories to say the least!!

Jim Wahl · 07-23-2007, 08:25 PM

Gary, Paul's cars ran well, and he was not afraid of "bending" a rule or two. I ran a small block Demon in SS back then and had many talks wih Paul about suspention setups on our cars. I will always remember one year at Atlanta he he told me "It's always eaiser to ask for forgiveness than for permission". I have heard that many times since then but that was the first. (I was much younger then) I have been involved in the teardown of one of his customers engines for a record and understand what he was talking about! Rossi was probably one of the smartest racers ever. Jim

RocketBlock · 07-24-2007, 12:26 AM

Hopefully our Swedish racer will correct me. My recollection is the car had lead bars that were installed in the rocker panels. They were greased. After a burnout Paul would stomp on the brakes sending the bars forward. On launch they would get sent back to the rear. The car was known for the most outrageous wheelstands of the day and it was a photographer's favorite.
I believe it was one of the first 440's built using the short deck 400 block that offer's numerous advantages, primarily a very short and very lite piston. Ahead of it's time and still controversial today as the practice is still in use despite explicit rules to the contrary.
If I'm right, none of this takes away from the historic nature of this car. If your a Direct Connection fan, this car was on either your bedroom wall or garage. It was the car to beat, it was the car to watch. Was the picture shown on this post taken recently? In Sweden or the USA? I would like to see that car again even if it's not as fast as yesterday. I know it was for sale recently. Guess no takers?

Paul Precht · 07-24-2007, 12:58 AM

A couple of years ago I pissed off a few west coast racers on this forum when I stated I knew of the 400 block 440s being run in stock there. They denied it and jumped on me hard trying to make me look like the bad guy. I have just two words for them. $%^# &*()

SS/FA937 · 07-24-2007, 05:00 AM

Okej I'll try to explain what I know.

When Mrs. Houser drove the car they drove it in Super Gas and put lexan windows in it and changed the dash to aluminum. All this is returned to SS legal now.

No lead bars moving around but the cars weight is 46% front and 54% rear with me in it. Talked to one of Rossis helper/mechanic and he told me the rear frame and rollbar was lead filled, they are not.
The car is still awesome to drive, I can wheelie it on a unprepped road.

The engine is another story, remeber Paul had 100% backup from DC.
He tried pistons with only oilring for low drag, but changing plugs every run was no fun.
His engine work was more advanced then that era Pro Stockers.
The 906 heads was the big "no no" as you might remeber there where rumors that some one had made "new and improved" castings with runners moved, valves moved to improve flow.
The lowdeck 440 is not anything Paul did, what I know of

He was the Smoky of dragracing.

The car is now faster then it used to be, hoping to go into the 9 sec et later this year.
But it has a old time chassi from 1973 so it's not as effective as a new chassi.

Any more questions I can answer.

Take care

Terry Esslinger · 07-26-2007, 05:30 PM

Always had fun racing Paul. There was always a question as to who's car would come down first.

GENE BUELL · 07-26-2007, 05:57 PM

I have the "brother/sister" to that car, originally built by Butler for Mike Piazza who was also a "team" member. He has told me some stories! It does have some "trick" stuff on it considering the day!

It may see track time again someday. I have a couple pics although I don't know how to link them. And no low deck here either, just a "fairly stock" 440! They set the SS/FA record with it years ago, a little slower than my current stocker!

SS/FA937 · 07-27-2007, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GENE BUELL

I have the "brother/sister" to that car, originally built by Butler for Mike Piazza who was also a "team" member. He has told me some stories! It does have some "trick" stuff on it considering the day!

It may see track time again someday. I have a couple pics although I don't know how to link them. And no low deck here either, just a "fairly stock" 440! They set the SS/FA record with it years ago, a little slower than my current stocker!

Hi Gene.

Do you have any pictures of your car?
If tricky means acid dipped body and massage upper A arms then my car was tricky by 1970 terms.
Gene maybe we can trade secrets

Take care

07-23-2007, 04:15 PM	#1
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	Controversal SS I thought this car was the most impressive SS car around during the late 70's. But I heard recently this was probably the most controversal car in Super Stock back then. http://www.nhra.com/2007/gallery/pow/photo22.html I was hoping someone could shed some light on how it got labeled as being "bogus". Although I'm no Mopar expert, I noticed the shape of the hood is odd, not to mention how the body panels line up (something I even remember while looking at it during a Div 7 race years ago)

07-23-2007, 04:31 PM	#2
SS/FA937 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Controversal SS Gary nothing is bogus with that car, I'm the owner of it since 1997. Any questions you have, I'll answer them. Check my website http://www.moparperformance.se Take care.

07-23-2007, 08:25 PM	#4
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 666 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Controversal SS Gary, Paul's cars ran well, and he was not afraid of "bending" a rule or two. I ran a small block Demon in SS back then and had many talks wih Paul about suspention setups on our cars. I will always remember one year at Atlanta he he told me "It's always eaiser to ask for forgiveness than for permission". I have heard that many times since then but that was the first. (I was much younger then) I have been involved in the teardown of one of his customers engines for a record and understand what he was talking about! Rossi was probably one of the smartest racers ever. Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

07-24-2007, 12:26 AM	#5
RocketBlock Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 57 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Controversal SS Hopefully our Swedish racer will correct me. My recollection is the car had lead bars that were installed in the rocker panels. They were greased. After a burnout Paul would stomp on the brakes sending the bars forward. On launch they would get sent back to the rear. The car was known for the most outrageous wheelstands of the day and it was a photographer's favorite. I believe it was one of the first 440's built using the short deck 400 block that offer's numerous advantages, primarily a very short and very lite piston. Ahead of it's time and still controversial today as the practice is still in use despite explicit rules to the contrary. If I'm right, none of this takes away from the historic nature of this car. If your a Direct Connection fan, this car was on either your bedroom wall or garage. It was the car to beat, it was the car to watch. Was the picture shown on this post taken recently? In Sweden or the USA? I would like to see that car again even if it's not as fast as yesterday. I know it was for sale recently. Guess no takers? Last edited by RocketBlock; 07-24-2007 at 01:35 AM. Reason: spelling

07-24-2007, 12:58 AM	#6
Paul Precht Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Elysburg, Pa Posts: 731 Likes: 357 Liked 320 Times in 119 Posts	Re: Controversal SS A couple of years ago I pissed off a few west coast racers on this forum when I stated I knew of the 400 block 440s being run in stock there. They denied it and jumped on me hard trying to make me look like the bad guy. I have just two words for them. $%^# &*()

07-24-2007, 05:00 AM	#7
SS/FA937 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Controversal SS Okej I'll try to explain what I know. When Mrs. Houser drove the car they drove it in Super Gas and put lexan windows in it and changed the dash to aluminum. All this is returned to SS legal now. No lead bars moving around but the cars weight is 46% front and 54% rear with me in it. Talked to one of Rossis helper/mechanic and he told me the rear frame and rollbar was lead filled, they are not. The car is still awesome to drive, I can wheelie it on a unprepped road. The engine is another story, remeber Paul had 100% backup from DC. He tried pistons with only oilring for low drag, but changing plugs every run was no fun. His engine work was more advanced then that era Pro Stockers. The 906 heads was the big "no no" as you might remeber there where rumors that some one had made "new and improved" castings with runners moved, valves moved to improve flow. The lowdeck 440 is not anything Paul did, what I know of He was the Smoky of dragracing. The car is now faster then it used to be, hoping to go into the 9 sec et later this year. But it has a old time chassi from 1973 so it's not as effective as a new chassi. Any more questions I can answer. Take care

07-26-2007, 05:30 PM	#8
Terry Esslinger Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Discovery Bay Posts: 2 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Controversal SS Always had fun racing Paul. There was always a question as to who's car would come down first.

07-26-2007, 05:57 PM	#9
GENE BUELL Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Hesperia, Ca. Posts: 19 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Controversal SS I have the "brother/sister" to that car, originally built by Butler for Mike Piazza who was also a "team" member. He has told me some stories! It does have some "trick" stuff on it considering the day! It may see track time again someday. I have a couple pics although I don't know how to link them. And no low deck here either, just a "fairly stock" 440! They set the SS/FA record with it years ago, a little slower than my current stocker! __________________ Gene Buell 7426 STK Gone Jeepin'!