Copy of Article Text Below
.....appointment only, okay?
The Fiesta's getting a big fat turbocharger fitted soon, so that should see yet another dramatic drop on its acceleration figures - a blown and injected Fiesta even - and one of these days I'll tell you about Bob's 400 inch small block powered Chevy - Camaro. One of these days...
Clive Househam
Although most of my automotive fun comes at the stop lights it's not everyone whose life is filled with daily driving through temptation-filled city intersections...
Geoff Tite lives many a country mile from any stop lights, which could be one of the reasons he's not too worried about his no-go low gear. His machine is a two speed Power Glide backed, fuel injected, Priddle-built small-block Chevy-powered Classic.. . reading that takes about as long as it takes Geoffs' Classic to get rolling.
But when it does, hang on, 'cos this country Classic is built for motorway movin' and cruisin' through corners.
The first time we met Geoff Tite, his Piper Tecalamite Fuel Injection system was running without stacks, allowing him to use a stock hood. We saw a clean Ford Classic GT wearing fats, pipes and slots, then he turned the key and the healthy burble of an injected Chevrolet filled our ears. A Classic street sleeper indeed.
The car originally cost sixty quid down in Bournemouth and went through many weird and wonderful guises before its present one.
The whole car was stripped to bare metal and made good after the dash board and firewall had been remade and moved back. This was rebuilt again before Geoff was satisfied with the strength - he built in tube stress bars around the bulkhead so that the body wouldn't flex from the extra horsepower the Chevrolet would give.
What Chevrolet? A small block that Geoff had bought from local heavy metal man Morry Maurice, he also purchased the fuel injection system from his Amber Gambler racer. The vee eight was wore out completely and they hadn't had much joy with the injection so Geoff gave the motor over to ace funny car pilot/engine/chassis man Dennis Priddle for a rebuild after he'd had Banes of Bournemouth give it a 30 thou' rebore. With the Chevy in and running, Geoff played carburation games ... two barrels, four barrels, even an Edelbrock Hi-Riser was tried, before Geoff visited Piper RDA Ltd, of Plymouth, who not only rebuilt the injectors, but proved more than a little helpful in setting them up and getting Geoff on the road to some righteous running.
The wheel arches have been spread slightly so that their toughened contours cover the fat rubber bulge. It seems that Geoffs only fuzz trouble with his machine came early in its life when an eagle-eyed Constable thought the sidewall bulge was a wee bit more than the fender ... A tap here and a tap tap there soon ensured the Classic's street legality, and he's been cruising happily ever since.
Despite the snug fit of the larger rubber 'e don't never touch 'is wheels, anyway, they seem to fit just right.
That they do sir, that they do. Unlike many machines with gaps bigger than a box of Cabury Snacks could ever fill.
He's since welded tin mudflaps on, moulded to the body, more than taking care of any spread on the tyres. One thing, it always pays to be street legal, more so when you've got a power-packing Street Machine.
This season Geoff had the car on the road for more than eight months which, given that he always seems to be up in London for the Battersea Cruise or visiting Garys Shack for some goodies, means a fair few miles.
On a long run the ride's not too bad, though it's a bit bumpy on the back hike ... the look on his back seat passenger's face agreed that the ride was something less than smooth. Geoff and his lady, however, are more than happy with their front seat flying.
The car sits nigh at the back over Firestone-shod S'/axIS Appliance slots, the sidemounted pipes helping to keep the lines clean. Under-.....
Captions -
Middle-Left - ABOVE: Every picture tells a story. BELOW: Nitrous oxide bottle is stored in boot
Middle-Right - Large pumps are for Piper FDA Injection, small SU for bleach tank. All work from console
|
