After watching the video of the old school gassers getting after it on the eighth mile, it got me to thinking about the use of modern technology in hot rods. Some guys hate it all and won’t drive anything that doesn’t have points or a magneto in it. Other guys are obsessed with keeping up with the latest deal and seem to have a well of cash to mine and fund a constant stream of upgrades and improvements.
I’ve got friends at home that would never think of putting EFI on their cars and some that don’t even like carbs with more than one bbl. That’s hardcore old school. On the other hand there’s guys like our own Dave Nutting who is a self-proclaimed “Nerd Rodder”. Dave’s into EFI, handling and suspension stuff, and anything else that is cool and innovative in the hobby. I don’t think Dave is really a nerd (OK, I do, but I politely say, ‘Hey, you’re not a nerd’ when he asks what I think) but more that he represents lots of the younger guys getting into the hobby that don’t have the same fears and concerns as more experienced/older guys. Dave would admit that he’s not exactly an ace carb tuner, largely because he’s never had to be. Nothing wrong with it, just his experience in hot rodding thus far.
So where do you fall? How important to you is technology in your hot rod? Is some stuff OK? (like an MSD) and some stuff not? (like a port style EFI system you’d tune with a lap top?) We don’t think that there is a wrong answer…we just want to see what people have to say.
Also, feel free to call Nutting a nerd.
BangShift Question Of The Day: How Important To You Is Using Technology In Your Hot Rod?
Cheap is most important
I’m with you Johnny
The ” HOT RODer ” takes what he has and makes it “faster/better”
The rich guy just ” buys ” the fast one .
Tech if it is a tech car then yes you have to upgrade to make it faster that means more tech ( already is .injected , boosted, computer controlled )
now if you have a pre ( injected , boosted, computer controlled ) take that and make it cool 🙂 new carb , intake & output ect you work with you have and keep it real 🙂
I draw the line at computerized stuff.
Well. my GTA started with a 350 TPI and a automatic. Then it went to a stick after the second 700r bit the dust. Then the TPI got flung into the corner after trouble shooting it on and off for 6 months. Now it has a 95 LT1 with a carb and a HEI distrbutor. What do you think. The most important thing now is it will pull well past the 4300 rpm that the old TPI choked it with.
Having ABS on ANY car is a worthwhile investment.
Virtually none of my run without it. (But then not enough of ’em run WITH IT)
an old colleague of mine defined technology as “stuff that doesn’t work yet”. There’s a lot of truth in that.
Hah thats great
Technology? What’s that?
MS4 . . . .
Ummm…. That lead cartoon looks familiar….
…HEY!!! Bruab, what are you tryin’ to say?!
Lol, I know my truck is a little on the simple side….. But jeez dude., give a brutha a break man! Lol…
(Yes, there is only one gauge in my truck…)
I think we need a better definition of what technology is. There is plenty of tech being put in hydraulic flat tappet cams these. No, they dont have wires or need a laptop to program. Tech is more than programming injector pulses. The latest carbs and fuel pumps from Holley have a.ton of new tech in them even though double.pumpers and electronic fuel pumps have been around fifty years.
(Scott is now attempting to skip the “magazine scribe” step and is instead going straight for the Holley P.R. gig . . . . )
Liz Miles already has that job. Just examples.
I stop with ABS. After that it’s strictly old school. Less to go wrong that way.
I’m just now putting disc brakes on my 55 Plymouth. I’ve owned it scene 1962 And have rebuilt it at least 6 times.
All the technological goodness I can afford.
CARB’d and points
I love technology. I recently upgraded my horseless carriage with a fancy tube radio–even has this thing called “shortwave”. Now if I can just figure out how to set up a belt drive for the magneto in my crank-phone, then my car would be all modern-like.
My ’71 Chevy K-20 has a 4″ lift & 36″ Buckshot Mudders. My father bought it new when I was 9. The drive train is almost completely stock & it got a measly 7-8 1/2 mpg. Couldn’t afford to drive it. Finally broke down & put in an MSD Pro-Billet E-Curve Ignition & Blaster SS coil. Put together a curve that fit what I have & now it routinely gets between 12 & 15 mpg. Driveability is way, way better. Power is better. Low end torque is better. Huge improvement & now it competes mileage-wise w/ our newer vehicles. Best money I’ve ever spent on it.
I plan to rebuild the engine & stroke it to a 383 & can use the same MSD ignition on the rebuilt/stroked engine. Can’t imagine how much better power & mileage that will net me when I’m done w/ a better cam & heads.
If you are building something for a single purpose/nostalgia, I can see staying w/ old school tech, but if you want/need to use it everyday, take advantage of the new tech. You can still have fun w/o the headaches of old.
YABBA DABBA DOO………………..if it was good enough for Fred!
If I where building somthing I would like to try that new isis electrical system. iIt could be a time saver for anyone building any old Brittish car . Oh and lately Ive been dreaming of makeing My 98 S-70 into a ls, rwd body on frame road racer kinda deal. I think I need some help.