Honda "Rat Rod" on Jay Leno's Garage

[TsgtRet]

Not normally a big fan of builds like this but this one just has something about it from the "look" right on down to the incredible sound! And if you listen closely to the interview he guesses he has just over $5000 in it! Check it out.

[DAVE]

If he was a real American hot rodder he would have put a small block Chevy in it. Around here
kids were putting SBCs in everything, including MGTDS, MGAs, MGBs, Triumphs, Jaguars, even
V-Dub beetles. In high school we put a 283 punched out to 301 in the back seat of a Corvair, with
the trans flipped upside down to get it to spin the right direction. More time than sense.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I don't know... There have a number of classic air cooled BMW motorcycle engines in other vehicles and they were very successful, including lots of cars, and many airplanes. Most of them done here in the USA. I always thought that a Honda Gold Wing engine would make a great engine for a fiberglass repro kit car.

I remember a few 350's dropped into Vegas in the 70s, and that was always a disaster, unless you drove it in a straight line. My favorite engine swap was a chrome plated Corvair engine in an Indian motorcycle frame. An actor named Norm Grabowski (My Three Sons, Dobie Gillis, Route 66, etc), had it, and RODE it.

[btaylor]

If it wasn't for Norm, the world would not have the "T" bucket roadster either!

Bob

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Exactly right. Proud of you, Bob.

[btaylor]

On the subject of motor swaps (especially odd ones) There is a man just north of me that has built a replica formula car using a G wing motor. I did some fab work for him a while back on it. it is wild to say the least. I have seen it run in a bare frame form, and it was a mover! Have not seen it finished yet.

Bob

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Did he use the old Formula Vee frames? They are still around if you look.