Burning Rubber with a 53

[Russ U.]

53 #276 finally made its way to my garage today. I drove about 30 top down miles this afternoon - what a blast to drive. A lot more fun that my FI 59 with a Powerglide. I even burned some rubber with the 53.

The 53 is a long way from NCRS specs, however.

Dave Elie owned 53 #276 from 1957 to 2008. Dave hopped up the engine - the 6 banger is a 261 block with a better breathing head. The engine is pretty torquey - about 260 lbs/ft on the dyno at 3000 rpm - and hits about 190hp. Dave also installed a Corvette 4 speed, and beefed up the suspension with a thicker sway bar in the front and radius bars and a sway bar in the back.

This 53 is nothing like my old low mileage 54. The 53 feels like a real sports car, even with the 6 banger.

The car has 317k miles on it, but has been completely refreshed mechanically now. Uglier than sin. But it sure does run.

The gauges need to be rebuilt, and the radio is at the shop already.

If anybody wants to see a hot 53 - I will likey drive the 53 down to the SJ National Meet this July. For more pics... 1953 today pics.



Russ

[Mike M.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

not ugly, super neat. have fun with the old six banger. bet it'll turn in the low 16's.mike

[William L.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

I agree with Mike.. Drive it and have a BLAST

[Bill I.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Enjoy, but a question on burning rubber? Was the road a little wet, or were you on some lite dirt. I find it hard to buy that the car would spin the tires. But, what do I know.

[Steven B.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

'Nice, very nice! You are in V-8 territory! Have a blast!

[Russ U.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Enjoy, but a question on burning rubber? Was the road a little wet, or were you on some lite dirt. I find it hard to buy that the car would spin the tires. But, what do I know.

The road was bone dry, and I believe fairly clean.

I don't know the physics of wheel spin. But my 53 has a 4 speed, a 3.70 posi rear end, and a fair amount of torque at low rpm. The torque might be pretty close to what the later 283 small blocks had. And the car has gobs more power than my 54 did.

If the weather is good tomorrow, I will take the car back out for some more tests.

[Loren L.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Enjoy, but a question on burning rubber? Was the road a little wet, or were you on some lite dirt. I find it hard to buy that the car would spin the tires. But, what do I know.

Obviously you are too young to remember 270" and 302" six cylinders from a make called GMC. Many a pilot of "extended" (read as "extra") F___ flatheads mad e the same mistake, to their financial detriment.
I wish that I could write well enough to begin to describe the sounds of a 1947 Chevy coupe that arrived at the Fargo ND drag strip in late June 1957; did not want to officially enter, but made three passes - humbling 2 1957 Bel Airs with the 283 FI setup and one 300C who had ventured beyond its pasture.
Made the three runs, jacked up the rear and removed the cheaters and re-installed the regular tires and departed west. Car was dark plue with about four primered areas - best guess at the time from one of the old timers was 302 with a blower - ran low 13's, with admittedly less than great timing equipment. He sure did have a smile........

[Steven B.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Obviously you are too young to remember 270" and 302" six cylinders from a make called GMC. Many a pilot of "extended" (read as "extra") F___ flatheads mad e the same mistake, to their financial detriment.
I wish that I could write well enough to begin to describe the sounds of a 1947 Chevy coupe that arrived at the Fargo ND drag strip in late June 1957; did not want to officially enter, but made three passes - humbling 2 1957 Bel Airs with the 283 FI setup and one 300C who had ventured beyond its pasture.
Made the three runs, jacked up the rear and removed the cheaters and re-installed the regular tires and departed west. Car was dark plue with about four primered areas - best guess at the time from one of the old timers was 302 with a blower - ran low 13's, with admittedly less than great timing equipment. He sure did have a smile........

'Had a friend who put a 270 in his '50 Chevt coupe, added Whitney flash and a couple of carbs, etc. That thing would get rubber and chirps in all 3! 'Lotta torque!

[Mike M.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

6 bangers and torque are synonomous. our bone stock 30 chevy roadster pickup(194 ci) will take off from a dead stop in 3rd gear and not miss a beat. mike

[Tom D.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Russ: Does your Sun Tach work? If yes, what batteries are in it?

Tom

[Russ U.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Russ: Does your Sun Tach work? If yes, what batteries are in it?

Tom

Sun Tach does not work - no batteries. I thought I read something a year ago, maybe on Corvetteforum, about Sun Tach batteries. I don't recall the details, however, other than replacing the battery was a problem. Do you know what the battery options are???

Dave Elie used three tachs on the car - the original dated 1953 mechanical tach, a replacement 54 Corvette mechanical tach, and the Sun Tach. All three tachs show evidence of being mounted on the steering column. If I cannot find a battery for the Sun Tach, I will probably just rebuild one of the mechanical tachs and put that back on the column.

Russ

[Joseph T.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Sun Tach does not work - no batteries. I thought I read something a year ago, maybe on Corvetteforum, about Sun Tach batteries. I don't recall the details, however, other than replacing the battery was a problem. Do you know what the battery options are???

Dave Elie used three tachs on the car - the original dated 1953 mechanical tach, a replacement 54 Corvette mechanical tach, and the Sun Tach. All three tachs show evidence of being mounted on the steering column. If I cannot find a battery for the Sun Tach, I will probably just rebuild one of the mechanical tachs and put that back on the column.

Russ

Russ

There is a Sun tach rebuilder in Arkansas that you can Google..who does work for people around the country. I forget the battery details but this outfit can fix it ( if nothing else give them a call ). The original Sun tach is still in the Nassau car.

Joe

[Michael L.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

I envy you! My '55 does not get out of it's own way until 2500 RPM. Torque? What torque?

Have fun!

Mike

[Russ U.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

Russ

There is a Sun tach rebuilder in Arkansas that you can Google..who does work for people around the country. I forget the battery details but this outfit can fix it ( if nothing else give them a call ). The original Sun tach is still in the Nassau car.

Joe

Thanks Joe.

Found a Williamson's Instruments in Google and Hemmings. Among other things, they convert battery driven Sun Tach's to a batteryless operation. That must be the place.

I have a couple of old Sun Tach's for the Bob Dye race car too - I think including Bob's original Tach. I wonder if Weilliamson's gives a quantity discount.

I didn't realize Sun made Tach's in late 56 early 57. I thought Sun Tach's were early to mid 60s type items.

Thanks for the heads-up about Williamsons.

Russ

[Tom P.]

Re: Burning Rubber with a 53

DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a change of attitude with this bunch!
After reading all of the above replies, I can't believe the acceptance of a non stock, non correct NCRS car within a diehard group of NCRS folks.

ARE YOU GUYS FINALLY COMING OUT OF YOUR HOLIER THAN THOU SHELLS????????????
MOST refreshing!

Maybe you guys are beginning to discover that there are OTHER Corvettes in the world besides Flight cars.