OK, let's build a "Little Deuce Coupe".

[Greg Myers]

The Black one above, "Lakes Plugs" but what kinda' wheels we gonna run ?

[mike 51]

I always heard "lakes pipes" called headers....I usually heard "lake pipes" called fake.

[mike 51]

oops! never mind  

Edited September 9, 2015 by mike 51

[Ace-Garageguy]

You can have an even better time arguing about the origin of the term "hot rod".

People have fallible memories. You see the printed references in the period mags, it all makes sense.

Lakes "plugs" are the caps on the end of the lakes "pipes". Kinda logical, ain't it?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Some folks probably call this a rabbit too. Don't necessarily make it so.

[mike 51]

I thought we were discussing not arguing.   I only remember things don't really matter anymore it seems... 

[Agent G]

SCTA rules stated the ends of the exhaust pipes must extend past the rear of the auto and not be pointed at the ground. Dust don't ya  know. Couldn't have exhausts stirring up a cloud obscuring the driver's vision.

So, true "lake pipes" were long tubes either under the car or off to the sides, mostly close to the beltline, but extending to the back of the car.

The styles illustrated by the previous photos came along when the cars ran on the salt flats, less dust to contend with and the exhaust didn't contribute to it. 

G

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I thought we were discussing not arguing.   I only remember things don't really matter anymore it seems... 

Youse guys call 'em what you remember 'em being called, I'll call 'em what I remember 'em bein' called, and everybody will know what everybody else is talking about anyway.

I don't think there's an Oxford Standard English Dictionary entry for "lakes pipes".

[mike 51]

Interesting and logical too.  so Bill's headers would be "Flats Pipes" or "salty pipes"?  

Edited September 9, 2015 by mike 51

[Agent G]

Here are two examples from the dry lake era.

G 

 

[Agent G]

Snuck in on me there Mike. I think the term "lake pipes" was always used regardless of the venue. 

G

[Ace-Garageguy]

The exact configuration of the pipes used on the dry lakes is going to depend to a degree on the exact time period, venue, sanctioning body and vehicle class. Earlier cars (pre-war) tended to have longer pipes running up high, like G's photos.

They got shorter. (Vic Edelbrock Special, post-war)

Edited September 9, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[mike 51]

....at Bonneville with short non-dusting pipes.  

[pharoah]

When I hear 'Little Deuce Coupe' , I always think of the  Silver Sapphire because it was on the album cover. The Beach Boys weren't really 'car guys'. Dennis Wilson was the only one who could surf.         Carl Wilson had some nice cars later on,but he probably didn't work on them.

[Jantrix]

Well it certainly does seem like they were describing a sleeper. So I'd be thinking a five window, no chop. Fenders optional. Hood and sides - mandatory. "You don't know what I got."

Any roots type blowers available that could be kept under the hood? Tri-power at a minimum or perhaps something more exotic? This is a cool idea, I'm interested in seeing what you come up with.

 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Any roots type blowers available that could be kept under the hood? 

The classic S.C.o.T. blower will fit under the stock hood.

A GMC blower is taller, but could be made to fit by shaving the intake manifold, using lower carb air-horns, or dropping the engine mounts slightly.

[Greg Myers]

I like em both, but I was leanin' toward the four carb set up Rob showed us. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yeah, the song doesn't say anything about a blower.

I think about 220 HP normally-aspirated is about as much as you're going to get from a flathead and still be (just barely) streetable, but with modern internals it's entirely possible. Things like billet cranks, rods and bottom-end girdles COULD have been machined "back in the day", so it's not too much of a stretch.

And 220 HP in a less-than-2000 pound car is still pretty stout.

Your definition of long "lakes pipes" running down the rockers is probably in keeping with the theme here too. 

According to the Sept. '62 Motor Trend, a 4800 pound 1963 390 T-bird with 300 HP and an automatic would do a 19.2 second, 78 MPH quarter mile. 

A 200 HP "little deuce coupe" could easily eat its lunch.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Jon Haigwood]

The Deuce on the album does not represent the car in the song very well. First of all Olds OHV not a Flattie. Secondly there is to much custom work on it Should be a bit more on the basic lower budget type ride.

The Hot Rod Lincoln has fenders and has a V12 and its has a song of it's own (originally it was black, not red).

My vision of the "Lil Deuce Coupe would be a 3 or 5 window, none fendered with a flathead 

Close to this

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Sweet looking 5-window, Jon. One of the best I've seen. Clean. Looks fast. No BS.

[Greg Myers]

Looks good to me. Got it all covered, "Lake Pipes" too.

[landman]

Let's Keep It Simple Shallwe ? One at a time. I know, "same group" but it's a Model A. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That one was featured in a song too, and it had a V-12

[Greg Myers]

Yep. 

[Jon Haigwood]

We could always do a build on Jan and Deans "Schlock Rod"

Did they make a 48 Buick kit?

[Danno]

Here's the deal.  Brian Wilson was not a 'car guy.'  But, he recognized the potential of the 'car song' genre and capitalized on it.  He partnered with a couple of friends who were 'car guys' - Roger Christian and Gary Usher - to create all the Beach Boys' car songs.  Christian was an L.A. radio deejay at the time.

Regarding "Little Deuce Coupe," Wilson wrote the music and Christian provided the lyrics, replete with period-correct So Cal hot rodding buzz words.  Between the two of them, with Christian explaining terms to Wilson, they massaged the lyrics to fit the music phrasing.  Some compromises were made.

Usher played the same role with Wilson in other Beach Boys' tunes.  For example, Usher penned the lyrics for "409."  

An interesting side note:  Wilson wanted to write about the hottest new car on the scene.  Everybody he knew was ga-ga over the 409-equipped '62 Impala SS.  Hence, the song.  More interesting was that through the song-writing process, Wilson even sold himself on the 409 Impala SS.  As the buckets of "record money" started pouring in, Wilson's first big purchase was to buy his own '62 Impala SS 409 . . . in bright red.  

(At the same time, brother Dennis Wilson ordered a soon-to-be released '63 Corvette split window coupe in Silver.  Brother Carl was too young to drive, so car acquisitions weren't big on his radar at that point.)