1934 Fordor Presto-Rod – Owned by Jerry Dixey
It is time to find a new home my 1934 Fordor street rod known as the Presto-Rod. I bought this all steel Henry car from the second owner about 35 years ago who had done an amateur restoration. I was writing for Street Rodder Magazine at the time and I came up with the idea for an article about turning a restored car into a fun street rod. I thought Presto-Rod was a fun name. Working with Lobeck’s Hot Rod we did a three part build up and Eric Geisert shot the feature for the Sept 1994 issue of Street Rodder.
It was a typical build of the day: New 350SBC, 350 Trans. Boxed frame, Vintage Air and LeBaron Bonnie interior. Last year I had it at Motor City Solutions in Detroit. They went over all the mechanics on the car and we added a set of radial tires along with new front and rear shocks. It makes for a very nice driver. That second set of doors helps the grandkids get in and out.
Chassis
Frame/Manufacturer Stock/FoMoCo
Wheelbase 112”
Modifications Boxed from firewall forward, boxed and C’d
rear by LoBeck’s V-8 Shop, Cleveland, OH
Rear End 57” Ford Maverick 8”
Rear Suspension Chassis Engineering parallel leaf, Panhard bar
Pete & Jake’s Shocks
Rear Brakes Stock drum
Front Suspension Chassis Engineering forged dropped axle,
Pete and Jake’s shocks. Total cost involved
Panhard bar, Magnum spindles and wishbone
radius rods, mono spring
Front Brakes Magnum Econo brake kit
Master Cylinder ‘72 Gremlin
Steering Box Mullins Vega
Steering Column IDIDIT steel w/ tilt
Wheel Covers Early Wheel Company ‘47-48 hubcaps w/
Ribbed beauty rings
Front Wheel make/size Early Wheel Company 15 x 6
Rear Wheel make/size Early Wheel company 15 x 8
Front tire make/size BFGoodrich / 5.90×15
Rear tire make/size BFGoodrich / 8.20×15
Gas Tank Tanks poly
ENGINE
Year/Make ‘94 Chevy V-8 (crate)
Displacement 350 ci
Assembly General Motors
Water Pump Short
Alternator 65-amp
Headers Street & Performance
Other Engine Facts Painted Tacoma Cream
TRANSMISSION
Make Chevy Turbo 350
Trans mods by Rossier Transmissions-Youngstown, OH
Driveshaft Custom Clutch-Cleveland, OH
BODY
Body style/material Fordor/steel
Body Manufacturer FoMoCo
Body Mods None
Hood Stock Louvered
Paint Color Dearborn Blue
Headlights/Taillights Stock
INTERIOR
Dashboard Reshaped by Ed at LoBeck’s
Gauges Classic Instruments’ Mooneyes
Air Conditioning Vintage Air
Wiring Painless wiring kit by Ed at LoBeck’s
Steering Wheel LoCarra banjo-type
Seats Stock
Upholstery by LaBaron Bonney co.
Material/Color Pinstriped velour/tan
