Track Test: 1933 Ford Roadster

Continuing with our Track Test days using everyday street driven rods is becoming fun and educational. The fun part should be obvious, but the educational part comes with a better understanding of just what it takes to make a street rod "go and whoa."

This month we took on the 2003 STREET RODDER/PPG Road Tour roadster and ran it through its paces. The Wescott '33 Ford roadster was tested right after we evaluated the other two Road Tour roadsters that we have in-house (see SRM, Feb. '04). While the acceleration results of the '33 didn't match up with the two highboys, it really came as no surprise given the difference in powerplants. To go from a mild-mannered 302 cubes in the '33 to 350 and 383 potent cubes in the highboys, what would one expect? So, we could live with the results.

The surprise came at how well the '33 held up in the handling and braking tests, which consist of the 200-foot skidpad, the 420-foot slalom, and the 60-0 mph brake test. Remember, our roadster has a Heidt's independent front suspension with a Drive Train Specialists Ford 9-inch rear and 3.50 gears--pretty typical of what is being built today in the rodding world under a full-fendered car. It should also be noted that our '33 Ford roadster tipped the scales at 2,900 pounds, making it approximately 400 pounds heavier than our baseline cars. Weight will always take away from performance; keep this in mind as you read.

Remember the Feb. '04 issue and the results turned in by our two baseline street rods? The McMullen clone-roadster pulled the 200-foot diameter skidpad in an average time and speed of 12.61 seconds @ .75 g-force; and the M-2000 registered 12.60 seconds @ .77 g-force. This month's Track Test rod managed to outperform both baseline rods with its own 12.47 second pull @ .79 g-force.

As a comparison, we ran a stock '02 Z/28 Camaro through its paces and came up with .80 g's, ever so slightly better. We think the '33 is looking pretty good so far. We believe the M-2000 has much more handling left in it but until we arrange for a rear and possibly a front sway bar we will have to be satisfied. Of course, the '33 would also benefit from the same suspension upgrade. Before you ask, yes, that is coming.

On the 420-foot slalom course the '33 roadster turned in a 6.57 second run @ 44.10 mph while the McMullen-clone was timed at 7.55 seconds @ 37.93 mph, and the M-2000 was 7.48 seconds @ 38.28 mph. Hmmm, the '33 roadster is much better. Remember, here a slower time equals a faster speed and that's what our 2003 Road Tour roadster registered against its rodding siblings. For the record, the 2002 Z/28 Camaro on the same course was timed at 40.90 mph, making it faster than the highboys but not as quick as the '33, another round to the street rod over Detroit Iron.

Braking is another important area and the 60-0 mph test is a good barometer of the "whoa portion" of a rod's performance. The McMullen-clone roadster measured 165.95 feet (front disc, rear drum) to slow down from 60 mph to 0 mph, while the M-2000 managed 151.64 feet (four-wheel disc) for the same speed. This month's '33 turned in a 136.00 feet (four-wheel disc), making it once again a performer in the handling and braking department. For the record, the Z/28 Camaro was especially good at 132.00 feet (four-wheel disc).

Stay tuned as we test other street rods but also go back and make changes to those already tested to see if there is still more performance just waiting to be tapped.