Banana Split: Turn & Stop

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE MORE OLD SCHOOL TRICKS AS OUR FLATHEAD CUSTOM GETS A NEW STANCE WITH TRICK KING PIN SPINDLES AND AN UPGRADE FROM ANCIENT DRUMS TO DISC BRAKES!

(JOE)>> DETROIT MUSCLE'S BANANA SPLIT IS BACK AFTER SEVERAL SCOOPS OF COOL COSMETIC WORK.

FROM A KILLER SUICIDE DOOR TREATMENT TO POPPING A CUSTOM SET OF LOUVRES ON THE HOOD.

WE MODIFIED THAT LOOK OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND BLUE DOTTED THE TAIL LIGHTS. PUT A PEAK ON THE NOSE AND A RECESSED LICENSE PLATE BOX OUT BACK. WE EVEN MODIFIED A CHRYSLER FRONT BUMPER FOR IT AND FRENCHED IN THE ANTENNA. OKAY SO MUCH FOR THE DECORATIVE DETAILS, NOW IT'S TIME TO GIVE THIS '49 FORD SOME PROPER POWER AND PERFORMANCE.

(TOMMY)>> WE JUST REMOVED OUR FACTORY FLATHEAD VEIGHT, MAKING WAY FOR SOMETHING NEW, KINDA.

WE'RE STICKING WITH THAT TRADITION THAT

STARTED BACK IN '32.

(JOE)>> AND SINCE FORD PRODUCED THEM FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, FLATHEAD VEIGHTS ARE STILL POPULAR AND FAIRLY PLENTIFUL. BEFORE THE '50'S THEY WERE THE ENGINE CHOICE FOR HOT

RODDERS AND RACERS. TODAY THEY'RE MOSTLY VALUED FOR NOSTALGIC APPEAL AND UNIQUE LOOKS. I MEAN WHAT'S NOT UNIQUE ABOUT AN ENGINE WITH NO VALVE COVERS?

(TOMMY)>> RECENTLY THE GUYS DOWN AT ENGINE POWER PLUCKED ONE FROM A LOCAL BONEYARD. A GEN THREE VERSION MADE FROM 1949 TO '53. TEARING DOWN ONE OF THESE JEWELS IS AN ADVENTURE ALL IN ITSELF.

YOU EVEN NEED A SPECIAL TOOL TO REMOVE

THE VALVE SPRINGS.

(JOE)>> IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP A COUPLE OF FINGERS CROSSED WHILE YOU CLEAN THE BLOCK.

THAT'S BECAUSE FLATTIES WERE NOTORIOUS FOR OVERHEATING, WHICH LED TO NASTY CRACKS.

IN FACT THIS ONE HAD A COUPLE OF SMALL CRACKS

THAT REQUIRED SOME MACHINE SHOP SURGERY BEFORE THEY COULD FRESHEN IT UP.

(TOMMY)>> BACK HOME THEY FILLED THE BLOCK WITH NEW AFTERMARKET PARTS WHILE KEEPING EVERYTHING OLD SCHOOL, LIKE THE EDELBROCK HEADS AND ONE OF THEIR VINTAGE TRIPOWER INTAKES. ON THE ENGINE DYNO, WITH 26 DEGREES OF TIMING, THE OLE GIRL MADE 159 HORSEPOWER AND 253 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE. THAT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE 100 HORSEPOWER OF OUR

STOCK 239 FLATTY.

(JOE)>> AND THE BEST PART IS THEY'RE GONNA LET US PUT IT TO GOOD USE POWERING UP OUR '49 FORD.

(TOMMY)>> BUT BEFORE WE SLIP THAT PRETTY LITTLE THING IN WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED ON THE FRONT END BECAUSE WITH ALL THAT SHEET METAL OUT OF THE WAY THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO WORK.

(JOE)>> AND HERE'S A LITTLE FORD FACTOID FOR YOU. THIS SETUP HERE IN OUR '49 REPRESENTS FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT AN INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION. ALL THE PREDECESSORS USED A STRAIGHT AXLE, WHICH IS NOT KNOWN FOR COMFORT AND DRIVABILITY. IN FACT IF YOU EVER RODE IN AN ORIGINAL '32 ROADSTER, IT'S ABOUT LIKE RIDING IN A DONKEY CART. THIS MUSTANG TWO SPINDLE IS THE KIND WE'RE MOST ACCUSTOMED TO. IT ATTACHES TO THE WHEEL AND THE LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS, AND THEY MOVE AS A UNIT. ON THE OTHER HAND WHAT MAKES THIS ONE UNIQUE IS THIS KING PIN HERE. NOW THIS PART REMAINS STABLE WHILE IT'S ATTACHED TO THE CONTROL ARMS. HOWEVER IT'S THIS MIDDLE PART HERE THAT'S INVOLVED

WITH ALL THE TURNING. WELL IN A NUTSHELL WE'VE GIVEN THE FORD A NEW ATTITUDE. NOW IT NEEDS AN ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT. WE'VE GOT TO BRING IT DOWN A COUPLE OF INCHES AFTER WE GET HER TORE DOWN. ONCE THE DUST CAP IS REMOVED WE CAN SPIN OFF THE CASTLE NUT AND REMOVE THE BRAKE DRUM. THE REST OF THE OLD BRAKE ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED TO THE MOUNTING FLANGE WITH FOUR BOLTS. AND WE CAN JUST CUT THE OLD BRAKE LINES SINCE WE'RE REPLACING THEM. ANOTHER CASTLE NUT HOLDS ON THE TIE ROD END, WHICH WE CAN THEN KNOCK OFF WITH A HAMMER. SEE THIS LITTLE PIN HERE? IT'S A SET PIN HOLDING IN THE KING PIN. REMOVE THE SET PIN AND THE KING PIN COMES OUT.

(TOMMY)>> SO HOW'S IT GOING JOE?

(JOE)>> MAN I THOUGHT THAT LITTLE PIN WAS GONNA PIN ME TO THE MAT. THE BIG ONE THOUGH, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE KING PIN OF DETROIT MUSCLE.

(TOMMY)>> MAN THIS HAMMER AIN'T GONNA WORK, I NEED A LEFT HANDED HAMMER.

(JOE)>> MAKE DUE!

(TOMMY)>> FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS I'M GONNA REMOVE THIS NUT AND THEN TAP THAT BOLT BACK IN A LITTLE BIT. THEN I'M GONNA DO THE SAME DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM. THE REASON I'M DOING THAT IS THIS PIN IS GONNA BE DRIVEN DOWN TOWARD THE GROUND AND I NEED THE EXTRA CLEARANCE. [ impact gun spinning ] [ hammer tapping ]

(TOMMY)>> THIS IS ANOTHER DUST CAP, WHICH KEEPS THE NASTIES FROM GETTING TO THE KING PIN. NOW WE'RE GONNA GET REALLY SCIENTIFIC. WE'RE GONNA USE A GIANT BOLT AND THIS BIG OLE HAMMER AND WHOOP A FIRE OUT OF IT!

ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE READY TO REMOVE THIS UPRIGHT, AND TO DO THAT I'VE GOT TO REMOVE THIS BOLT AND THIS LOWER BOLT. I WENT AHEAD AND PUT A JACK UNDER THE CONTROL ARM TO SUPPORT THAT SPRING BECAUSE IT'S GOT SOME TENSION UNDER IT. I DON'T WANT THINGS TO GET TOO EXCITING TOO FAST IF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. [ impact gun spinning ]

(ANNOUNCER)>> STILL AHEAD, WE'RE GONNA GET OUR FORD TO SIT DOWN IN THE DIRT WITH SOME LOWERING MODS.

(JOE)>> HEY WE'RE BACK WITH MORE FRONT END FINAGLING ON OUR '49 FORD. AFTER REMOVING THE PARTS THAT WE'RE GONNA REPLACE, IT'S NOW ABOUT TIME TO INSPECT THE ONES THAT ARE GOING ON THE CAR. AS WE TOLD YOU, OUR GOAL IS TO LOWER THE CAR

A COUPLE OF INCHES. AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN GUYS WOULD DO THIS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. NOW ONE WAS TO TAKE THE FACTORY UPRIGHT AND SIMPLY INVERT IT.

FINE RIGHT? WELL IT WOULD TOTALLY SCREW UP THE CAMBER. ANOTHER WAS TO HEAT UP OR EVEN CUT THE SPRINGS,

WHICH WAS GREAT IF YOU DON'T MIND LOSING YOUR SUSPENSION TRAVEL AND SCREWING UP YOUR GEOMETRY. FATMAN FABRICATIONS ELIMINATES THOSE OLD

ISSUES WITH THIS SETUP THAT BOLTS DIRECTLY TO THE FACTORY CONTROL ARMS. TO BEGIN WITH THEY LOWER THE CAR WITH THIS DROPPED UPRIGHT THAT ALSO PRESERVES SPRING TRAVEL AND GEOMETRY. NOW THAT WOULD LOWER THE TIE ROD ENDS TWO AND A

HALF INCHES, AND TO FIX THAT WELL THEY OFFER THIS DROPPED STEERING ARM. ALSO THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS, FOR EXAMPLE BY REPLACING THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE IDLER ARM WITH NEEDLE BEARINGS. AND THEY'VE REENGINEERED THE TIE ROD ENDS TO ELIMINATE BUMP STEER.

(TOMMY)>> WE'LL BE USING THE STOCK MOUNTING FLANGE AND SPINDLE, ALONG WITH THIS NEW SURFACE BEARING THAT CAME IN THE KIT. YOU KNOW THE KING PIN IS IN THE PROPER POSITION BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE NOTCH WHERE THE SIDE PIN HOLDS IT IN PLACE.

NOW FOR THE NEW DUST CAP.

THE GREASE ZERK CAN THEN BE INSTALLED TO KEEP THINGS NICE AND SLICK. THEN THE STEERING ARM GOES INTO PLACE.

(JOE)>> AN IDLER ARM ADAPTER BRACKET CAN THEN BE MOUNTED TO THE FRAME. [ impact gun spinning ]

(JOE)>> ALONG WITH THE NEW IDLER ARM.

WE'VE GOT A NEW CENTER LINK TO CONNECT THE STEERING BOX AND IDLER ARM. THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE TIE RODS.

ONE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE, ONE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE, EACH CONNECTING THE CENTER LINK TO THE STEERING ARMS. NOW LOOK, WE WANTED A SIMPLE, STRAIGHT FORWARD WAY TO CONVERT OUR BRAKES FROM DRUMS TO DISCS, AND

WE FOUND A SOURCE THAT FITS THE BILL CALLED ENGINEERED COMPONENTS INC. THEY OFFER THIS COMPLETE KIT FOR 1937 TO '64 FORDS. ALL NEW STUFF INCLUDING ROTORS, CALIPERS AND PADS, BRACKETRY, HOSES, SEALS AND BEARINGS, EVERYTHING TO GET THE DEAL DONE.

(TOMMY)>> THERE ARE A FEW SPECIALLY ENGINEERED PLATES THAT GO IN PLACE TO ALLOW THE DISC BRAKES TO MOUNT TO OUR OLD FORD, AND SOME SPACERS THAT GO IN BETWEEN THEM. THERE'S ANOTHER SPACER THAT GOES ONTO OUR FACTORY SPINDLE, WHICH WILL SET THE DISC OUT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. WITH A NICELY PACKED BEARING IN PLACE WE CAN

ASSEMBLE THE REST OF THE DISC COMPONENTS, AND KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER WITH OUR FACTORY CASTLE NUT.

AND YES, THE KIT COMES WITH A COTTER PIN YOU'LL NEED TO FINISH IT OFF.

(JOE)>> NOW FOR THE CALIPER. WITH THE PADS IN PLACE, IT SLIPS ONTO THE DISC AND

YOU JUST FASTEN IT DOWN.

(TOMMY)>> THE LAST THING WE NEED TO SWAP OUT IS THIS OLD MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH OOMPH IF YOU WILL TO SUPPORT THAT NEW DISC BRAKE SETUP. FOR AN UPGRADE WE WENT TO ENGINEERED COMPONENTS INC., AGAIN AND OPTED FOR ONE OF THEIR MASTER

CYLINDER ADAPTER KITS. IT COMES WITH A THIRD GEN CORVETTE MASTER FOR PLENTY OF STOPPING POWER. AND ONE NICE THING IS WE GET TO USE OUR OLD STOCK

PEDALS AND PIVOT SHAFT. IT ALSO COMES WITH A BOOT, SHAFT, AND ALL THE

HARDWARE IT TAKES TO INSTALL IT.

(JOE)>> THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY GOES BACK IN THE FACTORY LOCATION WITH THE NEW BRACKET AS A PLACE HOLDER FOR THE ORIGINAL MASTER CYLINDER. THEN THE BRACKET FOR THE NEW CYLINDER GOES BEHIND THE CROSS MEMBER. IT HAS TO BE WELDED IN, SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME MARKS FOR THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND GRIND THEM DOWN FOR WELDING. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE UNIT IS STRAIGHT AND PLUMBED SO THAT THE CYLINDER IS ACTUATED IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

[ welder crackling ]

(JOE)>> WITH RUBBER CAP REMOVED, THE PLUNGER ROD CAN THEN BE MOUNTED. DON'T FORGET TO HOOK UP THE RETURN SPRING. ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF THE ROD IS IMPORTANT. YOU WANT ABOUT A SIXTEENTH OF AN INCH OF PLAY IN THE PEDAL BEFORE IT BEGINS TO PUSH THE CYLINDER.

(TOMMY)>> WELL NOW WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A FEW OF THESE ITEMS OFF SO I CAN WELD THIS BRACKET SOLID

TO THE CROSSMEMBER. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER EACH TIME TO TAKING THIS THING FOR A RIDE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> AFTER THE BREAK IT'S A RIDE IN A RARE FAIRLANE STREET POUNDER.

(TOMMY)>> BY 1967 THE MUSCLE CAR WARS WERE GETTING INTO FULL SWING WITH THE GTO AND CHEVELLE BATTING HARD FOR GM.

AND THE MOPAR BOYS WERE SHOVING 440'S INTO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY HAD. FORD HAD TO OFFER SOMETHING BESIDES THE MUSTANG AND SHELBY PLATFORM TO SATISFY THE PUBLIC'S RAVENOUS APPETITE FOR POWER. AND THE ANSWER CAME IN THE FORM OF WHAT HAD FORMERLY BEEN THEIR PREMIER FULL SIZE OFFERING, SHRUNKEN DOWN TO A MID SIZE AND GIVEN SEVERAL BIG BLOCKS PUSHING UP TO 425 PONIES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE '67 FORD FAIRLANE GTA.

(JOE)>> IN 1966 THE FAIRLANE WAS GIVEN A 116 INCH WHEEL BASE AND ENLARGED ENGINE BAY TO HANDLE MORE GO FAST IN THE FORM OF A SERIES OF FORD'S FIRE BREATHING BIG DISPLACEMENT MOTORS. BY '67 YOU COULD GET THE 390 OR 427, BOTH WITH SEVERAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR BUDGET, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE RARE 425 HORSEPOWER RCODE 427.

(TOMMY)>> THE OWNER OF THIS '67 FAIRLANE GTA CONVERTIBLE, BOB CARTER, SPENT 30 YEARS BUILDING

FORDS AS A FOMOCO PLANT WORKER.

(BOB)>> I LIKE THE FAIRLANE CAUSE YOU KNOW, IT WAS BUILT IN THE YEAR THAT I WAS EMPLOYED BY FORD.

(JOE)>> THIS ONE FEATURES THE 320 HORSEPOWER FOUR BARREL 390, AND THAT "A" IN THE GTA DESIGNATION MEANS HE'S SPORTING THE SELECT SHIFT CRUISEOMATIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

FOR THE MOST PART THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STANDARD FAIRLANE AND THE GT MODEL WAS THE ENGINE OPTIONS, ALONG WITH POWER FRONT DISC BRAKES, A BLACKED OUT GRILL TREATMENT, AND A SET OF WIDE OVAL TIRES WITH DELUXE WHEEL COVERS. OH AND YOU ALSO GOT SOME HANDY DANDY BUCKET SEATS.

(TOMMY)>> THE HOOD GOT A SET OF POWER DOMES WITH INTEGRATED TURN SIGNALS, AND SHE GOT ALL GUSSIED UP WITH THE INCLUSION OF A BUCKET FULL OF GT AND GTA BADGES, ALONG WITH SOME SPIFFY STRIPES. THE GT CAME STANDARD WITH A 289, AND UPGRADING TO THE 390 IS GONNA SET UP YOU BACK ANOTHER $158 BUCKS. PRETTY CHEAP IF YOU ASK ME.

(BOB)>> I LIKE TO DRIVE IT CAUSE IT HAS, YOU KNOW, QUITE A LOT OF ZIP TO IT.

(JOE)>> TO LOWER THE TOP YOU CLIMB IN AND UNZIP THE REAR GLASS. THEN LET THE CAR DO THE REST. THERE WERE JUST UNDER 2,200 CONVERTIBLE GT'S MADE IN 1967, MAKING THIS BAD BOY A RARE FIND.

(TOMMY)>> SINCE FORD WAS HUNTING GTO'S WITH THIS MODEL, IT DUPLICATED ITS OVER AND UNDER HEADLIGHT STYLE. AND THEY ALSO CHANGED TO THIS CONCEPT ON THE TAIL LIGHTS BETWEEN '66 AND '67. THAT YEAR THEY ALSO ADDED THREE VERTICAL CROSS BARS TO THE GRILL ALONG WITH A CREST IN THE CENTER. THE REAR ALSO GOT AN ADDITIONAL CREST

FOR EXTRA BLING.

(JOE)>> THIS WAS THE SECOND AND FINAL YEAR OF PRODUCTION FOR THE GTA. AND SINCE THESE YEARS SAW THE FIRST OF THE BIG BLOCK FAIRLANES, THAT MAKES THESE CARS HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE.

(BOB)>> THERE WASN'T A LOT OF FAIRLANES TO BEGIN WITH, AND IT'S KINDA RARE TO SEE THEM AT CAR SHOWS.

(JOE)>> EVENTUALLY THE TORINO GT REPLACED IT IN 1968, MARKING THE END OF THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER PIECE OF DETROIT MUSCLE HISTORY.

(TOMMY)>> WITH US DROPPING THE FRONT END OF PROJECT BANANA SPLIT ABOUT TWO INCHES IN THE FRONT, WELL WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING BACK HERE CAUSE IT'S GONNA LOOK PLAIN RIGHT SILLY WITH BACK END ALL HOPPED UP.

THE TAIL END OF THIS THING IS GONNA SIT A LOT CLOSER TO THE DIRT.

(JOE)>> YEAH LOWERING THE BACK END OF AN OLD FORD LIKE THAT IS A PRETTY EASY DEAL, BUT WE HAVE SEEN IT DONE WRONG. SO TO DO THE JOB RIGHT WE'RE GONNA USE THIS LOWERING KIT FROM SUMMIT RACING THAT COMES WITH FOUR UBOLTS WITH HARDWARE, PLUS A PAIR OF THESE ALUMINUM LOWERING BLOCKS. WE'RE GETTING TWO INCH BLOCKS UNDER OUR FORD BUT YOU CAN GO FROM ONE TO FOUR INCHES.

(TOMMY)>> SOME WD 40 SPECIALIST RUST RELEASE PENETRANT SPRAY WILL HELP US LOOSEN THESE UBOLTS UP REALLY EASY LIKE. THEN WE CAN REMOVE THEM. SIMPLY INSERT THE BLOCK AND LINE IT UP USING THE DOWEL. THE NEW UBOLTS GO INTO THE ORIGINAL LOCATIONS, AND THEN WE'LL CHOP OFF THEIR EXCESS LENGTH.

THERE YOU GO. AFTER WE PUT NEW FRONT BRAKES, NEW FRONT SUSPENSION, AND LOWERED THIS OLE GIRL ABOUT TWO INCHES FROM STEM TO STERN, I'LL TELL YA, SHE'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A CUSTOM RIDE FOR SURE.

(JOE)>> YOU BET, AND AFTER WE ADD SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF ENGINE, TRANS, FRONT END, DOORS AND SUCH YOU'LL GET A REAL FEEL FOR THE NEW RIDE HEIGHT. BUT THAT'S ALL AFTER WE GIVE IT SOME SPIFFY YELLOW PAINT AND LET IT LIVE UP TO ITS NAME, BANANA SPLIT.

(TOMMY)>> MENTION THE NAME BAER AND MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND BRAKE PADS, BUT BAER'S BREAKING INTO A NEW LINE OF MASTER CYLINDERS THEY CALL "THE REMASTER". THE COMPACT BILLET BODY IS DESIGNED FOR EASY FITMENT, AND IT'S ALSO ENGINEERED FOR THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN VOLUME AND PRESSURE FOR GREAT BRAKING PERFORMANCE. HERE'S A PRETTY COOL FEATURE, IT'S GOT SCREW ON CAPS FOR CLEAN AND EASY FILLING. THE STANDARD FINISH IS ANODIZED OR POLISHED, BUT THERE ARE CUSTOM FINISHES AVAILABLE, AND THE

PRICE TAG IS JUST UNDER $400 BUCKS.

(JOE)>> IF YOU WANT TO BEAT THE COMPETITION IN

LOOKS AND PERFORMANCE, WELL HERE'S A WHEEL AND

TIRE COMBO THAT MIGHT BE INTEREST TO YOU WEEKEND DRAG RACERS. THE TIRE IS A DOT APPROVED RACE

MASTER FROM M&H. IT HAS A LOW VOID DIRECTIONAL TREAD DESIGN, SOFT STICKY COMPOUND, LARGE CENTER BLOCKS FOR DRY TRACTION, AND LARGE SIDE BLOCKS FOR STABILITY. THE CHROME WHEEL IT'S WRAPPED AROUND IS A 431

SERIES HUSTLER FROM SUMMIT RACING WITH A COOL FIVE SPOKE TRIANGULAR STAR DESIGN. IT'S A QUALITY WHEEL AND TIRE DEAL THAT COULD MAKE

YOU A WINNER AT THE TRACK IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

(TOMMY)>> ON THE FRONT OF OUR OLD FORD WE UPGRADED TO DISC BRAKES BUT OUT BACK WE WANT TO RUN THE STOCK DRUM BRAKES. NOW WITH OUR CAR BEING AS OLD AS IT IS, IT CAN BE HARD TO FIND THE PARTS.

BUT THANKS TO ROCK AUTO DOT COM, THEY HAD EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED TO GET THE JOB DONE. FROM THE DRUM BRAKES TO THE SHOES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE IT'S GONNA TAKE TO MAKE THAT CAR STOP ON A DIME. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET TO WORK. YOU BOYS COME BACK AND SEE US.