Photography by John Jackson
ll of us have our favorite hot rods, whether it’s marque, build style, color, or power we are all partial. Larry Olson of South Dakota is no different. He seems to be partial to black-painted hot rods with flames and lots of big-block Chevy power. So, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that his latest ride is a ’33 Ford Victoria (Vicky) painted black and flamed and stuffed with 454 inches of big-block Chevy. (Make sure to take a look at his ’56 Chevy Nomad on page 28.)
While the roadster came by way of Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop, the ’33 Vicky found its way into Larry’s garage via Kevin Bowman’s Bowman Real Hot Rods in Brandon, South Dakota, with a quick stopover at Alloway’s. If you like going to national and larger regional events you are bound to see Larry, or one of his hot rods, at any one of the summer get-togethers put on by the National Street Rod Association, Goodguys, Shades of the Past Hot Rod Roundup, Tri Five Nationals, or any number of summertime festivities.
Let’s take a look at the powertrain. The heartbeat comes by way of a 454-inch big-block Chevy that pumps out approximately 550 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque, features custom machinework, and a fully balanced rotating assembly by Tim Mathern. Internals sport forged pistons, a custom Crower roller cam, and the liberal use of ARP hardware both inside and out. The polished aluminum heads along with the polished water pump, aluminum intake, and fuel pump are all Edelbrock. Other engine accessories include a mechanical seven-blade fan, a Tuff Stuff alternator, a Powermaster starter, an Odyssey battery, and Mooneyes air cleaner resting on top of a Quick Fuel 750-cfm four-barrel carb. The ignition system is based on an MSD Ready-to-Run distributor with an MSD coil and Taylor primary wires. Ushering along the heated exhaust is a pair of Sanderson headers with 1-3/4-inch primary tubes that drop down to a Bowman fabricated exhaust system that features Cherry Bomb mufflers while all components are ceramic coated. The power then works its way back through a Mike Paulsen Driveline driveshaft to the Winters quick-change.
Eventually all of this power makes its way to the polished Winters quick-change that spins a 3.23 gear ratio in its highway configuration. The quickie is held in position by a Pete & Jakes rear four-bar and Panhard bar, a Heidts 3/4-inch sway bar, and Viking Performance coilover shocks with 350-pound-rated springs. It should be noted that the outboard disc brakes are a combination of Wilwood 11-inch rotors and polished Dynalite (dual piston) calipers.
On the subject of Wilwood brakes, they too are used in front with matching 11-inch rotors and the same model of polished Dynalite (dual piston) calipers. The front axle is a Super Bell chrome 5-inch drop tube with P&J spindles, four-bar, and tube shocks. The steering comes by way of a P&J Vega box and linked to it is an ididit steering column. At the corners you will see polished Bobby Alloway ET-style Slots that are manufactured by Billet Specialties measuring 4.5×15 and 20×10 with 185/60R Firestone rubber in front and 285/50R20 Michelin rubber in back.
Neal Erickson of Bowman Real Hot Rods handled the wiring using a Centech wiring harness and fuse panel to bring to life the Classic Instruments gauges resting within a GW Taylor insert and the remainder of the hot rod’s electrical needs. The red leather and Daytona weave carpeting were handled by Steve Holcomb of Pro Auto Custom Interiors.
Well, there you have it. Larry now has a ’33 Ford Vicky to match his AMBR-winning ’33 Ford roadster. Now wouldn’t all of us figure that would be the perfect garage to have an open and a closed car that are a matching set?
