NOSTALGIC BARN FIND MAKES ADRL APPEARANCE WITH GLIDDEN
Sat, 2010-05-22 16:07
Billy Glidden learned barn finds can be pretty cool.
Billy, while poking around the back of his Whiteland, Ind.-based race shop, found a pair of old valve covers his dad used to run back in the day. Back in the day, in this instance, was 1982 when his father, Bob Glidden, the 10-time Pro Stock champion, converted his small-block engine program over to 500-cubic inches. Billy Glidden learned barn finds can be pretty cool.
Billy, while poking around the back of his Whiteland, Ind.-based race shop, found a pair of old valve covers his dad used to run back in the day. Back in the day, in this instance, was 1982 when his father, Bob Glidden, the 10-time Pro Stock champion, converted his small-block engine program over to 500-cubic inches.
The elder Glidden initially ran a Boss 429-inspired engine and the younger Glidden’s discovery, within a homemade kiln, was a pair of 28-year old valve covers. They were last used when his father raced the Ford EXP.
“This kiln … dad used back in the days when he would furnish brazed blocks and cast iron small block cylinder heads,” Billy said.
The valve covers were fabricated from magnesium.
“They are original, with the Ford Boss part number underneath,” said Billy, a beaming smile stretched across his face.
The valve covers were in anything but pristine condition. They were full of holes.
“I had never welded on magnesium before,” the younger Glidden admitted. “I taught myself how to do it and even had one on fire for a little bit. I got them all patched up to the point they’d hold vacuum. I made some one-off gaskets to work with them.”
Glidden is running the Hemi engine this weekend cloaked by the nostalgic valve covers and was 6th quickest within the Extreme 10.5 division after two qualifying sessions at the ADRL U.S. Drags III.
Billy, while poking around the back of his Whiteland, Ind.-based race shop, found a pair of old valve covers his dad used to run back in the day. Back in the day, in this instance, was 1982 when his father, Bob Glidden, the 10-time Pro Stock champion, converted his small-block engine program over to 500-cubic inches. Billy Glidden learned barn finds can be pretty cool.
Billy, while poking around the back of his Whiteland, Ind.-based race shop, found a pair of old valve covers his dad used to run back in the day. Back in the day, in this instance, was 1982 when his father, Bob Glidden, the 10-time Pro Stock champion, converted his small-block engine program over to 500-cubic inches.
The elder Glidden initially ran a Boss 429-inspired engine and the younger Glidden’s discovery, within a homemade kiln, was a pair of 28-year old valve covers. They were last used when his father raced the Ford EXP.
“This kiln … dad used back in the days when he would furnish brazed blocks and cast iron small block cylinder heads,” Billy said.
The valve covers were fabricated from magnesium.
“They are original, with the Ford Boss part number underneath,” said Billy, a beaming smile stretched across his face.
The valve covers were in anything but pristine condition. They were full of holes.
“I had never welded on magnesium before,” the younger Glidden admitted. “I taught myself how to do it and even had one on fire for a little bit. I got them all patched up to the point they’d hold vacuum. I made some one-off gaskets to work with them.”
Glidden is running the Hemi engine this weekend cloaked by the nostalgic valve covers and was 6th quickest within the Extreme 10.5 division after two qualifying sessions at the ADRL U.S. Drags III.
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