SHOCKWAVE Blown Fuel Hydro Restoration

[Clank123]

What’s the deal with the feather on the helmet?

No doubt the Gabelich was a showman.
It was just a way to stand out from the other drivers.
Back in those days they would get 20 or 30 Top Fuel dragsters at the big meets and run 3 different tracks over the course of a week.
The Ostrich feather let the stands know who was in the car.
As pictured above, he wasn’t the only one in dragster world who did it, but he was for sure the first at the boat drags.
Mike Dubiel owned an unblown fuel hydro called “The Gladiator”.
He put a Roman Brush on the top of his helmet.
He moved on to Blown Fuelers but kept the helmet since it was his trademark.
Lot more style back then I think.
Today some boat racers in this “look at me world” stick GoPro cameras on their helmets. Talk about no style!

 

[Wheeler]

Nice bit of history. Thanks Dave!

 

[rivergames]

Another work of Art Amigo!

Can't wait to see her all completed.

Once she's at the Museum, I want to check it out as well as seeing her run off our ramp!!!!

 

[rivermobster]

What an Awesome thread. Some amazing stories here. Thanks to everyone for sharing!

Love the resto job. Gonna be awesome when it's all done.

 

[Clank123]

Time to get the strut cleaned up and ready for install.
To say this piece is a monster is an understatement!
The average long barrel strut used on a flatbottom or hydro weighs between 11 and 13 pounds or so, maybe a touch more.
This big boy comes in at 34 pounds!
It is bolted through the bottom of the boat with 8 1/2 inch diameter grade 8 bolts.
It’s definitely hell for stout to handle that blown fuel hemi!

 

[Clank123]

Long Beach Marine Stadium was just an amazing venue for boat racing.
Built for the LA Olympics in the 30’s for the rowing races, the first powerboat race was held there in 1946.
In boat racing’s heyday, the late 60’s through 1978 when for all intents and purpose it was shut down, there were at least 6 dragboat races a year, circle races on the 3 major holiday weekends and a couple special events that included drag and circle races along with speed ski racing.
It was an amazing time to be involved in the sport. I know there are a few here that were around it then as well.
How truly blessed we were.
Sadly, even though we have been able to have one race per year for awhile, which pales in comparison to years gone by, my fear is we are done at the Stadium for good.
I am told that with the Olympics coming back and the major upgrades that are being done, not to mention the public/political climate in Long Beach, the plan moving forward, after the Olympics is the it will all be Passive use only.
Hope it’s not true!
Anyway, here’s a few pictures that show just how popular boat racing was in the mid 70’s.
Absolutely incredible turn out of people for nearly every event held there.
Ahh, for the good old days!

First shot is from the starting line looking down the course.
You can see where the restroom with the palm trees (circle boat start/finish) about halfway down.

This shot is taken from where the palm trees are toward the launch ramp.
It wasn’t uncommon to have 15 to 18 thousand people there on a Sunday.

There we also grandstands down the “Toteboard” side to watch the races as well.
The old Toteboard has been gone for years. I think the restrooms underneath it are still there?

That’s the great Gary Scow being towed past it after Sam Kurtovich reset the record in Smoke on the Water.
Scow actually drove the Shockwave at one point. More in that later.

Great times and Memories!

 

[Taboma]

I’m sure many on here have never heard of him.
Amazing guy and career.
What a great time in racing!
They don’t make them like that anymore!…

In the 43 years of his amazing life, Californian Gary Gabelich won races and set speed records on asphalt, dirt, water and salt, and had a brief career as a test astronaut at North American Rockwell during the Mercury and Apollo space programs. As childhood friend Bud Rasner said, Gabelich was “simply fearless.”

Gabelich started as a street racer in Long Beach, graduated to drag racing, and drove fuel dragsters, jet cars and funny cars, most notably the Purple Gang dragster and Beach City Corvette funny car. At North American Rockwell, he jumped out of airplanes at 30,000 feet while testing astronaut gear for future missions.

Gabelich won the American Power Boat Association Blown Fuel and Blown Gas National Drag Boat Championship in 1968, the first to win both in the same year.

In 1969, he became the first man since Donald Campbell to go 200 mph on water, setting a quarter-mile drag boat speed record of 200.44 mph (Campbell’s boat went a far greater distance to get to 200).

Gabelich told the film crew covering the Blue Flame rocket car’s land speed record attempt that he had drawn a rocket with wheels on it when he was a kid. Now there he was, in October of 1970, at Bonneville, sitting inside a rocket with wheels on it, going faster and faster with each attempt, until he shattered the absolute land speed record and flying one-mile record at more than 622 mph and flying one-kilometer record at 630.388 mph. He was The Fastest Man In The World.

The mile record stood for 13 years until Richard Noble broke it with Thrust2, and the kilometer record for 27 until surpassed by the supersonic Thrust SSC.

Craig Breedlove, whose record of 600.601 mph Gabelich broke, says, “We used to waterski on the Colorado River together. We used to race at Lions drag strip. Dick Keller from the Blue Flame crew wanted me to drive it, to break my own record. Then they wanted Don Garlits to drive it. When they couldn’t get Garlits, they asked me again, and I recommended Gary. He was young, personable and good looking, and an excellent choice.”

Gabelich had always driven for others, but he decided to build and race his own funny car for the 1972 season. He chose the then-popular Chevrolet Vega station wagon body. He put a blown Chrysler Hemi in it, using a radical mid-engine design with all-wheel-drive so he could smoke all four tires. Gabelich crashed it at Orange County International Raceway on its premiere, broke his left leg and nearly severed his right hand.

After a lengthy recovery, Gabelich looked around at other opportunities and went racing with Mickey Thompson’s SCORE off-road group, finishing second overall at Riverside in one of Mickey’s earliest events in 1975. That was also the year he nearly died in a drag boat accident at Lake Turlock, California.

Gabelich and artist/designer Tom Daniel were well on their way to building another rocket car with 800 mph potential when Gabelich was killed in a motorcycle accident on the streets of Long Beach on January 26, 1984. Gabelich is perhaps the only racer to have a city park named for him, which is in downtown Long Beach.


Here he is in the Shockwave.., View attachment 1203954 View attachment 1203955

With famed engine builder Dan Olson at Long Beach.
Olson did all the Hondo Factory Fuel Boat Engines.

View attachment 1203958

ALSO…I’m on the hunt for a 426/440 Flywheel Cover as in picture if you have any leads

Was in the stands at LBMS in '68 watching Gary win it, while seated next to an older lady. She seemed so excited I had to inquire if she knew him, "Oh yes, I'm his mother" Way cool

 

[Clank123]

Was in the stands at LBMS in '68 watching Gary win it, while seated next to an older lady. She seemed so excited I had to inquire if she knew him, "Oh yes, I'm his mother" Way cool

Really cool story.
Thanks for the input.
Hoping other people chime in with their experiences at the Stadium.

 

[Clank123]

Stopped by Moon Equipment today to pick up the T-Tank.
I’ve been lucky that almost all of my period correct restorations have had Moon Tanks in them.
Chico has always been great to work with.
The place is such a treasure!
It just drips with nostalgia.
Feel like I see something new every time I’m in there.
Here’s a few pictures I took.
Even the restroom is about the coolest around!
Check out the toilet paper dispenser

Tank came out fantastic as always with the “Sun Ray” finish.
I’m on the hunt for a 2.250 thread flip top cap for it. Moon doesn’t make one anymore.
When I did the Panic Mouse I found one in Florida!
If you happen to have one on the shelf I’ll take it no matter the condition.
Appreciate it!

 

[warpt71]

Dave, I think I have that cap but I'll be honest, I have zero desire to part with it.

Question for you though, one of the internal baffles is untracked in my tank. Is this something that Chico could fix or something not really worth worrying about?

 

[monkeyswrench]

@Clank123 , I'll ask the guy that bought my '49. He swapped out the Moon tank I'd put in the bed...it had the flip cap. He's a hoarder like me, good chance the tank's in his warehouse still.

 

[Wheeler]

@Clank123

Have you tried the hokey ass message board for the cap?

 

[Clank123]

Dave, I think I have that cap but I'll be honest, I have zero desire to part with it.

Question for you though, one of the internal baffles is untracked in my tank. Is this something that Chico could fix or something not really worth worrying about? View attachment 1212061 View attachment 1212062 View attachment 1212063 View attachment 1212064 View attachment 1212065 View attachment 1212066

Totally understand on the flip cap!
Definitely a cool old tank with lots of stories to tell!
Is the whole baffle loose or just the one spot weld cracked?
If it’s not rattling around in there, I’d just keep an eye on it.
The way the baffle fits, it really doesn’t appear that it can go anywhere.
To hello-arc those tabs back in the tank you would have to have the opposite end cap removed to access the weld.
Pretty sure the caps are stepped to fit inside the center section of the tank.
Would be a lot of work and you would lose all the hard earned patina on the tank, which would be a shame.
I think new 7 gallon tanks are right around 600.00.
Considering you are not probably pounding your boat through Summer Saturday type water at the River…I’d run it!

Also…my hoarder eye noticed you had a couple Fiberglass buckets sitting on the bench.
Do you have one you’d like to sell?
Been looking for one for this project.
Seems all the new ones are “big boy” buckets which would not be correct for this boat.
Let me know!
If anyone else has a shell please reach out.
Appreciate it!

 

[Clank123]

@Clank123 , I'll ask the guy that bought my '49. He swapped out the Moon tank I'd put in the bed...it had the flip cap. He's a hoarder like me, good chance the tank's in his warehouse still.

Appreciate you checking!
I’ll swap him for the cap that came with this one
Let me know.
Thank you Sir!

 

[Clank123]

@Clank123

Have you tried the hokey ass message board for the cap?

Good call Wheeler!
I’d have to state that it was for a 34 high boy restoration or they’d probably delete the post!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Good call Wheeler!
I’d have to state that it was for a 34 high boy restoration or they’d probably delete the post!

Nah, you're restoring a hot rod...most of them appreciate the concept of that. It may float, but still a hot rod. Make sure to attach pics though, so they know you aren't some yahoo and it is a real boat

 

[Wheeler]

Good call Wheeler!
I’d have to state that it was for a 34 high boy restoration or they’d probably delete the post!

As long as you don't bring a glass '32 to the table you'll be fine.

Spike Morrelli posted a bunch of pix there even that Old rigger post over there.

vintage drag boats

O/T MAYBE) I'm into anything with wheels and/or a motor. As a kid I grew up on the water (mid 60's till early 90's) with my dad and uncle who ran a...

www.jalopyjournal.com

@old rigger

 

[MOUZER]

Totally understand on the flip cap!
Definitely a cool old tank with lots of stories to tell!
Is the whole baffle loose or just the one spot weld cracked?
If it’s not rattling around in there, I’d just keep an eye on it.
The way the baffle fits, it really doesn’t appear that it can go anywhere.
To hello-arc those tabs back in the tank you would have to have the opposite end cap removed to access the weld.
Pretty sure the caps are stepped to fit inside the center section of the tank.
Would be a lot of work and you would lose all the hard earned patina on the tank, which would be a shame.
I think new 7 gallon tanks are right around 600.00.
Considering you are not probably pounding your boat through Summer Saturday type water at the River…I’d run it!

Also…my hoarder eye noticed you had a couple Fiberglass buckets sitting on the bench.
Do you have one you’d like to sell?
Been looking for one for this project.
Seems all the new ones are “big boy” buckets which would not be correct for this boat.
Let me know!
If anyone else has a shell please reach out.
Appreciate it!

Dave stu has the mold for the seats small and large barrel i was just at his shop he had a couple of singles 2 diff sizes he wanted me to bring back to sc with me but i said no if they where sets i would single dont sell to fast

 

[warpt71]

Totally understand on the flip cap!
Definitely a cool old tank with lots of stories to tell!
Is the whole baffle loose or just the one spot weld cracked?
If it’s not rattling around in there, I’d just keep an eye on it.
The way the baffle fits, it really doesn’t appear that it can go anywhere.
To hello-arc those tabs back in the tank you would have to have the opposite end cap removed to access the weld.
Pretty sure the caps are stepped to fit inside the center section of the tank.
Would be a lot of work and you would lose all the hard earned patina on the tank, which would be a shame.
I think new 7 gallon tanks are right around 600.00.
Considering you are not probably pounding your boat through Summer Saturday type water at the River…I’d run it!

Also…my hoarder eye noticed you had a couple Fiberglass buckets sitting on the bench.
Do you have one you’d like to sell?
Been looking for one for this project.
Seems all the new ones are “big boy” buckets which would not be correct for this boat.
Let me know!
If anyone else has a shell please reach out.
Appreciate it!

Seems to be just that bottom tack, I hooked a long screwdriver in there to try and move it back into place and it didn't want to move last night. Guess I'll just run it!

Those are a pair of "narrow" buckets that will be going into my Hondo project.

Somehow I have collected a pretty good package of vintage parts from my first boat that I plan on transplanting into my 2nd boat. Progress has been really slow for me though.

Projects like yours here definitely keep me motivated, please keep posting

 

[Clank123]

Got the anodizing back this week.
Great to be putting some part’s together!
V Drive is a one of a kind.
Had to anodize the cases to match original.

She was built for Blown Fuel!
Oversize output shaft bearing, both shafts are splined.
If you are not familiar with Casale V-Drives and never taken one apart, they added four extra bolts around the bottom of the case. Pretty smart when you realize the prop is trying to push the prop shaft through the V-drive! The extra clamping makes a lot of sense.
It wa also braced on both the front and rear of the mid-plate.

 

[Clank123]

Refurbished Schroeder steering box.

 

[monkeyswrench]

@Clank123 , finally got a hold of Jeff, the guy who bought my 49. His quote, "I don't remember selling it...but don't remember where it is either? I'll look around here and let you know"
So, we'll see what he comes back with. I figure if he still has it I'll buy it back for a project and swap caps. I bought it from Moon at the Pomona swap in 2000, it was a custom order that got dinged.

 

[Clank123]

@Clank123 , finally got a hold of Jeff, the guy who bought my 49. His quote, "I don't remember selling it...but don't remember where it is either? I'll look around here and let you know"
So, we'll see what he comes back with. I figure if he still has it I'll buy it back for a project and swap caps. I bought it from Moon at the Pomona swap in 2000, it was a custom order that got dinged.

That would be awesome!
Thank you!

 

[Clank123]

Update time…
Boat will finally make it to Carlsbad next Friday for rigging, if all goes to plan at Billy’s this week.
Floors are final polished and we just need to get it on the road.

Found the proper Flip Top Cap for the fuel tank.
After inquiring around to alot of contacts, turns out a friend of mine here in Carlsbad had one that used to be mounted on an old Olympia beer keg from the 70’s that came on an outboard boat he had bought years ago. Boat and beer keg tank are long gone but fortunately he kept the cap.
It was pretty beat up…after disassembly and a fair amount of time at the polishing wheel, she looks respectable now!

Got about everything prepped that I can.
Next Saturday can’t come soon enough.
Can’t wait to start the process!

 

[Wheeler]

Looks Great Dave!

 

[PRORACER7474]

So i grew up in Norwalk Ca in the 70s on the corner of Hoback st and Mac Christensen lived across the street, his brother Mel 2 houses down and Ed "Bo" Wedge next door. Mac got killed in Peggy's Shockwave TF hydro I think in 1973. It was a great nieghborhood to grow up in. Everyday after school there was always money to be made either cleaning race boats and or parts or helping Bo tear down engines. After Mac got killed his brother Mel and me started a VW repair shop.
Chris Lamb

 

[Clank123]

So i grew up in Norwalk Ca in the 70s on the corner of Hoback st and Mac Christensen lived across the street, his brother Mel 2 houses down and Ed "Bo" Wedge next door. Mac got killed in Peggy's Shockwave TF hydro I think in 1973. It was a great nieghborhood to grow up in. Everyday after school there was always money to be made either cleaning race boats and or parts or helping Bo tear down engines. After Mac got killed his brother Mel and me started a VW repair shop.
Chris Lamb

My kind of neighborhood!

 

[Clank123]

Got to thinking about how amazing guys like Mac Christensen were.
200 miles an hour in a quarter mile in a pair of white pants with a short sleeve tshirt and a life jacket. Wow!
Here is a list of the first 6 men to run the quarter at 200mph…

1…Gary Gabelich in the Sanger “Crisis” at Perris…200.44

2…Larry Hill in Sanger “Mr Ed” at Long Beach in 1971…202.46

3…Larry Schwabenland in a Sanger “Climax”at Oakland in 1972…205.01

4…Mac Christensen in a Hondo “Shockwave” at Long Beach…202.46

5…Dennis Pollacia in the Howard “Out a Sight” at Oakland in 1974…200.09

6…Gary Scow in the Kindsvater “The Beast” in 1974 at Long Beach…202.20

I saw 4 out of the 6. Nothing like it!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Got to thinking about how amazing guys like Mac Christensen were.
200 miles an hour in a quarter mile in a pair of white pants with a short sleeve tshirt and a life jacket. Wow!
Here is a list of the first 6 men to run the quarter at 200mph…

1…Gary Gabelich in the Sanger “Crisis” at Perris…200.44
View attachment 1238702
2…Larry Hill in Sanger “Mr Ed” at Long Beach in 1971…202.46
View attachment 1238703
3…Larry Schwabenland in a Sanger “Climax”at Oakland in 1972…205.01
View attachment 1238706
4…Mac Christensen in a Hondo “Shockwave” at Long Beach…202.46
View attachment 1238708
5…Dennis Pollacia in the Howard “Out a Sight” at Oakland in 1974…200.09
View attachment 1238709
6…Gary Scow in the Kindsvater “The Beast” in 1974 at Long Beach…202.20
View attachment 1238711

I saw 4 out of the 6. Nothing like it!

It amazes me that the boats could go the fast...

The drivers had some big stainless steel balls! Uuuuge!

 

[rightytighty]

My idiot story:

My parents relocated to Fresno to be near us when grandkids came along. In a very nice appx 15 unit condo complex around 2000.

I enquired about their neighbors.

My dad mentioned , the neighbor across the street was a cool guy, “who was in the Navy”. I said, “cool” and never thought about it again. He said they split time at their place in Bass lake and aren't around much.

A bit later, i see the neighbor limping a bit as he went to get the mail. Hmmm.

I asked Dad why he said the neighbor was in the Navy? “Cause of his license plate”, he said. “SWABEE”.

Still no damm light bulb in my head….

Fast forward to 2008, I went to the Bass Lake boat show and a golf cart rolls up and you’d think Elvis was walking through a high school girls gym by the ruckus created with the “high school girls” (old guys) swarming the golf cart.

Curious- i walked over and spotted my parents neighbor at the head of parade…

Dammit- my parents neighbor was Larry Swabenland…. i’m an idiot, and had missed out on years of cool stories. I introduced my self next time i saw him in town, and caught up.

 

[Clank123]

Got a friend picking it up in Needles now.
She’s on her way to Carlsbad!

 

[Clank123]

Since it’s finally time to start rigging this thing I thought I’d give you all a brief history “best I can tell” about the Shockwave history.

The first Shockwave was the Hondo Factory BFH just like the 2 that would follow.
As mentioned in this thread, Mac Christensen was the driver of the first one.

In 1973 he was the 4th man to break the 200mph barrier in this boat.
The Shockwave was a consistent threat at every race it was in and won it’s fair share of races.
Tragically Mac was killed in the boat while testing in Oakland in June of 1974.

The second Shockwave (the one being restored now) was put into service after Mac’s death.
The boat originally had been sold to Gary Rashe and was called “Rats Fueler” with Gary Scow doing the driving.
At one of its early races the 392 hemi blew up big time tearing the engine from the rails and busting up the transom.
You can see in the pictures that the motor is sideways in the boat.

They took it back to Hondo and demanded a new boat.
A new hull was given to them they pulled the rigging out of it and went racing.
After the Shockwave crash, the Rat’s Fueler was repaired, parts were reused from the crashed boat and renamed Shockwave with Gary Gabelich in the seat and Dan Olson building the engines as he did for all the Hondo Factory Fuel Boats.
At Speed…

Gabelich…pretty sure that’s Mike Brendel at the back of the boat.

With Olson…

The boat had some success and was always competitive. Gary crashed it in early 1975 and it was retired.

Aftershock…it’s been said that Peggy Brendel was remorseful over naming the second boat Shockwave since Mac had been killed in the first one.
So the next boat was named Aftershock.
The boat was immediately competitive with Olson turning the wrenches and the great Dennis “Godfather” Pollocia in the seat.
There were a few other drivers over the next few years and as Drag Racing began to fade in the late 70’s so did the Factory Teams.

 

[RogerThat99]

thats the way i got that boat minus tank in the back it had a small tank where passenger sead would go good ol BADLANDS i got it from wayne at hawiaain boats in

norco ca for a grand i sold it to a guy in corona then i heard he sold to someone up north...........thats a great resto boat

I am pretty sure Larry Clover owned it for a while, about 5 or 6 years ago. He lives up north.

 

[Clank123]

Now the fun begins!!!

 

[coolchange]

Let me know!
If anyone else has a shell please reach out.
Appreciate it!

I’ll look, I gave one away about a year ago

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

Can I come help for free ..........

 

[Clank123]

Making some good progress.

 

[monkeyswrench]

What did you use for the "clear" in the bottom? Is it resin, epoxy...magic fairy juice? That looks amazing!

 

[rrrr]

The difference between the photos in post #2 and today is just astounding. Beautiful and brilliant work.

 

[cofooter]

What did you use for the "clear" in the bottom? Is it resin, epoxy...magic fairy juice? That looks amazing!

Usually clear Duratec

 

[cofooter]

Making some good progress.
View attachment 1245938 View attachment 1245936 View attachment 1245937 View attachment 1245939 View attachment 1245941 View attachment 1245940

Looks great Dave!!!!

 

[coolchange]

I found that little bucket. It has about 8 holes in the bottom and the wood is jacked. Whoever covered it used about 10 snaps. I just used it for mock up. By the time it’s cleaned up you’re better off just getting a new one.

 

[Clank123]

What did you use for the "clear" in the bottom? Is it resin, epoxy...magic fairy juice? That looks amazing!

Cofooter could be right.
It is the most brilliant flowcoat I’ve ever seen.
I’m not sure that BB is willing to give up the concoction…like you said, let’s just go with Needles Fairy Dust

 

[Clank123]

I found that little bucket. It has about 8 holes in the bottom and the wood is jacked. Whoever covered it used about 10 snaps. I just used it for mock up. By the time it’s cleaned up you’re better off just getting a new one.

Thanks for the effort.
My mock-up seat isn’t much better but it works!

 

[Clank123]

She’s starting to look like a boat now!
Rails and sponson braces in.
Plan to set engine next weekend.
For now…off to the River till Thursday!

 

[Clank123]

Steering box mounted.
It’s a bit tight up in there.
Good to have my Brother Eric able to help again after the Crackerbox crash.
The boy can get into all the tight spots I can’t!
Found a really cool keyed split coupler to tie the steering shaft in. Way more stout than original.
Still need to figure out the pivot arm geometry to push and pull the rudder.

 

[Clank123]

When I do a period correct restoration, I like to use as many of the original parts that I can, if I have them.
On the propshaft seal, Wish I’da taken a picture of it before I put all together. It’s the original and I’ve never seen one before. The front seal area is pretty standard but it has an extended length barrel that has a longer bronze bushing for support and then at the back it has another seal held in by a circlip. Gotta seal the water out unbelievably!
Also reused the original hose clamps after some polishing and the original Alan bolts to hold the shaftlog down.

 

[Clank123]

She’s come along way
All the parts were in boxes when I got it.
Fun to put the puzzle together.
Every piece in the boat now is original except the rails. As would be expected, they were shotgunned with holes from moving the engine forward and back.

 

[MOUZER]

dave after u finish these restos how do u part with them.....

 

[Clank123]

dave after u finish these restos how do u part with them.....

I’ve always said that with every project, a little bit of me goes with each one.
I kinda feel like I have a small percentage of ownership if that makes sense. There’s a lot of guys on here that have way more talent than I have and I’m sure they feel the same way.
If you are just doing it for the money, then I think you are missing the point.
I had a guy once tell me, that he should be doing the restoration instead of me and he asked me, “what does this restoration mean to you?”. I replied that it was an honor to be involved with a true piece of history and I feel it’s important for our combined heritage that these pieces be brought back for future generations to see and learn.
He answered back, “you know what this restoration means to me? A new Truck!”
I felt bad for him.
Because I don’t do it for the money, I’ve been able to pick the owners I’ve worked with as well, which is just as important.
I can only think of maybe 2 or so that I didn’t pick and did work for and they turned out to be not so great.
I’m a lucky guy to be able work with good people who have a passion for our sport.