This one time at Andy's Nelson's house - 2

I spent my day at Andy Nelson’s garage. In about 7 hours we succeeded in fabricating one right side header for Andrew’s future land-speed car – an early 50s Studebaker. Some may feel that this is an excessive amount of time to be spending on one header. I say Nay-nay!

The power created by a carefully fabricated header will always be there. It won’t throw a rod or spin a bearing. It won’t wear out – OK headers DO have a life expectancy - but they last a long time. It won’t harden from too many heat-cycles.

In the last two days - Andy spent roughly 14 plus hours on a pair of well thought out headers that are far superior and suit this application far better than any set of headers that could be bought. These headers will most likely give Andy 30 – 60 horsepower more than store bought headers. This is 30-60 horsepower you CAN”T buy – unless you want someone else to do the fabricating – but for Andy and for most of us this would be cost prohibitive.

This is the same thought process that goes into every set of equal-length and/or 180 degree headers that Andy builds - headers for the Beetle, Z-car, Fiat, and Nova – all of them.

How many other Challenge competitors are willing to do the research, find the parts, get the tools and take the time to build a set of perfect headers for your particular application? Yes – it CAN be done and You CAN do it. But will you take the time? It could yield you some very reliable horsepower and every engine can benefit from custom headers.

This is only one reason Andy Nelson can run 10s for less than $2000. Car balance, lightness and reliability are the cornerstone to all of Andy’s builds. He doesn’t do it with all store bought parts. He scours the yards, asks friends and acquaintances about parts and projects, gets up at O’dark-thirty in the morning to go to a swap-meet and stays until unsold stuff is being thrown away. You may say that this is scrounging – but the ultimate goal is crossing the finish-line first – Andy does what it takes.

I learn something new every time I go to Andy’s. Today I learned something about Andy’s true commitment to finding every last ounce of power and how much effort he is willing to put into one header.

I count myself as very fortunate for this lesson.

damn, wish i could have stopped by...

Nice.

I must say... I've certainly gotten a lot less done in 7 hours.

Actually, 7 hours is pretty good. It takes me that long to do a simple header. The one I built for the Targa car took me about two months! And it was worth 15 hp over a Racing Beat one.

Yeah but does Andy know how comfortable his couch is?

I heard he farts lightning bolts.

Btw - one of the nicest guys at the challenge out of a ton of very nice people.

seeker589 wrote: ... How many other Challenge competitors are willing to do the research, find the parts, get the tools and take the time to build a set of perfect headers for your particular application? Yes – it CAN be done and You CAN do it. But will you take the time? It could yield you some very reliable horsepower and every engine can benefit from custom headers. ...

Xceler8x wrote: I heard he farts lightning bolts. Btw - one of the nicest guys at the challenge out of a ton of very nice people.

Whats more, is that there are peaple who are willing to do it, but are kinda jerks about it. Andy is willing to share with anyone who wants to learn and is willing to listen. In 05, he sat next to the pool, sunburned, and humoured my stupid questions for darn near a 1/2 hour. This past year, in the middle of his family's lunch, he let me rummage through his trailer looking for a radiator cap. It was neat to see him in the top 25 in the recent GRM, becuase as it has been mentioned here constantly, he does kind of embody the spirit of why we are all here.

BTW Andy, if your route to Bonniville takes you through CO, you have a place to stay.

Mental, never mention "crash" and "Bonneville" in the same sentence, it's bad luck.

Fixed

Keith- is that a Burns collector? Nice job- I'd be interested if you have pictures of the process. I may build another one at some point for the midget- first one was mild steel and it's already showing a bit of wear.

The collector is an Edelbrock. Cheap It's not a Challenge car, but that doesn't mean it has to be full of expensive stuff like Burns parts. Here's the full build of the header: Header construction

My wife wants to go to Speed Week this year. If that works out, I'll have to see if I can meet up with Andy. I'd love to see his work first-hand.

I've had the privilage of being invited to Andy's house to see all his works. I can tell you that he is the nicest guy you could imagine, and a true genius of the tubing.

The most amazing thing about Andy is that he can remember exactly what parts go to what cars, if you have been to his place, then you know what I mean. He has several cars/projects going on at one time, some compleatly stripped down to shells, with bits and pieces stashed and stored everywhere, yet he knows exactly where every part is and what it goes to.

He has an entire old barn, and several sheds full of all his cars, and parts in various states of completion. One of the things that impressed me the most is that he makes the time to work on ALL his stuff. I mean this guy has a full time job, and a family and a life, and he gets his projects done, multipule projects! I don't think Andy's couch has very many miles on it, because he doesn't strike me as someone that wastes much time watching tv.

Another amazing thing is that he gets most of his stuff at flea markets and as cast offs, he also recycles everything you could imagine, see that shift light on the dash of the v8 z car? it is a tylenol bottle!!! but it looks so professionally done, that if you were not told this, you would never know!

I think one of the best things that Andy has is a very helpful and supportive family, since he gets a lot of help from his wife and kids.

All this and I haven't even mentioned his genius in making exhausts, lets just say that he could very likely earn a fantastic living just fabricating headers. I think if I ever get serious about learning to make tuned headers I would like to learn from him, because I really doubt that you could find anyone better to apprentice under. Did I mention that every one of his projects has world class exhaust work done on it?

Chris Rummel

The only thing I ever spent that much time on was college.

Chuck Norris has Andy Nelson build his cars.

he does kind of embody the spirit of why we are all here.

Quoted fo' troof!!!

Yikes! I only get to catch up infrequently on the board. I must admit it is a little awkward to read a post like this. While I am flattered to read some of the comments, you give me way too much credit.

If it were not for my wife and boys, and our friends, our projects would not have been successful. Our successes have only occured because there are many contributors. Friends like Sean Devine who held the tape on single digit days in the former horse stall portion of the hay barn I use as a shop. Sean has helped with many of those non-glamorous jobs that must be done to complete the whole project. Dennis Crabill helped with fabrication and problem solving. Ben Snyder who repaired the heads that were purchased at the flea market. David Colvin who sprays implement paint over the rattle can Rustoleum primer, and fixes some of the crappie bodywork. Bernie Haines helped with welding. Greg Hainsey provided help with the chassis set-up. Jason Vogelsong is working on the body work. Corey who helped with everything in '04 and '05. Tim who help repair rusted fenders and scraped floor pans, and recently help tack up a set on headers. A lot of dedication from friends who are willing to work in an uninsulated barn in the winter and no AC in the summer. Other folks helped with disinfuncification of the former mouse hotels we use as the project foundations (read - junk cars). Some loaned tools. Some let me borrow the blast cabinet. We could not have completed any of these project without all of the teamates. God has blessed me with great partners.

As for the Land Speed effort. I have some exciting things going on. On 12/4/08, we got a sponsor. It is not a big time deal, but something that will allow us to bridge a gap we have not been able to get across without help. Last year at this time I had to put the '54 Stude away because time was running out to make it to Maxton for the April of 08 event, and we had many medical bills that were due. We ended up taking our blue Datsun and ran 142 mph. It was going to be our '07, then '08 Challenge car, but the boy asked about doing the Bug and that is what we brought to the $2008 Challenge. Since this time last year many pieces have fallen into place and we hope to be at Maxton with the Stude this April of 09. Many GRM'ers are familiar with the car and have helped already. I hope to share the complete story at a later date. At the Hot Rod Top Speed Challenge held at Maxton in April of '08 we saw at least 10 GRM'ers. I would like to get a group of us together for the upcoming evert.

If folks are interested in the Stude, I can ask Cameron to post progress on our current project. It is very Grassroots, but not limited to a Challenge budget. I hope to make it to Bonneville within 4 years, after we have made many passes at Maxton.

Andrew

Well by all means, please let us know who the sponsor is, so we can use their products and/or services. I mean if it weren't for the Challenge I never would have known that CRC makes better stuff than anyone else.

Andy, definitely have Cameron add the Stude in Reader Rides. You can now add updates and pix there, and people will be able to add it to their watchlist to keep track of when it's updated.

bluej wrote: Chuck Norris has Andy Nelson build his cars.

We gotta make T-shirts!

-Tim

Mental wrote: Well by all means, please let us know who the sponsor is, so we can use their products and/or services. I mean if it weren't for the Challenge I never would have known that CRC makes better stuff than anyone else.

The sponsor is a private individual who follows small time racers. He has supported some local racers for about 30 years and the primary team he was sponsoring has closed shop. He has been watching us struggle turning nothing into something for 20+ years. And, he wants to see us go to the next level. So, he contacted me clear out of the blue and offered it with only a "Thank You" as a return.

seeker589 wrote:

bluej wrote: Chuck Norris has Andy Nelson build his cars.

We gotta make T-shirts! -Tim

Knock it off knucklehead.

It's true, it's all true. Andy's modesty prevents him from taking the credit he deserves. Even though, like he said, he is just one part of a team, he's one hell of a motivator and there wouldn't be a team without him. I bet I put more time into the Fiat in one year than I put into my own challenge car since '02. It's his enthusiasm, mad skills, and occasional hair brained schemes that make people want to be a part of what ever he's building. I look forward to seeing his future creations (in real life or print), and helping out when ever I can. Well done sir!

wheels777 wrote:

seeker589 wrote:

bluej wrote: Chuck Norris has Andy Nelson build his cars.

We gotta make T-shirts! -Tim

Knock it off knucklehead.

Andy has spoken!

wheels777 wrote:

seeker589 wrote:

bluej wrote: Chuck Norris has Andy Nelson build his cars.

We gotta make T-shirts! -Tim

Knock it off knucklehead.

THE Andy called ME Knucklehead! sigh

FWIW there's a late '40s/early '50s Stude approx 1/2 hr west of York on Rt 234...don't know the model but it's the big sedan.