"Click" on a Photo
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I stopped in Nick's
Frame and Body Shop
in Sharonville, Ohio
in 2005 to see if
Emory had any
photos of his cars
that ran dirt in the
Cincinnati tri-state
area. Emory informed
me he still had the
last car they ran.
This is the way I
found it back in the
junk yard with Larry
Moore's name still on
the top and #33 from
the last time it ran at
Winchester Speedway
for the Dri-Power 400.
Picture by Bill Holder
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It was buried so deep
that the easiest way
to get it out would be
to hook to it with a
crane from the other
side of the fence.
Picture by Bill Holder
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Rust had almost
overcome it.
Picture by Bill Holder
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A shot of the Monte
Carlo nose. Even
though this car is a 70
Chevelle they used
the 70 Monte Carlo
nose since they
wanted the single
headlight look.
Picture by Bill Holder
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These next few shots
are after Mitch
Nickels pulled it out
from it's hiding place.
Picture by Bill Holder
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Thanks to Year~One
it will get a new skin
and keep us from
much body work.
Picture by Bill Holder
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Amazingly the window
net wasn't even
rotted, while some of
the frame was lost to
rust. Thankfully
Mitch had a 70
Chevelle parts car
that has a perfect
frame.
Picture by Bill Holder
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The rear bumper is in
great shape, no
matter Mitch
informed me they had
a stack of them they
saved while they were
racing.
Picture by Bill Holder
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Take a look at the
knots on the steering
wheel. Emory told me
that Larry Moore was
having trouble with
the wheel slipping out
of his hand. Emory
took heater hose and
wrapped it around the
wheel and covered it
with tape.
Picture by Bill Holder
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After a meeting with
Mitch Nickels, Johnny
Williams, The
Dillinghams, Morgan
Chandler, Chuck
McWilliams, Bill
Holder, and Myself.
It was decided that
this Giant deserved to
be taken down bare
are rebuilt the right
way and driveable
with a big block just
like it was.
This is a shot after
Mitch and Johnny
Williams cutout the
frame to be replaced.
You can see from the
photos above how
much work has
already been done.
Picture by Doug Lee
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A shot of the roll cage
cutout and the quick
change rear end.
Picture by Doug Lee
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A shot of the grill,
springs, brake drums,
trailing arms, and
other various parts.
Picture by Doug Lee
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A shot of the cage,
and front clip.
Picture by Doug Lee
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A shot of the seat
cage, a 2 piece type
that is only seen
today in Scott
Bloomquist car with
the seat and headrest
seperate.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Picture by Doug Lee
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Another shot of the
roll cage.
Picture by Doug Lee
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A shot of the heater
hose covered steering
wheel.
Picture by Doug Lee
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A closeup shot of the
quick change rear end.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Here's a shot of some
of the suspension
parts cleaned up.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of the rear
bumper and fuel cell
frame to be
re-created.
Photo by JT LeFever
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Shot of the 1970
Chevelle SS Frame
Specs.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The new/old frame
turned out
unbelievable. The
parts car it came out
of was in great shape.
Some might wonder
why they would use
such a valuable piece?
When the car was
originally built they
purchased a brand
new 1970 Big Block
Chevelle from a local
dealer, drove it home,
stripped it, and built it.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The roll cage after
being sand blasted.
The bars you see with
rust on them still will
be cutoff and replaced.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The clutch and brake
pedals were left intact
for exact firewall
placement.
Picture by JT LeFever
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With a new frame
comes a lot of work
putting in spring
buckets and many
other handmade
brackets. Just like
back in the day
everything needed is
custom made or in
the case of this spring
bucket the original is
used.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Another shot of an
original spring bucket
used on the new
frame. Once brackets
are in we'll have to do
a second sand blasting.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Another shot of the
spring bucket and to
the top right of the
picture a new panhard
bar bracket.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Other spring bucket
with new handmade
upper trailing arm
bracket.
Picture by JT LeFever
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With a new frame
also comes a lot of
work plating the
stock frame.
Here's shot of a piece
that was cut to fit the
siderails of the frame.
Mitch said, "whoever
gets to drive it
North/South weekend
will be able to haul it
in there. If they
wreck it we'll fix it."
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch gets the frame
side rail plating
welded.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Original engine
mounts used and
turned around for
engine setback. When
electrical fuel pumps
were outlawed the
cross member had to
be notched for a
mechanical fuel pump
to be installed. The
original notch was
cutout of the old
frame and welded in
the new. New jackbolt
threads can also be
seen welded in.
Picture by JT LeFever
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New transmission
cross member mounts
made and welded in.
Picture by JT LeFever
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This is a top shot of
the frame rail that
goes up over the rear
end.
You can see how
much it has been
narrowed,
just like the original
car was done some 37
years ago.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Stock rear lower
trailing arm mounts
have been plated, just
like they did 37 years
ago. This car is
essentially a 4 bar car
without a birdcage.
Picture by JT LeFever
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When I arrive on
Sunday morning
Mitch has the chassis
upside down,
welded, and ready for
me to blast one last
time before paint.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of the roll cage
going back in. After
the cage is back in
place we will cutout
and replace any bad
bars.
Picture by Doug Lee.
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I'll try to get a better
shot of the frame
rails that go over top
of the rear end. They
have been split and
narrowed, the
underside of the rail
is maybe 1" wide.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Old school frame
gauges hang along the
bottom of the frame.
Mitch had to dig the
gauges and 70
Chevelle frame book
out of the archives to
make sure everything
goes back where it is
suppose to.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Make shift cross
members with
sandbags help keep
the frame from
movement while the
cage is tacked in.
Picture by Doug Lee.
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Bottom shot of the
frame rail that goes
up over the rear end.
You can see how
much it has been
narrowed,
just like the original
car was done some 37
years ago.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Some of the damaged
bars have been cutout
and replaced.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch gets the
original fuel pump
bracket welded in and
is
nearing completion of
rear of the chassis.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Johnny Williams
marks for a notch to
be made in the tail
clip.
Mitch Nickels works
on re-creating a new
tube rear bumper in
the background.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Johnny Williams
smooths out his notch.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Johnny getting her
smooth.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch Nickels cuts the
ends even on the new
rear frame bumper.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Now it's back like it
was on the original
frame.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Notched rear tail clip
awaits the new rear
frame bumper resting
against the frame in
the right lower corner
of the photo.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Noticing the width and
indentations on the
rear tail clip while
measuring the fuel
cell opening. We see
that original frame
was cut and flattened
to fit the fuel cell. Not
a big deal to some,
worth the time and
effort to Mitch and
Johnny.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Johnny Williams
grinding the finish of
his fresh cut.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Johnny Williams gets
ready to first fit the
cowl.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch and Johnny
hold the GIANT down.
It has the race shop
feel just like when I
was kid.
A lot of help in and
out because they love
it, not beacuse they
are getting paid.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch hooks to the
chassis to put it back
on the horses as
Grandmother
Simmons looks on.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch sets the chassis
back on the horses.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The chassis returns
from being painted at
Quality Electrostatic.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Meanwhile, Mitch
pressure washes the
Frankland rear end to
see what we're up
against.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Pinion bracket at
10:00.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The rear end turned
out decent, although
the brackets and
tubes may need
repaired/replaced.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Fuel cell bars tacked
in and a great shot of
where the rear
bumper connects with
the frame and the
downtubes.
Picture by JT LeFever
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This is a shot of the
front cage clip sitting
on the frame.
It will get welded into
place once the firewall
is in place.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The new Cowl ready
to be stripped and
prepared
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch and Johnny hit
a small snag when it
came time to measure
for the cowl. The old
cowl was inspected
and appears to be
shortened and gas
welded back together.
So this is a shot after
the cowl has been
cutoff to be trimmed
8"~ 9".
Picture by JT LeFever
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The cowl coutout and
prepared to have 8-9
inches taken off.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Scraps of what was
cut out of the cowl.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Firewall ready to go
back onto the cowl.
Photo by JT Lefever
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The Teacher and one
of his many students.
Emory Nickels
explains to Johnny
Williams that it's
better to grind with
an electric grinder
then to grind with an
air grinder. Just
before Johnny
explains that he knew
that but he just
burned up one of
Emory's electric
grinders:-)
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch and Johnny
discuss the Giant.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The floor pan is in
and awaits the
firewall.
Picture by Doug Lee
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The firewall ready to
be set in place.
Picture by Doug Lee
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The firewall set in
place.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Shot of the firewall in
place and if you look
at the left side of the
firewall you'll see
where the battery box
will be placed.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Firewall in place and
ready to be joined to
the floor pan.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Mitch prepares to
tack weld the firewall
in place.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Mitch and Johnny
after the firewall is
set in place.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Mitch tack welding
the firewall in place.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Mitch and Johnny
discuss the front roll
cage alignment.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Ready for the front
roll cage clip.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Shot of the floor pan
and firewall.
Picture by Doug Lee
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JT listens as Johnny
tells how much of the
roof pillar will be used.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Johnny works hard on
the floor pan.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch gets the floor
pan nearly all welded.
Picture by JT LeFever
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If you could only see
my face as I sit in the
most comfortable
racing seat I've ever
been in.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch ended up
making a mostly new
seat frame.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Another shot of the
driver's seat.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Original Stewart
Warner guages and
steering wheel. The
wheel will get retaped.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Some of the
suspension gets bolted
on while Mitch awaits
for me to get back
from Charlotte with
ball joints.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The shortened cowl
ready to meet the
firewall.
Picture by JT LeFever
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A look at the
transmission and
handmade Emory Nickels
headers that custom fit
above the transmission
crossmember.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The Emory Nickel
headers turned out
great after sand
blasting and will be
sent to Aesthetic
Finishers for ceramic
coating.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The headers are back a
little from where they
will be, but will be a little
higher to fit above the
custom transmission
crossmember with
straight pipes out the
back. With the way these
headers were made this
car could sit much lower
than most cars of the day.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Custom transmission
crossmember made to
run the custom headers
above it.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Another shot of the
Emory Nickels header.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The chassis pulled
back outside for
sandblasting after a
rain delay.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The chassis pulled
back inside after
blasting is complete.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Another shot of the
headers ceramic
coated by Aesthetic
Finishers in Piqua,
Ohio.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch gets the
dummy block, heads,
intake in with the
headers bolted on.
This had to be done to
make sure the new
crossmember Mitch
made cleared.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch gets the
dummy block, bell
housing, and
transmission
in to set and repair
the crossmember.
Picture by JT LeFever
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I picked the header
up today from
Aesthetic Finishers in
Piqua, Ohio.
As you can see they
turned out beautiful!
Picture by JT LeFever
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This shot shows how
precise Emory made
these headers to clear
all around.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Just another fine
piece of fabrication by
Mitch.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Lower control arms
before removing the
ball joints and getting
their final blasting.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Lower control arms
and trailing arms
blasted.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of the upper
control arm after
having the primer
applied.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of the upper
control arm after
having the primer
applied.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of many of the
parts after primer.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Johnny did a great job
on refinishing the
control arms.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Other componets
finished.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The Frankland rear
end back together.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The Frankland rear
end back together.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of the massive
carburetor that will
power the 500+ C.I.
Big Block.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Another shot of the
massive carburetor
that will power the
500+ C.I. Big Block.
Picture by Doug Lee
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Pretty nice dummies.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Pretty nice dummies.
Picture by JT LeFever
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New crossmember.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Tight squeeze.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Tight squeeze.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Tight squeeze.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of the
bellhousing Johnny
reworked.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch sandblasting
the new handmade
inner rocker panel's.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Modie re-fits the old
interior before
fabricating the new
panels.
Picture by JT LeFever
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A shot of the
underside of the
GIANT.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The stove has arrived!
Picture by JT LeFever
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As soon as the stove
is in the bell housing
and transmission will
follow.
Picture by JT LeFever
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All of the new sheet
metal, with the
exception of the cowl
induction hood
have arrived from
Year-One. Here is a
shot of the new left
front fender.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Shot of one of the
new floorpans.
Picture by JT LeFever
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The Year-One Cowl
Induction hood
arrives.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Mitch gives the new
fenders a haircut.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Checking the fit of
the new fender.
Picture by JT LeFever
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A good shot of the
fender braces. All the
panels of this car are
bolted on.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Getting a look at
some of the new sheet
metal.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Johnny gets the new
outer rocker fitted.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Left side rocker and
door look great.
Picture by JT LeFever
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A special thanks goes
out to Year-One for
their help in
restoring this GIANT.
Picture by JT LeFever
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Dirt Racing 101
links associated with
this car & Nick's
Emory Nickels
Tommy Simmons
John Cummings
Don Lamb
Chuck McWilliams
Larry Moore
Jay Wyatt
Ronnie Hines
----------------------
Original lettering
done in paint and
decal by
Harold Sharp
----------------------
Special Thanks
to all that have help
thus far to make this
happen!
Emory Nickels
Gorman Dillingham
Modie Dillingham
Mitch Nickels
Johnny Williams
Tommy Williams
Keith Colyer
Bill Shiveley
Jeff Shiveley
Bill Holder
Jim Klette
Doug Lee
Fred Smith
Paul Jordan@
Trident Specialty
Year-One
Aesthetic Finishers
Gary Engle@
Quality Electrostatic
Landrum Spring
Mike Osborne@
Left Behind Racing
513-739-9790
Jimmy Henry
Leo Konik@
Konik's Klassiks
Dale Cubic@
CFM Performance Carbs
Rich Poe@
Valvoline
PPG
KOI Auto Parts
Jamie Frankland
Kerry Henne@
Frankland
NDLMHOF
----------------------
Original Crew
Emory Nickels
Gorman Dillingham
Modie Dillingham
Mike Nickels
Mitch Nickels
Johnny Williams
Bill Jewett
Bill Shiveley
Howard Duff
Glen Wilson
Harold Sharp
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