Car of the Week: Dana Duckett's 1970 Chevelle SS 454

Welcome to the BTE Racing Car of the Week series, where we feature our customers and fans, and the cars (and trucks) they love to race. Today, it’s all about Dana Duckett from Grimes, IA and his 1970 Chevelle SS 454.

How did you get into drag racing?

My best friend had a drag car back in the late 80s, and I started going to the track with him every weekend. First we raced a 331 cid small block powered ’74 Vega at the Bethany, MO track and were the track champions in our class for several years. We then began running a ’67 big block powered Camaro and moved to the Princeton, MO track after Bethany closed. I’ve always been interested in cars, and always had a hot street car dating back to my high school days when I had a ’71 Chevelle running a small block (355 cid) with a tunnel ram. 

What model/year do you race now?

My current “hot rod” is a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 (LS-6) convertible clone.

What's under the hood?

It is a .030 over 454 with Speed Pro 10.5:1 pistons, factory LS-6 steel crank, Lunati 60204 Voodoo cam, lifters, and springs and many of the original LS-6 parts including 291 rectangle-port closed-chamber heads, 569 Winters aluminum intake, and an original 4492 Holley 780 carb.  

Which BTE products do you use in your vehicle?

It is backed by a Turbo 400 that Steve Oldani built for me using BTE internal parts and a BTE 11” Street/Strip stall converter running through a Richmond Gear 4.10 posi. 

Why do you use BTE?
I use BTE products because my transmission builder, Steve “the Trans Man” Oldani, had nothing but great things to say about your products and that your service was second to none. I had known Steve for several years before he did any work for me. Steve was rebuilding my convertible’s transmission and recommended several upgrades along with one of your street/strip converters to go along with the new engine I was building.  When I ran into some problems with my converter several months later, BTE immediately shipped me a replacement. The BTE tech staff followed-up and were extremely helpful. In this day and age, this level of personal service is unheard of and BTE’s willingness to stand behind their product and make sure I was completely satisfied was very refreshing. I’m sold on BTE products and recommend them to everyone I know! Your products speak for themselves and I'm a BTE customer for life.

Someone you look up to in racing?

I’ve always looked up to the door slammers in pro stock, including drivers like Warren Johnson and a guy with more local ties, Bob Morton who used to drive the Cooper & Kriegh Pizza Hut pro stock Camaro.

If money were no object, what would you drive?

An original 1969 DZ302 Camaro.

Car of the Week: Joey Painter's 1969 Chevy Camaro

Welcome to the BTE Racing Car of the Week series, where we feature our customers and fans, and the cars (and trucks) they love to race. Today, it’s all about Joey Painter from Boaz, AL and his 1969 Chevy Camaro. 

How did you get into drag racing?

I have lots of friends that race, so they got me started. I have been a drag racing fan my entire life. My dad, Troy, raced when I was a child. I guess it’s always been something I’ve been very interested in.

When and where was your first race?

First race I carried my car to was Alabama International Dragway.

What model/year do you race now?

1969 Camaro

What's under the hood?

496 Big Block Chevrolet

Which BTE products do you use in your vehicle?

I use a BTE Powerglide for 3 seasons now. 

Why do you use BTE?

I like BTE products because I have never had any problems with them. 

Someone you look up to in racing?

I am going to Scotty Richardson’s driving school, and if I can learn to drive like him everybody better look out.

If money were no object, what would you drive?

If I could afford it, I would travel the country doing nothing but racing and meeting new people. Maybe one day I will drive a pro mod car, but I also like bracket racing, 6.0 and 5.70.

Car of the Week: Chance Lykens' 1978 Chevy LUV

Welcome to the BTE Racing Car of the Week series, where we feature our customers and fans, and the cars (and trucks) they love to race. Today, it’s all about Chance Lykens from Lamar, MS and his 1978 Chevy LUV. 

How did you get into drag racing?

I got into drag racing after my dad told me all his stories of driving for my grandpa. After my father died when I was 14 years old, my grandpa saw me in a depressed mood so he put me in our race truck.

When and where was your first race?

My first race was in September of 2010.

What model/year do you race now?

I race a 1978 Chevy LUV.

Does your car have a nickname?

The trucks nickname is "Ladies Man." 

What's under the hood?

A 406 Small block Chevy is our motor. 

Which BTE products do you use in your vehicle?

All our products are from BTE, because they work great and BTE is five minutes down the road. We have great friends down there, and we know they are best at what they do. 

Why do you use BTE?

We use BTE because their products are durable. They withstand a bunch of torque and power. Our converter and transmission have lasted over five years. 

Someone you look up to in racing?

I look up to two main people. My grandfather who has helped me with everything he can. From putting me into a race car to helping with life. He's the only reason I'm racing now. I couldn't do it without "Pop." I actually also look up to a BTE employee. Bryan Robinson has been a really great inspiration for me. He's helped me with advice a lot and I even use his old fire jacket. He's a great bracket racer and it shows on and off the track. 

If money were no object, what would you drive?

I'd really love to drive Chevy 2 or a dragster. I've driven a bunch of door cars, but I've never had a chance to hop in a dragster. I've driven my buddy, Jeremy Harrison's Chevy 2 a few times. It's a great ride and I love driving it. 

What is your pre-race ritual (if you have one)?

My pre-race ritual is pretty normal. I drink a lot of water and joke around with my 2 grandpas, Danny Lewis and Monkey Bolden. We look over last week's runs and ride the golf cart around the track.

Car of the Week: Wendy Kreps' 1979 Chevy Malibu

Welcome to the BTE Racing Car of the Week series, where we feature our customers and fans, and the cars (and trucks) they love to race. Today, it’s all about Wendy Kreps from Vinemont, AL and her 1979 Chevy Malibu.

Credit: Hobbie Lee Photography 

How did you get into drag racing? 

All it took was a ride-along in the passenger seat on a warm-up pass for me to decide that drag racing might be pretty fun!

When and where was your first race?

I bought my first car in 2005, an ’80 Malibu, and ran my first race in footbrake class at Baileyton “Good Time” Drag Strip, Baileyton, AL in the summer of 2006.

 

What model/year do you race now?

A ’79 Malibu

 

Does your car have a nickname?

Fearless. The short story behind that: A wreck destroyed my ’80 in 2012. I bought this car two weeks to the day after the wreck and came back in 2013.

 

What's under the hood?

A stock GM block 383 with forged internals, currently undergoing an upgrade to AFR heads and a composite intake

 

Which BTE products do you use in your vehicle and why do you use BTE?

I have run a convertor serviced by BTE for the past 5 years. Their quality and service is the best in the business. I have changed configurations a few times over the years and BTE has never failed to nail the convertor set-up for my combination.

 

Someone you look up to in racing?

The two people I look up to the most are Michelle Furr and Luke Bogacki. Not only are they very good racers in the NHRA Super Gas/Super Comp classes, they are wonderful, humble people who represent the sport so well.

 

If money were no object, what would you drive?

Believe it or not, I wouldn’t trade my car for anything, she’s a solid ride! I would, however, step up and try running in the NHRA or IHRA semi-professional classes. Last year (2014) was my rookie year running top-bulb and I did well in some sizable fields locally, so I hope to graduate to running some bigger stakes races in 2015.

 

What is your pre-race ritual (if you have one)?

I don’t have any pre-race rituals, but I do wear a certain necklace to every race and I keep a small laminated copy of my favorite prayer in my car where I can see it.

Car Of The Week: Bryan Witherspoon's 1988 Chevy S-10

Welcome to the BTE Racing Car of the Week series, where we feature BTE customers and fans, and the cars (and trucks) they love to drive and race. Today, it’s all about Bryan Witherspoon of Forney, TX and his 1988 Chevy S-10. 

How did you get into drag racing?
Grew up at the track watching my dad. 

When and where was your first race?
Texas Motorplex, I was 16.

What model/year do you race now?
1988 Chevy S10

Does your car have a nickname?
LsX Dime

What's under the hood?
434 LsX 

Which BTE products do you use in your vehicle?
Transmission 

Why do you use BTE?
Great product 

Someone you look up to in racing?
John Force, he's a living legend. 

If money were no object, what would you drive?
A 1969 Copo Camaro

What is your pre-race ritual (if you have one)?

Pray I make it back for one more pass!

How To Tell If Your Transmission Pump Stator Is Broken Or Spun (And What To Do If It Is)

In most automatic transmissions, the torque converter is mated to the pump of the transmission in two places: the input shaft and the stator (also called a stator tube or stator support).

What is it and what does it do?
This splined piece of steel centers the torque converter into the pump, provides lubrication circuits within the pump, and can also stabilize and support the input shaft in some setups. In many OEM applications, such as the powerglide and TH400, the tube is pressed into the pump casting. In high horsepower and torque setups, the stator in the torque converter is receiving tremendous amounts of pressure from the power generated by the engine. This heavy load is placed onto the pump's stator tube.

If this component fails, it will often turn or twist within the pump casting. A visual inspection of the pump's exterior will not indicate any failure. However, the function of the transmission and torque converter can be greatly affected. If your transmission and torque converter have suddenly changed their performance profiles, check the stator tube during a full disassembled inspection to make sure this sometimes overlooked component is operating properly.

What can happen?
1. Changes in torque converter stall speed and operation
2. Extreme heat generation in transmission and torque converter
3. Failure of transmission clutches, bands, and overall performance issues

A spun or broken stator tube can be replaced with an aftermarket version (like the one pictured above). Made from chromoly steel, this is a big improvement over the OEM tubes. However, the tube is still pressed into the pump body, which can fail again in some situations.

The best solution for a racing car or truck is a completely aftermarket pump like our high volume powerglide pump, which features a bolted-in stator support tube. This tube is virtually unbreakable in even the most stressed combinations such as Pro Mod and Monster Truck class racing. 

4 Tips To Help You Get The Most Out Of Our Tune-Up Services

BTE is in the business of manufacturing and distributing new high performance parts for your racing vehicles, but we also service your current parts for optimum performance. Now is the best time to get your torque converters and transmissions tuned up; before the season gets underway in a few months. Just FYI: They don't have to be from BTE, we service all types of equipment.

To get the most out of our tune-up services, here are some easy tips to follow to ensure you get your equipment back in perfect condition and in plenty of time before the first big race of the year.

1. We will work our hardest to return your product as quickly as possible. However, please understand that hundreds torque converters and transmissions arrive at our facility this month for service. While we do them as fast as we can, we also need to take the time to do it right. Make sure you send your parts in to allow plenty of time for delivery to our facility, time for our mechanics to do the job right and time for the shipping company to get your parts back to their original location.

2. When sending in torque converters, please use FedEx or UPS. While the USPS is sometimes less costly, their deliveries are sometimes inconsistent. Also -- and this is very important -- please drain as much oil from the torque converters as possible and wrap them securely. The package carriers can dispose of leaky boxes! Don't let this happen to you.

3. Transmissions should all be shipped on FedEx freight. We have great shipping discounts, so call us before shipping to make sure you can share in the low freight costs.

4. It's simple, but it happens sometimes: Don't forget to include your name and contact information with any product sent to us for annual checkup. Otherwise, we won't know how to get in touch with you if we have any questions.