Rick Andersen's '65 Crown Corsa Convertible - Bonita, California
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Dedenbear Compact Water Pump
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Shot of original 401 cu in Buick "Nailhead" with 6-71 blower
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When Rick originally found this car in Kansas City, it had once been awarded the "Best Engineered Street Rod" at the Street Rod Nationals. At that time it was equipped with a 401 cu in Buick "Nailhead" V8 engine. The engine had some pretty extreme modifications including a 6-71 supercharger with two 4 barrel carburetors. The engine was then coupled through a Chrysler torqueflite automatic transmission to a stock Corvair positraction differential. Back in those days Rick's wife, Pam, used to express concerns about catching her long blond hair in the blower drive belt. Rick's solution - a rubber band to pull her hair together!
Since that time Rick has removed the Buick / Chrysler drivetrain and replaced it with a 331 cu in Chevrolet small block engine using a 4 barrel carburetor which is coupled to a stock Corvair Saginaw 4 speed manual transmission, then into a 4 spider gear positraction differential. Exhaust for the engine is handled through a set of Crown headers. Rick calls the cooling system "overkill" as a result of using a 4 core brass radiator with two giant electric cooling fans that are thermostatically controlled by engine coolant temperature. Coolant is pushed through the system by way of a special Dedenbear compact electric water pump. This pump was specifically chosen in order to allow for a tight fit of a hand build firewall assembly. This firewall assembly was constructed in such a way to maximize legroom for the driver and passenger by allowing the seats to move a bit further backward. The firewall assembly is topped off with a clear plastic doghouse atop the engine to allow a good view of the engine while sealing in the engine's heat.
Since that time Rick has removed the Buick / Chrysler drivetrain and replaced it with a 331 cu in Chevrolet small block engine using a 4 barrel carburetor which is coupled to a stock Corvair Saginaw 4 speed manual transmission, then into a 4 spider gear positraction differential. Exhaust for the engine is handled through a set of Crown headers. Rick calls the cooling system "overkill" as a result of using a 4 core brass radiator with two giant electric cooling fans that are thermostatically controlled by engine coolant temperature. Coolant is pushed through the system by way of a special Dedenbear compact electric water pump. This pump was specifically chosen in order to allow for a tight fit of a hand build firewall assembly. This firewall assembly was constructed in such a way to maximize legroom for the driver and passenger by allowing the seats to move a bit further backward. The firewall assembly is topped off with a clear plastic doghouse atop the engine to allow a good view of the engine while sealing in the engine's heat.
