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Posted:
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
The
Ewa Beach Phoenix
Jimmy Nakamura's `34 Ford Coupe
A
Missing Kalihi Legend Brought back to life in Ewa.
By
Cutter Winesmith
Honolulu Streets Magazine
Ewa
Beach Hawaii The Phoenix was a
legendary bird which according to one account lived 500 years ago,
"burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive from the
ashes to live another period."
It
may not have actually burned like the mythical Phoenix but this `34
does have a long story from rags to perfection, a lost coupe that
has resurfaced only to live again in Ewa Beach thanks to Jim
Nakamura. Once dubbed as The Kalihi Kid, his `34 is not without an
extremely long history either. A history that can only be defined by
deep Hawaii roots.
It
all began just over 31 years ago, (1974) when a local Hawaii hot
rodder took a trip to Iowa and brought back a red `34 Ford 3-window
coupe. It was soon chopped 4 inches and painted black with flames by
Bob Bardo, then sold to a friend and both former owner, and new
owner, shipped the coupe to Ca., where they mapped out a road-trip
through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yellowstone, Oklahoma, and then
back to Hawaii.
Around
1976, the little 3-window coupe, then named The Kalihi Kid, could be
seen driving up and down Monsarrat Avenue and Diamond Head Road.
Sometimes it could be seen parked on the makai side of Diamond Head,
which to any hot rodder, seeing it standing still against lush wooded
Kiawe trees and red and yellow Hibiscuses, would just make living in
paradise that much more beautiful.
After
1978 The Kalihi Kid seemed to disappear changing hands over a
dozen times before ending up in Jimmy Nakamuras possession around
1991.
Jim
always knew about the Kalihi Kid so when he saw an ad in the
newspaper saying it was for sale, he immediately jumped on the
phone. Once he confirmed that it was in fact the Kid - with no other
questions asked, (other than directions,) he quickly bought it!
Fourteen
years have gone by since he took ownership and has transformed the
old Kalihi Kid into something really amazing. He is a professional
artist by trade and a perfectionist by nature, so its no wonder
that he spent hours on the paint alone.
Jimmy
applied over 45 coats - (6gal. on the body & 3 gal. on the frame)
of Dupont Diamond black lacquer and hand rubbed the finish to a
remarkable flawless shine. The paint is so shinny that trying to
capture its true depth in a photo is almost impossible. "The
reflection will get `ya every time," said Jimmy.
He
rebuilt the 350cid small block Chevy motor and added a set of ported
and polished (by owner) aluminum heads. Then topped it all off with
a B&M 671 Mega Blower and two very tricked-out Edelbrock 600cfm
carburetors.
The
Transmission is a Turbo 400, which supports a B&M 2800 stall
torque converter and lets the bumpy cam idle the engine smoothly at
stoplights.
The
rear-end is a thing of artwork all by itself. Jimmy shortened a
bullet proof Ford 9-inch and added a nodular center section with a
set of Summers Brothers 31-splined steel axles.
The
Kalihi Kid rides again in Ewa but this time with a new name and a
new future thanks to Jimmy Nakamura.
A
Few Specs Below:
1934 Ford 3-Window Coupe
Owner / Builder:
Jimmy Nakamura
Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
Engine:
Chevy 350cid - bored 30 over.
Aluminum Heads - Ported & polished by Jimmy.
Edelbrock Mega 671 Blower
Twin 600cfm Edelbrock Carburetors.
Transmission:
Turbo 400 / 2800 B&M Torque Converter.
Front-end:
Early Vintage 4in. Dropped Chromed I beam axle.
`69 Chevelle Front Disc Brakes.
Rear-end:
Ford 9 inch. Nodular case / pinion support. Detroit locker - Summers
Brothers Steele 31-splined axles.
Rims
& Tires:
Front - Cragar Supper Lites 15 x 4 / Michelin 165 x 15
Rear - Cragar Supper Lites 15 x 14 / Mickey Thompson 19.50 wide x
31in. Tall.
Wiring:
Ron Francis
Gauges: VDO - inside cockpit.
Firewall mounted - Auto Meter
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