Jim Grashel
Page created 5.06.2007
3128-A East 17th Ave. (I-670 - Airport Exit) Columbus, OH 43219
Jim Grashel (614)337-2472 FAX (614)476-2472 
3128-A East 17th Ave. (I-670 - Airport Exit) Columbus, OH 43219
Jim Grashel (614)337-2472 FAX (614)476-2472
Spring 2007 Interview with Jim Grashel , interviewed by William B Finn
Will - How long have you been involved in race car fabrication?
Jim - Current business started in 1992. "Played" with cars since 14yrs old. Started going racing with neighbor in high school who had a nationally competitive dragster.
Will - How old are you know and what city were you born in?
Jim - 57 Portsmouth , OH
Will - Is there anything you would like people to know about you or your business that you know most people dont realize about you?
Jim - Our business and quality work is one of the best kept secrets in Central Ohio. Most of our jobs come from referals/word of mouth from statisfied customers.
Will - When did you open Grashel Fabrication?
Jim - Oct. 1992
Will - What kind of cars have you raced in the past and is there one that was your favorite of all time?
Jim - I've had all types of drag cars from 12 second mopars to 8 second big block chevy dragsters.
Will -What services do you offer at Grashel Fabrication?
Jim -All types of welding and metal fabrication. We do some commercial work but mostly drag cars and pro street or street rods. We can build a complete race car or any part of it. We dont do body/paint work , but everything else we can handle.
Will - Have you won any big races against big name opponents?
Jim - Ive won some smaller ones but I'm still waiting for the big one!
Will - Whats up with the 1989 Mustang Gt you are building, what combination and set up is that race car going to have?
Jim - Its a tube chassis car with all chromoly cage. 9" Ford Rear with molly ladder bars. Engine is a 246" 4 - cyl Ford ('87 Svo) with a trick flow cobra jet head. Power is transmitted through a powerglide trans with a 7" TCI converter
Will - Whats the oddest fabrication job you have had and how did it turn out?
Jim- Ive made fireworks launchers and stands for car lot flag poles , with many odd jobs in between.
Will - Is there any fabrication job you cant do , speaking of cars?
Jim - Other than body and paint work we usually can do it. We try to stay away from rust repair work - thats a whole different line of work.
Will - Have you found a better drink than vanilla vodka and coke(Laughing)
Jim - Mellow Yellow & Kentucky Tavern
Will - Do you do transmission or rear end work?
Jim - The trans we leave to the trans guys , but we do all kinds of rear end work - narrowing - setting up gears - race axles , etc
Will - What about other peoples cars ,do you work on cars built by someone else?
Jim -Yes we do. Lately we have been doing alot of chassis setups for guys who can't seem to get their car to hook up or get down the track. We have electronic scales to adjust the cars for suspension preload and set/adjust the individual wheel weights. No matter how we set it up , it still takes some "seat of the pants" tuning by the driver
Will - Any notible cars you have built?
Jim - We have built several different cars which have been awarded "Best Engineered" by N.H.R.A. and I.H.R.A. . Also the #1 Fastest street car in America by Hot Rod Magazine was fully caged by us a couple years ago. It's a '34 Ford coupe from Pennsylvania owned by Ken Close. Its a real nice car.
Will - Do you do just local cars?
Jim - No , we get them from all over. We've had customers from Pennsylvania , Michigan , Kentucky , West Virgina , and of course all over Ohio
Will - Is there anything else you want to tell people reading this?
Jim - Give us a call!
Will - How long have you been involved in race car fabrication?
Jim - Current business started in 1992. "Played" with cars since 14yrs old. Started going racing with neighbor in high school who had a nationally competitive dragster.
Will - How old are you know and what city were you born in?
Jim - 57 Portsmouth , OH
Will - Is there anything you would like people to know about you or your business that you know most people dont realize about you?
Jim - Our business and quality work is one of the best kept secrets in Central Ohio. Most of our jobs come from referals/word of mouth from statisfied customers.
Will - When did you open Grashel Fabrication?
Jim - Oct. 1992
Will - What kind of cars have you raced in the past and is there one that was your favorite of all time?
Jim - I've had all types of drag cars from 12 second mopars to 8 second big block chevy dragsters.
Will -What services do you offer at Grashel Fabrication?
Jim -All types of welding and metal fabrication. We do some commercial work but mostly drag cars and pro street or street rods. We can build a complete race car or any part of it. We dont do body/paint work , but everything else we can handle.
Will - Have you won any big races against big name opponents?
Jim - Ive won some smaller ones but I'm still waiting for the big one!
Will - Whats up with the 1989 Mustang Gt you are building, what combination and set up is that race car going to have?
Jim - Its a tube chassis car with all chromoly cage. 9" Ford Rear with molly ladder bars. Engine is a 246" 4 - cyl Ford ('87 Svo) with a trick flow cobra jet head. Power is transmitted through a powerglide trans with a 7" TCI converter
Will - Whats the oddest fabrication job you have had and how did it turn out?
Jim- Ive made fireworks launchers and stands for car lot flag poles , with many odd jobs in between.
Will - Is there any fabrication job you cant do , speaking of cars?
Jim - Other than body and paint work we usually can do it. We try to stay away from rust repair work - thats a whole different line of work.
Will - Have you found a better drink than vanilla vodka and coke(Laughing)
Jim - Mellow Yellow & Kentucky Tavern
Will - Do you do transmission or rear end work?
Jim - The trans we leave to the trans guys , but we do all kinds of rear end work - narrowing - setting up gears - race axles , etc
Will - What about other peoples cars ,do you work on cars built by someone else?
Jim -Yes we do. Lately we have been doing alot of chassis setups for guys who can't seem to get their car to hook up or get down the track. We have electronic scales to adjust the cars for suspension preload and set/adjust the individual wheel weights. No matter how we set it up , it still takes some "seat of the pants" tuning by the driver
Will - Any notible cars you have built?
Jim - We have built several different cars which have been awarded "Best Engineered" by N.H.R.A. and I.H.R.A. . Also the #1 Fastest street car in America by Hot Rod Magazine was fully caged by us a couple years ago. It's a '34 Ford coupe from Pennsylvania owned by Ken Close. Its a real nice car.
Will - Do you do just local cars?
Jim - No , we get them from all over. We've had customers from Pennsylvania , Michigan , Kentucky , West Virgina , and of course all over Ohio
Will - Is there anything else you want to tell people reading this?
Jim - Give us a call!
3128-A East 17th Ave. (I-670 - Airport Exit) Columbus, OH 43219
Jim Grashel (614)337-2472 FAX (614)476-2472
Jim Grashel (614)337-2472 FAX (614)476-2472