Author Topic: Some basic simple questions  (Read 32143 times)

Offline Curly1

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 261
    • View Profile
    • AireTex Compressors
  • Your Best Time: 7.95 @ 167 1/4 mile
  • Your Track: Texas Motorplex
  • Your Vehicle: 125" Altered
Some basic simple questions
« on: March 12, 2017, 07:23:10 AM »
Okay I am thinking of getting a 225 inch front engine dragster. My questions are.
1. How do you set it up so it goes straight when front wheels are up?
2. How do you limit wheelies? Or is that even an issue with 225 inch car?
3. Any other tips for setting it up so it leaves hard and straight?

While I think I may know the answers I want to verify with people who have been there done that. Thanks,

Offline masracingtd1167

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1138
  • bill masiello Shelton Ct.
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 7.40's at 181 on motor 6.94 at 192 nitrous
  • Your Engine: 394 chevy
  • Your Track: Lebanon Valley Dragway
  • Your Vehicle: 2003 Neil and Parks
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2017, 09:46:21 AM »
Bruce I am pretty sure you know what to do ! With my car the wheelie bar and the tire are the most important pieces you need to work with ! My bar is 5 ft long and pretty flexible . I want the wheel to hit but not too hard . Just enough to let the tire squat at the hit ! As the car comes up on the tire it will drive the front up a little but not bad and as long as the bar is straight the car will go straight ! I have had the best luck with the 2585 Good Year tire but I also have run the Hoosier 12 x 33 and it was not a bad tire !My motor is out only 36 inches and I have made it work for me . If I had it to do over I would have the motor a little further out ! i moved every thing I could to the front of the car even my ignition box and it has helped a lot !

dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2017, 10:11:54 AM »
To get a car to launch straight you need 3 things,  rear tires of equal circumference and air pressure, enough weight on the front to keep front end rise to around 6"max, and​ most important is to have somebody in front to back you up straight and back behind the line far enough that you pull into the beams straight

Offline JrFuel Hayden

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 600
    • View Profile
    • Hayden Enterprises Speciality Wheels
  • Your Best Time: 6.02, 236 mph, 1/4 in 1973 Div 3 TF Champ
  • Your Engine: SBC, Alky, 403 ci, Best 6.99 @ 190 & 409 Hemi
  • Your Track: Bakersfield
  • Your Vehicle: 225" FED NHRA Heritage Jr Fuel
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2017, 11:41:13 AM »
I agree Bruce, plus a wheelie bar that limits the front end height, low enough to control a wheelie, but not too high that it allows the bar to hit hard enough to unload the slicks.
Jon
Jon C. Hansen

Hayden Wheels

Offline dusterdave173

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 638
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 5.38in 1/8th
  • Your Engine: 355 CI SBC
  • Your Track: Mooresville, NC
  • Your Vehicle: CenPen 200 inch FED
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2017, 11:52:28 AM »
I agree
one tip is when measuring to center the wheelie bar wheel it must be measured from the axle flange or brake rotor--yank the tires off and do that part right--makes all the difference IMO
Bar to high you gonna fly those fronts--our ideal setting is wheel about 2 3/4 inch up--it can go higher but when too high it is obvious
Bruce is soooo right about getting dang car in the groove--learning what the groove really is and really looks like is not exactly what you may think--study and ask around   
pulling in dead straight with no 'preload" on things form wiggling at the last minute is important   get straight and pull up no Army staging ( left right left)
all this has helped us
I have always had a fascination with fast cars at the expense of more normal character development

Offline ricardo1967

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 578
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: No full pass yet.
  • Your Engine: Alky SBC 400
  • Your Track: Brown County Dragway (Bean Blossom, IN)
  • Your Vehicle: 173" FED
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2017, 04:08:19 PM »
Curly,
I'm a newbie but I agree with everything said here. I've learned my lesson that my wheelie bar isn't very effective when left in the trailer.


Offline Supercat

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 256
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.16 @ 218 1/4
  • Your Track: Bakersfield to Bowling Green to New England dragway
  • Your Vehicle: Buick powered/ 200" Fastech FED
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2017, 04:15:18 PM »
ouch... Any damage or were you lucky?

Offline Frontenginedragsters

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 202
    • View Profile
    • Pro-Formance Specialties
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2017, 04:25:32 PM »
 Curly 1:
I agree with the statements about wheelie bars but Bruce / dreracecar was the only one to mention tire circumference.
Please make this a priority in the shop and the pit area.
We have FED's and rear tire circumference is the only thing steering the car when the front tires are off the ground.
Keep it safe and it stays fun !!
 
Driving a Front Engine Dragster builds character and keeps you awake for a 1/4 mile at a time.
http://www.pro-formancespecialties.com/

Offline ricardo1967

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 578
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: No full pass yet.
  • Your Engine: Alky SBC 400
  • Your Track: Brown County Dragway (Bean Blossom, IN)
  • Your Vehicle: 173" FED
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2017, 04:38:14 PM »
ouch... Any damage or were you lucky?
I was lucky. The obvious damage were broken front hub and bent rim (fixed by master Jon Hansen - Hayden Wheels). I plan doing a thorough check in the car before racing again. The car has been in storage since that day (life gest in the way).

Offline Curly1

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 261
    • View Profile
    • AireTex Compressors
  • Your Best Time: 7.95 @ 167 1/4 mile
  • Your Track: Texas Motorplex
  • Your Vehicle: 125" Altered
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2017, 05:52:25 PM »
Thanks for all of the great tips. I run an Altered 5.0 in NE2 and have been fairly successful but the dragster is a whole new animal. My Altered is a four link and I learned how to make it work. The dragster of course is hard tail and I know nothing about how to tune that.. Really looking forward to this and appreciate your help and suggestions. This dragster has been a very good working car so I should be okay or at least have a good starting point.

Offline George

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 518
    • View Profile
  • Your Vehicle: 1964 Mercury Comet Super Stock/ M automatic
  • General Location: Midwest USA
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2017, 06:06:13 PM »
We run a 223" car . It started as a 600hp injected SBC and now run a blower setup that has maybe 1000hp. I moved all the weight as far forward as possible. The battery is in the nose , 3 gallon fuel tank  and 2-10# fire bottles are all out front now.  I wouldn't suggest running without a wheelie bar. You can see in the picture even a long wheelbase car can carry the wheels.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2017, 06:08:19 PM by George »

Offline Curly1

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 261
    • View Profile
    • AireTex Compressors
  • Your Best Time: 7.95 @ 167 1/4 mile
  • Your Track: Texas Motorplex
  • Your Vehicle: 125" Altered
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2017, 06:29:39 PM »
I do plan on running the wheelie bar and my motor combination is very close to what was in it. 760 Hp and should be easy 4.90- 5.0.
Driving an Altered I have learned about having it lined up right before you pull the trigger. Lol.

Offline Paul New

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 745
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.47 @ 214 MPH SBC
  • Your Engine: 387" SBC
  • Your Track: Woodburn Dragstrip
  • Your Vehicle: 2005 FED
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2017, 09:53:24 PM »
Wow big air one other thing I see watching your video tighten those shoulder belts more it looks like you can move around quite a bit!

Offline ricardo1967

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 578
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: No full pass yet.
  • Your Engine: Alky SBC 400
  • Your Track: Brown County Dragway (Bean Blossom, IN)
  • Your Vehicle: 173" FED
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2017, 05:28:18 AM »
Wow big air one other thing I see watching your video tighten those shoulder belts more it looks like you can move around quite a bit!
Note taken, thanks Paul!

Offline Paul New

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 745
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.47 @ 214 MPH SBC
  • Your Engine: 387" SBC
  • Your Track: Woodburn Dragstrip
  • Your Vehicle: 2005 FED
Re: Some basic simple questions
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2017, 12:12:38 PM »
Wow big air one other thing I see watching your video tighten those shoulder belts more it looks like you can move around quite a bit!
Note taken, thanks Paul!

No problem that is one of my things I notice a friend of mine crashed with his belts a loose and it beat him up pretty good