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Drag Racing Discussions => Front Engine Dragsters => Topic started by: 225digger on March 03, 2013, 06:43:55 PM

Title: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: 225digger on March 03, 2013, 06:43:55 PM
the majority of todays bracket dragsters are RED's  , lets hear what it would take for a  FED to run in todays highly competative electronics class .

if you where to build a fed for just bracket racing , how would you set it up ?

motor size / power ?

tire size ?

rear gear ?

lentgh of car ?

engine placement ?



im going to build a FED here in the next few months and hoarding parts . here is what im thinking so far

200" car

383 sbc  injected alky  , make around 650hp

2 spd glide  with 1.80 gear

rear gear im thinking around the 4.33 range 

rear tire  not really sure , im thinking a 29x12 slick should do well  ?


any advice ?   we dont see many feds in the bracket classes these days and my local track has an easy 40+ dragsters in super on any given sunday , so id like to be some what competative ...

thanks !
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: GlennLever on March 03, 2013, 08:13:00 PM
You should look at my build, that is all I have done is ET race with my FED, no electronics (TransBrake).
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: Blind Mule on March 03, 2013, 10:27:04 PM
You know dang well that you can't bracket race a FED(At least that's what I been hearing) BUT I AM GONNA PROVE THEM WRONG >J A C K< ??? ;) I'm building one now (may never finish it me and my wallet are arguing)

Mine will have a 331 Ford to start with with a glide but not sure about rear gear maybe a 3.89 gonna step up with more motor if the car acts right :-[ I have 10x5x33 Phoenix tires for mine!

wideopen231 may chime in he is building one also!

  Randy!
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: 225digger on March 04, 2013, 07:02:06 AM
yea i hear ya cant race a fed either , but thats only for guys that dont know there cars  .  i ha da 4 link car with a 632 that ran 7.4x's at 186 , it was fun , i was sort of the weekend warrier , but i want to build something that i really want , and thats a fed , im going to build it for a 6.0 cert so if i want to down the road i can do other things with it .


i might even just stick a milder motor in it something around the 500hp range 
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: AF150 on March 04, 2013, 10:28:15 AM
No reason you can not bracket race a FED and be successful.
I would aim for consistancy. Bigger rear tires...1.76 or higher first gear...radiator & fan for when
they hot-lap you in the later rounds...big fuel tank (maybe 5 gal. for same reason) and keep 'er
in the groove. Good luck.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: masracingtd1167 on March 04, 2013, 11:44:22 AM
225 digger There is no reason why you can't bracket race with a FED. I think there is anothe post about this on the forum When you think about it dose it really matter where the motor is . A lot of the dragster guy's argue that a 4 link is more consistant than a hard tail I just don't buy it . I felt just like you and was tired of the same old thing That's why I built mine and let me tell you it was the best thing I could have ever done . I have owned 6 dragster's in my racing career 3 FED'S and 3 RED'S and this is the best race car I have ever owned period! Just do it and have some fun !     
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: 225digger on March 04, 2013, 01:19:33 PM
i guess its the same old argument , about a hard tail VS a 4 link , VS a swing arm vs a mono shock vs a slip joint  .....   everyone has the ideal chassis ,

i guess i was more interested in hearing what setups who is running , ill be honest , past almost 3 yrs i have been away from the racing stuff , other than making zoomies for the nostalige guys and boat racers i really have not thought about it , i guess i started to get the itch again back in october so now i want to build a whole new car but something i really want . 


all i ever did was bracket raced , 1st a door car with a 350 sbc on alky running 10'60's with a th400 , i ran super with it , and it was very consistent , i stopped racing to fund my business , and then got the dragster . and sold that to fund another business venture .

Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: wideopen231 on March 04, 2013, 03:33:41 PM
AGAIN YOU CAN NOT BRACKET RACE A FED. Go to Drr and you wuill see whare about everyone told me so. Being the determined person I am(no its not stuborn) Im building one iwht the main thing being to bracket race.

 My combo maybe little extreme.

 225" slipjoint 2.2c legal chassis
 526 ci hemi with alky injection and 400 shot for finishline driving .Maybe 1000 hp plus nitrous when used
 1.69 low gear powerglide
 3.90 rearend gear
 15x15  Hoosier tire
  Building to be as lite as i can afford to make it will be adding most electronic goodies  like dealy box dats system(later date) and mag controller for tuning to track.
  I will have few things that go against my lite wieght rule. Like full  parachute body and possibly canopy. But drawing attenoin and hoping to pull few sponsor bucks to help out with cost.Idea is 300 RED and maybe 2(maybe) FED's,got to get you talk time and attention,just want sponsors want attention to their name.

   I see no reason a car with more rear weight and a KISS  theory applied can not be just as consistent as a red, You may have to work to get it which is why I think most go RED route its easy and everyones doing it. Im just hoping I get mine out before everyone else gets smart and changes over.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: GlennLever on March 04, 2013, 06:42:52 PM
You can ET race a FED, I have been doing it for two years now. I drive from the pits to the line, I run my race, I drive back to the pits and can turn it around in just over ten minutes.

This is the secert

Radiator and a pump

(http://www.leverfamilysite.com/images/2010_Dragster/Progress_2010_08_15/Coolant_IMG_6177.jpg)

(http://www.leverfamilysite.com/images/2010_Dragster/Progress_2010_08_15/Coolant_IMG_6185.jpg)
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: 225digger on March 04, 2013, 07:36:17 PM
glenn , i like the radiator setup .  very nice and clean ..... .my RED i had with the 632 it was a gas deal , rad right behind me with fan , i could almost hot lap it , it needed 5 mins or so to cool alittle as i liked staging it around 160degs water temp , but it always worked well for being a gas setup with a big motor ......
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: GlennLever on March 04, 2013, 08:31:14 PM
I have taken a lot of heat for this, but I like the radiator set up so much that I am keeping it with the blower build.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: masracingtd1167 on March 05, 2013, 12:34:57 PM
225 Digger I was looking over your combo and that 29 inch tire with that gear would be a little short . You might be better off with a taller tire a 32 or 33 would be better . What kind of injection are you going to run?
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: afaulk on March 05, 2013, 04:54:01 PM
 8) I'm agreeing with Glen. There's absolutely no reason for not bracket racing a FED. One factor not mentioned however, is that there's no need to be the fastest car, just the most consistent. Build the car to be comfortable, cool running, low maintenance and able to go rounds/hot lap. If you can cut the best light and run your number you have the winning combo. I have found that the faster you go, the more difficult it becomes to be consistent. A mild engine on alky, something that will never spin or wheelie is the way to take home the cash.  One advantage of the RED is that the driver has the best possible view of the front tires, helping to "drive the finish line".  I like the M/T 33x10.5wx15 tire on a 12 inch wheel. It's a light weight tire with a long contact patch. A lot of people don't realize it but the length of the contact patch is more important for traction in drag racing, than width is.  Have fun! :P
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: buickfed on March 05, 2013, 06:22:18 PM
every car i built and now the fed is built nascar style. my son likes to go round and round. radiators r' us.  lol
he likes the fed more than the door cars.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: 225digger on March 05, 2013, 06:35:51 PM
225 Digger I was looking over your combo and that 29 inch tire with that gear would be a little short . You might be better off with a taller tire a 32 or 33 would be better . What kind of injection are you going to run?

just considering options , i think i might look into afaulk's mention about the 33x10.5 tire .. ..... as for injection , what ever spud wants me to use.... i been following him on the net for as long as i can remember so id like to do alittle business with him when im ready to order a setup . 

Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: bud on March 05, 2013, 06:50:47 PM
8) I'm agreeing with Glen. There's absolutely no reason for not bracket racing a FED. One factor not mentioned however, is that there's no need to be the fastest car, just the most consistent. Build the car to be comfortable, cool running, low maintenance and able to go rounds/hot lap. If you can cut the best light and run your number you have the winning combo. I have found that the faster you go, the more difficult it becomes to be consistent. A mild engine on alky, something that will never spin or wheelie is the way to take home the cash.  One advantage of the RED is that the driver has the best possible view of the front tires, helping to "drive the finish line".  I like the M/T 33x10.5wx15 tire on a 12 inch wheel. It's a light weight tire with a long contact patch. A lot of people don't realize it but the length of the contact patch is more important for traction in drag racing, than width is.  Have fun! :P
I could not agree more. everything that is going to be done has been done with a FED, so now it's just a matter of having fun as a Bracket racer FED. In running a bracket car the race is with yourself to run the number you have set with no errors( low et and mph is no big deal) . I have a little 350 bored .040 with a 30/30 solid cam with old hilborn stack injection on alka, and go thru the lights at about 5800 at 136 at 9.98 to 10.02 and it works like a clock  on 4 gal of alka. I use a trans cooler for a radiator with a elect fan and a elect water pump. and running alka I can do a drive around and I have no problem heating. and if I am going to a car crackle fest or a car show or a grand opening for a auto parts store I put the blown motor in for show and if they are paying I will fire the blown motor for a price. after all I have close to 30 grand in the Blown motor and run time on a blown motor is not very long. lol
 Bud
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: Blind Mule on March 06, 2013, 12:30:12 AM
Don't let that 10.5x33 tire fool ya it works great I have used them for years on all types of cars and horsepower levels! You can get the M/T take offs from the 10.5 Outlaw guys with maybe 8 runs for about $100 a set and they will last a long time on a FED ;) I just bought a new set of Phoenix 10.5x33 tires and put them on my door car and this past weekend the 60 foot varied only 4 thousand's in 21 passes :o This is no joke this tire works if you would like a great deal call  Dragracetires.com and ask for Eric Gullette! They used to leak air but they redid the molding and mine never leaked all weekend! We were at a 3 day bracket race and on Friday my car ran 6.23 5 times in a row ??? I also just installed a new Quick Fuel 750 alky carb and I tell you of all the different names of alky builders this one is and will be my choice from now on it runs great and uses a lot less alky than the others too! Hope my FED will do this when finished ;D

  Randy!
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: 225digger on March 06, 2013, 02:11:21 PM
i use quick fuel gas carbs , they really are a nice carb  .   i already made up my mind going injected alky with this when i build it .   i have used an alky carb on my 1st car it was a very consistent package , just had an edelbrock mechincal fuel pump , and BG barrel valve and that was it , worked very well i even won alot of rounds with that setup in super racing and it was in my camaro .
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: GlennLever on March 06, 2013, 03:01:19 PM
I have a really nice one for sale in the for sale category (1050) with lots of goodies to go along with it

http://www.frontenginedragsters.org/forum/index.php?topic=280.msg1067#msg1067

(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Quick-Fuel-Carburetor-1050-CFM-Mechanical-Secondaries-QFX-4710-A-Alcohol-/00/s/MTA2NlgxNjAw/z/yfMAAOxyY9VRMN6b/$(KGrHqV,!hEFEWh9dZjwBRMN6,wpKw~~60_57.JPG)
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: wideopen231 on March 06, 2013, 07:10:26 PM
Pretty sure there is a law agianst using carb on fed or it should be.Heck theres a law against everything else now days. If god wanted man to run crapurators he would  not have given man brain to make fuel injection.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: buickfed on March 06, 2013, 08:01:50 PM
Pretty sure there is a law agianst using carb on fed or it should be.Heck theres a law against everything else now days. If god wanted man to run crapurators he would  not have given man brain to make fuel injection.


ouch. :) some of us are just lasier than others. ;D running a buick, i have to hand make everything.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: wideopen231 on March 06, 2013, 08:17:26 PM
Hey running a TFX-92 in bracket car & Im in same boat.Items I can find I usually make because it cheaper and working with no budget. Hey Im building my own injector and sheetmetal intake.Heck Im building most everything on car including the chassis. Another 60' or so of tubing and chassis will be done I THINK. Then I can finish fuel tank and mounting air bottle,firebottle and nitrous bottle.Man this things on the bottle isn't it.  1 to be consistent(shifts) 1 to go fast and one to cool it down if things get too hot.

 But hey building it is almost as much fun as driving.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: blake on March 08, 2013, 04:13:34 PM
Hi.
Bracket racing can be won with an FED. We won last year's bracket. After missing the first meeting, attended the next 6. Won 4 of them, came runner up in one, then won the championship. Go to www.blakeracing.com.au and you can read all about it.

Regards
Darron
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: GlennLever on March 08, 2013, 04:59:21 PM
Hi.
Bracket racing can be won with an FED. We won last year's bracket. After missing the first meeting, attended the next 6. Won 4 of them, came runner up in one, then won the championship. Go to www.blakeracing.com.au and you can read all about it.

Regards
Darron
Welcome
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: BK on March 09, 2013, 05:05:43 AM
the majority of todays bracket dragsters are RED's  , lets hear what it would take for a  FED to run in todays highly competative electronics class .

if you where to build a fed for just bracket racing , how would you set it up ?

motor size / power ?

tire size ?

rear gear ?

lentgh of car ?

engine placement ?



im going to build a FED here in the next few months and hoarding parts . here is what im thinking so far

200" car

383 sbc  injected alky  , make around 650hp

2 spd glide  with 1.80 gear

rear gear im thinking around the 4.33 range 

rear tire  not really sure , im thinking a 29x12 slick should do well  ?


any advice ?   we dont see many feds in the bracket classes these days and my local track has an easy 40+ dragsters in super on any given sunday , so id like to be some what competative ...

thanks !

 Been there done that. It's a blast. On your combo, if I could pick anything I wanted I would use a full length glide 1.76 ratio, 4.10 gear, 32x14 tire. With an injected 355 and a short glide 175in car I had to slow it down on the starting line a little to get it to repeat. It would hit the wheelie bar to hard and unload the tires. Be prepared after a few rounds on 90 degree day cockpit will be HOT.
Title: Re: bracket racing a FED ...
Post by: wideopen231 on March 09, 2013, 07:05:21 PM
225'' slip joint chassis
decent but not ove high powered motor say maybe 1000 hp Like inject 540 hemi
 set motor out good ways for better balance maybe 50" out to keep front down
 Powerglide with 1.69 low
 3.90 to 4.30 rear to soften starting line hit
 15x14 or 15x15  hoosier tire
 Make it simple but with all the electronics that you have to have to compete

 Oh yea Im building that for bracket deal even after being told it wouldn't work by 90% of guys on cpl sites.