Messages

16

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector

« on: May 27, 2019, 04:19:54 PM »

Wideopen231, would love to see pictures!!! I think I have 20 bucks on the shaft, but I am gonna make another one because I think it "moved". I had it near perfect when I first did it, but I think it has developed a slight twist.  I'm gonna try some stress proof and see if that's any more stabil.  I just ordered a few feet of O1 for the spool valve - I wanna try making a hardened one. This has been a FUN project! Things I thought would be EASY were HARD  and some things I thougt would be HARD were EASY!


Jacin

17

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector

« on: May 27, 2019, 12:51:37 PM »

I've seen several "originals" - of those I would say they are LESS than 28sq. in.  Mine is slightly taller - just enough that I can get my hand in there. Mine uses 6 screws like a Hilborn 4 port - the original Super Slots used only 4 screws.

18

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector

« on: May 27, 2019, 12:05:17 PM »

Hi Alan, Actually I have less time buffing and polishing than you might think  especially with the base since it was machined pretty smooth to begin with.  I also learned a little speed when doing the top  - which amounts to - USE those different grits!!!!  :-)  Advice I wish I had learned long ago. Presently I DO have a little extra time now as my previous employer decided they could do it better in China and Isreal. Rotsa Ruck with that! :-) As for the butterflies -  they are 3" - 10 deg.  IIRC it works out to ~28sq. in. and the scoop is slightly larger.  I did the barrel valve because I think I may have seen a place for some slight "improvement".


Jacin

19

Front Engine Dragsters / Fabricated Fuel Injector

« on: May 27, 2019, 08:13:16 AM »

Hi Guys (and Gals), My friend Greg K. (the Frenchtown Flyer) thought you might like to see my Homemade Fuel Injector I am working on for my FED. I am not a machinist by any means, but I do know a few and they are gracious enough to give me pointers from time to time. I fabbed everything in this video, except the barrel valve and spool, which I am working on now. I hope you enjoy it.

Jacin Barnes

 Hopefully this link will work:

20

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Aluminium Anglia Spindles

« on: April 09, 2015, 08:24:23 PM »

Watched a FED at our local track make a very nice pass...as they were towing it back to the pits the front wheel came off.  Aluminum spindle broke.  I heard that they had either forgot to grease the bearing or something. Anyways the heat weaken the aluminum and it let go. This might be one reason they are hard to find.

21

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Wilwood rear disc brakes

« on: November 16, 2014, 12:24:06 PM »

Well heck, if the reservoir is above the calipers then I wouldn't suspect you needed the RPV in the first place. The positive difference in height ought to provide all you need! Sounds like you got this whooped! Let us know!

22

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Wilwood rear disc brakes

« on: November 13, 2014, 12:16:07 PM »

I would think that the truer your rotors run the less effect you would see when eliminating the RPV - speaking disc brakes.

I would imagine that Wilwood's advice stems from a liability perspective. Reccomending them must put them at a lower state of liability than not.

I can also imagine situations that they may not be necessary - if you aren't experiencing excessive pedal travel and the vibrations aren't causing issues - maybe they are not needed.

Novadude, how much free play do you have on the rod?

23

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Wilwood rear disc brakes

« on: November 13, 2014, 08:00:29 AM »

Wilwood recommends a 2lb residual valve be used when the m/c is at or below the height of the calipers. Wilwood recommended it - so that's how I did mine - no problems yet. I run the dynalite calipers and their M/C with a lightweight pedal.

AS for some of those "puck" style brakes. A fellow I knew ran them and spit a puck out right before a big race - it was the style where a small band of aluminum ring in the caliper is what kept the puck in place. That narrow band sheared off and out went the puck. As a band aid I c'bored the caliper and made a steel sleeve to press into the caliper - 1/2 in 1/2 out. Now you had to either shear off a WHOLE bunch of aluminum or that steel ring in half. Even so I told him to throw those calipers away first chance he got. I would NEVER run that style of brake caliper.

24

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Motivation - keeping the fire alight

« on: November 08, 2014, 03:40:26 AM »

Go to the race track!  Sometimes it's good to take a break - especially when it's all work and no fun.  For me I enjoy working on mine as well as racing it.

25

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: What little things you do to make your car easier to work on/more reliable?

« on: November 07, 2014, 04:34:56 PM »

Wideope231,  Yours jogged my memory on some others of mine.
Harmonic balancer marked to allow access for converter bolts (not as slick as your 2)
I couldn't afford the NAS bolts - instead I used longer bolts and cut them down so I would get the benefit of the long shank and then I'd ream the holes for fit. Sometimes I'd c'bore them to ensure I had the shank in shear and not the threads.
I know some guys don't like the morse red jacket cables - I got them cheap - so I used them.  I also duplicated the ends and made my own shifter cable using them.
When welding chassis - drill small hole to vent hot gas - especially important on small dia./length tubes - if well thought out you can do this so then next tube covers the hole. Prevents the hot gas from blowing out the weld.

 

26

Front Engine Dragsters / What little things you do to make your car easier to work on/more reliable?

« on: November 07, 2014, 01:17:14 PM »

I'll start:
Maybe some stuff that no one would ever notice?
For me no wires/linkage thru the motor plate.
Turned down v/c studs so that covers slip on/off easy without grinding any aluminum on the studs - bottom 1/4" of stud original size so it still pilots properly.
Machined v/c nuts with integral washer flange.
Installed pem nuts on aluminum parts - less likely to strip than threading the aluminum - easier to replace than helicoils.
I machined Teflon inserts (totally hidden) for steering linkage - where the links drag thru the aluminum brackets.
Removed pickup from oil pump so it could never fall off.
Modified my 1 piece girdle so you can individually preload each cap.
Added seat belt hangers so you can get in without sitting on them (may sound silly, but I am really glad I did this one.)
I added a coupler on the fuel tank to make draining it easier - just snap on the hose.


Care to share some of YOURS??  :-)

27

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Shifter

« on: November 07, 2014, 12:49:37 PM »

Wideopen231, Yes, you are right mine was heavily influenced by the LOWE shifter. I couldn't recall the name at the time of my earlier post. Keep in mind mine isn't a copy of his, but it was definitely INSPIRED by his. I had contacted Ken Lowe (I think it's Ken) and I tried to offer some suggestions for improvements to his, but once he learned I wasn't buying one - he had no interest in talking with me. I can't say I blame him - time is money. The guys I work with - we exchange ideas all the time in an effort to improve things - so I just default to that mode without even thinking about it. I'm sure Ken was probably thinking, "Who's this nitwit trying to offer ME suggestions"  - Again - I wouldn't blame him if he thought that.
 Slightly reminds me of the time I was on the phone with an engineer from JW - trying to explain that they had made a mistake on their hemi to PG adapter.   I wasn't complaining, I didn't want a refund - all I wanted was to save the next nitwit like me the GRIEF of figuring it all out from scratch. The guy treated me like a complete idiot - I was like whatever dude I was just trying to help, my bad. JW had several big issues, starter pilot hole was undersized - such that a nippondenso starter WOULD fit but a Mitsubishi starter would NOT. JW said I was CRAZY. JW also piloted off the ROUGH  machined hemi pilot - which Ma Mopar never intended to be a pilot and therefore did not make perfectly centered- JW said I had an "oddball crank"  I laughed and said "that's funny I got a half dozen more JUST like it." STARTER tooth engagement way too shallow.  I digress.


  I see something I like - no promises - I may very well copy it, but make no mistakes I will also try to make it BETTER :-)   I may not succeed but I'm sure gonna try!

28

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Shifter

« on: November 06, 2014, 07:28:23 PM »

I saw a guy down under selling this style shifter and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to have one...until I saw the price. It was out of reach...so I ended up making one instead. Not sure exactly how the real one works so I just kinda faked it as best I could since I've never actually seen one of these in person.
All in all it came out pretty good and has worked very well except for one time I let it go out of adjustment - I may incorporate a redesign to address that so I can be lazy and not have to worry about such things.  :-)

29

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: FEDs on trailers

« on: November 05, 2014, 05:37:23 PM »

Gasserx, No it's only for display. Did I mention I am occasionally VERY forgetful. <big grin>
Not a lot of people notice such things - but it's usually good for a laugh when they do.

Thanks Janjon, I have always planned on making this trailer a "convertible" in terms of having a enclosure. I have narrowed it down to 2 designs I really REALLY like.  I just have to pick one.  Both versions will be very reminiscent of a Mr. Ed style because I have always loved those - plus I tow with a small pickup (47 Ford) so for me less is more. I might sound like I've lost my marbles, but in one possible version it would be pretty much one piece and would pivot at the front - the problems with this design is: No access when top is on - (I store the car on the trailer in the garage. Next the rear section would need to fold a little to allow the whole caboodle to still fit in my 22' garage.  In the next possible version the trailer top would be 2 pieces. The front section would be stationary. The rear section would slide OVER the front. This would solve to problems- first it would allow me to leave everything in place and have access to the motor when stored in the garage - it would also allow me to have the angled rear - just need to slide it forward before backing into the garage - I am leaning towards this version as it seems to address more of my issues - although it might be a tad more difficult to pull off - sealing would be a slight challenge, but not (I hope) be impossible. 

These are the thoughts that keep popping up in my head..... to be continued. :-)

30

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: FEDs on trailers

« on: November 04, 2014, 07:22:46 PM »

I've posted this elsewhere, but thought you guys would really appreciate it.

I reworked this license plate for my trailer.  If you follow the old 392's at all - you'll get it instantly. :-)
I added a sot showing what I started with.