Messages

46

Gassers / Re: Another VW gasser

« on: August 14, 2014, 06:05:38 PM »

I am putting together an experimental engine (slant six) for this car. I am kinda out on a limb with it as it appears no one has tried it with this engine. This is what I call a Dixie Cup Engine. Potential throw away. Built with low cost parts  use them to explore if an idea has any potential.  I never sell them but if they survive the test the good stuff gets substituted and it becomes my main piece. That said in 40 years all my Dixie cups have survived how ever this may be different. I may have pushed the envelope a bit hard. Anyway I am putting it together Saturday now that all machining is done and parts are here.
Block is .100" over and compression is much higher then I normally run. Pictures after Sat.
don

47

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Need help to find missing history

« on: August 14, 2014, 11:02:11 AM »

Oh OK. I saw the oe together and was going to ask Auf Deutsch
Anyway, try Frank Hawley School of Drag Racing
don

48

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Need help to find missing history

« on: August 14, 2014, 07:54:45 AM »

A Guy from Florida may be the clue. A guy From Florida with strong Canadian Connections would be Frank Hawley (Gainsville) as he has feet in both countries and is heavily involved in the sport. May have been the seller or brokered the deal.
don
Where is Gardermoen  I am often over there (across the pond.)
don

49

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: FEDs on trailers

« on: August 14, 2014, 04:02:44 AM »

That would be too long for me. I wouldn't be able to see the front wheels. Mine is 96.
So where do all the wire wheels come from? Can you get them for any spindle. (I have Chevy handy van spindles on my front axle) or just early Ford or Anglia spindles.
don

50

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: FEDs on trailers

« on: August 13, 2014, 07:23:52 PM »

Tim!
I carried mine in the back of my V10 Dodge Ram for several years. Worked great. I don't have a photo of that on this computer. Then someone suggested the towing it with my MAX Wedge 63 Dodge would be really cool. A vintage style rail behind a vintage muscle car. I built the trailer in a week for peanuts. People seem to like it and it is much easier to load so I m happy. Oh yeah, BTW no frame in my 63 Dodge , unibody for those who worry about such things. I don't.
don

51

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: First Pass in my Worm Car

« on: August 11, 2014, 10:43:10 AM »

Congrats! You're right. Nothing like it. I remember the first time I went to the track with the Sr Dragster . A lot of IFs on my mind. The Starter guy and his pals did everything to prevent me from running (don't like six cyl cars) but the track manager stepped in and spoke over the radio which I could plainly hear even sitting in the car. he said" Quit "fooling" around and LET THAT CAR RUN RIGHT NOW" That was the end of the nonsense. The car was totally untried with 6 snowmobile carbs for induction on a homebrew intake. I staged, Turned her loose and held on. It worked perfectly. I went back to the pits, sat with my friends and talked for awhile then loaded up and went home. One asked me why I was leaving. I explained I had built the car from zip, and the engine was totally experimental idea plus the 6 snowmobile carbs. I had pulled to the line , it didn't bark, fart or stutter and ran straight and true. I explained I wouldn't mess up a night like that for anything. I went home and sat on the couch reliving the moment till about 2 Am. I think I was still grinning when I woke up.
I am sure your feelings were similar.  Again congrats!
don

52

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: What did you do on your Front Engine Dragster TODAY?

« on: August 11, 2014, 10:32:34 AM »

Started prepping the car for Picton Airfield. It is over a month away but I like to go prepared. Spent quite  bit of time balancing the linkage for the two carbs. These were used carbs that I reworked and so have a bit of wear in the shaft area. And despite have the exact same number did nt have the exact same linkage. I made a work around but have since discovered that I can buy replacement bottom plate assemblies and so I may do that over the winter. meanwhile I got them pretty close, as close as is physically possible all considered.  I don't drive it at idle anyway but wanted them in synch as much as possible. Spent about an hour adjusting, testing, readjusting. If the burrple , fuel starvation is gone (right at the rpm peak in first gear just at the shift) Then that will be it as far as searching for more goes. I am happy right here.
don

53

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: front tires

« on: August 10, 2014, 04:26:45 AM »

Jon,
I believe he has 3.5 wheels. You are probably right on the speed rating. I was trying to remember but was only involved in introducing him to the bike racer and suggesting the possibility. His is a 1960s style and turns only around 140 to 145 so he is well in the rating. We can hardly get him to put his foot down so he will never get to exceed that however we do use a hired shoe occasionally and he runs it full tilt. Still I would much prefer he use these than something else as they are safe for sure for his rail. We would have gladly paid for them but when the bike racer saw what we were going to use them on he insisted free. The wheels are off something but I don't know what. I just wish I had found them first as they are bolt ons, not spindle mounts and would have looked nice on mine too. We run vintage stuff and style. His is a 120 WBase and a reworked Scotty Fenn style rail. Mine is a 96 inch wheelbase and putting wires on its 62 Chev handy van spindles seems unlikely as much as I would like to.
don

54

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: front tires

« on: August 09, 2014, 11:27:36 PM »

ON one of our dragsters and it isn't a top fuel or anything but it does have 17 inch wires we get take offs from the local bike race track which is the same facility we often drag at. They are brand new that day but the sidewall sticky is worn away from cornering so they replace them everyday. They are speed rated. I think 200MPH. One racer  gave us one at the end of each day for free as they only have to dispose of them anyway. On a dragster running straight up instead of cornering on the sidewall they are good for a long long time. As to wear we build ackerman in so scrub wear from pit work and turning on and off the track becomes essentially non existent even though some would say ackerman going 200+ is non productive we figured out the front tire wear comes from loading and loading and roaming around pits , staging lanes and return roads and so we went back to using it in everything since it hurts nothing anyway going straight ahead. 
don

55

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Early hemi powered vintage style rail

« on: August 08, 2014, 08:35:16 PM »

Yes it is. Back in 2000 I did a lot of development work on the engine in what is now the FourAmerica 35 Chev Vintage stock car.(Runs in vintage stock car races in and around Daytona) During the development of that motor package I had occasion to have the head on my flow bench for several tests. Head flow when done was really quite good rivaling if not exceeding the popular 441 Chevy V8 head. During testing I also did a few flow bench runs with the intake and single Rochestor carb installed. That carb was production 292 GMC truck . We had removed the cross bar and made some mods in the horn but essentially it was as produced. I noticed that at wide open the carb did not even present any restriction and so knew that and what the approx. max flow capabilities of the carb were when mounted on the manifold I realized when I saw the marine 2 single available that two of those Rochestor  carbs would easily handle the requirements of Mike's vintage style 331 hemi. From its current performance it would appear that was a valid conclusion as it is already performing at what I figured would be best possible eventual result.
don 

56

Six Cylinder Drag Vehicles / Re: Where are you guys? 6 cly folks

« on: August 08, 2014, 10:14:22 AM »

Thanks for showing us. Gotta be more of us around. Where are they all hiding?
don

57

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Early hemi powered vintage style rail

« on: August 06, 2014, 04:50:38 AM »

Mike currently works installing those outdoor wood furnaces and has one hisself. I quit the wood thing just last year (sore back!;>)
Mike recently scored a running flathead Ford so I don't know what he will build with it. He also has a 41 Willys with a 331 hemi and a four speed.
don

58

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Early hemi powered vintage style rail

« on: August 05, 2014, 07:26:56 PM »

yup
don

59

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Early hemi powered vintage style rail

« on: August 05, 2014, 09:17:25 AM »

Here it is standing still.

60

Altereds / Re: Front end shake

« on: August 04, 2014, 01:14:47 AM »

Sound advice. Been there done that. On my rail which is short wheelbase (96 inch) straight axle I never had any problem on a smooth track and return road but when I started Airfield Racing some of the 75 year old runways are a bit bumpy and it would occasionally do that when braking after the burnout through the starting line if I hit a rough spot or crack in the pavement. Having run into it before back in the 70s with a 32 Bantam altered I ordered a moog VW bug unit and installed it before the next race at that airfield. Have raced there many times since over the years. Problem is GONE! Not even a hint of it. Installation took about an hour and cost was $70 CAN.
another don