Messages

31

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: 2nd Test Session This Evening

« on: July 15, 2023, 06:02:07 AM »

I think we had a good night at the test-n-tune last night. No massive puddles of oil or transmission fluid under the car and the car still could be rolled onto the trailer.

The 1/8 Mi. track was no-prep last night and the car ran a best of 7.06 at 99.75 MPH. While I was building the car I found an online racing calculator that said at the expected weight and HP the car would run slightly under 7.00 at about 100 MPH, so I guess it wasn't too far off. Needless to say there are a lot of cars a lot faster than mine, but I'm pretty happy and now we can concentrate for consistency for bracket racing.

Lynn

32

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: 2nd Test Session This Evening

« on: July 14, 2023, 01:29:34 PM »

Thank you! I'm heading to the track in 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 -   

Lynn

33

Front Engine Dragsters / 2nd Test Session This Evening

« on: July 14, 2023, 10:09:55 AM »

About 5 or 6 weeks ago we took my freshly completed FED for a few test passes. I was pleased that it didn't do anything crazy on the 4 mild passes that were made on that first outing.

Over the last few weeks the car was stripped to bare chassis and everything was cleaned and painted, along with finishing up a few other minor things. Basically doing what I hope were the last few details before some "real" testing.

The plan is to slowly approach a full-on pass. I don't know how many passes we'll have the opportunity to do during a test-n-tune night, but we hope to make some progress toward a full pass. Based on our first test session I hope we can get in at least 3, and hopefully 4 passes.

My fingers are crossed and most importantly I'm praying that we have a productive and safe session.

There is some forecast of pop-up rain and storms, so I'm watching the weather closely before I head out on the 1 hour trip to the track. I hope to have a progress report tomorrow.

Lynn

34

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Backing up and staging straight.

« on: July 01, 2023, 09:51:33 AM »

With my low HP FED I don't think wheelspin will really be any issue, but do you try to get into the same track as previous cars?

Lynn

35

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Backing up and staging straight.

« on: June 28, 2023, 03:04:23 PM »

So.......just what does one look for on the start line to find the sweet spot?

Lynn

36

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

« on: June 12, 2023, 06:45:21 PM »

I got photos re-sized so I hope this works.

Lynn

37

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

« on: June 12, 2023, 03:16:36 PM »

My son came home for a couple days last week and we disassembled the dragster. Got it sandblasted Saturday prime Sunday and painted today. Now I'll see if I can get this jigsaw puzzle back together again.

Lynn

38

Dan Dishon's Transmission Den / Powerglide Questions

« on: May 28, 2023, 06:38:00 PM »

I built the Powerglide for my FED using Carl Munroe's book "Powerglide Transmission Handbook" as a guide. When we did a few mild test passes with the car last week it seemed that it was more "sluggish", and took more throttle to move in Low than it did in 2nd (Drive) or Reverse (valve body converted to manual only, providing I did things right) The converter is a 10" Boss Hog unit that is considered 5000 stall but I was told by them that with the low HP of my car it would probably stall at about 4200 RPM. The PG doesn't have a trans brake....we're foot braking it. In general it just seemed it took less throttle in the pits to move in Drive or Reverse gears than it did in Low gear.

I have several thoughts on what might be causing the sluggishness, if it indeed does have an issue;

A) Perhaps nothing is wrong and it's quite normal? I've never had a light car like this with a high stall converter.

B) The Low band isn't holding? I can and will double check the band adjustment.

C) When I built the transmission I tried various steel and friction disc stacks to set clearance in the high gear clutch pack. After trying several combinations they all seemed to go from really loose to borderline tight. I finally assembled with the clearance borderline tight thinking that there might be a tiny bit of friction disc break-in wear on the new discs and that it might quickly  loosen up. I know the high and reverse clutch packs "slip" in low gear, so that might be adding too much drag if either clutch pack is tight?

D) I have read that Type F ATF provides a sharper shift than Dextron ATF. That sounded like a positive thing so I used Valvoline Type F fluid. Could it be that the Type F fluid is creating "stiction" in the clutch pack(s), especially with tight clearances? If that's a potential issue, are the fluid types compatible enough that I could drain and refill the transmission a couple times to dilute the amount of Type F fluid in the transmission?

Perhaps there could be other issues, or there might not be an issue at all, so I'm open to comments and suggestions.

Thanks, in advance!

Lynn

39

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: New tri drive for FED

« on: May 28, 2023, 03:52:55 PM »

Beautiful work! Both of you must have an unlimited amount of patience and time on your hands. I envy the craftsmanship and vision.

Lynn

40

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

« on: May 26, 2023, 11:49:53 AM »

1st day at the drag strip to do some easy test passes. This was the 4th pass. Still not all-in at the line and my driver lifted at about 400'. Pleased that the car went straight and the driver said it didn't do anything ignorant.

Satisfied with the initial "mild" shake down passes, my plan is to completely disassemble, finish up some non-critical welds I couldn't get to before, clean and paint the chassis, and reassemble.

Based on the test passes I think I might have a race car on my hands!

Lynn

41

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

« on: May 18, 2023, 10:41:43 AM »

My driver came by last evening. We did some carb tweaking, set the idle speed and ignition timing, got the Powerglide fluid level topped off while doing some more in-gear running on jack stands. Things seem ready to go. I made contact with a track that runs on a non-regular basis and think it might work out to have access to it sometime next week for a few 'private" test passes rather than going to the regular track on test-n-tune night. My driver is likely to be out of town with work next week so I guess I will likely have the pleasure of the car's first passes. I guarantee, they will be moderate passes at best!

Lynn

42

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

« on: May 15, 2023, 06:28:27 PM »

Probably the first on-the-ground trial will be at a Friday evening test-n-tune at one of the local tracks. There's another possibility that I may be able to get into another local track to do some passes in private. That would be my preference. Plan is to make a handful of passes at increasing speeds unless it does something really ignorant at some point. If some "aggressive" but not yet all out passes go well it will probably be blown all apart for paint and final touches. I know it won't be this weekend since I'll be traveling with my wife to visit family, but hoping for the following weekend....Memorial weekend.....I suppose.

Lynn

43

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

« on: May 14, 2023, 08:35:57 AM »

I'm computer illiterate so let's see if this video link actually works. Fist time I've tried to post via YouTube.

I did the first running test of the transmission and driveline of my almost completed FED yesterday. 1st automatic transmission I've built in nearly 50 years and it appears to actually work. Hopefully I'll be able to make a few test passes in a couple weeks.

Lynn

44

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Getting Closer

« on: March 08, 2023, 10:17:48 AM »

Since the engine was run before I thought I'd get by with not removing the distributor again to prime the oil system. I did do that prior to the initial fire-up when I built the engine and ran it to break in the cam for about 30 minutes. Granted, it's been sitting for about 7 or 8 months since that initial run. Since the timing is set I hoped to avoid that "one more thing" to do when I fire it up now and by cranking it for just the few seconds to build oil pressure with the plugs out I thought I'd be OK. My thought is I'll be plenty busy in the first minute or two checking for leaks, monitoring temp and oil pressure and finish filling the transmission (new converter partially filled per converter company's instruction and freshened transmission) once the engine running. If the consensus is to pull the distributor and re-prime with a drill and priming tool, I will. Probably not going to get around to firing it today anyway.

Lynn

45

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Getting Closer

« on: March 07, 2023, 03:48:21 PM »

I have hopes of firing up the engine tomorrow to see if the wheels go round and round and both directions. I built the engine last Spring/Summer and ran it about 30 minutes on an engine stand to break in the cam. My plan is to pull the spark plugs to take the load off the Pistons and rods and crank it to build oil pressure before putting the plugs back in and actually doing a engine start. I'm praying that everything goes well.

Lynn