Messages

241

Your Builds / Photo Gallery / Re: New member 200" Supercat FED

« on: August 30, 2013, 08:32:08 AM »

Quick update..
We are a little behind due to our house being on the market and all the fun with that scenario.

We received the Race-Pak and are in the process of installing that.
I will be machining a Mag base soon for the 462.
All the measuring is done for the zoomies so I will get going on that this week.
I made the new dash so we now have a tach, fuel psi, oil gauges.
Glen had a loaner fuel pump drive so I will get that installed as soon as it arrives. Thanks Glen.
I will post some pictures soon as we should be working on the car this weekend.

242

Wanted to buy / Belt drive for a Hilborn fuel pump

« on: August 28, 2013, 08:33:18 AM »

I am looking for a belt drive assembly for a Hilborn fuel pump. The engine combo in the dragster is only temporary, but requires a belt drive for the pump.
I am hoping someone has a loaner or used drive to sell.
Let me know

John

243

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Beadlocks?

« on: July 25, 2013, 10:22:51 AM »

We use a Hoosier 12X33 on an 11.5 wheel with about 7.5-8.0 psi. 
Car is a 200 inch FED and we have done a best 1.09- 60ft. We do not have screws or bead-locks and we have never slid a tire yet.
We have bead-lock wheels coming as the new combo will go past 200mph.
We have marks on our wheel and tires (both sides) and we check frequently to make sure all is good.
John

244

Roo Man's Room / Re: Roo Man what for bare chassis

« on: July 22, 2013, 09:23:32 AM »

I use Gibbs and a soft grey scotchbrite pad. It will make that chassis shine

245

Your Builds / Photo Gallery / Re: New member 200" Supercat FED

« on: July 11, 2013, 04:01:31 PM »

Only the short part of the trip Cali to AZ it was on the truck and in good company I might add. One of Roo's top fuel cars was sitting next to it. The rest of the trip it was in the front of my big Haulmark trailer.
Here are a few shots of Johnny's FED on the truck

246

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Anyone got any ideas for a simple chassis jig for a one time build? 150" WB.

« on: July 11, 2013, 09:22:02 AM »

Ken I would use an I-beam just a few feet longer than your build.

I am selling a 160" CEN-PENN chassis let me know if you are interested. May save you some time on your build. The pipe is just tacked so it is in its beginning stages, easy to change to your ideas.

John

247

Your Builds / Photo Gallery / Re: New member 200" Supercat FED

« on: July 10, 2013, 04:55:24 PM »

Johnny I'll be going by your way in a few weeks. I have to drop off another little dragster up your way. I'll pick it up at the NHRA museum soon and then head north.
I'll give you a shout when I know my schedule.

I talked with one of the ANRA  regulars today and he said our car should not have any problem running in NE1. He personally has 3-4 cars in the class at any one time.

248

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Re: Mag or electronic ignition.

« on: July 10, 2013, 09:43:31 AM »

George the MSD parts are

Box  6AL      pn 6420
Coil  HVC II  pn 8261
Distributor   pn 8517
Crank trigger
2 Step        pn 8739

Our engine is a 12.5 to 1 462 Buick that is about 850 HP and 673 ft/lb on a decent tune with carb and race gas. We now have the 4port Hilborn as a throttle body with 8 Enderle nozzles at the valves on methanol so it should run pretty good in a 1200lb car.
What is your build?
John

249

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Hello everyone

« on: July 10, 2013, 09:05:14 AM »

Van have a good time this weekend at Famoso. We have been running at the Saturday Night Nitro program for the past few years.
I got my Top Fuel license in 2011 at the last SNN. We will try to go to the August SNN event or for ANRA in mid August with our car.
Have fun and stay safe.

John

250

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Re: Mag or electronic ignition.

« on: July 10, 2013, 07:59:11 AM »

George we run a spark gap of .018 for the mag and a gap of .050 on the MSD we use the NGK race plugs. We will most likely go up on the gap with the 16V battery installed. I do have a resistor for my gauges and trans brake. I am going to check with Race-Pak to see if I need to use a resistor for their products.

That was a good link on the 16 Volt battery.    We  are using the XS Power D-1600 deep cycle for our car. We are also using the Tilton high torque starter.

251

Matt Shaff's Engine Shop / Re: Mag or electronic ignition.

« on: July 09, 2013, 09:44:07 PM »

George we use a second battery to start our car. We use a small battery on board for the transbake and recorder. It is enough of a battery to start the dragster if I stall it after the burnout, but it struggles to do it.
We use a heavy duty cable connector like you would have for a blower starter or winch. It is mounted at the rear of the car just under the seat near the lower wheelie bar mount. We use a battery cart with either 1 or 2 batteries to start the car and then just disconnect and pull forward. The small battery stays on the charger while in the pits. We run a mag usually but will be using our MSD ignition on the engine in the car now.
We do have a new 16V battery that was given to us by one of our sponsors, BUT WOW are the chargers expensive.
I need to stop being cheap and just get one.

252

Your Builds / Photo Gallery / Re: New member 200" Supercat FED

« on: July 09, 2013, 09:14:00 PM »

Ricardo thanks on the car. We like to be prepared it's a long drive to the tracks from here

I will start building the Zoomies this weekend for the engine that is in the car now(last picture). I was going to use the headers but it just doesn't look right.

253

Your Builds / Photo Gallery / Re: New member 200" Supercat FED

« on: July 08, 2013, 09:26:09 PM »

John and Paul as of right now the injected Nailhead is in my wife's 1971 RED I'll post some shots of that at some point.
I do have a mid 60s  145" 3 bar FED with Mag body would that be better for the Nailhead.
We also have a brand new 160" FED chassis on the rack.
 
The Supercat FED is going to run in top fuel as the first/current Buick in the class. I am motivated by the people that said it can't be done....I just smile and say "Thanks for the inspiration"

Thanks folks for the compliments on the car

254

Roo Man's Room / At what speed should you consider adding canard wings to a FED

« on: July 08, 2013, 02:00:32 PM »

What is the general rule if there is one for adding canards to a FED. I have only driven 1 FED over 200mph and it was one of Roo's. Our car does not have them at the moment or a front wing for that matter, but we will be going past 200 very soon.
I have all of my safety and fuel equipment as far forward as I can. The first fire bottle is at the front axle with the second immediately behind it. Then my fuel tank and oil tank then the engine which is a cast iron 462 and I can still lift the nose of the car to my hip by myself so the car is very light. Our next block is about 100lbs lighter and is blown fuel. I am making a weight box that will have a drain and shot fill so I can add some weight in front of the front axle.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I added pictures in the member section under Supercat FED

255

Your Builds / Photo Gallery / New member 200" Supercat FED

« on: July 08, 2013, 11:16:50 AM »

Finally had a few minutes to stop and join this site. A quick bit on me I'm 45. I have been racing for over 30 years from door cars to top fuel. I own a restoration shop and have for too many years. A few years ago I had the opportunity to buy a Fastech 200" FED and so the faster bug finally bit me. My wife and I race as a team which has just made running our FED that much better.
We are an odd team in that I grew up racing Buicks and that has spilled over to the FED. We started the build and ran for a few years with an injected Buick Nailhead. Then a long winter and a blown fuel Nailhead ended up in the car.  This past week we put in our Buick 462 cast iron block to go have some fun. We are using a 4 port Hilborn and methanol for the fuel. We are waiting for a few last parts for our aluminum Buick 445cu.in. fuel engine to be finished. Because no one has done it we are giving it a shot.

Below are 3 shots of the evolution of the dragster we call the SUPERCAT

John