Topics

16

Front Engine Dragsters / Picton Airfield pics on facebook.

« on: October 02, 2013, 07:34:44 PM »

Most of the pics from the Picton Airfield Armdrop race are on facebook Since I am not I haven't seen them. However this long range photo showed up and is of me driving by the water truck for my burnout prior to the run. I believe this would be your classic "race face"
Don

17

Front Engine Dragsters / Kunundrum with my FED

« on: August 17, 2013, 09:39:15 AM »

I have been working on my tunnel ram project for my Slant six FED. Now I can see I can easily finish it in a week or so. I have been using the old motor in the gasser as a glorified engine stand since I know anything that will fit in side the gasser rails will fit the fed since it is 4 inches wider inside. Now I wonder if I shouldn't just jerk the four barrel and its headers off the FED and bolt this up and finish it and tune it. HOWEVER and there always is one. The FED is currently running absolutely perfect. The tunnel ram is an unknown although my stuff usually works. I was caught on camera at the last event which I did well at considering my 246 cubic inch motor. On looking over the camera shot I realized I had the brakes on (lever and guard are clearly visable in the shot and the brake lever is approx half way up the guard which is about if not full application. Of course the engine is not bothered excessively by the brakes having more then enuf snot to overcome them but since the photographer told me the picture was taken at half track I am somewhat curious to know what the car will run like if I drive two handed on the steering wheel eliminating my bad habit of holding onto the brake handle which I have had since I first drove it. I am trying to decide what to do.  Sometimes these things don't make as big a difference as we hope but it is hard to think having the brakes almost full on even at half track wouldn't make a difference. Brakes are BTW 11 inch 1972 Chrysler drums with police taxi linings.
So try it one more time SEPT 28 at Picton as is but with both hands on the wheel or roll the dice on the unproven tunnel ram and drive with both hands from now on anyway.  I can run the Picton race then swap it as we race right up into Nov here at the local WE HATE LOW BUCK CARS track.
Don

18

Front Engine Dragsters / New pic of my FED.

« on: July 11, 2013, 04:04:10 AM »

I came across this pic of my FED sitting in front of my street ride. A 246 cube in front of a 426 cube.
Don

19

Front Engine Dragsters / Revival of old FED project

« on: July 07, 2013, 06:26:17 AM »

Sitting in my shop back in the corner is an old new FED project I stalled on. It is at the tacked together stage which is good for nothing. (cant sell, cant use) Everytime I walk into the shop to work on the gasser it is looking at me. I am thinking maybe it is time to fire up the scratch tig, get a bottle of gas and some quality rod and finish the welding. Probably a couple of days would do it. I donno. Tis tempting me. Here it is sitting with a flat tire. Seems a shame. Will take any A series Mopar with a 727 trans. I built it for a hot 318 poly project but I dont think I have the hair to drive it with that. My driving skills are not what they once were and they were never very good anyway.  Maybe a good running stock 318 or 340 will turn up.
Don

20

Front Engine Dragsters / Early Hemi 60s style Fed nears completion

« on: June 29, 2013, 09:44:55 AM »

Was at my pal Mike's today. Mike is working on a 60s style Chassis Research type dragster. He has been at it three years. He is now wiring the ignition  and tach and was installing a trans cooler when I was there. Mike Sietsma started this project after seeing an old faded drawing of a early Ch Rsrch frame. First he mocked it up in ABS plastic pipe. Then changed what he didnt like. He did it his way and is unimpressed by other's ideas of how he should do it. The engine is a 331 hemi sporting a custom ground hydraulic cam. The intake is an old marine unit and sports two large single barrels giving about 600 CFM which BTW is enuf for a moderate 331. Stock distributor was reworked by Mike for modern Mopar reluctor and pick up. An early short tail stock Powerglide is adapted to the hemi through a homemade adapater. A 8 inch dynamic converter hides inside the housing. Wheelbase is, I believe, 131. A 30s Dodge front axle rides on 1/4 eliptics and is steered by a rack and pinion from a early sixties British sports car. Rear end is a narrowed 8 3/4 mopar with 3.55 gears twisting M&H 28 inch street slicks. Cooling uses a storage tank rather then a rad. Mike is a plumber who works in hot water heating industry so I never question as he knows his craft.  Goal is a good running safe car for some Sat afternoon fun at Picton Airfield. Actual times are not important. Reliability and fun at first on the list. This is Mike's second ground up build. First was a 41 Willy Gasser which he drives all summer long (also Hemi powered.)  I expect to hear it bark to life in a week or so. He is pretty close. 
Don for Mike S

21

Front Engine Dragsters / Angry competitor or Fun at the Drags

« on: June 27, 2013, 06:51:37 PM »

Runnning a small cube rail is fun. Running a 6 even a bit more perhaps. Where I race I am always the smallest cubes sometimes by about 1/2. We race, for those who arent aware, heads up only. Last race I made three runs with a CM tube frame Austin Bantam powered by an .060 over 460 Ford sporting a tunnel ram and goodies. Like me, he said he was there just for the fun. First two he got me. Passed me at about half way and held on for a win by a good 3 to 4 lengths. I thought nothing of it. I didnt expect to win and was a bit surprised even then that I could at least stay with him and another V8 rail I ran as well. On our last pairing he had a slight brain fart. (Distractred on the start which gave me according to video I have seen about an extra car length leap.) Since I leave on them all anyway it gave me just that wee bit extra that I was able to pull the rabbit out of the hat for an unexpected win. I knew he was upset at the track and stayed clear till the colour drained back out of his cheeks. We have know each other and been friends for about 45 years. Tuesday I heard at the local machine shop he has all his Ford stuff for sale. He was pulling the blown and injected BB CHEVY engine out of his RED and stuffing it in the Bantam. Seemed odd to me as that car has run over 190 in the quarter. I didnt know if it with this particular motor but it is a strong set up regardless. My old boss and friend at the shop told me `Tis all your fault, Dulmage. He didnt like getting spanked that last run !`I was worried that he had fallen off his truck or something. I didnt think he would take it like that. It was after all an accidental win based more on luck and consistancy than just pure performance. So for several days I worried but today I stopped by the same shop and in he came. He began telling me what he was up to. I mentioned it seemed a bit extreme to me. He turned and wagging his finger at me said `That will never happen again EVER! obviously referring to my win on our last run. At that moment I felt releaved. My compassion for his state of mind evaporated. He is fine. Just a bit sore. I reminded him that he didnt really know that for sure and allowed for the possibilty he might have another brainfart someday and the sr dragster would be happy to spank him again.
All is well now. I returned home , went in the shop where the Sr dragster was sitting on the trailer. I gave her a little rub on the valve cover and whispered Good Girl , You done good!
Don
Here we are just after tech that morning. I am sitting in mine behind the Bantam.
Been an interesting week to say the least. :-).

22

Front Engine Dragsters / FEDs@ Mohawk Picton. Bob Beazer

« on: June 13, 2013, 07:18:03 AM »

Got some pics from Brenda Morton today from Picton Airfield. I ask her to take a few and she did. Always does a good job and is willing to share them.
Someone discovered a sign in a building from Mohawks NHRA Canadian National Days. Before the Picton Airfield races started (May 18) they set the old sign up . Bob Beazer who always did the India Rain dance at NHRA events in the 60s and 70s (Indy and even some Goodguy Events)was a very big part of Mohawk Dragway's early days. He donned one of his rain dance suits and brought a pair of flags from pre Christmas tree days to re-enact some of the old days. All of the drivers in these cars save one raced at Mohawk at one time or another. Here  Pat Doornbos and I  line up as "The Beaz" flags us off. Pat has a Hilborn Injected BB Chevy in his rail and we usually run each other. As impossible as it seems I have won a few although currently he is ahead. (I have 5 wins he has 7)
The next photo is me with my proper driving suit on as well as my race face, heading for the line to run John Mortons BB Ford powered 32 Bantam altered. On this particular run I was successful (somehow?!!!!) Interestingly the car behind me is a supercharged 60s GTO driven by GTO Joe Hendick(Rick Hendicks (Nascar fame) cousin. )
The last is another photo of Pat and John for the Beazer Mohawk Dragway shoot. The cars behind are typical of Picton Airfield and would have been typical of Mohawk as well. The Black Willys is Mike Sietsma's and is early hemi powered with a 4 speed. The Falcon has a Ford Smlblk. The Dart Gasser belongs to a  friend, Ron Smith and has a Sm Blk Mopar with fenderwells and way back is a 70 RR driven by the man who bought it new and still owns and races it. Dave Grimmon. It probably have a 1/4 million miles on it now and I think is on its third Powerplant. Most of us  FED guys as well as our gasser and altered friends live for these weekends. We get two to four per year.
Don
PS the old Mohawk Dragstrip at the Mohawk WWII Airfield is only about 10 minutes from Picton Airfield where we were racing. I worked in tech at Mohawk during 68 69 and 70. If you ran a Mopar I teched you in. 

23

Wanted to buy / narrow track Dana 44 from 72 to 75 CJ

« on: June 07, 2013, 03:09:26 AM »

I need a narrow track , that is 1972 to 75 CJ Jeep rear diff for my VW bug gasser coupe project. I need it with 3.89 which is I understand most popular gear or 4.10 . Dont have a lot of gold to spend and it need to be not far from me in Belleville Ontario. (say with in 200 miles)
Don

24

Front Engine Dragsters / People like the old style cars

« on: May 31, 2013, 03:54:43 AM »

I was at the metal store yesterday buying some tubing for ladder bars for another project. The fellow I see there all the time Dudely, a good reliable person came out to talk as I picked up my order. Dudely is always at the Airfield when we run and sometimes at Shannonville too. He asked me what I was making . When told him a new race car he said "WHY?" People like the old FEDs Short long whatever doesnt matter to them apparently they just love to see them run. Nice to know they are still popular with the crowd who are BTW the ones who pay the track's bills in case any of us might forget.
Don

25

Your Builds / Photo Gallery / Das Auto Gasser build . Slant Six VW bug

« on: May 29, 2013, 10:40:53 AM »

As I iluded to in the gasser thread I have started into a build of a VW bug as a early coupe style gasser.
Why? Well, I was given the body shell free and it was delivered here.  I was given the metal  2x3 X.180" wall rectangular tubing. Tisnt pretty as it was used as HD industrial shelving for years but aside from the ugly which is totally superficial it is good sound tubing. Despite being heavy wall the frame is not all that heavy. I weighed a 5 inch section at 710gr. I have 244 inches in the basic frame. It is easy to work with and strong. And FREE! I can spend an hour or so with a flap wheel cleaning the old ugly paint from it at that price.
I finished  the basic frame this morning. It will be a ladder bar suspension (30 inch) with coil springs and seperate shock. Nothing fancy. Front axle will be fabbed in house (again) and will use 1/4 eliphtic front springs which I have come to really like. (My short rail uses a single 1/4 and my Jeep altered used a pair. My Poly Dragster project also has a pair of 1/4s up front) Rear will be probably a Jeep as they come with usable gears and will not require narrowing. Also would have no trouble standing up to the slant six power. Later this week I will notch the rear floor for the frame step up. The roll cage will tie the rest together nicely. I plan to sit approx in the stock location.
I have a spare slant six which was also a gift. I have one of my old heads with big valves and porting and springs as well as three special cams I have run in the rail . I have three intakes plus a stocker. Soon I will also have a spare set of headers . I have a spare trans core and a couple of converters although just fun ones not real serious ones. Still should it all come together I am not too proud to just pop something together for a fun run till I get a serious mill done.
Anyway I worked on it a bit each day. The frame is about 4.5 hours work so far. I am using the car as something to work on when I need a break from my intake header work. There is no particular schedule.
Don

26

Altereds / one of mine

« on: May 28, 2013, 04:18:59 PM »

Built this a few years a back. Always wondered what a Jeep bucket would look like as opposed to a T bucket. Body is in .040" Aluminum from a wooden buck I made (and still have in the basement. ) Car was pryed from my hands by gobs of $$$$$$ as it neared completion so I personally never got to enjoy it. However I know where it is. Noronco Sheet metal built the body for me. Owner is an old friend and racer.
Don
PS He told me when he built the body that every jeep must have a trailer hitch so as you can see there is a little fake one he added.

27

Front Engine Dragsters / Vintage style FEd hauler

« on: May 21, 2013, 05:15:17 AM »

While I have enjoyed haulin my FED in my V10 Ram pickup bed I have a 426 Max Wedge I drive on the street. I decided since my racing is local (within 20 miles of home) to build a matching trailer for the 63 wedge car and go to the track in style. Now I realize it will be good for cruise night displays as well. Yesterday Linda (aka Mrs D) and I pushed the rail on the trailer for the first time.  I am happy with the look so far.
Must be lots of others with neat haulers. How about some pics.
Don

28

Front Engine Dragsters / 6 cyl FEDS

« on: May 16, 2013, 03:47:53 AM »

Any other 6 cyl FEds around?
Here is mine to start.
96 inch Wlbse.
1 5/8 mild steel DOM .120 min tube
Narrowed in house 8 3/4 Dodge rear with 3:91 posi
29.5 X 10 MT slicks
Frank Lupo 8 inch Dynamic converter (4700 stall)
904 trqflite with extra clutches and mods (in house) and A&A govenor shift kit.
1962 Valiant 225 slant six. .156" overbore, stock stroke flat top pistons Special hydraulic Comp Cam.
76 Cylinder head with 312 intake stems and 1.8 dia vlaves (made from stainless Chevys) 343 stem necked exhausts 1.5 dia. ported "beyond!"
Offy intake with 600 DP carb.
Hand built front axle with Handi-van spindles and 13 inch ChvyII rims.
Single 1/4 elehptic front suspension. 
#1304 without me. (#1604 with me)

29

Events / PICTON AIRFIELD ARMDROP DRAGS

« on: May 13, 2013, 04:23:25 PM »

This Saturday May 18 at historic Picton Airfield in beautiful Prince Edward County the Armdrop group will once again host a day of drags. There  is always also a car show and bike show. Bob Beazer , famous for his rain dance performances at NHRA National events on the 60s and 70s will be in attendance , in costume, flagging some of the vintage cars. Word has it some of the old signage from nearby Mohawk Drags has been found in a barn and will be on display for some photo ops for some of the old dudes from back in the day. The usual slingshot match race between Dulmage and Doornbos is expected to take place again. So far Doornbos has won 7 out of 12 races. Expect everything to be there from old Willlys gassers to modern Camaros,  Mustangs and Challengers. Gates open at 10. Runs start at 12 and will run NONSTOP to 5 PM. It is not unusual to see over 600 runs during one of these events. This group really knows how to "get er done".  No prizes. Some trophies if you want to enter for them but FUN.

$5 to watch $20 to run.

30

Gassers / DAS AUTO Gasser

« on: May 13, 2013, 04:21:58 AM »

Over the weekend I received Free a VW bug body. I have lots of spare slant six engines trans & parts and decided to whip up a gasser chassis. 4 corner 1/4 eliptics with ladder bars. What to call it? For me there is no question. "DAS AUTO mit Kreizler Kraft" Always wanted a gassser coupe.
Don