FrontEngineDragsters.Org Forum
Drag Racing Discussions => Front Engine Dragsters => Topic started by: 225digger on May 14, 2013, 02:46:42 PM
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so im slowly getting my FED done , and while im alittle ways off im at that point where i need to start thinking which way to go with it . meaning , go bracket racing , or get into other types of racing with it .
the biggest thing im getting at is , which engine to go with i have a carbed big block i can stick in the car to keep it real simple and just go bracket racing . or i also have a blown bbc i could stick in it . it has gas carbs on it now , but i could very easily swap it for injected alky and maybe go do something different with the car ....maybe this 7.0 stuff ??
i love bracket racing , but i think becuase of my work schedule i might have more fun doing something else .
i only ever bracket raced and i only ever been to one nostalgia type race and i was there to just enjoy it didnt really care about learning or anything just wanted to enjoy some racing action ,so for you guys that live up north here in PA and even alittle south , which way would you go ? i know maple grove has the geezers , and i think beaver has a few things here and there but what about every where else around PA ?
suggestions or anything are appreciated
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so im slowly getting my FED done , and while im alittle ways off im at that point where i need to start thinking which way to go with it . meaning , go bracket racing , or get into other types of racing with it .
the biggest thing im getting at is , which engine to go with i have a carbed big block i can stick in the car to keep it real simple and just go bracket racing . or i also have a blown bbc i could stick in it . it has gas carbs on it now , but i could very easily swap it for injected alky and maybe go do something different with the car ....maybe this 7.0 stuff ??
i love bracket racing , but i think becuase of my work schedule i might have more fun doing something else .
i only ever bracket raced and i only ever been to one nostalgia type race and i was there to just enjoy it didnt really care about learning or anything just wanted to enjoy some racing action ,so for you guys that live up north here in PA and even alittle south , which way would you go ? i know maple grove has the geezers , and i think beaver has a few things here and there but what about every where else around PA ?
suggestions or anything are appreciated
I think this is a wide open question.
Basically you need to decided what you want to do. Bracket racing you can show up run some runs turn around and go home.
"Something else" can require a bigger time investment.
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Been into both. Bracket racing is a big commitment if you want to run the points. You can't afford to miss a meet. Then there is the handicaping dial ins etc. I found for me attending nostalgia or open style meets where we run heads up FOR FUN much more enjoyable. Despite the fact that I show up with the smallest motored FED, (246 cu in) I still find at the end of the day I am relaxed and smiling.
For everything there is a season or time. You have to decide where you are I guess.
Now I go to only test and tunes or airfield armdrop races. I have had more fun since taking this course then I ever did before. It does take some discipline and like anyone else I fall prey to faster more HP etc but I fight the urge now. At the end of a long career I am just thrilled to be able to take my little self built dragster to the track and feel the breeze just one more time. It is great to renew old friendships from back in the day, make a few runs, have a burger and see the old stuff in the pits. Eagle Field in Calif has a great program as does the Armdrop group running the Picton Airfield drags. I am sure there are many other similar deals. Something about this type of racing that is a lot of fun. For me my days of spending money I dont have to buy things I dont need to impress people I dont like is over. Just some thoughts but you will have to decide for yourself.
Don
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I think this is a wide open question.
Basically you need to decided what you want to do. Bracket racing you can show up run some runs turn around and go home.
"Something else" can require a bigger time investment.
i guess i need someone to push me over the cliff on not bracket racing . haha .... glenn your in ny so id imagine you might travel down into pa . what kind of heads up stuff is in the area ?
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I've been bracket racing and am slowly moving into index racing.
I'm not fast enough for heads up racing.
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I love index racing. heads up for broke folk.
Leave together, end up together at the other end. Lots of ways to skin the cat, but you both end up side by side. In fact, index is just a bracket race where everyone has the same dial, but it's WAY more fun that watching a car drive away from you.
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I love index racing. heads up for broke folk.
Leave together, end up together at the other end. Lots of ways to skin the cat, but you both end up side by side. In fact, index is just a bracket race where everyone has the same dial, but it's WAY more fun that watching a car drive away from you.
Difference is you need more skill to tune the dragster to go the index, I'm working on 8.5.
I'm have a lot to learn.
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2x
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With the greatest of respect I reply.
Heads up for fun racing is not about winning or super times or being the best. It is purely for the fun of running in a safe and proper manner. Once you remove the need to be #1 life can become a lot more fun.
You are now free do do what you want, explore areas you couldn't afford to take a chance on before and the stress of racing (Ist round eliminations, buy backs, who got all the bye runs, where are we in the points, No way that should have been a red light, etc etc etc etc) are all gone. Now its "Hi Bob. nice to see you. What are you running these days?" Pairings can be whoever you want and pretty well when you want within reason. You are never on the trailer unless you have had enuf runs and are going home.
Most of us take the view," This is what I have or what I have built . Lets see what I personaly can get out of it." What happens in the other lane is somewhat irrelevant. While you give it your best when running the result is not really important. What is important is running your car in a proper venu safely. As I have said before I have never had more fun then these deals. Would I have enjoyed it in my youth when we raced for wins and money? I don't really know but now it is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. At the end of the month I will be 63. When I was 36 I never dreamed I would be running a vintage style rail at 63. My grand dad at 63 was an old man and struggled to complete his working days and slept when not working. My Dad now 89 has no hobbies and I think finds life frustrating. I see at Rocky's Eagle Field deal there is an 86 year old runing a vintage flathead dragster. I feel privilaged just to be able to run and folks like that flathead racer give me a goal to shoot for. For us its about the FUN. Often heard at Picton "Who'ed ya run?" "Don't know" Did'ya win?" Can't remember. I think so." Tis a whole different deal.
This type of racing is sort of a dynamic car show (rather then static) Very relaxing. Coment from Harry Wilson of Wilson Machine and Marine after the last race , Sept 2012."That is the most enjoyable Saturday I have spent in over 40 years. "
Don
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With the greatest of respect I reply.
Heads up for fun racing is not about winning or super times or being the best. It is purely for the fun of running in a safe and proper manner. Once you remove the need to be #1 life can become a lot more fun.
You are now free do do what you want, explore areas you couldn't afford to take a chance on before and the stress of racing (Ist round eliminations, buy backs, who got all the bye runs, where are we in the points, No way that should have been a red light, etc etc etc etc) are all gone. Now its "Hi Bob. nice to see you. What are you running these days?" Pairings can be whoever you want and pretty well when you want within reason. You are never on the trailer unless you have had enuf runs and are going home.
Most of us take the view," This is what I have or what I have built . Lets see what I personaly can get out of it." What happens in the other lane is somewhat irrelevant. While you give it your best when running the result is not really important. What is important is running your car in a proper venu safely. As I have said before I have never had more fun then these deals. Would I have enjoyed it in my youth when we raced for wins and money? I don't really know but now it is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. At the end of the month I will be 63. When I was 36 I never dreamed I would be running a vintage style rail at 63. My grand dad at 63 was an old man and struggled to complete his working days and slept when not working. My Dad now 89 has no hobbies and I think finds life frustrating. I see at Rocky's Eagle Field deal there is an 86 year old runing a vintage flathead dragster. I feel privilaged just to be able to run and folks like that flathead racer give me a goal to shoot for. For us its about the FUN. Often heard at Picton "Who'ed ya run?" "Don't know" Did'ya win?" Can't remember. I think so." Tis a whole different deal.
This type of racing is sort of a dynamic car show (rather then static) Very relaxing. Coment from Harry Wilson of Wilson Machine and Marine after the last race , Sept 2012."That is the most enjoyable Saturday I have spent in over 40 years. "
Don
I agree with everything you have said.
Racing to win adds an edge to it if you will. If I was just driving down the track I would be less likely to look for that tiny small extra something, learn that next twick.
I personally do not get caught up in the "buy backs, who got all the bye runs, where are we in the points, No way that should have been a red light, etc etc etc etc" Once I'm out and usually that is in the first of second round, I test and tune. Someday I might get good enough to win.
(I will be 63 in September)
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Don and Glen you both bring up some very good point's . I think we all have dfferent reason's why we race but one thing we all share is the love of what we do . Don you are so right when my father was 63 he was old. I am just a kid at 62 Glen you have me beat I won't be 63 till October And I hope to do this for a long time . As far as the racing I would love to see a heads up 7.0 or 7.50 class . Epping has a pro comp class with a 6.20 index and it has been very successful . Bracket racing can be fun too a lot of real close races . I go to some af the big buck races at Atco with my son and they are very very competetive . If you are not .00 on the tree you better be dead on your dial . I think the main thing to remember is to have a good time and just enjoy the warm breeze as Don said . Speed on brother's and sisters!
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All right I feel like the little kid of the class now at a young whipper snapper age of 47. woo hoo.
Don I respectafully disagree about the need to be number 1 for me that is the fun. I love the thrash,the challange of out smarting others on getting down the track quicker then they can. But as Bill said we all race for the fun no matter what you call fun. Heck only crazy guy calls working 69 hours out of 3 days and spending thousands to do so fun but thats what we where doing when running the funnycar and I loved every second of the not sleeping race deal.
Heck the sitting around looking at the car instead of dropping the pan,yanking the clutch and pulling the heads is the one thing I hate about bracket racing,but my budget is nowhere near what it was when I got work all weekend for that #1.
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I have bracket raced almost 40 years had some success and won a track championship chased points too and won the deal but I won't do it again the day before every race I would almost get sick thinking about the points :-[ Thought if I missed one race it was a sin like to run me nuts {Well my wife says I am any way} Bracket racing is tough you need lotsa luck and some skill also patience helps alot too. I am building a FED if it ever gets finished to run brackets I just want to go toe to toe with the Rear engine cars (I had one great car butjust another dragsteonly difference mine had a Ford motor ??? The FED I am building now is gonna have a 300 inline six Ford on alky won't be fast but kinda different 8) What ever you decide have fun with it and good luck keep us posted!
Randy!
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Randy the Fun factor will make up for any lack of horse power . Chris I have unerwear that are older than you !!
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way too much info there Bill!! But seems you take darn good care of your underwear even if you did mispill the word.
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Or you can run with a group like I'm in Southern Slingshots. We do a mixed bag of events. We have cars that run in the sixes to low tens. A big portion of our events are "match race "style. We'll pair up cars that run close in et and do a best 2 out of 3 runs. We do get paid for most of the events as well. We are working on a format that run based on our best time trial and that's your dial in for the run WITH a no breakout! If you do break out that faster time becomes your new dial in and so on. We are going to try this at Cecil County this June 9Th. It's a North verses South deal. Should be a lot of fun.
Jim Cummings
Northern Race Coordinator
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Jim I had a good friend that was Jimmy Cummings we grew up together I'm in Ala. doubt you are any kin never know :o Will you guys go back to Silver Dollar in Reynolds Ga. it's about 80 miles from my house I race there some?
Randy!
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300 inline six Ford on alky won't be fast but kinda different
Oh you will have fun with that. IMHO best engine Ford ever built. Did a 300 for a friend , now passed away . He ran it in a T bucket for about 10 years and was never out of the top 5 at Shannonville and won it all at least once.
When I worked for Wilsons in the 70s Harry W ran a 300 six in a rail. Even built one with sleeves and 428 pistons. I was elected to do all the head work.
Don
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Don tell me more about the 300 new to me been a v8 man need direction but not a high dollar piece!
Thanks
Randy!
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All right I feel like the little kid of the class now at a young whipper snapper age of 47. woo hoo.
i didnt have much time to read the posts over morning breakfeast but will come later today when im not busy and reply better ....... but i did see this while skimming ........ im 31 .... im the kid of the class ....
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"Don tell me more about the 300 new to me been a v8 man need direction but not a high dollar piece!"
About three ways to build them low budget which is what my career was (going fast on less).
First real inexpensive is a 300 block bored .050 using 390 Ford for pistons. You get a bump in compression a gain in cubes BUT the piston weight and pin size is EXACTLY the same. A good flat tappet cam of around .570" lift and 268@050 (solid) or .545 253 @ .050" hydraulic will give you a decent engine that will not kill itself.
The head needs Chevy 2.02 intakes and 1.60 exhausts. (If the ex seats are pounded go to the 1.65 exhausts) Port the head BUT do not do much on the low side floor where it turns into the valve pocket. there is water too close there for anything more then a quick rub. Use 7/16 screw in studs in place of the stock press ins. (3/8s will become a trouble source to bypass them. ) Use the BB chevy rockers . Cut spring pockets for dual springs to mtch the cam. Use a four barrel intake and size carb like it was a V8 (If each cyl is 300/6 =50 cubes then a V8 would be 400 cubes) which using Don's Law requires 400 double = 800 cfm.
Headers should be 38 to 42 inch primary same size as the exhaust valve.
The other two use different pistons. You can use 302 chevy pistons (69 Z28) but they have almost too much compression or have custom ones made by Ross etc. Use a good quality head gasket.
This will get you down the track in fine style for a long time. Dont be afraid of the 390 pistons . You wont ever break them . Use good rod bolts. Engine will turn close to or just to 6000 in the traps.
Don
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Dom thanks I appreciate the info ;) why does the 302 piston give too much compression I run all my cars on alky this one will be a drunk too ;D I know that a 240 head is what is recomended but with decking or the 390 pistons what compression would it have? I don't have a head you know wher I might locate one I have the shortblock? Thanks again! If you would rather private message me that's ok!
Randy!
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All right I feel like the little kid of the class now at a young whipper snapper age of 47. woo hoo.
i didnt have much time to read the posts over morning breakfeast but will come later today when im not busy and reply better ....... but i did see this while skimming ........ im 31 .... im the kid of the class ....
Well that means Bill has underwear 1 1/2 times as old as you.
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8)I'm thinking we need to take up a collection and get some folks new underwear!
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JUST DO BOTH,WHY NOT ?
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All right I feel like the little kid of the class now at a young whipper snapper age of 47. woo hoo.
i didnt have much time to read the posts over morning breakfeast but will come later today when im not busy and reply better ....... but i did see this while skimming ........ im 31 .... im the kid of the class ....
shoot . . . I've got a year and a half left of my 20s
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Tyler,
Bill has underwear that where old before you where born. Wondering what his are made of.
Enjoy the youth thing dude, it leaves quicker than T/F with screwblower at 125% od and 3 nitrous systems on a perfect track.
I know its hard to believe all the things you hear about one day you wake up and your 50 ,ok 47 close enough to see how fast life goes by.But they are all true.
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Digger its all going to come down to, HOW MUCH MONEY you want to spend, and HOW MUCH HELP can you get to run the car. I know with my slow rinky dink operation its even something I could never do alone. At least 1 person is needed to get it done unless you are a professional athlete by trade, LOL that you are not. Keep it simple and it can be done with 1 extra person to help, make it a BB blown injected alky operation and its a whole new level of money and help needed.
A realistic minimum of 3 extra people to make that happen smooth, 1 to drive the tow and keep it organized, 2 to start the car and get you in the groove after your burnout. Then comes the money part for the extra maintenance. My wife shot this Wednesday, I am driving up behind in my easy on parts low budget car following A mean blown SBC FED, it ran in the high a 6 second # if I read the board right. I cant find anyone to help with my car so its just me and my wife to make it happen, I made my pass and drove back to the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXY0adUD2gU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXY0adUD2gU)
Heres the car running, man that thing was mean. Sorry the distance from the line to my wife was far, but the sound is all there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNUxVYrY90E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNUxVYrY90E)
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I wish that I had known that it was you with the altered. I saw the car but we were a bit shorthanded with the dragster and actually it was just Mark (the owner) and me until just before we ran and then Mark's son arrived with the tow car. We only made the one run which was a 7.04 at 193+. After it wanted to run in the sixes at Bowling Green (on a 7.0 index) the previous weekend we took some timing out of it and did not change the pill despite the fact that the air was 2000 feet worse at IRP. It was real rich on the top end but ran the number that we were looking for.
Roo
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I wish that I had known that it was you with the altered. I saw the car but we were a bit shorthanded with the dragster and actually it was just Mark (the owner) and me until just before we ran and then Mark's son arrived with the tow car. We only made the one run which was a 7.04 at 193+. After it wanted to run in the sixes at Bowling Green (on a 7.0 index) the previous weekend we took some timing out of it and did not change the pill despite the fact that the air was 2000 feet worse at IRP. It was real rich on the top end but ran the number that we were looking for.
Roo
I thought that was Mark's, I'm still running his tires and wheels.
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Digger its all going to come down to, HOW MUCH MONEY you want to spend, and HOW MUCH HELP can you get to run the car. I know with my slow rinky dink operation its even something I could never do alone. At least 1 person is needed to get it done unless you are a professional athlete by trade, LOL that you are not. Keep it simple and it can be done with 1 extra person to help, make it a BB blown injected alky operation and its a whole new level of money and help needed.
A realistic minimum of 3 extra people to make that happen smooth, 1 to drive the tow and keep it organized, 2 to start the car and get you in the groove after your burnout. Then comes the money part for the extra maintenance. My wife shot this Wednesday, I am driving up behind in my easy on parts low budget car following A mean blown SBC FED, it ran in the high a 6 second # if I read the board right. I cant find anyone to help with my car so its just me and my wife to make it happen, I made my pass and drove back to the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXY0adUD2gU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXY0adUD2gU)
Heres the car running, man that thing was mean. Sorry the distance from the line to my wife was far, but the sound is all there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNUxVYrY90E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNUxVYrY90E)
We are a blown alky setup and my wife and I run it. One of my sons helps out sometimes and Steve is around, but basically we are a two person team.
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We are a blown alky setup and my wife and I run it. One of my sons helps out sometimes and Steve is around, but basically we are a two person team.
My hats off to you Glenn, we are in our 50,s now and I think the age is slowing us down, at least that is my excuse today.
rooman that is one bad dragster. I kept telling my wife, TAPE THAT CAR ITS GONNA BE FAST, I wish she were brave enough to get closer. Congrats on the 7.04 on a 7.0 index.
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My hats off to you Glenn, we are in our 50,s now and I think the age is slowing us down, at least that is my excuse today.
rooman that is one bad dragster. I kept telling my wife, TAPE THAT CAR ITS GONNA BE FAST, I wish she were brave enough to get closer. Congrats on the 7.04 on a 7.0 index.
Never too old. I will be 65 in August and I can still torque the mains on a big show car to 160 ft. lbs. Glenn is no spring chicken either LOL
Roo
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My hats off to you Glenn, we are in our 50,s now and I think the age is slowing us down, at least that is my excuse today.
rooman that is one bad dragster. I kept telling my wife, TAPE THAT CAR ITS GONNA BE FAST, I wish she were brave enough to get closer. Congrats on the 7.04 on a 7.0 index.
Never too old. I will be 65 in August and I can still torque the mains on a big show car to 160 ft. lbs. Glenn is no spring chicken either LOL
Roo
63 this year, been going to the gym lately and it does help.
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63 this year, been going to the gym lately and it does help.
Seriously the gym, Ive been thinking about going but am scared I will pull a few more muscles. I can get up off the couch too fast and pull a muscle it seems. I think I will slowly work into something, ive gotta try something thanks for the motivation.
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Im in the same position . Bracket racing done that been there . Im looking for fun not work . Looking to race some Run what you brung events and Nostalgia Events
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Hotrodhoodlum: Central Illinois Dragway in Havana Illinois has a nostalgia race twice a year. You would be welcome to run with the NQSA. We run four races a year. 4.99 is the slowest dial . No delay box. Contact me with a PM if you are interested.
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Hotrodhoodlum: Central Illinois Dragway in Havana Illinois has a nostalgia race twice a year. You would be welcome to run with the NQSA. We run four races a year. 4.99 is the slowest dial . No delay box. Contact me with a PM if you are interested.
George, is NHRA cert required?
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63 this year, been going to the gym lately and it does help.
Seriously the gym, Ive been thinking about going but am scared I will pull a few more muscles. I can get up off the couch too fast and pull a muscle it seems. I think I will slowly work into something, ive gotta try something thanks for the motivation.
Hey 47 and was in gym up to about 4 years ago.In last year Ive lost a lot of very hard earned muscle mass.Loosing fat fine but when my biceps went from 17 1/2 down to close to 16 thats was my get your fat butt no muscle butt back to the gym notice.
Never been one to ease into anything.I'm hurting from it.So if your smart easy does it.