Messages

1

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Strange Brake Question

« on: April 07, 2024, 02:01:38 PM »

I installed the rebuild kit parts and all is well. It baffles me what might have been the problem but the brakes work fine now. Strange charged me $33 to ship a 5.5 Oz. package from the Chicago area to Southeast Missouri though. No overnight or anything just UPS Ground....seemed excessive!

Lynn

2

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Strange Brake Question

« on: April 01, 2024, 08:07:16 PM »

Upon inspection of the piston and bore there's no sign of wear, scuffing or scoring. I have a rebuild kit on the way. We'll see what happens when I put it all back together.

Lynn

3

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Strange Brake Question

« on: March 31, 2024, 07:43:54 PM »

I printed out the 3 page installation and use guide from Strange which included what your post included. The bent pushrod was a rod that was about 8 or 9" long going from the foot brake pedal and threaded onto the MC pushrod. I admit, it was too weak and bowed one night but thankfully the chute slowed the car before the end of the track shut down area. It bent pretty much and also bent the pushrod of the MC itself so I replaced the whole MC. I have since fabricated a stronger pushrod going from the pedal to the MC. It's not 100% a straight line push but I don't think it's more that a few degrees off of straight with the MC bore. I'll get the body panels off of the car tomorrow to investigate more.

Thanks for your reply!

Lynn

4

Front Engine Dragsters / Strange Brake Question

« on: March 30, 2024, 07:57:35 PM »

The title is actually a little bit of a play on words. I have a Strange Engineering B3362 (I think that's the number) Fast Fill master cylinder on my FED's brakes. Other than bending a brake pushrod last year the brakes have worked fine. I replaced the whole master cylinder when that happened ($$$$) and the brakes have been fine. A problem developed today so we loaded up and went home.

If the driver steps on the brake pedal rapidly it feels solid and stays in place if you keep pressure on it. But, if he's "feathering" the brake, like during staging and then applies more pressure to footbrake the car the pedal drops slowly. I'm puzzled why it holds under quick application but leaks down with gradually increasing pressure.

Any thoughts before I tear into it early next week? I still have the old MC and have thought of putting it back on, but using the pushrod from the new MC since the old one had been bent slightly.

Now if anyone wants to help with my off-the-line stumble which is messing with our ET big-time, I'd be doubly grateful! Right now I'm more interested in making sure it will stop before I worry about making it go!

Lynn 

5

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Test N Tune

« on: March 22, 2024, 09:30:11 PM »

OK....check the box marked "Drive a FED". My car has run a best time of 6.62 in the past but I made less than a 10/10 pass and let off a bit early a ran a 7.33. I was really happy it was even that quick. To me, the car comes off the line a lot harder and quicker than it ever looked like it does.

I look forward to making some more passes in the future. It was quite a rush for this 71 year old and makes me appreciate what the regular driver does with the car!

Lynn

6

Front Engine Dragsters / Test N Tune

« on: March 22, 2024, 02:31:08 PM »

Heading to the drag strip for our second test and tune event of the year. We raced the car about 10 times last year but tonight is the first night I'm going to try making a pass. It's probably been 50 years since I made a pass down an 1/8 Mile track so if you see this in time let's get those prayers out there for a safe and enjoyable pass.

Lynn

7

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: winter upgrades?

« on: March 17, 2024, 02:58:49 PM »

We were at our first test 'n tune yesterday. Made 5 passes and disregarding the first pass the ET's were within .09 second of one another. Driver probably needs more runs to work on reaction time. A couple runs he was really good, a couple others....not so much.

We plan to make another TnT Friday evening and I might finally make a pass or two. I can guarantee they won't be all-out, just enough to say I drove it and then I'll hand the wheel back to the driver. Then again maybe I'll be a natural, but I doubt it.

Lynn

8

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: winter upgrades?

« on: February 27, 2024, 07:50:26 PM »

You have W-A-Y more ambition than I do! Last Fall I drained the cooling and fuel system, and really scrubbed the slicks and dropped the pressure to about 2 PSI and put them in the basement of my house to keep them warm and out of UV and the dust and dirt I create in my shop welding, grinding and generally making a filthy mess. Now it's almost time to fill the water and gas, change the oil and maybe the rearend lube, put a slow maintenance charger on the battery and see if it still runs. Life is pretty simple with a footbrake, mild-engine, pump-gas FED

We aren't really trying to go faster since we bracket race only, but hope with more passes we can become more consistent. Looking forward to some nice days and evenings at the drag strip. Never know, we might venture farther away than just the two tracks closest to home.

Lynn

9

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: GREETINGS

« on: January 03, 2024, 04:48:22 PM »

I wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2024!

Lynn

10

Wanted to sell / Re: New, Unused Dragster Axle

« on: December 11, 2023, 05:34:39 AM »

SOLD

11

Wanted to sell / Re: New, Unused Dragster Axle

« on: December 05, 2023, 07:19:32 PM »

I had a request for a bit more info so thought I'd add it. The axle tube is 1.5"  Wall thickness unknown but I would expect 3/16" (.188"). Kingpin bosses are 2" tall and the kingpin hole according to my dial caliper is 11/16" (.688")

Lynn

12

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Still Haven't Raced At Our "Home" Track

« on: November 28, 2023, 11:04:49 AM »

Hmmmm.....LineLoc on the shifter. Interesting thought. Thanks.

Lynn

13

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Still Haven't Raced At Our "Home" Track

« on: November 27, 2023, 04:14:52 PM »

We finally got to race at our "home" track for 3 weeks after a change in management/lessee. I liked the previous manager just fine, but have to think the new people will do a better job of running and promoting the track.

Saturday was our final race and after a 1st round loss, a buy-back and a second round loss our season is over. Since other tracks are closed and the last race was only Super Pro (Box) and Pro (no box) and there were a LOT of them, we had to run against cars with transbrake and 2-steps even though my car is no-frills and footbrake. We had a great time and although it will be nice to have some Saturday flexibility I look forward to Spring and the '24 season.

We did have a 3rd place finish the 2nd last night of racing, so at least we didn't get skunked.

Car is running good, engine seems solid too, so it's just time to put it into hibernation mode.

Lynn

14

Wanted to sell / New, Unused Dragster Axle

« on: November 26, 2023, 02:37:47 PM »

New dragster axle for aftermarket spindles. After I bought this axle I found out the kingpin bosses were too long for my original Anglia spindles. Center-to center kingpin width is 44". Drop is 4.5" measured from the top of the kingpin boss to top of axle tube center portion. Kingpin inclination as best as I can tell using a digital level is 8 degrees.

Location is Southeast Missouri. Price is $225 plus actual shipping.

Photos available via text. (573) 286-3335

Lynn Winter

15

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Still Haven't Raced At Our "Home" Track

« on: September 24, 2023, 08:44:58 PM »

Ran for the 3rd time at the track further away. Got beat in the 3rd round on what was just an all-round bad run for us.....reaction time off of the more normal reaction for the driver, kind of a "soft" leave so a bad 60' time, and the engine temp was higher than normal at staging. Oh well....after 3 nights of racing we are at 6 wins, 3 losses and 1 breakout. Not too bad in my mind for a "new" car and a couple noobies. Having fun?....Oh Yeah!

The way the combined schedules are for the driver and me, and the programs coming up at the "home" track, we may not even run there this year. Other than the extra 1+ hour tow each way, I've come to prefer the track we've been running. People are really friendly and helpful and the layout of the track is nice.

Next time out will be 2 weeks from now.

Lynn