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Drag Racing Discussions => Front Engine Dragsters => Topic started by: RacinJacin on May 27, 2019, 08:13:16 AM

Title: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 27, 2019, 08:13:16 AM
Hi Guys (and Gals), My friend Greg K. (the Frenchtown Flyer) thought you might like to see my Homemade Fuel Injector I am working on for my FED. I am not a machinist by any means, but I do know a few and they are gracious enough to give me pointers from time to time. I fabbed everything in this video, except the barrel valve and spool, which I am working on now. I hope you enjoy it.

Jacin Barnes

 Hopefully this link will work: https://youtu.be/dvx5VW5AnVU (https://youtu.be/dvx5VW5AnVU)
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on May 27, 2019, 11:19:13 AM
Thanks for posting Jacin. For those who don't know him Jacin is an excellect fabricator, as evidenced by his completely home built FED, from the engine to the chassis to the tinwork. Here's an older video of him racing my old Logghe (orange) altered. In this video he's got an 8.0:1 blower motor long block but without the blower, which is what his new injector will supply fuel to.

aka Greg K.

https://youtu.be/7xx2PTBCqmM

WHAT FUN!!!
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: denverflatheader on May 27, 2019, 11:50:20 AM
Jacin – enjoyed seeing your video.  Yes will certainly improve the looks of a 409, or hemi.  I’ve sanded, buffed and polished a few items, worth all the effort as verified by your video.  You must have alot of unrestricted time, 99.9 percent of the rest of us would just buy a metering valve : )  Quick question, what’s the butterfly diameter?  Alan
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 27, 2019, 12:05:17 PM
Hi Alan, Actually I have less time buffing and polishing than you might think  especially with the base since it was machined pretty smooth to begin with.  I also learned a little speed when doing the top  - which amounts to - USE those different grits!!!!  :-)  Advice I wish I had learned long ago. Presently I DO have a little extra time now as my previous employer decided they could do it better in China and Isreal. Rotsa Ruck with that! :-) As for the butterflies -  they are 3" - 10 deg.  IIRC it works out to ~28sq. in. and the scoop is slightly larger.  I did the barrel valve because I think I may have seen a place for some slight "improvement".


Jacin
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: denverflatheader on May 27, 2019, 12:12:27 PM
28 sq. in., excellent, do you know what the original Scott Slot was, I think it was closer to 30 sq. in.  For that mirror finish, the more you do and learn the tricks, the easier and faster it goes...
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 27, 2019, 12:51:37 PM
I've seen several "originals" - of those I would say they are LESS than 28sq. in.  Mine is slightly taller - just enough that I can get my hand in there. Mine uses 6 screws like a Hilborn 4 port - the original Super Slots used only 4 screws.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: wideopen231 on May 27, 2019, 02:24:34 PM
Ironic timing on this post. I am almost fineshed with my new Shotgun styled but with one off Injector.  I will try to get some pics posted later once its totally finished. Cost wise I am at about 175 bucks.The shaft cost me 145 of that. Now if you add in argon,welding rod ,tungsten's  and electricity it goes up.If you add in time I lost my butt.LOL Being second one because first one I tried to use way too thin metal and ended with it flexing in and out at idle its even worst on time. But hey I could have been sitting on couch watching TV all of that time.. 

Nice job.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 27, 2019, 04:19:54 PM
Wideopen231, would love to see pictures!!! I think I have 20 bucks on the shaft, but I am gonna make another one because I think it "moved". I had it near perfect when I first did it, but I think it has developed a slight twist.  I'm gonna try some stress proof and see if that's any more stabil.  I just ordered a few feet of O1 for the spool valve - I wanna try making a hardened one. This has been a FUN project! Things I thought would be EASY were HARD  and some things I thougt would be HARD were EASY!


Jacin
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: Paul New on May 27, 2019, 06:21:22 PM
Wow that is really cool I’ve always thought how cool would it be to build my injector hat setup but wow nice work!
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 27, 2019, 06:55:34 PM
Thank You Paul, I've always thought the same thing!!!!  I used to also think,  "How cool would it be to build my own distributor too...":-)
 https://youtu.be/TRMmqNE4_nE (https://youtu.be/TRMmqNE4_nE)   I need to redo that video and add some of it running in my Tow Vehicle!


jacin
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on May 28, 2019, 10:15:39 AM
... I need to ...add some of it running in my Tow Vehicle!


jacin

That's right - he's got a '46 pickup w/ 392 hemi. And let's not forget that bitchen "air bagged" open trailer.
Nostalgic
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 28, 2019, 06:03:53 PM
Here's my dragster and truck ('47 Ford -392, Iron T-flite, 9-in rear)
Old video but shows the trailer pretty good.
https://youtu.be/fhQYK8JaoAc (https://youtu.be/fhQYK8JaoAc)
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: denverflatheader on May 29, 2019, 07:14:31 AM
Very creative, fun to watch and the air bag idea provides plenty of oil pan clearance loading/off loading.  Took some brainwork to design the pivot point work with the tandems.  If we were having an open trailer contest, you’d be in 1st Place.  Hemi truck, hemi fed, surely by now, FTF has influenced you to acquire a Ford inline.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 29, 2019, 11:46:15 AM
  Denverflatheader, The trailer was a fun challenge to design. My original plan was to just find a kick butt design and just copy it. After searching  the net to find the slickest open FED trailer we were disappointed in what we found. Just not many guys building these. So my buddy Stan (RIP) and I grabbed some crayons and napkins, and sketched out a couple concepts. From there I did a layout on Cad to figure the pivots, CG, and bag forces. It worked out way better than I had ever imagined. Stan was a construction equipmet mechanic and insisted that i use certain components - he and I both spoke OVERKILL.   On his insistence I installed a semi trailer cord - and as ridiculous as it might sound - it has been flawless! Also on his insistence I used TruckLite junction boxes - again they have been flawless. Stan knew his xxxx!  I miss him everyday. I digress. It was alot of work, I didn't save a penny (over buying one), but it is EXACTLY how I wanted it - that's what you are really paying for.
  As for the truck - it was built by my friends Dad (Carl Lemonen - RIP) in the mid 60's. Thru a twist of fate I ended up with it. I've kept it exaactly the same except for some upgrades to make it tow better. Modern Driveshaft, 9" rear, disc brakes, power steering - still has the original I-beam and of course the 392 that Carl installed. I first saw this truck when I was a little kid - it looked "funny" even then (it being so old) so I asked my friend Gary about it. He told me it was his Dad's "Hot Rod and it had a Hemi " - I didn't know what ANY of that meant back then - not sure my buddy did either, but  hey in our defense - we were maybe10 years old!
  WRT Greg, he is definitely a BAD influence - in the BEST way possible!!!

I've Rambled on too much.


Jacin Barnes
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: Supercat on May 29, 2019, 06:24:10 PM
Jacin very nice trailer.  We are building a similar one just as a single drop axle trailer though. That injector is very nice also.
You can always tell when a person has pride in what they do.
Keep up the background info it adds personality to what we do ;)
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: denverflatheader on May 30, 2019, 06:06:48 AM
Jacin - myself and countless others on here completely understand.  Each time you use the trailer and truck brings him (Stan or Carl) back just for a moment.  Good job!  Alan

p.s.  I still have my first car from high school that I drag raced for the first time 45 years ago, it was my dad’s car.  He didn’t know I took it to the track : )  or maybe he did know and just didn’t let on…

p.p.s.  Supercat wrote “Keep up the background info it adds personality to what we do“   Wise words, how true, thanks for reminder.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 30, 2019, 02:44:14 PM
Alan,  yep absolutely!  Funny you should mention having your first car from high school - so do I. Mine was also my Dad's. It was a little Rambler American with a straight 6.  My dad blew it  up and told me that IF I could fix it  -  I coud have it.  Which I did by buying a junk Rambler Classic with a seized motor. A couple weeks of ATF down the cylinders and a breaker bar and it was spinning again. I was 15.  The novelty of that whooping 196 cid engine quickly faded and when I was 16 I swapped in a 327 and a powerglide.  I couldn't get the nut off the rear end to remove the drive shaft (AMC used a weird shaft with a tapered thread and a nut to lock onto a splined shaft) anyways I ended up cutting the driveshaft and welding a GM shaft to mate to the PG. Surprisingly it worked PERFECT no vibration whatsoever!  Unfortunately the reality was at 16 I really couldn't weld for crap and whiile showing off doing a burnout in front of friends my lack of welding skills became evident as the driveshaft weld let go and I was suddenly all noise and NO movement!!!  So once I drug it home I got a second chance to practice my welding skills!  However this time I wasn't so lucky on the alignment and now I had a slight vibration around 60mph. But !!!! I was young and dumb and MOBILE again so away I went!!  Eventually I broke that drive shaft and put a "real" one in (with a 9") so I could actually go racing.   Some years later I removed the little small block and put a 392 hemi in there with you guessed it another cast iron PushButton trans. Dated in that car...Got married in that car...have wedding pictures with that car...drove my kids to games in that car. Somewhere along the line I made the front end tilt with a still functioning hood. All steel (It's not like you were gonna find anythng glass for such an oddball).   Still have it and drive it occassionally.  Ironically it's my sons favorite. It was always fun to drive with the Detroit Locker - I think that's alot of the reason my son likes it so much.

Jacin
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 30, 2019, 07:51:22 PM
The SAGA continues!!  Today I tried my hand at heat treating! After checking a Hilborn Spool and determining they are around 60-65 Rockwell 'C' - I figured I should shoot for the same. And since I've never really heat treated anything before I figured I'd learn something one way or another.
  In short, I made a new Spool from O1 (drill rod) & purposefully left a few thousandths extra on the OD. I took some used motor oil and put it in a coffee can with metal chips on the bottom (so the part would be fully surrounded in oil when I dropped it in there). I next preheated the oil until it just started to smoke a little. I then heated the spool with a neutral flame until it was non magnetic. I purposefully did not heat up the thin shaft near as hot as the larger section because I was afraid of warping it. I also thought it being 'soft' would be a good thing (or at least NOT a bad thing). Got 'er hot and dropped 'er in!  After it completely cooled I cleaned the small shaft and stuck it in a collet. Using my rigged up tool post grinder I brought it to about a half thou over. I then polished the last few tenths off. In the pic mine is the LONGER one. So far I think it came out pretty good! Now keep in mind I am NOT saying any of this process was /is the RIGHT way -  it' just th way I chose and the reasons why.  Just tryin' to learn a little as I go.  :-)
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: denverflatheader on May 31, 2019, 06:55:03 AM
Jacin – your thread is really interesting.

I’ve not forged or heat-treated anything ever, but do have a few hand-forged knives, I appreciate the ability it takes to make one from scratch.  When Jacin mentions heating to “non magnetic” those with curiosity think “what’s that?” 

Hope Jacin doesn’t mind me providing a quick explanation, it’s good to know as we all have steel parts on our race cars that are hardened.  In order to harden steel, you must heat it up to around 1500 degrees, and then quench it usually in oil.  When heating the steel in your home forge, it’s difficult to tell when the red hot metal reaches 1500 degrees. 

Steel is magnetic, but as you heat it to red hot, it demagnetizes and becomes less and less magnetic.  When a magnet will not stick, it’s now around 1500 degrees and ready to be quenched.  Alan
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on May 31, 2019, 02:35:12 PM
Denverflatheader, Me either (never heat treated anything until NOW). I was vaguely familiar with the process, just no practical experience, now I can say I have "a wee tiny little" practical experience.  And NO - I do not mind a bit that you clarified - non-magnetic. Thank You for taking the time to add to that. I appreciate it very much!    I'm here to learn - and if I can have others learn along with me - then I figure it's a HOMERUN!!


Jacin
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: Curly1 on June 18, 2019, 07:52:37 AM
That is really nice trailer. I like that it is kind of Old School with new design and technology. Impressive and I really like that is was designed to be easy to use.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on June 18, 2019, 09:18:27 PM
Thank You Curly1, That was exactly my goals. Vintage flair, modern construction ideas.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on August 09, 2019, 06:05:01 PM
Made a couple shakedown runs on the car last week at Dragway 42. Very easy - lots to learn. Injector worked perfectly - I am thrilled.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on August 28, 2019, 08:12:19 PM
Last weekend at Dradway 42's Rock-n-Race.  Much more air than I planned. Landing was a tad harsh. Still sore.   :-)    Injector working GOOD!!!!
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: Paul New on August 28, 2019, 08:17:14 PM
Oh wow yes no wheelie bar :o  you’re going to be doing that quite often
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on August 29, 2019, 05:45:37 AM
X2

Great photo Jacin.
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: L79_Acadian on September 16, 2019, 12:56:18 PM
man, you have to see that injector in person. I seen it at Dragway 42, Rock and Race, it shines like a new piece of jewelry. Flawless work for sure
Title: Re: Fabricated Fuel Injector
Post by: RacinJacin on September 27, 2019, 03:56:59 PM
L79 Acadian,   Thanks for the kind words!!!!