FrontEngineDragsters.Org Forum

Drag Racing Discussions => Front Engine Dragsters => Topic started by: old28 on February 28, 2013, 09:52:52 PM

Title: Just Saying Hello
Post by: old28 on February 28, 2013, 09:52:52 PM: My name is Tom Welch, Bakersfield, CA. Would just like to say hello to everyone on the site. I have been racing Nostalgia Altered & FM Dragsters for 47+ years.

I'm 67 years old and my rides are going slower as I get older. My new SDRA Vintage dragster runs low 13's with a 194 chevy 6 cylinder, PG, 3500 converter, 8.8 Ford rear end, Traclock, two 94 carbs, 6" wide street tires, wt about 1550#. Car is based on the SDRA class out of Tulsa, Ok. I have one of the first ones running on west coast.

At my age it is all about just making passes and having fun with good friends.

Thanks for the great site.
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: Blind Mule on February 28, 2013, 11:59:48 PM: Welcome it ain't about the speed it's about the need ;)

Randy!
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: GlennLever on March 01, 2013, 04:28:01 AM: Quote from: old28 on February 28, 2013, 09:52:52 PM

My name is Tom Welch, Bakersfield, CA. Would just like to say hello to everyone on the site. I have been racing Nostalgia Altered & FM Dragsters for 47+ years.

I'm 67 years old and my rides are going slower as I get older. My new SDRA Vintage dragster runs low 13's with a 194 chevy 6 cylinder, PG, 3500 converter, 8.8 Ford rear end, Traclock, two 94 carbs, 6" wide street tires, wt about 1550#. Car is based on the SDRA class out of Tulsa, Ok. I have one of the first ones running on west coast.

At my age it is all about just making passes and having fun with good friends.

Thanks for the great site.
Welcome!
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: afaulk on March 01, 2013, 11:06:02 AM: looking good!
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: masracingtd1167 on March 01, 2013, 11:39:14 AM: Look's like great way to have some low buck fun Enjoy!
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: bud on March 01, 2013, 03:55:26 PM: Welcome
I miss running at formosa wish i was there.
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: old28 on March 01, 2013, 05:28:21 PM: Thanks guys for the welcome. I hope to start building a high RPM -0- deck, FT piston 60 over chevy 250 for the dragster this year. Should put out 275-295HP and hope to be able to run 11.85 - 12.0 at around 125mph.

Randy, I could not put it better, I just need to be out there making passes. ;)
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: GlennLever on March 01, 2013, 05:47:21 PM: Quote from: old28 on March 01, 2013, 05:28:21 PM

Thanks guys for the welcome. I hope to start building a high RPM -0- deck, FT piston 60 over chevy 250 for the dragster this year. Should put out 275-295HP and hope to be able to run 11.85 - 12.0 at around 125mph.

Randy, I could not put it better, I just need to be out there making passes. ;)

When you start the build be sure to start a topic in the Your Builds / Photo Gallery catagory so we all can follow along.
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: ricardo1967 on March 02, 2013, 03:05:17 PM: Tom, thanks for posting pictures. You car should be tons of fun to drive. I predict long lasting tire spins with the 6" rubber. Dragsters were a lot more fun when they used to smoke tires down the track. Love the engine selection, I can close my eyes and hear the smooth singing of an inline-six. It takes determination to choose an inline mill. Nice job!
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: old28 on March 02, 2013, 04:23:45 PM: ricardo -- You can find my complete build of the SDRA Dragster at

Jalopy Journal.com > THE H.A.M.B. > Events > H.A.M.B. Drag Nationals > HA/GR
SDRA Dragster For The Coast Build Thread
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: old28 on March 02, 2013, 04:59:10 PM: ricardo -- A couple of pictures of intakes I am going to run on the 194 6 motor and built 250 later.

The 3 x 2 Clifford is for the built 250+ motor. It takes 3 Rochester large base 2bl's. Race only setup.

I will try this season the Clifford 2 x 4 intake with the two Holley 94 and then the same intake with two Holley progressive 2bl to see how they do on the Chevy 194 baby 6 cylinder.

Couple of pictures of the 194 motor in the dragster for first part of our nostalgia season.
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: ricardo1967 on March 02, 2013, 05:23:46 PM: I like your work Tom. Nice fabrication skills, better than any store bought! See lots of ingenuity there, or like I like to say, “enginenuity”!

Good luck with the manifold experimentation. Fuel/air distribution is tough on inlines. I've had luck with some manifold ideas, not as much with others. I was happy with a trio of (double-barrel) horizontal Weber DCOE's. Later I converted it to fuel injection.

I don't have any inline nowadays… but it's a matter of time.
Title: Re: Just Saying Hello
Post by: old28 on March 02, 2013, 07:33:36 PM: ricardo -- Thanks for the kind words. After Meany/Meany years of building my rides by bolting on all the common parts, this SDRA dragster is the first true built at home ride that I have went after. As I told the SDRA & HA/GR group over on the HAMB "I am a so/so driver and not a fabricator", but I am pleased with the results.

Ya must all 6 cylinder motors need more air/gas even bone stock. This 194 is .040 over with a stock 194 small chamber head, BBC 1.7 Roller Rockers, Pertonics added to stock Chevy distributer and a special 6 cyl Clay Smith cam grind. Real basic, lodollaror motor to test out the car. Stuff that really makes these Chevy 250/292 motors come to life is better intake and carb's, bigger valves, -0- deck the block & FT pistons for 10.5-11.5 CR.

A lot of slant 6 motors use the horizonWeber'sbers and they work well both in the states and down under.