Event Coverage What are YOU doing to get ready for the 2015 Meltdown Drags?

Yeah Scott I was on my way to work this morning and run into a cloudburst rainstorm I stuck it in neutral to coast down and there was so much water so fast it just felt like I was in your neighborhood ice skating in the street I did however miss the oncoming car though I've driven this thing in many a rain shower but nothin like this

 

Damn....Sorry to hear that Brother

 

Thanks Saltflats, she'll go down the track, I'm still worried about that front right tire shimmy...! Had it rebalanced 1.5 oz off?!? I don't think being that far off would make it bounce like a basketball...! Steering Gearbox is rebuilt & tight now... Next I think I'd change front tires or shocks too... Need to get out on some back roads like around the Grove & give er...! See what it does at about 90mph...
I don't envy Scott, he's got a mad thrash on his hands...! It sucks sometimes being a one man gang... But it's cool to say I built that[emoji41]
Jimbo...

 

That is how this machine is going together, good thing I have a good right hand, but I broke a knuckle in my left hand on Tuesday. but we just have to keep on pluggin away.

 

Picked up the tubing for the roll bar today,going to pick up my axles and other assorted rear diff parts Monday.
After this weekend,all the structural/repair misery should be over,and I can dig into the electrical,the fuel system,adding the line lock,and most importantly,assembling the "little zinger"....

Scott

 

...here's pics of the new Byron timing tower,(3 stories now).. heard they re-did the starting pad and part of the strip also.

 

Kind of like to think the success of the Meltdown event was a major contribution towards all those upgrades.
Supporting the event - and - supporting the track are some of the main reasons I come back every year.

Well done kids... well done

 

On a tip from racer-x, I had the front tires Hunter Road Force Balanced... Found out why the right front bounces at 90mph. Both tires are out of round & R/F is way worse! From printouts the rims aren't bent so that's good... So looks like front tire time!?! I'm not sure what tires I should look into? Coker has some the are radials with bias ply look or nostalgic look, but have S rated for 112mph... Or something like M/T front runners? Scott got Hurst piecrust tires for rear, so I'm thinking nostalgic for front? What do you guys think?
Jimbo...

 

Jimbo I have towel city tires on my Willys and I drive it a lot and it's been 128 mph (at least according to the cops lol) and no problem so far and they not only look right they drive great

 

Hey Scott found this on the drag cars in motion thread today thought I would stoke the fire a bit

 

Jim,
Coker now has a radial that looks like a vintage bias ply.
That might work nice with those Hurst tires that Scott picked out for the car,as they are recapped radial casings.

That car is gonna be some fun with the changes you made.Not tons of drastic changes,but strategic,well thought out stuff.Youre gonna see a pretty pronounced difference in the old Orange Crate this year Jim!

Scott

 

Just a little FYI the lighter they are the better.

 

Thanks Scott, we will see!?! Trying to get it ready for next weeks GLD event, oops hope I didn't make boo boo their...! Got Gasser on stands going thru checking bolts! Found loose rear caliper bolts & couple of the U-bolt nuts look like they could use a snugging up... But I can't find the swap meet socket that's longer! I'm like I put in a spot that easy to find cause I know I'll need it! Now I'm talking to myself saying idiot where did you put it...! UGH...! Also ran to the hardware store & picked up a jamb nut for the clutch cable, that's probably in one of the coffee cans full of nuts & bolts....
I think I seen the tires your talking about Scott. If the same the have a S rating of 112mph. Granted I'm a long way off from 112, almost 94mph at top end with the old girl... I'm thinking if I'm going to lay out some long green for tires, get a lil higher speed rating... But I thought Coker tires looked good in pics! Here's another question if the tires are recapped piecrust using Uniroyal Tiger Paws 235/75/15 tires, I'd want to run Radials in or on the front of car & not bias ply??? Correct???
Jimbo...

 

I bought the Firestones from coker and they were out of round and Coker offered to sell me some more but that's all.

 

You can run bias front and radial rear, but I've heard it doesn't work the other way around. I have run three cars with bias front and radial rear with no issues.

 

Thanks For the info! "Scott" my brother had put bias tires up front BF-G's, 6.85-15... The guy that did the balancing thought they were Cokers but I've looked thru what I have of Scott's receipts & theirs nothing from Coker. I doubt they do anything after this long of time... For some reason I thought you should have radials all around, but driving it, their wasn't a problem, drove straight...
Jimbo...

 

Not a great day at the track. Cold and traction limited but we made 2 runs with the Scout and 3 with the Prefect.

Prefect was too fat and it stumbled and farted at WOT to an 11.49 116. Not bad considering how poor it was running. We change the bypass and it improved dramatically. Crisp and clean with a really good burnout...only to be shutoff with a water leak... Bad part is, the water had oil in it. A lot of oil. We'll tear it apart this week and see what the issue is. Already looking at a plan B engine for Meltdown if this one is hurt

1st pass in the Scout saw a hard and aggressive launch but it spun and got out of the groove so I got out of it. 2nd pass was very late in the day. I foot braked it and it bogged hard then small backfire through the blower which flooded it out and killed it. Got a free trip to my pit from the tow truck. Spun the blower without the belt - no apparent damage. Then (of course) it fired right up just as they closed the lanes.

So we have the Prefect running a lot better but it's hurt. The Scouts is still healthy but I didn't make a full pass.

On a totally off topic note - I ran my 06 Dodge Mega-cab (5.9 turbo) in the heads-up diesel challenge and cut two .54 lights and ran a best of 17.13 in a loosing cause (against a "stock" Dodge that ran a 14.33) Not bad for 7000 lbs of totally stock fun.

 

Wrenchbender, are the tires in pic recaps? I'll have to check their website again, but I think they are...
Jimbo...

 

Picked up a few things from my parts guy yesterday:
-35 spline axles
-pinion support
-bearings
-drilled spool (every once counts Ric.)
-billet pinion yoke
-wheel studs,bearing flanges,etc.
-6 pt roll bar

Dear Jeff: (and anybody else who wants a piece of this action!)

I'm coming "loaded for bear" this year.

Tonight I will get the roll bar in and painted,and start working on stuff up front.

Shit just goat serious.

I just wish I was running a GTO,so that the picture would make even a LITTLE bit of sense.....lol!

Scott

 

Scott

Are those (Pellet Guns?)

Cause a determined rutting Sour Grape might still have his way with you.....lol

 

Ha that's a good one I was thinking the guys running the goatroper gto might be on a hunt for him as well lol

 

Yes jimbo they are just as the slicks in the rear are as well

 

Norb:
That Grape is definitely the car that's gonna surprise some people.

That,and some guy's red Chevelle from Manitowoc...

Scott

 

Scott, I was thinking the GTO from the movie XXX... LOL...

 

So I just got a little preview of this....
IMG_0488.3gp

That's Art wheelin the Grape,by the way.

Scott

 

Apparently that didn't post too well.

 

Had a productive weekend. Think I'm ready mechanically, draining antifreeze out & need to get dual return springs for other carb. Pulled headers off & repainted them, they looked like hell before! Turned out good. Took FLITZ to the Aluminum rims & powered balled them up! Look shinny again! Also on a whim checked Craigslist & found a set of new M/T bias ply sportsman tires. Picked them up & hope to get tires changed out Monday... [emoji1] Also thru in some new spark plugs & torked the intake down again. Just a couple odds & ends left. Clean up the oily dust that's on firewall & engine bay & wipe down interior of car & I think it's ready for a stress test...! Can't wait!
Jimbo...

 

Main hoop cut,fit,and tacked in,door bars going to be bent this morning,rear bars going in tomorrow after work.
Rear spring relocation kit installed,welded out,and painted,and springs reinstalled.

And if anybody wants all this Model A stuff,come get it.Im out of room,and time to work on it.

Should be assembling the motor very soon also

Not sure if I should cut those tacks and lean the main hoop back to match the angle of the quarter windows,or leave it perfectly straight?As it is,it almost looks like its leaning forward because of the angle of the window post.

Scott

 

Dropping the door bars off for bending now,and getting some aluminum bushings turned for the spring shackles.
Also sending distributor to Msd for a steel gear,and clutch disc to Ram for a new center spline.
Movin forward fellas...

Scott

 

Lean it back...if you already noticed it, then it will bug you later.