Projects Almost Funny - AWB Barracuda Funny Car Build

Looking good Squirrel! But as you know, you have a lot to do in a very short time, I hope you make it.

OT: regarding the smashing of Sun equipment, it's true. I saw it with my own eyes. Back in the late 60's - early 70's, our neighbor down the street was a Sun salesman. He let his kids bust the stuff up with hammers. I may have even got a few swings at it myself, but I can't remember for sure. They had to make sure it would never be repairable before it went to the dump. Not just Sun equipment, anything they took in on trade. I didn't understand it, it seemed like such a waste, and I asked him about it. He said that every used machine out there was one less sale of a new machine. They make more on selling a new machine than they could sell a used one for. Their profit margins on the new stuff must have been enormous. It still seemed wasteful to me.

 

planned obsolescence, in the extreme.

 

So that’d be PAD? Pencil Assisted Drafting.


Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Pencil Aided Design.

when I make a part from sheet metal, and use some tagboard to figure out a template, it's CAD, cardboard aided design.

 

Using templates I never thought of saying I used CAD. I like that!

 

Card stock is much cheaper than metal, easily cut with scissors, easily formed and easily patched with tape if cut undersized or fitted wrong. Make the part to fit and transfer to the metal. Works great on aircraft parts too. I used to work on antique aircraft restorations and was always amazed at the amount of scrap metal produced in some shops.

 

I use Masonite a lot, mostly because I have an almost endless source of it.
I guess that makes it MAD, lol. It's great for some stuff, and it's thick enough to work with transfer punches and actually bolts in if needed.


Many years ago I worked at a shop that had an electric eye burning table.
Draw what you wanted figuring in for cutting windage and kerf loss and few seconds later you had a part. I'd love to have a smaller version and plasma. I figure a guy with electronics and robot experience has been tripping over all the stuff to build one.



Really handy for a guy constantly making stuff that's all one off.
It doesn't make any financial sense to sketch a part, create a cad file, send it to a cutting machine for anything less than a wheel barrow full of the same parts. But physically drawing it takes the same time as laying the part out.

 

Once more the HAMB subscription I had on this thread had dropped out, and I'm glad I stumbled on it this morning.
Jim, looking good and I'm planning on making it to the start and/or the finish of the tour this time sine it's only a couple hours drive from my home. Hopefully there'll be a way for a mobility impaired old man to get his mobility scooter in so I can find you in the pits and finally meet you, and the same goes for RacerX

 

A cocktail napkin will do in a pinch as well

 

The only problem with a cocktail napkin is that you have to lift the cocktail in order to draw on it. And as long as you have it in your hand, you may as well imbibe a bit. If the part is complicated it becomes a vicious cycle. Then you spill your drink on the napkin and.....................................

 

AH the voice of experience

 

Back to work...I made some elephant ears. Also got the intake manifold, an old Weiand. I have a 4-71 sitting around, so I set it on there to see how far back it goes. Of course we'll see how the 8-71 looks when it shows up, it'll be a bit longer.

I've also been working on the rear end. And figuring out where the seat will be, where the cage will be, where the firewall will be, etc.

 

my grand father and a uncle came up with a machining process they drew up on a scrap of paper in the garage. they got the idea patented then sold it to henry ford. the money they made is how they got through the depression. I have another relative who also drew up his idea on a napkin. you probable have his idea in your home. its the in sink errator. dirty old man looking forward to meeting you. you will be able to get around. jim I like the progress. are you going to use a mid plate?

 

Squirrel just a question, why would you mount the engine so far back as to make it difficult for blower clearance. It is not being built to run NHRA funny car so isn't it better to move it forward a bit.

Pat

 

I'm going to use a mid plate, I just haven't trimmed it yet. The engine is going back as far as it can. I'm going to cut away the cowl, almost back to the windshield. As long as the rear carb clears the windshield frame, it should work. I still have to figure out exactly where it will be.

Nothing about this car is supposed to make sense...the whole thing is a really dumb idea. Which is why it's so fun, and why it needs to be built.

 

Good to see you moving forward again. As the song said, "You've got a long ways to go and a short time to get there.". Very enjoyable thread, thanks.

 

I know a little about dumb things to do in a hemi powered altered wheelbase car. I certainly did my share of them. Usually the mid plate is .090 thick. The converter will need to be ordered with a extra .090 on the converter. Make sure it's made out of chromoly. I snapped multiple tail shafts on my 727 when I had a rubber mount. I stopped breaking them when I went to a solid trans mount. I know there are arguments for and against mounting a trans solid. This was my personal experience. It worked for me.

 

Squirrel thanks for the reply I lived in Flagstaff for 5 yr. NAU alumni

Pat

 

If you made these ears for a Big Block Chevy would they be "Rat Ears"?

 

Quoted for truth!

 

Yum, elephant ears, the only reason I go to the state fair.

 

I put some axles under it...but I still need to order the rear axle shafts, I'm using one old (long) one. And probably figure out some different front springs--these are cheapie trailer springs, that are probably too stiff, and have a funky arch.

 

I just want to see how you do the fenders and the hood extensions, come on all ready.

 

Wow, great progress..

 

Is that a Sun 820? That's the one I started using in 1976 when doing tune-ups and diagnostics. We had to rig up a coil for it to read an HEI. That too probably ended up in a 40 yard dumpster or is sitting in a garage somewhere local.

 

Wait, stop what you are doing and put it back together. This summer at your local theaters, "Vanishing Point II" is coming out using a 65 Plymouth Barracuda.

 

Good thing I bought mine when it was cheap

 

Jim I did the same thing with my springs. I got a pair from a local trailer store that were the right length. I removed pieces until I thought it was going to work. After a few passes I removed one more. When I had them just right I chromed what was left. The results netted some ets deep in the sevens.

 

I've always wondered why most gassers used the 2 parallel springs instead of a transverse single spring and either radius rods or 4 links????????

 

we want them to drive like a truck, not a buggy?