Projects "Glory Days" top fuel coupe....build pics

I moved this over from another thread, as I didn't want to hi-jack someone else's. This is the "Glory Days" top fuel coupe that we're in the middle of building. This story starts about four years ago when we found a front engine dragster in a barn in Indiana. I took some pics and posted them on the Standard 1320 List and was told by Pat Foster that the ch***is was a 1967 vintage Don Long ch***is and the nose "appeared" to be a Tom Hanna piece. Over the years, the ch***is and body were modified to the point where it was difficult to tell who actually raced the car. When I got it, there were mounts for a small block chevy installed, and some of the body parts were modified.
I did my best to try and find the heritage, but after coming up empty I decided to move forward with the build. I decided I would restore the ch***is to its original "Don Long" appearance, and re-do the body panels to as close to the era (1967) as I could. Since there was no known i.d. on the car I decided to build tha car with a Fiat body too. When finished, it will be able to be displayed as either a 67 vintage fuel dragster or Compe***ion fuel coupe. Here's a couple of photos of when we rolled her out of the barn in Indiana...

 

A couple of shots of the dragster being worked on by Marty Danko of MD Race cars. Marty did some of the initial work and replicated some of the aluminum body panels for me.

 

Here she is being rolled out of my home shop after mocking up the engine and showing off some of her new body panels.

 

The last photos were from a few years ago. This project kind of sat in a corner for a while, until now. Here's a couple of shots from this past week. the body is from Mike Guffey. It looked neat, but I decided to make a few changes to get the look I want.

 

Love your willy's. Seen it at Lancaster before. Will you be done with the digger by then and would you be bringing that as well?

 

Here's the body after being cut in half and being mocked up.

 

Time to take the body off and get some gl*** work done...

 

Some shots of the front of the body getting widened. We wound up adding 12 inches to get the look we wanted.

 

...Awsome rail...Cant wait to see it on color with some smoke behind it...Are those Radir rims?

 

The body back on the ch***is, widened to taste. Now its time to extend the cowl...

 

Very cool project. I like the widened body!

 

Long time crew member and good friend Jack Joyce and my father in law, Bill Ellershaw, are the fellows in the pics...

 

Once again, the body is off the ch***is and the extended cowl is gl***ed in..

 

Hi Rob,

As of now, we will have our Screamin Eagle funny car going to Lancaster. Hope to have the Boss Hydro and K.S. car there too, if we can get it. The dragster will not be there, but we do plan on having all five of our cars at the Old Time Drags/Funny car reunion in August at Englishtown.


Rocky

 

The wheels are from Real Rodders West and are duplicates of the old Halibrands, very nice product..

 

Thanks Willysguy...... Even though its a Fiat body, I call it our 33 Willys dragster version..!

 

Cool! You need to talk with fellow HAMBer Rich Venza.

 

The '92 with the M/T valve covers ain't half bad either!

 

Dammm that is sweet.

 

I know rich well....Rich supplied the bodies for my my Boss Hydro and K.S. Pittman tribute/recreation projects. His thread on Comp coupes got me going in this direction with the fiat body.

Rocky

 

It'll be sweeter when shes roaring on 98% nitro....! The valve covers have some history as well, came off a motor that I bought from Bob Chaney, Bob was a long time ch***is builder, and drag racer, Larry Dixon was his son-in-law. Good guy.

 

Thank you..! I always enjoy your projects and pictures as well!

Rocky

 

I found the body on the H.A.M.B want ads. Fellow HAMBER Mike Guffey pulled it from a plug he made. The quality is top notch. Plans are to paint her a bright red to match the 64 Buick Riv we have that will be used as the tow vehicle. The "theme" of this project is a tribute to all the nitro pilots and tuners that I have known, that are no longer with us. She'll be named "Glory Days" in their honor.

Rocky

 

nice build rocky, heard alot about it from our common friends. top notch!

Paul

 

Thanks Paul, you'll have to stop by sometime and get a up close look..!

Rocky

 

Boss!

 

This is a great project. I always loved the old fuel coupes. That looks great with the widened body and cowl. My only question would be if the slicks grow won't they rub on the body.

 

Dang has the look alright! The body is just right too!
Good luck....keep crankin'!

 

Looking good Rocky! You can do all you do and still have time to post on the HAMB? Adopt me will you? Vic