Event Coverage Official 2016 Meltdown Drags Thread - What are you doing to get ready?

Please tell me "valve job" means valve job and isn't code for something else!

 

I said valve job,not rim job Marcus.....Lets keep it between the telephone poles here,cause we're headed for the ditch at this point....lol![emoji15]

Scott

 

Well, he thought it "wood" work.

 

It'll be just pine,you guys worry too much.

 

Picked up a couple Dana 60's. One a 3:54 and the other 4:10 both posi. Doubt I use either posi because they are both only 30 spline and was going to go 35 spline with spool. May have found some 3:73 to put in once I get it shortened, the 4:10 is a little to much for me I think without going to a taller tire. running 28" tire and 3:73 for now... May swap the 4:10 for 3:73 if anyone is interested.

 

Lots of guys claim the weight of a Dana 60 is excessive compared to a 9",but I always use late 70's/early 80's Ford truck housings,and the axle tubes are 3-1/2" instead of 3",and the wall thickness is about three times what a passenger car housing uses.
I think that Dana was a pretty smart choice.Once it's built,you'll never have to worry again.

I was thinking 3.73 would be too tall for your car with a 28" tire,then I remembered the mountain of torque that thing makes...You could probably still cut respectable 60' times with a 2.73 gear if you wanted to!Youve got that combo working nice!

It's going to be good to see you and do some catching up at the Meltdown.My Dad was blown away by your car last year.He was expecting a 14.00 out of it and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when the scoreboard lit up!
Scott

 

Thanks Scott, these are both out of a late 70's Ford. Went to pick up a differant rear from the guy but it turned out to be a Dana 70. So basically ended up getting these 2 for the price of one. The 3.54 gear is junk though or I would have used that.
9" would have been nice and taken more to build in the long run, so I felt comfortable going this route. I ended up running 11.62 this year so still working on it.
I have a solid roller top end combo to put on my engine but want to get the rear end deal done and a good chrome moly driveshaft done first. The 8.8 in now could have been done but feel the 60 is a more correct rear end to use.

 

When I tore the end out of the control arm of my folks car, I at least used 1 1/2" water pipe to fix it.

Gary

 

Without getting too deep into the Dana vs. 9" argument, I'll always vote for the Dana. Even when weight is important. By the time you reinforce the 9" and add bigger axles you're starting to creep up on the Dana's un-sprung weight.

But I'll argue all day with the 9" folks on 2 fronts.
First - price. By the time you fix everything that's wrong with the 9" you're spending twice as much as a comparable Dana build. Don't believe me ??? - do the math or look up the prices for Strange Engineering or Currie unit.

Second - damage control. When a 9" let's go it pushes out the front. That means it takes out the drive-shaft, trans housing and I've even seen chunks of the block go with it. Get's pricey very very fast. When a Dana let's go it stays contained or it heads out the path of least resistance - backwards.

We put a fully built 9" in the Prefect simply because we had one. Otherwise it would have received the same diff the Scout has. Dana 60 with decent axles and a spool.

 

Your preaching to the choir (concerning the Panneton Boys) Davie.

 

Gotta be a temporary fix, no front bolt.

When the brakes are applied, his Woody will go down fast.

 

the only thing weak in the dana is the cast caps. invest is some strange eng. caps. well worth the cost. the 9inch does have one thing going for it. that being gear selection. mopar guys can only dream of having those options available.

 

That was one thing I was thinking. I suppose I would add arp studs in also. Do the axle tubes need welded to center also?

 

originally no. all the after market units are. the replacement tubes need to be turned down. don't even try to press one in without sizing it first. it will destroy the housing. are you replacing the tubes?

 

I wasn't planning on replacing the tubes. I've seen on 10,12 bolts and 8.8 where the tubes get additional welding where the tubes go in.

Just getting it cut down and getting some Ford big bearing ends put on for the explorer rear disc brakes.

 

This is sadly true, and the gear selection that was one available is shrinking to. We have a customer, whose family has a big gear hobing/making company. He is checking on small/moderate gear runs for me, including 9310 (Pro Gear) sets for 9.3 Pontiac/Olds rears.

 

Do you guys think pro gears ( drag race only ) are necessary in a 12 bolt 10.5 sec car?

Looking at deeper gears.

 

I would think with an auto trans they would not be.
The life for any type of gear would be to get some heat in them before you hit the track.

 

...not to interupt the tech stuff going on, but thot you guys mite like to see a different veiw of the Meltdown...

 

Finally starting to seem real...body is back on the chassis and she is standing on her own again for the first time in over 6 months.

 

Bad Assness

 

I am doing just a few changes over the winter but should be faster hopefully. Last year was very hectic for me with thrashing everyday for 4 months to get the car ready but this year shall be much different. Im used to the car now and ready to have some fun! Hopefully won't be so hot in 2016 but thats wishful thinking!

 

Been seeing lots of wheels-up videos of the Lark all over Facebook.
You guys worked your asses off to get the car ready,and it obviously paid off.
Nice job!

 

Deuced up, that is a nice lookin Austin, looks like a lot of work to do yet before July. keep us posted as you move along.

 

Hope to make it next yr.

 

Planning on being there with this.

 

Looks Fast All Ready.

 

HOLY COW !!! So many badass cars !!
I think I FINALLY have the valve train issues asses kicked, on my HEMI so I hope to make it to Byron and back..
I feel guilty driving it,and Cheryl drives the truck, I have A/C : ) she doesn't ..
she wants A/C in her little blue model A for the meltdowns.. so yeah, that's our big performance improvement for this year
air conditioning on her truck : ) After three years of my coupe letting me down,( valve train failure,and burnt pistons..) finally have the badass stainless steel rocker arms that stayed not broken all summer. got them right after the 2015 melt down drags,and drove the shit out of it, they are awesome ! And I took some power out of it,and seems to be keeping all the pistons on the cylinders,and not the headers .. the TITAN rockers kept breaking,and I broke 2 of them the week before Byron, so i just left it parked.. in 2015.grrrrrr......

 

My pants just got tight!