We acquired this old Bantam Altered. Looking for any history or pics. Came from Omaha Nebraska area. Possibly raced Sioux City Dragways? Any info would helpful. We plan to run my blown flathead in it from dragster I listed for-sale. Currently adapting the Flathead to Clutch Flight Transmission that came with the car.
Let’s see, build plan, check, vehicle of choice, check, safety equipment, double check, tires, check, color of choice, pending, incidental stuff, check. Carry on.
Since you sound like you have had experience running a car with a blower do you think the tech guys will require more stringent compliance to blower car safety rules than if you run it normally aspirated? Aside from the lack of a 6-point cage will they require things like blower tethers, etc. to run where you plan to race?
Man,,,,that’s a good looking blown 8BA,,,,,,looks very strong . A lot of pretty pieces on it too to look shiny ,,,someone did some good work . Tommy
This matters where you race. What events you go to. I run small nostalgia events like Fall Out Drags in Wisconsin. We run the blower motor first we had to have the blower restraints, and belt gaurd on gas now it’s on alcohol we added fire system, oil pan diaper, better fire suit. The cage is these cars are grey area because NHRA bases the rules on speed more than anything. This car will most likely not reach the speeds that require it have a certified cage. Again this far the tech inspections I have encountered encourage more things than they require. But they still look over the car, belts, helmet, and fire suit.
It doesn't matter how fast it actually is capable of, it is how well it protects the driver if the shit hits the fan. That cage looks like a decent starting point to build a cage that will indeed protect the driver if the rig gets upside down and backwards or runs off the end of the track because something else happened. From what I have seen at nostalgia drags, the cars that get out of shape the most are the little alterds or short wheel base dragsters that don't pack all that much horse power but when they pull to the line everyone close by backs up a few steps rather than get closer to get that good shot.
What is the speed they require a certification ? I have a old rough altered chassis I bought off here a few years ago. I originally planned for just the 300 foot drags at the 1/2 mile oval at Madison race way in WI but was thinking it would be nice to be able to run else weremaybe 1/8 mile . I was planning a SBC with just a carb .
I haven't seen a front suspension like that, it's interesting. I can't help you out with history, as far as running the car, we ran my MG which was a 1960's race car exactly like it looked in 1964. A roll cage was required if the car went quicker than 10.90 so I didn't want to put a cage in the car and kept it in the 11.0s but with a mild motor and a light car it was in the 10's all the time. We were more for showing the car than getting a $3. trophy, we had a lot of fun. Enjoy the car and stay safe, good luck. Pat
It all matters how fast you go. Main cage looks to updated. If the tubing is the correct thickness you may only have to update some bars. NHRA rules are posted online and there rule book are available
My question was if there was a point were you need to be certified to run? as in is there a cut off when you need a roll bar at all in a car I doubt the tubing is the correct anything on it . If I had for example a 4 cylinder and it went 14 second would I be allowed to run it and at what point do they say you need current certified belts , trans shield / bell housing , dampners , etc if it went 12.00 what do I need type of stuff . Shop is full of out dated stuff , some new never ran ,
Generally speaking, if you run 9.99 or quicker in the quarter your car needs to have the chassis certified for NHRA. And RECERTIFIED every three years, at a cost of about $200. While cars running slower do not need certification, the safety equipment required for each type of car must still conform to their requirements and expiration dates. Your best bet if you plan to run NHRA tracks or at events that follow NHRA guidelines is to get a rule book and comply to it. I don't want to harsh your buzz, but I see things on your frame that will not comply. Some outlaw tracks may allow you in, but with the dwindling number of tracks it would make sense to me to build a car that will be accepted anywhere, allowing for more choices of which events to attend. Good luck.
I wasent really expecting to pass much if went very fast. This started as a car to build from mostly stuff sitting around to go 300' on a non prepped no burn out allowed street type drags thet do on a front strait of half mile paved oval. The above helmet clearance is not going to fly even if the chassis was well done. I'm 5' "5 and it's a tight fit. I'd not want to run 9.99 in any part of this. Was just wondering at what times / MPH that started getting picky with things like scatter shield and harmonic balancer,s and all the rest. I'll likely never get it together anyways . Don't want to hijack this thread . I'll start a new one if I ever get time to but it together. Since the rearend turned out to be total crap full of water and rust the project got put on hold. Originally it was to drop in a 327 a glide with a stall that has a race type removable but expired bell housing and go 300' with about $3000 tied up and a lot if used old racec stuff. If it went high 11's I'd be surprised.
We could do that....but if the car goes to fast you need to spend more money on safety....and that flathead has its own sound! Happen to have a each of those...
Blower motor has been installed! Built a mid plate to adapt the Clutch Flyte Trans to Flathead and front motor mounts
The HA/GR in my avatar uses a similar suspension. It's a trailer spring cut in half with friction shocks to add some dampening.
@Malcolm is about the only Omaha/ Sioux City guy I still see on the hamb now and then. He may know something, other wise I’d go look at some of the threads about racing in Sioux City and see who keeps chiming in and ask them?
Some of the Omaha crew have been discussing this car and haven't come up with anything yet. It was listed for sale on FB last month (February) and a good friend of mine made a deal with the seller. She had listed it for her dad. They backed out and said he was going to keep it. He changed his mind and it sold either directly to @CGribble or I think there may have been one person in between that flipped it for a few more $$.
Thanks for info @Malcolm we did buy the car the Doug Engels. He brought the car to South Dakota with my dad and I in mind as we have been looking for something to put my power plant in. Keep me posted if anything comes up. Sounds like it’s been floating around from shed to shed for past few years. Maybe it came from somewhere else and landed in Nebraska. Someone spent some time on it some point in time….
The idler pulley, in my experience running it on the downside didn't work out too well,,, have you ran it in the past that way?
The unique front suspension ( Quarter elliptic with a single bolt mount on each end ) looks similar to a Car Craft project roadster from the early 60's the frame was longer, overhanging the front axle, with shocks mounted from the side rather than the front. The frame was channel rather than tube. Still trying to track down the article, may give you some insight who designed or built the chassis. It was Flathead powered !
We believe this picture from Rockford Raceway Byron Raceway in the mid 60’s to be the car. Any info would be awesome @slayer
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