Thanks Fidge for posting the pics. These are the pics of the FED I went to look at in Porterville this last week. I want to thank Martin for going to look at the car for me. He's good people. When I realized that I wasn't going to have the '58 CR K-88 car ready for Mokan, I was trying to figure out which car to take. I really wanted to take a FED if possible. So, I found this car for sale and flew out to look at it. It is a veritable history archive of rare vintage speed parts. It took the builder 10 years to find all of the cool Ch***is Reasearch aluminum pieces to finish the car. The car was sent to the NHRA museum after it was built, and has not been run since. It will obviously need some sorting, but it is a beautiful car. It's pretty dusty in the pics, but it wipes off really nice. I'm still grinnin' from when she busted off. Here's some spec's on it 1960 Ch***is Research TE-440 ch***is 1956 Olds 324: Mondello heads (394) Ansen aluminum rods JE forged pistons (7.2 CR) Eagle roller cam/kit Crankshaft Company chromed crank Vertex mag 6-71 jimmy blower Scott superslot injection 1950 Olds rear end with MT mag. center section (4.30) Direct drive (no ******) Donovan axles Airheart disc brakes. It's a true push start car (no starter, but I'm gonna get a blower starter for it) Can you tell I'm a little excited? Thanks for looking Doc.
Absolutely perfect... Can't wait to watch that thing get a full p***... You know, you don't really realize how short the wheel base is on those cars till you see it sitting next to a little roadster like that.
Yes sir, Im gonna drive it. I'm sure I'll be slow in it until I get it all sorted out. I don't know if I will be able to get any track time before Mokan or not. It may be that the HAMB DRAGS are the first time I even get to get it rolling. Dragrcr50 is gonna help me some with getting it dialed in. I'm sure I'll run out of balls before I run out of car. It WILL make some p***es at Mokan. Insert goofy grin here. HAHA Doc.
Hey Doc Have you gotten Richard in a headlock yet for That " Underslung " ( He He He ) sinister laugh! Look in hotrod Magazine top 10 cars 2006 it's there down in bottom http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hdrp_0612_top_10_hot_rods_2006/ ps. you didn't mention my dog's name ? I wonder why??? Take care, Martin
I know its off from the original topic but I love that little track T to the right. Love to see more pictures. I like how the Guide headlights are mounted twisted so the markers are tilted to one side. I love the color scheme and the rims. What rims are those? If I were to venture a guess, they remind me of David Bradley walk-behind tractor rims. Is the ch***is underslung? Looks like the front springs are mounted on top?
Frank, I'm being coy about the Dodge 'cause I'm trying to talk him out of it. It's a '25 Dodge underslung. You've got a pretty good eye, as those rims are indeed tractor rims. I don't know if they are the model you are referring to though. The builder restores tractors and he was not sure what these actually came off of. Martin I'm still trying to wear him down on the Dodge. He's having a hard time comming up with a figure. Doc.
Rich Riddell, the fellow that restored the car, built a jig from this car and built several replicas. He built one for me using chrome moly for all ch***is tubes except the main rails (c/m not available in that size). I fitted the car with an injected sbc and then later sold it to Cody Parr - that was over a 5 year span about 15 years ago. Don't know if Cody has done anything with it since. He built one other replica which he outfitted in Moon Eyes Livery - made some of the mags at the time and later sold to Moon Eyes (I think). Rich sent me several pics of the original when he was in the process of restoring it - will see if I can find them in my "files". Rich is quite a guy and has come by his talents legitimately - told me he once built a body for one of Garlits' cars - I believe he learned the tin bending craft from Tom Hanna. He told me that he wasn't gonna build anymore TE-440's but that may have just been his state of mind at the time.
I think this car is a replica , that double hoop about at the knee. is it GAS welded or Tig ??? if it ain't Gas it's not a Ch***is Research .
I believe Rich told me he found the car in FLorida and he figured it was "home-brewed" from one of the "you-weld-it" kits. I don't remember my replica having a "double-hoop" - just the one at the firewall and over the steering/guage mount area. LJ