Has anyone used square tubing to build a FED ? I thought I saw a older 50s dragster ( I think they call them a wedge design) made from square tube. Would this be ok to build with??
Welcome to the H.A.M.B. There was one the roll bar failed where it mounted to the chassis, and killed the driver, if you want to build one that can be sfi certified you will need the plans with the tubing diameters, and wall thickness's.
Welcome Doug. There are some photos of a FED which was built back in the 50' out of square stock. It really does look strange. Check the Drag Cars in Motion thread. I sell copies of an original Chassis Research frame with all dimensions and bill of materials for $25.00. PM me for more info.
I was looking at the dragster on trailer page two. It has a red frame ad gray side panels. It also has the name Ralph on the side as well. Are these called wedge dragsters?
Art Malone ran a square tube Top Fuel FED in the early 60's for a very short time. Al Williams from Kansas (or Missouri?) had an aluminum rectangular tube Top Fuel FED in the same time period.
Anyone have some pictures of a square tube dragster frame, and why is square tube not as good as round?
Structurally square tube is stiffer than round under bending loads - however the tubes don't really see a lot of bending stress - it's technically tension and compression loading in which case pound for pound round tubing is hard to beat. The real question is whether or not you want to build a "legal" car - if you do then your path is a simple one - get the rule book and proceed using the requirements laid out before you. If that's not a concern then I suppose build it any way you want to - I think you can build one - it just might be a tad heavier than necessary.
I'm a little confused on what can be put on a dragstrip and what can't. I'm guessing a dragster has to pass some safety requirement to use the strip. I want to build a simple dragster to enjoy on the nearby strips. My idea to use square tubing is simple, no bending if I use a skid bar (I think that's what they are called) type frame. I have ordered a NHRA rule book so I'm headed in the right direction. Do all dragsters have to be NHRA certified if it's slower that 10 seconds?
What hemirambler said. The loading in the round tube walls are more evenly distributed, hence weight/strength ratio is higher, with failure less likely. That's why certified roll cages are made of round tube. Same principal on a frame.
10.00 second and slower dragsters and Altereds do not need chassis certification, but must be built to the rulebook.
Two years ago there was a dragster at the hunnert car pileup built from rectangular tubing. The owner told me that even though it ran mid ten's and didnt need a chassie cert, the tech inspector at the track is vary criticle of the frame. He is alowed to run, but he cant make any upgrades to improve performance for fear of not being allowed to run.
I've posted a picture of a square tube dragster. Does anyone know anything about it? The picture looks recent. It looks like it's made from 2 inch square tube..
I found that in a junkyard outside of Chicago in Black Oak Indiana about 8 or 9 years ago. It was just the chassis. I sold to a buddy of mine and eventually bought it back. It is now part of the Rodster's collection at the Flying A garage in Winnemucca. I will look for some more photos.
Years ago, when I had a 120" W.B. FED, I found an old rectangular tubing frame dragster. Even the roll bar was rectangular and pie cut to fit. The old skid bar design and probably about a 90" W.B. It had a Ford banjo rear, expanded metal seat, cast aluminum butterfly steering wheel, and was setup for a suicide type front suspension; but not on it. The "lady" wanted $300.00 for it; I just smiled and said "no thanks". When she moved it went with her and wound up in a patch of woods by her house. Probably still there. Butch/56sedandelivery.
\ Forget about NHRA , build a Hamb Gas Rail , You can build it with square tubing ( except the roll cage) 362 threads , heaps of reading and pictures. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=38 http://www.hot-rod.com.au/hambster/background.htm http://www.hot-rod.com.au/hambster/cars2.htm rules http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=299965 http://www.hot-rod.com.au/hambster/ http://hambdrags.com/
That's too bad.. it looked like a simple design to build. I guess I'll buy a tube bender and build to NHRA standards..thanks for all the info...
NHRA chassis specs are the standard that all santioned dragracing use as a basis. If you follow there rules you can be assured that your car is legal anywhere you go to race. 2009 rules are the same as 2008 for the cage design. ( don't forget the new helmet bars)
Hell yeah build a HAMB Gas Rail! If I had the spare $$ thats where Id be at! NHRA? Isn't that No Hot Rods Allowed?
Gartlis in the 50s used copper tubeing for the brake lines on one rail. Would you use that now! That is why there is a NHRA.
Here's the Al Williams car. I believe it was wheeled by Archie Liederbrand at the time. Dad snapped the pic in the early 60's at Fremont drag strip.
There's a guy running out on the left coast with a long wheelbase "T" altered, Joel Gruzman, and he uses a 2X3 rectangle frame with a modern cage. His car runs over 200mph all the time, and is as consistant as a bracket racer. When I met him and saw it run at Bakersfield, his driver kept getting in trouble with officails for taking his hands off the wheel going through the traps because the car runs straight as a string. (he was flashing victory signs to the fans) NHRA sucks, and they aren't the end-all save-all last word in what makes racing good, fun, or safe. They simply had a better business model than the other sanctioning bodies who have come and gone. I'll take an outlaw track every trip of the train; thank you very much.
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