Projects Dragster project - Progress is slow but...

... I'm making a little progress. Life has just been crazy. I took a bit of a break and got this running and legal.



The engine is pretty much together. Here's a couple while it was coming together.





Today I figured I'd bolt the flywheel and trans up. I ran into a problem similar to the one HemiRambler had where the starter would not engage the ring gear properly.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209698&highlight=hemi+starter+jw

I was so close that I decided to flip the flex plate so the ring gear would extend toword the engine instead of trans. The problem is that the 8 bolt pattern is not symetrical. With six bolts lining up I had to "move" two of them with a rat tail file and welding up the other side. You can't read the little label on the top left side of the flex plate but it says engine side.



With that problem solved I put the torque converter on the trans and went to bolt it up. It bound up before it got all the way on. After some measureing it appears that due to my mystery converter having some thicker mounting pads, there is not enough clearance to bolt it all the way on to the tune of about .185". :-/ Figured my inexpensive converter was to good to be true.

Anybody have a good th350 converter that stalls around 3500?

 

The bike is awsome! looks like the dragster is coming along good!

 

No hurry, you have till August...

That little motor looks *****n. You need to slip the blower on it for the Money Shot.

-Abone.

 

Looking Great !...........can you mill what is needed off them thick converter tabs ?.....or did I not understand what is happening..........Littleman

 

Very cool.....oh yeah and the Dragster too!! ;-)

 

Yeah, I thought about doing that but I gave $20 for a mystery 10" converter. I'm not sure I want to invest much time in it and find out that it stalls at 2600 or some such. Still, I work cheap! May still do that.

 

Do you know the manufacture of the converter.....or any #'s stamped into it or is it a total mystery ?.........Dave

 

Pretty much a total mystery. The guy said they pulled it from a v8 Vega that ran and drove but they never really tried to see what it stalled at. For $20 I thought it was worth a shot.

 

Kerry are you sure it is the tabs?? The reason I ask is because I also encountered a problem with the crank/flexplate bolt heads being too thick causing a bind. I machined down the bolts heads and 3/16" sounds about right.

Also to mention ANOTHER problem I had with that setup was the converter pilot. As you know the 392 originally pilots the converter on the OD of the crank. That JW setup uses the stock "pilot" hole in the crank (which BTW is only rough machined) and is very liekly NOT concentric with the crank. You may want to double check that.

Your progress looks awesome.

Which starter are you planning on running??

 

Pretty sure. From the face of the bell to the converter mounting pads was roughly 1.1". From the back of plate to the back of the flex plate was roughly 1.25". I will double check to see if the bolts are binding. On the converter the spud in the middle is flush with the pads. I checked a stock converter an the spud protruded. I guess I should measure them both properly to compare.

My crank came out of an industrial engine and had a pilot bearing. It's good!

I have to say I was very glad to have you preceeding me on this mess. Made up my mind pretty quickly on the course of action. Sure didn't want to deal with JW.

I've got a Denso starter. None of that troublesome Tilton stuff. ;-)

 

Hey Kerry, I am glad that my mess at least resulted in helping someone!!!

On my bolt issue - the result was that teh bolt heads "took up" all the room for the converter clearance. In another words after the converter seated fully (pushed into) the trans you are supposed to then be able to pull it forward to contact the flex plate - memory says this number is supposed to be right around 1/8" - my bolt heads resulted in the converter being pushed BACK into the trans and not allopwing it to move forward. THIS problem wasn't a problem with the JW kit - it was a reult of the converter I used - the converter I mocked up with DID not have this issue.

And just for the record - the guys at TILTON were awesome to deal with - there were no issues with their starter whatsoever - - - - - >

The denso starter is also a great choice - alot cheaper too!!!! It just wouldn't fit in my ch***is :-(

Please keep us posted on this - I'm no expert, but if I can help - don't hesitate to ask.

 

Once I have it all in the ch***is I'm going to have to re-clock the starter to clear the diagonal brace. I already had to do some serious t******* to get it to fit the ch***is.

Yeah, I didn't have enough space between the converter and the flex plate so the bolts are probably not the issue. I'll check it anyway.

I really am tempted to shave some off of the mounting pads on the converter I have but the right answer is to get a converter that I know what it is and that it's right. What brand/stall converter did you use with your glide?

 

IIRC I ended up using a TCI converter set up for a TH350 - advertised (I think) at 3,500 stall, but I suspect it stalls alot less in my light car. I have a high end ($) 5,500 stall (**** can't remember whose), but haven't had the desire to try it just yet. I ain't touched a damn thing on the car since I put it together. Oc***ionally had the pan off just to inspect - and of course we oil the rockers every few runs - but that's about it.
One of these days I'm gonna put a tach in there and see what's happening <grin>

 

Looking great Kerry.

Fwiw - I'd take a little time and make an adjustable height brace to add to the engine stand.

A chunk of 1" square with nut and bolt would do it.
A wooden pad to help protect the engine.

Place it vertically under the outer end to help support the weight.


Trouble with the dragster at this point, it looks almost ready to run, but there's a ways to go . . . as if you didn't know....

 

Kerry, looking good. You get more done than most of us.

 

Mine took 18 years, and it still needs a few things.

 

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Great looking car Mike!

Yeah Jay, I had intended to build a bearing head with better support for the engine stand with a 60:1 gearbox but never got to it. Spinning that heavy hemi on the stand is a PAIN! A support on the other end is a great idea and one I'd never considered.

Just got off of the phone with Winners Choice Transmissions up in PA. They're putting a spragless converter together for me. Better to have the right part than to cheap out now, but they gave me a great deal.

 

I cut a 2x4 the right length, padded it with a folded up red rag and stuck it under the pan lip of the BB Buick.

The 2x4 was just fractionally longer than the vertical distance and easy to wedge under the engine.

My engine stand is made of 2 1/2" tubing.
Loaned it to my nephew for a while and he left an SBC hanging on it for a year.

It did sag a touch....

 

Yeah, I have that stand as well, you are gutsy! My 348 had a wood prop to stay safe.

 

It's the head where it really flexes. I used a couple of vice grips to help brace up where the arms bolt on.

 

Got the converter this afternoon. I got a little bit of time after supper so I thought I'd throw it all together. The mounting pads are right but guess what? My crank bolts hit the converter now. Sound familiar? :-/ Misery loves company I guess.

I just came an and cleaned up to check how thick you left the heads. I had cut one as a test to .195 so I think I'm in the ballpark. Tomorrow afternoon I'll hit it again and cut down the rest.

 

OK, I couldn't just sit here with that being wrong. I went back out, cut down the bolt heads, and bolted it up. Tomorrow the engine goes in the digger and I start on the subsystems.

 

Order a can of Nitro !.......Progress is good...........Littleman

 

Awsome - glad you found it before it caused you any grief!!!!!

 

You maybe progressing, but if you don't know what Converter you really need for your application you are asking to spend more than $20.00. Kerry, you should call TCI Tech line and tell them what power plant, ****** and type of car you are setting up and buy the right Converter. Talk is cheap, broken racecars are not.

 

I do know what I need as far as a converter so it's all good Riceman. I had just been starting with a mystery swap meet converter. I got the right thing and it's in her now.

Got the engine and trans in today and tacked up the left side pipes. I knew I hadn't left much room for the headers at the frame because of the amount of dive I put in. I wanted the engine parallel with the upper frame tube. Well it is TIGHT!!! Not much I can do about it now. The bottom of the flange will be held with countersunk bolts. Live and learn.

I had originally planned on making the pipes come out parallel with the ground but did this instead. What do you think?

 

Looks great !.........plenty of room for your steering as well ?.....good flow..looking tough, Littleman

You can make up some small thin gussets to go from tube to tube towards the ends or midway after the bend to make them stronger ..

 

Are you building to SFI spec?

 

Naw, I'm just a loose cannon goofing off. ;-)

Thanks for the kind words Littleman. Yep, steering clears over the pipes. They'll get some more bracing when they get welded up.

This is too much fun! Why isn't everyone building something?

 

Very very cool , im subscribed!