I just drug this home today and would like to know any info you can give me. I was told it was built in the late sixtys. Could have bben built a year ago. I have no clue. Could you help I.D. the brake drums? They are on a Chrysler 8 3/4 rear. Also i have looked at alot of pics and have not seen this front end style??? Any help is appreciated.
What's the tag over the axle? I thought if a chassis has ever been certified there's a record of it somewhere, or an SFI number denotes builder?
Didn't Jim Davis use a spring set-up something like that? Looks like an older car that's been updated along the way, maybe. I thought only Buick ran aluminum drums, redrills? I'm guessing it was cut up to store it? Hate that! Ahh, Ron got me, I'm too slow!
Apparently Dodge's had aluminum brake drums as well in the early 60's, I know Lincoln did as well. Although similar to a Buicks the ones in your picture do not have fins all the way to the edge like a Buicks. Could ahve been machined off but doesn't lok like it by that pic. Nice trailer can I borrow it?
This car had a "tweaked" bar on the top tube by the engine. This was a running, racing, going straight car right before the owner fired up the recip saw. It was one of those "i am going to replace that bar and put it back together" deals. Guess what? 7 years later i bought it and hauled it home. Waiting on my SFI 2.6 spec sheet to get here before i put it back together. Plans are to install a Kinsler injected 283 and a 'glide. Hopefully i will be sucessful putting it back in one piece. After all it is just tubing....Right????
I plan on building a new section for the middle and sleeving it to the main cage and sleeving the front end onto the new section. I talked to a NHRA tech guy yesterday and he said that would be fine as long as i didn't mess with any tubing above the top rail (ie:cage) so i should be good to go. It was last certified in '95 down to 7.50. Might need to add some helmet bars to the cage. I will know once my SFI specs come in the mail.
Yes, you will need 1" helmet bars. That's a shame they cut it like that. That is a very unique front end. I know Davis used a setup similar. Lippy
Scott, the front is very unique and will probably be the clue to identify it. The last time I went to the CHRR I looked at all the cackle cars I could and asked about the ones that had a similar front end to mine. You might look at the WDIFL site and see if you can spot something similar. The sticker might not help you much, but look for a stamped serial #. SFI does track those #s by builder. Any idea what part of the country it originally came from? Cool find, and good luck.
I was thinking i needed them. I have not seen another front end like that in the 2 weeks i have been looking at pictures. I wish someone could nail down this car. I would like to know more about it. Good thing about it being cut, if there is a good thing, is it was cut nice and clean and they staggered the cuts thinking ahead to putting it back together. I am excited, i have always wanted a FED. The motor and injection fell into my lap after the car came about so hopefully the tubing sleeves will not be a problem. If so i will get more tubing and copy the chassis...it's only tubing.....
No idea where from. It has been in Louisiana for at least 10 years. The guy i got it from was told that it was built in the late sixtys??? cage has def. been upgraded to be cert. in 1995. I have no clue. All i know is i have always wanted one of these and couldn't afford a "complete car" so i will pour a little blood and sweat into this one. Makes it better anyway when it's done and I had my hand in building it. Thanks for the help guys I am a major fan of this site now!!!!
I meant to tell you about this site the Sunday nite when I talked to you o the phone glad you found it.
I went and looked at the car a few minutes ago, fairly sure the drums are Buick's that have been had the outer fins machined off, either for wheel clearance or because the fins were broke and they did it to smooth it off. They do have 45 fins. The rear axle is a mopar 8 3/4 with the "489" case and a 5 x 5" pattern, took my wheel bolt pattern ring to make sure.
Thanks for all the help!! I believe i am going to start "fresh" with a new chassis that will certify down to 7.50 and scrap this one. In way too many pieces to feel good about putting back together. And i am wanting to go a tad faster than 10.00
Parts man. Are you Vern's friend? He told me about this rail i believe as it has the same front spring style as I built What a find! Don
I have some pictures of a Woody car, about 1965, with a front end like that... no shock. The radius rods are farther apart though. There were many mant dragster chassis builders in those days so hard to tell where it came from.
I am going to build a 1964 style Woody car with a torsion type front suspension instead of the single spring. I think it would drive better with the wider suspension on it. Thats my opinion anyways.
Well i have a single spring in mine and i built it that way. It runs so straight it is unbelievable. i think I could make a pass with my fingers stuck in my ears. Only problem with 1/4 eliphtics is people dont understand them . My new rail has a pair of them and Verns car or altered has a pair as well. Where is Vern? Good question. He was here friday but I havent seen or heard from him since. He may have had his altered in the Toronto car show as at one time he scheduled it there but when he went south he may have canceled that. i hope you keep the spring. Tis a wonderful design but it is your car and you can do what you desire that is for sure. Don
I am shortening the car so much that i would have to put a heck of a bend on the rails past the motor to get them to meet in the front for the single spring. I almost have to use the torsion style front. I am going from 210" to 144" I don't see anyway around it.
Mine also has a single front spring. I built it that way. Here it is at the begining of construction a few years back. 1/4 eliphtics are very good. However this side of the ocean they are not well understood. The car doesnt know the difference. Mine runs so straight I sometimes think i could make a pass without touching the steering wheel. I fact I get from other dragster and altered guys "man that thing runs straight!" But your car , your choice, for sure. Vern was here on friday. i havent seen or heard from him since. He might have put his altered in the Toronto Car show as it was scheduled for that before he went down your way. He "reads the mail" here so he may jump in. (it has double 1/4 eliphtics) Don Vern was just here. Said he wished you had sold him the car still. Maybe you should sent him the front spring assembly and I will "back half" it for him. I know what you are saying about shortening it. It is fine line with a shorter car to get a narrow front rail set up and still squeeze an engine between them.
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