Help 59 Front Engine dragster

Howdy ,.... have this 59-61 CR dragster ch***is that was built by a guy named Harris out of Ballard Washington back between 1959 and say 1961, Harris built like 7 of these out of the Ch***is Research kit and was wondering what axle to use,.width, drop, spindle ect,..how about the leaf spring, perch,. etc....???

thanks in advance
Vic





Picture of possibly the Actual car back in its day running at Pacific Raceways/Seattle,..what makes it unique and Identifiable is at the top and back of the roll bar are sqaured off and has a gusset like in this picture,...

 

The picture you show looks like a V8 60 axle. If that is any help.

 

Are you going to be recreating this car?

 

Hi Vic I'm building a TE440 type car , Take a look at my build thread for info , Nice looking ch***is Tim Jones

 

Thanks Pork N ******,..but what car does that come off of..????

Matt ,
..Will try and recreate car back to its era of look, with the exception that we will never be ever to afford a Potvin blower set up...lol.....Idealy we`d like to put a 331,354,or 392 in it, but may settle for a 61 olds 394 with stacks/ or blower on Gas..???

Thanks
For the help

Vic

 

but may settle for a 61 olds 394 with stacks/ or blower on Gas..???


Well Damn Vic...now your speaking my language.....And imagine...Ive got stacks and blowers....this could be tooooo easy

Tony

 

Hey Tony,..really..might keep that in mind and talk it out with you if we go the Olds route,..

Hey Tim,..its right up there in the beging process of sorting it all out, Checked out your build progress and that is right up there in the WOW factor,..more to say in a bit...

Thanks
Vic

 

This was the most popular way to build a dragster in the late 50's. The frame itself reminds me of the style used in the Einolander & Candee dragster. The style is also similar to the Albertson Olds dragster which used a Ch***is Research modified K-88 frame. Ch***is Research was possibly the 1st company to commercially produce dragster frames. Most of the young, private enthusiasts tried to duplicate this type set up with their own variation. It was a common practice to use a suicide perch up front.

 

After looking at pictures of some axles it seems to me that the drag picture posted above is sporting a 28-31 ford axle ???,..I saw a picture of a V8 60 axle but it was a tube axle, the one pictured above is a Beam, with almost no drop very suttle radius,...was there a solid beam V8 60 axle.?? or are they all tube.???

What are the two plates ( a left & a right) that are mounted center of ch***is at each side of the spring perch and attach by a rod and rubber bushings out on the axle called...????


Thanks
Vic

 

Hi Vic I believe your right about the axle above , Mine is a 34 on my car, Here's a pic of my front axle, not sure what plates your talking about ? can you get a pic Tim Jones

 

Hey Vic. I think those are friction dampers, like shocks. Lippy

 

DING DING DING,....yeppers Lippy those would be Friction shocks.
Obrien truckers has the CR repop versions, and also the Lyndmood version also,...
I atleast know what they are now and do,..looks like the car We are redoing made their own Fristion shock,.appears to be more of a plate type setup than the forged type of CR,...?????

Thanks again
Vic,...

 

On my car I believe all they did for the friction Shocks was they took two pieces of aluminum and sandwiched some brake material in between and made it pivit. I have a good picture of mine somewhere.

 

Yea Matt that is what I was thinking on doing also...

Where do they attach to the axle..??? at the radius rod/bat wing.??

thanks
Vic

 

On my car they came from the frame to the top of the axle. I will upload a picture when I find it.