Projects My new old dragster...looking for info

Thought I'd just post up a couple pictures of the spindles off the dragster just in case anyone might need a reference in the future. From what I understand early Ford and Anglia spindles where perfered but these happen to be early Willys/Jeep. I've also found that the Wagner Lockheed brake master cylinder that was used on this ch***is is also an early Willys/Jeep component.
These spindles have had the casting where the drum would bolt on ground off.

 

Bring it even if it isn't running to the Hunnert Car Heads Up (as well as the Meltdown Drags). People just love this old iron!

 

This narrowed Banjo has been converted over to the later non-tapered Ford axles and brakes. With all the work it took to narrow the Banjo where's the benefit? Why not just take the newer 50's era Ford axle and narrow it? Where these truck rears considered more reliable? Stronger? Easier to get center sections for?

Trying to get my mind around why this would have been done rather than changing out the rear to a newer style.

 

I certainly wouldn't, but then again I'm a safety conscious conservative with all my body parts still intact. And good advice about testing frame tubing. Tom S. in Tn.

 

So Tom, then your suggestion is to buy the blank and go for the custom made coupler? I can get that from Mark Williams just not sure on locating a good shop here that spline it and heat treat it.

 

call MW and ask if they can do it for you.or ask local racers where they get things machined doesn't have to be a drag racer or a race car fabricator.

 

A little headway this weekend. Stearing box is all cleaned and packed with fresh grease. Works good now. Busted out the tire irons and striped off the old front tires. Next I'll get the rims cleaned up with a wire wheel and ready for the new rubber which should be here sometime this week. Just won a master cylinder rebuild kit on eBay. Kingpins should show in the next couple of days do front axle will go back together.

 

I believe this is what they refer too as New Old Stock.

 

It's like Christmas here this week! I love coming home to boxes on the front stoop. Got my Coan shorty and TCL rear bearing plate now so trans is ready to go to the shop for freshing.



New front runners also came today. Out with the old Dunlops and in with the new Dunlops. The old ones looked like Speedmasters. 3.25-19. Can't get that size now so went with the M90-19 asince I guess our only choice anymore is metric...Geez



Brake master cylinder rebuild is on the way and should have it by Friday.

 

Looks great! Keep it up!

 

Good progress, you have me excited watching this.

 

Very cool

 

Thanks again to my buddy Gl***ThamesDoug. Was cool hanging out with him this weekend and listening to his tales from Gator Nationals. Got the new kingpins in my front axle but unfortunately the box did not contain the washer retainer end caps. Contacted the seller and hopefully he has some.

 

Any updates, the clock is ticking.....

 

Nothing big to report. Got the name front tires mounted on the rims. I'm still waiting for the retainers for the king pins to show up but looks like they will be delivered in the mail today. Transmission is at the rebuild shop. Should be able to get the front end re***embled this weekend and should have the trans back sometime next week. After that it will be time to place the drive line.

 

Got the retainers for the king pins. Put the front end back together today. Still have to grease everything up real good and safety pin all the
fasteners. Need to work a little longer on the alignment of everything before I tighten it all down. ****** will hopefully be done on Monday.

Any words of wisdon on front end adjustments??

 

Not much to new lately. Went ahead and ordered the open conversion from Speedway Motors so now I have a yoke that fits the Banjo. Time to pull the rear end out. check it over and install the yoke. It's big step forward as after that I'll be able to really see where the engine will sit and will be able to ****on up the engine mounts.

 

Got going on the rear end today. Drained the old nasty lube. Installed the open yoke conversion kit I got from speedway. Got this kit on one of those Garage Deals they have and saved 40 bucks on it. They said it had been installed but looked to me like the box had just been opened. Fits very nice. I'll conect this using a new U joint to the yoke that fits the power glide and then encase the entire thing in a steel tube.


Brakes look good to go. Need to clean up the drums. I also started fitting some belts. They are out of cert but good for fit.

 

I didn't hold any hope for that rear end... glad it is in decent shape.

 

Bringing this back to the top in hopes you will bring it to the Hunnert Car Heads up this weekend.

 

Sold the old cheater slicks so I could put that $$ towards a new pair which I have not ordered yet. Right now it's not a roller so I'm not going to make the Heads-Up with it. Not even as a display. Hopefully the next event.

I do plan to be at the Heads-Up with my bro "i" and The High Life. Looking forward to this event.

 

Wow, I'm sorry guys, I missed this until I saw this thread again today.

Yes, I would have had a coupler fabricated from a blank if one were not off the shelf commercially available. But it looks like I'm a little late with recommendations.
However, yours is a shorter rigid car and looks like sturdy tubing. Very minimal flex, so with sturdy motor plate and 0 movement of the rear axle, a single u-joint may last for decades.
I would follow earlier advice though and fabricate 360deg shielding from the tail housing to the differential. That can add driveline rigidity as well.

This discussion was posted a year or so on another dragster build here on the HAMB, and I would have bet the farm that single u-joint would not have lasted through the first burn out, but apparently I'm incorrect because every thing else in the clutch and trans has failed except that u- joint !
Tom S. in Tn.

 

Let me add also....... this car is looking good. Should be a blast on short tracks!
Tom S.

 

Look me up, I'll have the ElCamino there. You can see the interior you paid for.

 

Was good to see you flt-blk at the HCHU. Interior looks great in the Elco!
Looks like the next one for me will be The Meltdown. Another kick in the **** that will make me want to step it up. Things are moving along slowly.

 

Looks like tomorrow I'll be making a pretty good forward step. After finding that the 283 stroker I purchased had a couple **** cylinders, I was torn trying to decide if I should spend the $$ at the machine shop or just buy another engine. Friend of mine came across a 327 that looks to be a good runner for the right price so I'm getting that and sticking the 283 in the corner for a later project. I've been tinkering a little here and there. Working on fabbing the front engine mounts, getting the yoke installed and redoing the brakes.

 

327 is pretty much in place.

 

Looks like it's coming right along, Just in case no one told you , make sure you put a good shield over that drive coupler, I had a setup like that on one of my old cars my front end of it was open , when it broke it sent pieces out like a shotgun , i still have a scar on my calf of my leg, Be careful Tim jones

 

Thanks for the insight on that. I plan to make up a tube for it that is thicker on top that way if things go a rattling they will be more apt to go towards the ground.

 

looks like forward progress to me.