I also like the "E.T. III" wheels, quite a few drag cars used them in the '60s, but they are kinda pricey, however that might be a good project to cast up some centers and put them on plain steel wheels, sort of like a "wheel cover", but if it was done right, I don't think many would notice it's just a "mask"! I'm with you; "going more fast on less gold"!
I just poke away at it. It is kinda fun though. We will see what wheels show up. I already ahve spare slicks . I have two sets for the Sr D. Short ones and tall ones. That is at least a whole season away I think. After I get all this tacked together and partially welded then I will attack the rest of the steering. Once it can roll around and steer itself who knows what might happen?!!! A couple of days making sure all welds are completed and good. A day cleaning up, some spray bombs in Chassis black . I have a set of front tires too. Goodyears 17 inch. Just need tubes and rim liners. Don
I have the last two uprights in and have started on the kidney bars. Got antsy so i quit for the day. Don
Earlier it came up "would I fit in there?" Today after making and tacking the kidney bars in place I dropped a seat in the spot and climbed aboard. Actually ,not too bad Lots of head room and leg room. My legs are close to the top rail so I will put in some curved saftey rails to match the body curve back from the dash. Just so I dont have any "at track discussions" on saftey regarding my legs. Shoulder are a bit squeezed but not unduly. When grasping the steering wheel they are normal. Shifting might be a problem but it always is for me anyway. I made a govenor kit for my 63 max wedge that goes off at exactly 6500 RPM. I have an A&A gov kit in the senior dragster that is good for 6200 RPM. Probably I could make a kit for this trans (727) to get it above 6500. Or I could ask the lads at A&A for some special magic. Up to 6950 would be wonderful. Yeah I know I could get a CO2 bottle and a RPM switch all that stuff but it aint a gonna happen. It is after all an AUTOMATIC trans so I never understood why we make it manual and the install a 12 volt auto shifter. Maybe 6950 RPM isnt practical with hydraulic control? Anyway that is the current thought. For now I have had it with cutting fitting and tacking. I need a break! Engines are what I love. This is purely out of necessity. I was tacking with the mig and ran out of wire on the very last tack. Good time to quit for a month or so till I get my groove back. Don. PS I was also able to get up and out on my own.
Yup, Here we use the cabbage rule. "Quit while you're a-head." I find currently my patience for cutting tacking & fitting has about evaporated. If I press on I will mess up. I know me. I am like that I need to step back and play fiddle for awhile. Maybe a little vintage Ham radio (VE3LYX) Find a good German restaurant for some Schnitzel und Spaetzle. Might not be a month but it will be a week or so. Schon Genug (Enuf already) I need a break for a bit. Don
I see you're making progress on the "bunny" I love your front suspension. I watch folks at the track stand and stare at my single front 1/4 eliphtic. Most never say anything they just come and look then come back and look . Like this fellow who was here several times for a look. I had a pro shoe in for the last run. That is not me standing there at the rear but my old pal Rut who is a very experienced dragster shoe. (PSSST I think he really enjoyed driving this SR dragster). Don
Cabbage rule, good one!! Don do you have a method to break pistons loose and maybe save them. The bores have been wet, not full of huge rust barnacles but still stuck. How's the weather, kind of cool and damp here, typical! Mike.
Yup this 318 was siezed I put the whole block assembly in my Washing soda tank overnight and hooked up the power . Took the block out next morning and tapped the siezed pistons out with little extra effort. A plastic 45 gal drum which I use. (Alky fuel drum from one of my rich freinds) Holds the whole block easily. Bof the reverse electrolisis the rust is wisk away and winds up on the bar. There is a You tube video up the from me. I think it is actually when I had this block in there but maybe I am mistaken. Anyway like hooked on phonecs it worked for me. Don
I finished welding up the roll cage today. I dont have the helmut bars yet but the main cage is fit and welded 100%. Some sharpe eyed may notice I replaced the single rear upright with a double. It is because I had a brain fart and had forgotten that an 1 1/2 roll bar must have 2 uprights as opposed to an 1 5/8 which needs only one. I sat down to review the rules and discovered the error of my ways so I bent up another bar and moved the single over and "voila" we are legal again. I work till I get antsy and then invoke the cabbage rule. Had enuf for today. Don
Truth is I enjoy the welding. Getting so it actually looks decent as well. Hard to stay away. I have switched to winter mode and fired up some of my homebrew HAM stuff as well but I decided I wanted this a roller before the snow comes. Since I require only about 3 more feet of 1 1/4 and a length of 3/4 inch so $$$$ is not an issue. I watched McTims front end during his giant wheelie. No flop over. Very stable. I was impressed. I hope to achieve similar results with this one. I wonder how he built his steering. TIm? Don
Helmut bars today. Just gotta make the corners and weld them in. This is a frustrating job because of the mutiple angles in your view. It never looks right so all one can do is measure level measure recheck and glue em in. Don
I got the two curved helmut bars tacked in place but ran out of mig wire. Time for another break I guess. Mike was here and inspected it. He gave it a thumbs up. Don
Welding done. Oh I still have to go over and check them all. Make sure the welds overlap without a space. Maybe redo a couple here or there but progress is being made. Next to perfectly position and weld in the trans support so the joint fits. A few more days and I will have a roller is some form. The motor mounts made and then remove the block and trans and finsh weld the whole main chassis. Don
Finshed up some of the lower work today and made the trans mount to crossmember part. I keep thinking (which is dangerous ) "Don, if you have a good running 318 engine and trans you could do a shakedown pass in the spring and work away on the killer engine as time and money become available." What is even worse is I was offered one at a cruise night not long ago and too hastily turned it down. Now I can see the merit in the idea. Spoke too soon. Balancing and head work will take a lot of time and gold. The chassis for some reason is almost building itself. My pal Bill has offered to come down and help me some on Saturday. Bill is building a VW gasser (Chev 6 Cylinder power) and is a good welder. We always get lots dne when he is here. Don
That's a tough one, on one hand you could put the stock 318 in to shake out the rest of the car while you build the monster, but if it was me, the monster might never get done then - having too much fun with the stocker. I would build the monster first.
You know Don I have been watching this build and your other dragster, and all I can think is this guy is having way too much fun. This is what it should be about a guy triing things and using his head instead of the federal reserve to build a car. Lets face it even with a stock 318 this thing will be faster and more fun than most of your built up muscle cars. But I'm sure i'm preaching to the quire. Well keep at it were all looking forward to the next updates. RL
Well first. with my square head the other will get done. Das ist der deutsche weg. But I also have another rail I can run and the Tunnel ram for the /6 to finish or I should say the combined headers for the tunnel ram to finish so I probably dont need it. Having too much fun? Somedays I have to pinch myself. I never dreamed retirement would be like this. However one also realizes the it could all change in a day at this time of life so I dont want to wste any. The slant 6 rail has brought me more joy then any project ever. You leave the line even on my bad days when i am driving like gramps and the motor hits its power band (about 3900 RPM ) and it sets you right back in the seat. Kinda surprises you everytime. and you utter a little "wow" under your breath. The Picton Armdrop Airfield races have taken a good deal and made it about perfect. The two most relaxing and enjoyable days I had this year were spent there. Yes I am curious and I like making everything if possible. I was called cheap once this year because of that. I said to my wife"I dont think I am cheap". She just grinned and said "I beg to differ." MMMMMMMMMMM???????? Anyway Tis all very interesting to me. Don
Not cheap just "thrifty" Don and yep ain't retirement a blast. Don't know how I got anything done when I was working...............
Well said Carl. My older brother told me years ago "When work interferes with pleasure cut out the work." Silly me I believed him. (He is still working BTW) Don
Hell Don , If I wasn't cheap and didn't try to make as many parts and hardware for mine I'd be sittin dead in the water, Wishing my car was further along, Tim Jones
Me too Tim, Me too. I have one old "friend" who keeps saying why do you built it? Just get so and so to do it. Just recently learned from so and so the he charged him $61,000 for his RED roller. I am in for this one still under $1000. In fact I didnt pay $61000 for this house! Don
I'm pretty sure I have a set of chrome zoomies in the attic for a poly. Is that something you would be interested in?
Yes but for two problems $$$$$$ and getting them here. Wonderful idea though. What would be really neat is a Photo of what car they are off of. Don
I acquired them, chrome valve covers and dual quad setup many years ago. The dual quad went with a 61 Pioneer I sold and the valve covers at a swap meet a few years back. I'm not sure what the zoomies were on... Belden
Couldnt sleep thinking about them. Dont get rid of them just yet. I have a brother in NY state. Might be not too bad shipping them there since it is inside USA. I will check into it and perhaps we can talk turkey. Meanwhile in the shop, I had a concern about starter fit on the poly when mounted in the chassis. My friend Gary had a spare starter so he dragged it over for a test fit. PERFECT! Another step closer. Don
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