Spring is finally here and I am getting ready to run again at Picton Airfield. Turns out again that Picton and Eagle Airfields are running on the same day. Anyway the slant six rail is ready to go BUT I have been working this week on a trailer for the little rail. It is about 80% done and is one of those projects that seems to be building itself. My goal is to tow it to the races with my 1963 Dodge Max Wedge. I thought it would look great to have a vintage car towing a vintage style rail. What I need is a light duty hitch for a 1963 Dodge 440 . I can make one but it would be neat to have an original. Anyone have one or has seen one in a bone yard etc? Don
Do a search for "trailer hitch, is this an accident waiting to happen?" It was just posted recently, and may give you an idea or two, or convince you you build something you don't have to worry about. Butch/56sedandelivery.
When I want a hitch I measure between the frame rails and go up to Taft's and buy one from Tim for $20 bucks. I have a couple of spare ones laying around if you measure your frame I will see if 1 will fit. You never know your luck. PS good to hear from you again, glad you got thru the winter OK. Later..... Don't know for sure, but I think any B body Dodge or Plymouth 1962 to 67 would use the same hitch. All Unibody construction. Worth checking anyway. It could be frame spacing is the same on 68 and newer, if so they used the B body platform up to 1979 (Cordoba). So if any of you cowboys have a factory Dodge or Plym B body hitch from that span of years it may fit the 63. Cuda and Challenger also used the B body platform.
I would think the hitch is readily available, since those cars where tow vehicles back in the day.....
Hey Don, good to hear from you again - I think I would engineer something to bolt over the frame rails near the rear shackles and keep it tucked as tight to the bumper as possible. something like this from JC Whitney http://www.jcwhitney.com/curt-cl***...trailers/p2011910.jcwx?filterid=c2324d395u0j1 BTW, did you get the tunnel ram and header done for the slant? How is that Poly 318 digger coming along?
The tunnel ram is done. I have the headers to finish. Been working on the Poly digger but no rush. just when I need something to tinker on. I would like to find an original hitch IE Algonquin or similar for a 63 Dodge. I know somewhere there is one on the back of a car sitting in a boneyard or some back field. Tafts?! Just came back from Brighton just now. (Ate at Rosie's) Also recieved for free a project car, a coupe. All I can tell you right now is "Das Auto" . Cost me nothing and was delivered to my door. I think it needs a 241 or 270 inch hemi. Don
I would think the hitch is readily available, I thought so too but have come up dry! Meanwhile back at the ranch the matching trailer is done except for fenders (gonna buy a set of bolt ons.) I will probably just make the hitch. Gotta set it aside for a bit as we have a race this weekend and I want to be SURE the car is ready. Don
Don't know if this would work or if it's OK to post, but someone in Tampa Bay area sells these (not me) vintage boat trailer repro fenders from the 50's http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/3774493503.html
Thanks for the tip! Yesterday I started on the hitch. It is pretty straight forward. The car had a hitch when I bought it 14 years ago and I discarded it during the restoration. The bolt holes are still there and the centre bolt in the bumper which fills the holes they originally drilled for the hitch will be used again. The trailer is very light, under 400lbs and the dragster is light (1304lbs) and is neutral weight distrubtion. (same on all four corners + or- 2 lbs) so the load is very easy to handle. Trailer has a reasonable alignment and tongue is a good length for the trailer so I suspect it will tow well. I have built other trailers and they all towed good so here is hoping. Don
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1768444&d=1350598659 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1768443&d=1350598659 What I did, used a 90s model cl*** 3 hitch, it was "too high" in the frame, so I took that receiver back to the bumper-backed up with 2x3 angle inside in case somebody hits me in the rear, and below that I welded in a "over under" second receiver hitch. Building the hitch on the 2x2, I drilled two holes, one to "slide that rascal" underneath so I can store it in place, and one to stick it out the rear far enough to drop a tongue on. I detest bumping a shin on a normally unused hitch. It also really confuses drunks and pot heads "how you are going to hitch up a trailer under there". This one could tow a small bulldozer. I think I got $30 in the hitch used. The ball was off a old shop truck (rewelded to a longer 2x2), also fits the current POS shop truck. My "project" old timey truck is still a truck, no Pinto/Mustang2 front end here.
Got the hitch done. A friend gave me an old hitch for parts (tonque, ball and flat bar) and I was able to finish it today. Tomorrow I will clean it up and paint it. Got the plates for the trailer today. They are lifetime plates here. Very simple licensing a homebuilt trailer here. Fill out a simple form , sign it and pay a one time fee of $40. Got to stamp the VIN into the trailer somewhere they said.
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