Well I have a few things under way so I thought I would start a build thread. The ch***is is being built by Brad Studley out of Hopedale, MA. Thanks to Brad and Jack Brady for getting me set up. It will be done very soon, he has built the frame and narrowed and mounted my 9in rear, he is also setting up the steering etc. More pics of that when I get it back. I built this engine about 3 years ago for another car but never put it in. I just painted it and am currently rebuilding the rochesters took the choke out of the center one turning end carbs into secondarys etc., im going to take my tall fin edelbrocks off my car and put them on this motor. 355 10-1 540 roller cam etc. The trans is a 58 chevy 3 spd using just 2nd and 3rd gears. Rear is a bronco 9in housing strange carrier, spool and 5.29 gears. Hurst 30x8 pie crust, these things are kind of scary so we will see how they work. There are a couple tracks in Maine and New England dragway is letting these cars run 1/8th mile. I am sure there will be more soon. I will update once I have the ch***is back at the shop. Thanks, Joe
Joe, Thanks for the plug, glad that your getting the word out on the new cl*** in New England for these early FEDs. You should have your ch***is back early this coming week. The cl*** is going to be a blast at the track and we even have a true Fuel Altered going together and sounds like Jack is getting the driving duties on that. We are getting excited for next season, there are a dozen plus cars that should be ready to race.
Thank you for the purchase and thank you for the mention. True nostalgia!! Well known and revered local fab stud who is no young lad called me the other day and has 7 parties that want to all have similar ch***is built. Not exactly the style that is shown but similar influence of Ch***is Research/ Dragmaster Style round tube ch***is. These cars will be raced at local non sanctioned 1/8 mile track. No OHV V8's either, all the interested parties have hot flathead's or inlines to install. I will let the cat's name out just because......Mr Smiles... Marty Strode This project, and a few others in cold shops around this beautiful country of ours are slowly , "And a few with $$$ are coming a little faster" coming to life. man next season is going to be fun!!!!!!! Thank you and all of the HAMB members for trying so hard at a common goal. To be the coolest one out of the graduating cl*** HOTRODRUBBER
Hey slick, if you want to build one, get in touch with me, I can set you up, either the same as Joe's or if you wanted it just like an original TE-440. I can build them any way. I have an R-16 ch***is coming together now and I will be putting together a different longer ch***is with the traditional 3 point cage and a torsion bar up front. Pomp, the guys from my old car club call me NOS as I was so young and into the old styles. P.S. I have to call you Marty,I have two orders for tires... Brad
The new cl*** will be for period correct FEDs. We will be running 1/8th mile no faster than 7.5 seconds. The cars are only limited to a 10.5" or narrower tire, has to have a clutch. Thats about it. Its going to be a fun cl*** and low budget. We will be running at New England at each nostalgia event and we will also be running in Maine at Oxford and winterport. There is about a dozen cars together or going together right now. Should be fun and the tracks have cooperated completely. Should be a lot of fun.
Cant wait to see that cl*** run,I always get excited when seeing front engine dragsters,and other cars like Jacks Fiat.
Joe, You look like you have been busy in the shop, great attention to detail!! This is going to be a Show and GO machine.
my old man was telling me about this earlier.....hope to see the cl*** stay true to itself and expand....killer.... T.H.
This cl*** has been a few years in the making. They first started racing them at Winterport Dragway in ME. It has now expanded to Oxford Plains and New England Dragway. There are close to a dozen cars ready to do battle next spring. The cost and concept are simple. By running 1/8 th mile you can keep the look of the old cars, and keep cost down. Ch***is's range from TE 440's to 60's style three point cages, no cookie cutter cars here. All cars must run a clutch and a maximum tire of 10.5" your choice of engine. Most are running SBC with 2 speed manual trans., but it would be nice to see a nailhead or Y block out there. You cannot build a cheaper open wheel racecar than a dragster. They leave the line in a two foot wheelie and reaches speeds over a hundred ten miles an hour in the 1/8. Ch***is start at about $1100., add driveline, wheels, and you have a compe***ive racecar for less than five grand. The cost of putting a racecar together is even more reasonable when partner up with one or more buddies to share the expense. Lots of people have spare parts doing nothing in their garage, when you pool your resources, you can make it happen. See you at the track!!
The rules have not been finalized... Keeping in the spirit of a sixties dragster, anything longer than 180" would look out of place, most cars are around less than 150". The old TE440's are right around a 100"
Altereds can compete also... The key rule is to run a clutch. Altereds can run 2 speeds, 3 speeds, or 4. To be competive the heavier altered would want to a three speed or four speed.
Great to see this style of Dragsters making a comeback. I'm currently putting parts together for a Flathead FED, early style...just for the fun factor that it presents!!!
How about this guys, next Sunday, I'm going to have a coffee and BS session for anyone who is interested in coming by the shop and checking out the dragsters and the altered ch***is that we have in house right now. Would anyone be interested? Let me know and I'll get the directions out there for everyone, it would probably 9-12noon. Something like that.
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