I had a customer brought in his 392 blown motor project for a FED. A early Hemi is cool. It went so I bought parts for a own 392 in my 32 5W, but in thoose early Hemi parts I bought, I got a good std bore block but in the deal it was a older 392 race short block and a blower so I had to bought all this parts. I found a set of the tripple nickel 555 heads and traded in a Hilborn injector for a PM7 Thickstun intake, and sold the blower and intake and a set of Moon valvecovers. I then sold that race shortblock to a friend, but as I got the Hilborn I got an idea for a own FED/engine... He said I get you the parts for free if you make something up from it. I has order valves and guides and bought H-beam rods as the aluminium rods feel not that good re install. It was a older Isky flat tappet cam, gear drive etc. Block is +.125" over but I has a can of blockfiller, so as on meth I will fill all way up and O-ring deck. A buddy will do the ch***ie and I has a Olds 50's rearend and a PG house. Style is my guess mid 60's. I serach for a steeringbox the P&J etc ( or what they used back then ) so if someone has it call me. Front wheel will be Hayden, but what to use in rear ? Shoure I might could search and find older Amnerican Racing or Halibrands, but all will be new here - so this is not a pure nostagic build-up. -Style is one thing, but beside the engine/rearaxle house it's new stuff that will be used. Slicks will be M/T 10.5" wide at 15" so a new wheel say 15 x 10 or 12 inch wide. -Has someone ideas what was used back then or what is to get new now.
Do you know shen American Racing had the old cl***ics out ? As I said I can search or overpay for old ones, but I’m not rhat in a need for get nostagig here, just has something that can be bought new that has the look for the 60’s, can’t ( what I’m doing ) is early 60’s or late, so I say mid 60’s.
Hello, Since you are quite away from So Cal, it will be hard to enjoy the full effect of the top dragsters from the 60s all firing up together or one at a time. The audience is treated to the “best of the best” at a famous location in So Cal. the next planned fire up of those top race cars from So Cal will be in October 2026. The touring group of So Cal drag racers from the early 60s through the 70s have stayed with the cl***ic look of FED race cars they drove in the various dragstrips of So Cal during their days. the builds are as accurate as any, since they are carbon copies of the racers we all knew and saw, as locals to the drag race scene. Jnaki Prior to the formulating the whole scene with the multiple FED in action, the So Cal racers used to gather at car shows in Bixby Knolls and then other cities allowed the show on their main streets for the spectators. Now, the main FED show is called Nitro Revival. What is Nitro Revival? "It's a happening, a museum in motion, if you will. An opportunity to gather...and to celebrate...the unforgettable cars and unique individuals from the golden age of drag racing" "simply put...it's a labor of love" - Steve and Cindy Gibbs So, until you can make it to one of their shows, there are plenty of videos of such events on their website. The authenticity of all builds is, well, “built in” by the original racers still around messing with their toys… YRMV Here is one video I shot of the presentation of the usual Nitro Revival FED race cars that participate in the roving events. This one was filmed at the back parking lot of the Lion's Dragstrip Museum, showcasing my friend from our high school graduating cl*** and another guy that went to my junior h.s. during his time. Jerry Bivens FED called the Bivens and Fisher Checkmate version. a tribute to Doug Fisher... with Steve Gibbs announcing at: .35 SOUND
I had one if this older blowers/intake and bird catcher but sold it. I’m not into nitro or blowers in this set-up but more relaxed racing with the Hilborn on meth and say mid 5’s on the 1/8 mile. It don’t require much HP or pain do that and just has fun. We had a series here in Sweden call SVDA. Idea is the nostalgic toush but still racing. I had no ideas build a nostalgia nitro machine and race it. Way to weak parts, price or the RPM kill it all. I had been in the NHRA museum and Don Garlit’s museum several times over the years. But actuallt did not pay much attention to this older race cars details. I would like get to Bakersfiel race ( sometimes ) Ideas on rear wheels ? Fit the era, but new made.
A week to late for the March Meet . In 2004 ( i still have the T shirt somewhere here ) 1day ticket was $ 25.
If you dig through 60's magazines, the Halibrand was what most guys used, followed by the original style (straight spoke only!) American Torque Thrust. The guys on a budget ran painted stock steel wheels, even on dragsters. There weren't a lot of choices until the later '60's. If you have to go with what's out there today, you might be happy with Team 3 ET wheels that look sorta like Halibrands. There's a site called Hot Rod Craft that has a racing forum that has a thread on just FED's that's up to 95 pages. Tons of vintage dragster images to help you.
The Cragar S/S where becoming poplar around 1965 in all cl***es , Many later used known / thinking a Stronger wheel
Great ideas. I would shore get me a good pair of mid 60's Halibrand ( did they run 16" ? ) but my experiance in 'expensive' old hotrod parts its not easy just to find it, and if one find it 'can one get it ? ( as most like has it in garage and if I learned it's always something... So new is the way here I guess. The straight spoke American Torque Thrust is a good alternative but the good ol' Cragar SS might came out mid 60's, or ? There is alsao ET Mags ( indy style )
I could see the Cragar SS if they was out 64 even if maybe few dragsters used them. But the Team 3 ET is also a alternative. Team III ET Five-Window 15X10 Wheel, 5x4.5, 4 Inch Backspace - 15x10", 5x114.3 mm, Aluminum
Way cool pucture !! The new TTO wheel 15” is cool but its max 8.5” wide. I like to use 10.5” W slicks ( 33” tall ) and a 10” might be the less to use. The Team 3 ET is both 15 and 16 inch ( 10” wide ) but its something I don’t like on them.
The reason I brought up S/S , I was watching vintage video's around 1967 Notice so many cars with S/S wheel witch I knew heavier ,sale tactic stronger ? Maybe sponsored deal ? not so many H -B's or A -Ring it was one of the 7 National events with 32 & 64 Field or a Crown Race's Triple Crown , Oddy's car , strange Black out axle flange , I do not see , can not tell lug nuts . Any ways Made to order E-T's Spokes more of point .
Nice pics. The Halibrands do look 'hungry' on this FED's ! The picture with no body panel and TTO wheels, what sizes was they sold at back in the days and mid 60's was it 15" slicks or 16" slicks ? ( and height ? )
15 & 16 rims I thought maybe heard of 18 ? If so not many . 8,9,10 wide Max maybe 12 inch wide tire Around 68 change to wider rims & tires
Halibrands when they were no longer being used on Dragsters you would find them in the sixty's on Hot Rods Example here's my set. Ronnieroadster
Since you did ask: If you like 5spokes, & AR TTO, or ET 5spoke won't work(or can't due to $$$, availability/etc), look at U.S.Mag 5spokes. https://www.us-mags.com/products/wheels/vintage-2-piece-cast?diameter=776 . Not quite as good, visually - imho - but probably cheaper, available in 15", no 16"(owner said no tires made in 16" anymore, therefore no call for that size. ;( ), up to 10" wide. Past orig company was known for cheaper slots & other "styled" steel wheels, but got bought out awhile back. Talked to the owner a few yrs ago at a Btt50s event, said the big-rim custom & donk(ey) styled stuff made & brought in the big bucks, old styles kept & done for fun - because they like 'em. Afaik, their quality is pretty good. I do wish they'd clone some of the popular Hali's, but we get what is offered. & can afford... ;( . Marcus...
Nice looking wheels, but they start at $535 per wheel, which is more expensive than ETs and twice as much as American TTOs.
Not that it counts for anything, but the ET "fueler", and moreso, the cheap Rocket knock off of that wheel feels WAY overused nowadays, along with those bolt on 10 spoke wheels and just too cartoony, which fits in with the late 60's "make everything wild" vibe. It seems like every straight axle car slaps those on as the rolling stock of choice. Cragar S/S wheels are a cool door car wheel, but never seemed too common on dragsters, and always look kinda weird on them. American Rebel makes a nice Halibrand wheel in 16" called the Champ. I had talked to them awhile back because that's too big for my junior fuel-style dragster, and I asked if they could machine out the inner lip on the windows of the Sprint to make it look like the Champ, and they said that could be done. Not cheap but well done. I ultimately went with TTOs, because I only need an 8.5" on a 9" wide slick, but strongly considered the American Rebel wheels. https://www.americanrebelmfg.com/champ
Hey, Vox; Wow, I didn't get into todays' pricing. A few yrs ago, they were decently priced. Well, they're off the buy-list now. Thanks for the info. Marcus...
When I was building my FED I was kind of shooting for a late '60s look. Found a pair of aluminum slots. I forget now but I think they might be American racing. I'll let others decide if I hit my mark of making it look like 1968 all over again. By the way, I'm just running a very mild 305 Chevy on pump gas and it's running mid sixes in the 1/8th at 104-ish MPH. I'm thinking what you described that you intend to use for an engine will easily run mid 5's Have fun! Lynn
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