Been reading with interest the popularity of this relativly new class of "fun" racing. Over here in the UK Drag racing was slow to kick off hence during the sixties when Garlits, Ivo, Nancy and Co introduced the sport, Slingshots where the way to go, hence Bug style cars where probably never seen over here. However that does not mean than they can't start! I am not sure what the reaction to the class would be, I posted a comment on our NSRA forum with little interest I feel it could be run along the same lines as the Flat head Meltdown they run at Hot Rod Drag's events. Any way............. What I am after is a rough set of measurements of a basic chassis I am not sure of powerplant yet but a start could maybe be building a rolling chassis to start with and build up interest from that. Any help would be appretiated. Many thanks Tug
Tug, you might want to do an intro in the right section first. I built mine out of 2X3 tubing, it is approx. 125" wheelbase. I started out with 24" width in the front and it is 28" at the back. From there I started laying out where the motor, tranny and the drivers seat would be and built from there.
Let me tell you how I did it. I started with the capsule first. I got the seat that I wanted to run and while sitting in it...leaning back against a wall to a comfortable angle. I measured to where my feet were when they were comfortable...that gave me the length of the capsule and the location of the front hoop (just in front of my feet). Next, measuring from the ground to the top of my helmet...while still sitting in the same seat and angle...I got a mesurement for the height of the roll bar (added 2 1/2" for "roll over" clearance). While you are at it, have a measurement made from the outside of one shoulder...to the outside of the other shoulder. This gives you the measurement for the capsule at the back...widest part. A stick of 2x3 .125 wall rectangular tubing comes in 20 foot sticks around here...so I just cut it in half and that was the length of the frame (10 feet). The rear axle is just behind the roll bar...and I run a spring behind front axle...so the wheel base is a little longer than 120 inches. I used 1 3/4" .125 wall round DOM tubing for crossmembers ... the same as for the roll bar. When laying out the frame don't pinch the front of the frame too much...just choose a nice angle that will start from your shoulder width at the back and taper nicely to the front end. Too much pinch may cause a problem with starter clearance later. That is how I did it. Maybe not the best way...but one way to get it to fit you well (read as tight fit). I got all the measurements in about 10 minutes and had it drawn out on paper with a rough estimate of how much material I will need in 30 minutes. Good luck with your deal. Ron.
Chassis can be built in many forms. I built mine out of 10ga steel that I formed on a power brake.(Formed channel) then started adding the necessary tubing for the roll cage etc. Mine come out to 128" wheel base. But since you are just getting started. The first thing I would do is get a set of the HAMB rules. And look at some of the other threads on here, as there are many photos of cars in them and that will give you a better idea of how they are constructed.. Good luck on your project.
We're using an early set of regular frame rails as our base (some parts pile pictures are in my "Barn Job" sig link). Certainly be giving up a bit of weight but we want the look, and are going with wires and a beam front end as well.
Guess you'd call mine "modified stock" frame rails. I had a Model A frame that had been torched up. I extended it out to around 120", using rectangular tubing.
Here in OZ, our chassis's are all 75x50x3 RHS, Wheelbase is set around 115" (give or take a inch or two), with the front chassis width being 25", tapering to about 28" in the rear. We have a 6" kick at the rear, and do the crossmembers a number of ways, depending on what driveline is used. Here's some examples.... Hopefully this might help... Cheers, Drewfus
Guys so sorry its been so long for me to say thanks for all the info, needless to say I havn't done much in the way of building anything, my model A has taken much longer to build than i thought and of course thinks like work and family..........say no more. I do appretiate all the replies, now the A is sorted maybe I can start collecting parts. Many thanks Mark
Hang in there Tug...Our build is taking forever, but it's worth the wait. Building one of these is a time machine of it's own. Collecting parts is just the start of the fun...setting a chair in the middle of the parts and making noises is even better.
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