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Technical Legal front engine dragster?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by dumprat, Jul 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM.

  1. dumprat
    Joined: Dec 27, 2006
    Posts: 3,568

    dumprat
    Member
    from b.c.

    So does anybody have a good nice looking front engine chassis design that has a hope in hell of passing tech to race at a bracket type event? I’m not strictly looking to race old time or nostalgia events, and I don’t want a cackle car.

    Looking for design plans not to purchase an old pile of crap.

    thanks in advance.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
  2. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,352

    lake_harley
    Member

    I bought plans from S&W race cars. Their design is actually for a 200-in wheelbase car but with their input I shortened it to 145" wheelbase since I was going for a mid to late 60s look. Even built a hopefully period clone of a "lollipop" trailer to haul it

    I've never had an opportunity or real need to try to get it certified since I'm only bracket racing. I'm convinced that it would go through certification okay. It's a tick over a 6.50 second car on a 1/8 mile so it doesn't have to be certified.

    Other than one small change in the very back of the chassis by not putting a little bend in the lower rail that would have raised the seat I followed the plans and dimensions that their blueprint shows. I just didn't want the "high chair" look that was just too too modern to mimic the 60s look I was after.

    I completed the car in 2023. I started building it at the peak of COVID and at the time 4130 tubing was difficult to get in all the sizes and quantities I needed so I used DOM .120" wall tubing. That probably made the car weigh about 100 pounds more than it should have, but since we only bracket race in my mind it really doesn't make a difference.

    Lynn IMG_20240607_175421551_HDR.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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  3. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 15,059

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  4. fabricator john
    Joined: Mar 18, 2010
    Posts: 328

    fabricator john
    Member
    from venice fl.

    being legal its not as bad as you think , alot of people think it is pain , and the truth is racing rules exist for a reason, ,get a nhra rule book and live by it ,, youll be safe , saftey equipment like drivetrain stuff is a must no matter how fast you are going , id personally look at like " racingjunk.com " and others you can find ,, normally you can buy a roller cheaper than you can build one just do your homework and research so you understand what exactly you are wanting ,, , lil dragsters and altereds are the best way to go fast inexpensively ,, just stay away from any overly nostalgic builds as they wont be legal wich in laymans terms means SAFE ,, the car shown above is perfect!!! and could be certified im sure ,, if you are feeling crafty https://www.markwilliams.com/13001.html is an option ,,
    fabricator john
    miss you dad
     
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  5. iagsxr
    Joined: Aug 26, 2008
    Posts: 295

    iagsxr
    Member

    King Chassis can build you a car that is current rules legal and in my opinion, looks fantastic. Check out his FB page.

    My take is a car that won't certify has next to no value. Even if you're never going to run fast enough with it that it needs certified, you're going to want to sell it someday.
     
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  6. Pete Eastwood
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 1,314

    Pete Eastwood
    Member
    from california

    Mark Williams has a good set of front engine dragster blueprints.
    I believe they offer it in kit form too.
     
  7. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,423

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

  8. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,370

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Questioning the octane of fuel ,
    What was Oct on standard pump?


    Chassis
    Witch ever way you Go
    New or used ,
    Make sue you are suited up So you fit,
    Think a head with engine trains combo
    Plan to use , oil pan
    Trains ,
    Room for feet shoe & fire boots, When Straddling .
    Tire Height.
    & read up about Chassis Certifications
    Under stand how Certifications are used.

    IMG_3670.jpeg
     
  9. Jmountainjr
    Joined: Dec 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,867

    Jmountainjr
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The chassis certifications are there for your protection. As my brother says "you are the first crash dummy at the accident". The safety equipment certs are the same. Keeping inspected and in code can be an inconvenience, but if you have ever been in a fire you know it's no joke. Some smaller tracks are not as vigilant as they should be on fire suit inspections. Sometimes even at places that should know better. If you follow such things you probably aware of two significant fires last week. It's can be the small stuff that gets you. Like can you actually reach the on board fire suppression lever with all of your actual safety equipment on. And do you race with the safety pin installed or removed. Have fun. Be safe.
     
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  10. Years ago, I changed out a cage on an altered from the Houston area. The tubing had so much rust that I was surprised. I had never seen that before. Tubing has a life span, specially 4130. Older cars can be ready for the trash bin so be careful if you go shopping.
     
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  11. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 7,575

    RodStRace
    Member

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  12. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,579

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Buying an old chassis is always a gamble, unless it is for use as a cackle car. The sanctioning bodies mainly are concerned from the motor plate back, how the rearend housing is mounted, the cage and placement and diameter of braces. we are lucky to have an inspector that is a former Funny Car driver and a buddy, that is easy to work with. Here is my 98 incher that will cert at 7.50, when completed. IMG_0680.jpg IMG_1560.jpg
     
  13. As a former employee at Standard Stations (company owned, not an independent dealer) 'back in the day', IIRC 'Chevron' was regular with a RON (research octane number) of 91, 'Supreme' was 96 RON and was adequate for compression ratios up to 10:1 or maybe a bit more depending on tune. 'Custom Supreme' was the good stuff at 101 RON and was for all the hipo motors with ratios 10.5:1 or higher. Here in the NW (west coast?) that was your only choice as none of the other majors had anything like it. There were a lot of muscle car owners upset when SOCal (now Chevron) discontinued it in '72 to make way for unleaded gas so they could re-task the tanks/pumps.

    I owned a '58 Ford in the late '60s with a '59 300 HP 352 (10.2 ratio) that would run OK on Supreme, but ran better on Custom Supreme with more timing.

    That is a staged photo as I seriously doubt that cammer would have run on regular...
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
  14. dumprat
    Joined: Dec 27, 2006
    Posts: 3,568

    dumprat
    Member
    from b.c.

    Thanks Marty! That is exactly the type of car I would love to build. Would you have a drawing of it by chance? Or is it all sketched out on the garage floor like I usually do?
     
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  15. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,352

    lake_harley
    Member

    OK, RodStRace.....that's a cute little car a few posts back but just what is it and what kind of engine?

    Lynn
     
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  16. dumprat
    Joined: Dec 27, 2006
    Posts: 3,568

    dumprat
    Member
    from b.c.

    Edited original post. Looking for design plans or ideas, not to buy an old car.
     
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  17. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 7,575

    RodStRace
    Member

    The link has more of @Blues4U 's pics. A slant six with 2 side drafts and zoomies.
    Follow the link to see more pics of it and give him some love for the pics.

    @dumprat For plans, there are a few places.I'd develop a list and call. It sounds like you want a 10.00 or slower cert, but any digger is going to have requirements. I'd also have a good grasp of the drivetrain subject to change when you talk to the places.
    Plans alone won't provide enough to buy tubing and go. Read thru @Marty Strode 's build thread.
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...hot-dragster-marty-strode-chris-kopp.1313966/
    Drawing plans on the floor will work, provided you know all the rules and can follow them!
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
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  18. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 7,575

    RodStRace
    Member

  19. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,653

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That looks like a lot of fun! Enjoy it.
     
  20. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,579

    Marty Strode
    Member

    It's at @Chris Kopp's getting the body done, when it gets back I could make you a sketch. Simple car using early Ford front end. Getting someone local that could bend the tubes would be the way to go. Mine is a mix of 4130 and DOM tubing. You might want it a little longer, like 120" WB, I went with 98" because of copying the Top Banana, body wise.
     
  21. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 5,971

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Member
    from FRENCHTOWN

    From an artistic standpoint, the photo has a better composition with the car lined up in front of all three pumps.
    I agree, it probably would not run on regular
    ...unless the blower pistons were left in.
     
  22. dumprat
    Joined: Dec 27, 2006
    Posts: 3,568

    dumprat
    Member
    from b.c.

    Thanks @Marty Strode and @RodStRace
    Yes a 10.00 and slower is likely what it would be. Cheap, fast and fun built with whatever I can find. Probably run something like a potvin blown 300 ford . Loud , obnoxious and cool. Just not really fast. More interested in doing than spending a bazillion dollars to look like John Force.
     
  23. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 5,971

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Member
    from FRENCHTOWN

    You won't even need the Potvin to go 10s with a 300. After I crashed my old nine-second Logghe altered I rebuilt it with a milder motor to run 10s (so I wouldn't have to periodically pay to re-cert it). Still loads of fun at nostalgia races even tho I only run it a couple of times a season.
     

    Attached Files:

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  24. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,370

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    1st pic ,
    @ 1300 pounds ,
    200 hp

    2nd pic @
    300 hp

    3rd pic @
    400 hp

    IMG_3673.png

    IMG_3672.png


    IMG_3671.png
     
  25. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,352

    lake_harley
    Member

    That was my thought as I was building my FED. Just out to have some fun at the dragstrip when I have the opportunity to take the car out. My son-in-law is driving the car this weekend and just having to opportunity to share some time with him is worth the garage space.

    Lynn
     

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