Projects Nostalgia Front Engine Dragster - Flathead

Back to the engine question. I just talked to nhra tech guy and it sounds like a supercharger would fit in my plans just fine. N/A stroker or supercharged? I'm leaning toward supercharged as, to me, it just looks more "right". What combos do you recommend? Bore, stroke, compression, cam, heads, valve size, blower size, drive ratio, etc...

I love the pic Petel, looks nice.

 

Front spring on a center steer car is arbitrary, Having one does not hurt except for more complexity and weight. A minor disadvantage is when the suspension travels you will get wheel movement unless the steering is set up/fabbed correctly. It does not help since the advent of better track surface and VHT , also the tires are much better now that the solid front end works better for the rear tires. At the hit with a soft spring front end, the car will move up before going forward. Suspension is for looks as for days gone by or you dont like feeling the bumps on the return road.

 

Great info dreracecar! I really like the clean look of the solid front better, but would totally put a sprung front end on if it helped in some way. With your input, I'd choose solid front.

 

Decided to try a blower so I ordered one. Got a 6v53 after seeing H&H's Lincoln V12 setup: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/blown-v-12-lincoln-zephyr-engine-yeah/

Will be custom work getting it to fit, but I like that it is shorter than a 71 series.

 

Got a couple new core engines (59ab) this weekend. Received the blower, alcohol pump, some heads and started designing a crank hub adapter for a SBC flexplate. After washing the 8ba block, I can't really see the cracks I thought were between the cylinders. Guess I'll pressure test it.

 

He's got some great looking machines there!

 

Playing with this model some. I like the look of the low profile setup. I need to model the rest of the car.

 

I'm making wild guesses at stock port flow on my 8ba, till I can build an adapter for the flow bench. If anyone has actual numbers, I'd appreciate it. These seem to simulate stock-ish levels of power.

Intake
.1 - 21
.2 - 50
.3 - 62
.4 - 70
.5 - 81

Exhaust
.1 - 25
.2 - 38
.3 - 47
.4 - 66
.5 - 78

 

its fun running a flathead fed.........expensive depends on how much you are willing to do, 300+HP ah don't kid yourself...........that costs money mine is 304CI 1356lbs somewhere around 250 hp but fun and chassis won't cert any faster then 10 sec some old chassis won't cert at any speed so be careful what you do and what you expect..........anyway if ya want to talk its 916-300-6779 Carl
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flat-fed-build.436556/

 

great talking to ya this AM, can't wait till the first start up!!!......watching this thread.....

 

Just to clarify the blower questions. Here is the chart I used to select the blower: http://www.wallaceracing.com/Basic Blower Measurements.htm

From the chart, a 4-71 displaces 280 cid/rev, where as the 6v53 long bore (mine) displaces 209 cid/rev. I also thought about a Weiand blower. I called them, and after lots of searching the guy said he could sell me a blower only (usually they only sell kits). It was ~$1200 at the time.

 

Joe Abbin has a book you probably want to get. I think he shows you how to build a 335HP blown flathead in the book. I wouldn't pay the price on Amazon though!!!
Here is a video series of the build up of a 265HP flathead.

 

Thanks Aaron! I have that book on order. For reference, you can buy an electronic copy (comes with other stuff too) from roadrunner engineering here: http://www.roadrunnerengineering.com/BooksProductsServices.html

Mine is supposed to arrive any day. I'm excited

How's Stayton these days?

 

Good man, I've been here two years now and love it.

 

Progress has been slow as I hurt my back, but its getting better and I got out and took more measurements to model the scale of the main parts. I only drew a few of the tubes. It is rough, wheels are ugly-ish and the back of the body is tough to model.

 

Your design is pretty much how my flathead dragster was. Solid front end that went down the track with no problem, one finger steering. I used to run with the VDRA (vintage drag racing association) in Denver, Co. Look them up, they have a good knowledge base, some of the guys have been doing it since the 50's.