the body should be done in 7-10 days. the tin work starts next week as most of the pieces are cut. so the last few things to be done are the wiring and front end. I might be able to get it done for Kentucky for the hot rod reunion. that's a aggresive plan but we are all trying.
A rear suspension question, if I may ask: The chevron- shaped A arm above the rear axle appears to be for lateral location only. The way it's mounted it would swing through a very different arc than the upper or lower control links. The stem of the forward rod end that fastens to the frame threads into a tube, is this tube telescopic in the welded A arm? If it was welded solid, you would end up with little or no suspension travel due to bind, caused by conflicting arcs, I believe. Is this correct?
Lookin Good ! You win the radical street rod class, will you drive this on street to shows more than a few miles from where trailer is parked ? Just curious. The car is a piece of art, Very KOOL! I do believe you have a race car, with the nitro, should be Fast as a speeding bullet, Supercar ! What are you shooting for 60 foot, ET and speed 1/8 and 1/4 mile. Hope to run into you at some show, Car Craft Nats, state fairgrounds, West Allis, July,? Maybe we can share what us cheeseheads are noted for, A Beer and a Brat
The cheverron shaped bar holds the rear end centered. It is two pieces and does slide. All of these suspension components are the most advanced parts out there. They are used in pro mod and pro stock. As far as driving on the street the car is first and foremost a street car. It will get its miles without the trailer. The trailer is for drag week were we drive 1200 miles in five days and race each day. I would like to tune the car to go mid eights on gas and high sevens on nitro. The 60' should come in around 1.20-1.30 with my gearing. I can use the trans brake on the Bruno if needed. The problem with that is things get real violent. I would like to meet up some time also.
Aw cripes, you had to say brats and beer. My wife is from Wisconsin and I have been back there over the last 35 years, your small independant country meat shops are unbelievable, some of the best brats and ribs. All we get out here are the packaged Johnsonville brats. Miss the Leinenkugel too.
lets not forget the patata salad and a side of fresh cheese curds. thats some good summer time wisconsin eatin right there. lets do it.
i just received a text from sway away. it had a tracking number for the tortion bar that is due to arrive this thursday. the owner originally told me four weeks for delivery last friday. i asked if he could please expedite the order and explained the situation. he sure came through. great customer service. he sent drawings of what he made. the math involved is crazy. if i can figure out how to get them out of my phones g-mail i will post them. this is serious engineering. things got complicated real fast when i said its a street car also. the length of the arms play a big part in how it rides and works. it could be a roller by next weekend. the engine will need to come out for welding the wish bone plates to the frame but thats no big deal.
i hope this doesn't turn into one of those reality tv shows were everyone is under pressure to meet the dead line.
yes it is. I need to get there first. I just want to do it without all of the drama of a reality show.
I have no doubts you'll manage to do just that. Based on your postings it is very obvious that you and everybody involved know their task around this build. Surely some drama will occur as always, delayed parts or so but you'll do this on time. Drama suites better for marriage than race track
No need to have the drama ahead, just do like roadkill, put it up a board, work true the task one at the time, Start with making it pretty and then make it go, And remember to have fun and all will be good. Save the drama for people who don't plan ahead, don't have the power to push true and the skill to make it happen. There might be used sarcasm and a slight hint of irony in the post and I hope it shows. But have fun between races, and keep cool at the track. Best of luck.
yes we are on task and staying focused. there has been a little drama here and there. nothing too crazy. the front wheels turned into a bigger project than I had predicted. the decision to go with a torsion bar front end added a little. the conversion to a front drive was the other thing. so far we have been able to work through them all. if it was easy everyone would be doing it. i can't wait to burn some nitro.
I may have figured it out. squirel i know you like all the engineering stuff so this is for you. i don't know how to rotate it. this is how it came to me on my phone sorry. there are four drawings. 1. support tube and bearings 2. cam adjuster 3. arms 4. torsion bar. as you can see this took some time to come up with these drawings. it just shows some of the behind the scenes work that is being done. we were told as little as .010 could make the difference between this working or failing. we are taking no chances.
Look what the brown truck dropped off today. I was looking for a set of halibrands. I need them for the street tires. I found them on the hamb parts for sale at a unbelievable price. Looks like mike the polisher will get some more work.
M h street tires. 12 inches wide. 102 " rollout. Dot legal. Great for dry pavement. Wet not so much. They are almost identical to the tires on the bear claws.
A key piece of the rebuild showed up today. This custom radiator was built to my specs by jimmy walker owner of auto rad radiators. I have known jimmy for 30 plus years. He worked at Modine radiator in Racine wi. His position was testing and developement before moving to Georgia to start his own shop. He also built the previous one that got destroyed in the crash. The new radiator is a cross flow design. It measures 20x30x3. It has two 14" fans mounted in a custom shroud that flow 4270 cfm. The fans draw 18 amps each. Thats why i upgraded the alternator to a 185 amp unit. Hooked to the meisere water pump I don't think cooling will be a issue.
The tin work has started. Due to the rules regarding nitro the floor needs to be steel. A cap will cover the fuel pump. The stepped edges are put in with a machine that hammers them in. The front area will be made in three pieces. the radiator was test fit this morning and all is good with that.
Actually it is hard to find anything in the NHRA rules that applies directly to your project. Probably the closest is the Pro Mod rule that says that the driver's side floor must be .024 steel welded in place (with the proviso that the passenger side can be .032 aluminum. That said, the Pro Stock rules mandate that the entire floor be steel (again welded in place). Interesting that a Pro Mod car that has double the horsepower and is 6 tenths (or more) quicker and as much as 35 mph faster yet has a lesser requirement. The Pro Stock rule was implemented following the horrific Bruce Allen/ Kenny Koretsky crash back in 2005 and typical of the NHRA rules makers they have not thought about some of the other classes that might have the same issues. Both classes also require paneling (steel or carbon fiber) in the forward portion of the driver's side X brace and Pro Mod also requires the same in the top of the cage, at least a far as the centerline. If you read the NHRA rule book as written, as far up the food chain as Advanced ET nitro is not allowed in sportsman racing although some ASO's (Alternative Sanctioning Organizations) do allow it (NDRL for example) Roo
The car never had any intention of running a nhra event. Its not a dragster or funny car. The only nitro classes allowed. its also not a class car. When the general rules are read there are bits and pieces pertaining to supercharged engines and nitro. Its not very specific to this car. I'm ok over building for safety. i have been on fire a few times. its never fun. i feel safer with a steel floor compared to aluminum. All I can do is try to cover all my bases. as you know a well built quality car with a concern for safety can do wonders when tech inspected.
Here ya go jimmy walker 770-983-1345 he is a super guy. He drives a 64 dodge altered wheelbase on the street with a blown 392 Hemi. He has owned it for 30 years or more.
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