So I am starting a new build. A belly tank style lakester for Bonneville. I have explored numerous options but, I think I want to do a "suicide" front suspension or spring behind the axle. I have a 37-41 Ford I-beam axle and 40 split wishbones. I feel this suspension option would fit my application best because it keeps the spring mounting point low, makes the wheel base a bit longer and is more aerodynamic. I like the way the Rolling Bones guys do their suicide fronts by drilling a hole in the wishbone, sleeving, then welding in a spring perch. Any thoughts on this method? Does anyone foresee any issues with Bonneville tech inspection? What I would really like to do would be to go with a straight axle, batwings with spring behind and hairpins... but this would cost about $1000. Trying to keep somewhat of a budget building a Bonneville belly tank??? Is that possible???
There is no budget for Bonneville. You may start out with one but it escalates! It starts with 100 dollar bills and gets worse. Keep your soul, sell your house.
You're better off when you can catch the forged ends on the wishbones for the sake of strength. You should stop and get a rule book for this year. You will be wasting a lot of time and money with out the rule book. There are minimum tubing thickness regulations but I don't recall what they are for a lakester.
Seeing as how you are building from scratch, , you should be able to get the look you want with out a " suicide " set up " . After all the term suicide was not coined out of thin air . Suicide anything might be found on a rat rod or a jalopy used for riding around town , but suicide engineering on a Bonneville race vehicle ?
Chambies . It's against my better judgement to even comment with so many experts on here so I will just say that any front end can be unsafe or safe depending on how it's setup. We have two hot rods that both have been driven at least 75,000 miles on the road over the last ten years and one racer. All have the same setup. They have all passed tech time after time and raced on the salt. Two in a class that has a 161+ record and one in a class with a 260+ record. By the way it looks like a great start on your lakester
If I actually planned to race it I'd be taking some hi res photos with a good camera and good light and finding out which SCTA tech inspector to send them to for input. You can't really see any detail with a miniature photo from a phone taken in a dark shop.
This build is a little more challenging than my previous builds... Never had to get the OK from an inspector. Just built it to my own standards (which are pretty high). I will have to get in touch with a Bonneville inspector in the special construction category. Does anyone have a lead on this??? Thanks for the imput on this. I think the Rolling Bones proved that this is not a "rat rod" suspension when they drove it from NY and converted it and raced on the salt.
Spec. Construction contact is John Bjorkman 714-546-8142 Nate Stewart is Beef Stew on here and an inspector/rookie coordinator. He is a great resource. Buy a rulebook
Try to get in touch with EJ Kowalski - damn, did i spell his name right? He is here on the hamb, try to search for belley tankers, he is in Pennsylvania. He has a sweetie and is a builder. He can give good advice.
I must be out of touch. I my day a suicide front end was one in which the spindles were swapped side for side and the tie rod was in front of the front axle.
Having built from scratch a Record Setting Lakester using the very same tank body as you are using I would NOT use split wish bones. The front axle on my Lakester is a 1937 Ford tube axle the spring is located behind the axle which as you know helps gain a bit on wheel base. I use batwings and hairpin radius rods. Using this set up the caster is now adjustable which you will find is very important to have the adjustability when trying to go fast in a straight line. The suspension in my Lakester is very traditional in appearance and design and works extremely well. So far in the standing mile my little old flathead V-8 has run over 170 MPH. Send me PM if you would like more info on what would work best. But there's no way Land Speed Racing can be done on a budget heck its usually a $100.00 a week habit at times! Ronnieroadster
Actually grabbed the wrong gear at 171 MPH the crop circles were not fun! But the old girl took the abuse rather well. Were running in two weeks heading to Loring Air Base in Maine hope to add a bit more MPH to the current record that is if the speed gods allow it. Ronnieroadster
Yes that pic is exactly what I was looking to do.... looks like your building something similar johnneilson! Do you have a build thread??? BTW isnt ackerman angle for steering around curves and corners??? Is there a reason I should be concerned with that trying to go straight and fast?
Yes, I have one going to Bonneville this year. No, I don't have a build thread, too many "experts" on the net. There are many theories on caster and ackerman. Some folks believe that no caster or trail is desirable, I am just not willing to do a real world test so I subscribe to the theory of having it. I did not cut and re-weld the radius rods. Instead, when I put the posts thru the axle, I just added the additional angle to arrive at about 15°. I have a small stiletto rack and pinion box attached to the axle and it seems ok. I am going to add a small hydraulic dampener to reduce the feedback into the steering wheel though. One other note, wheel base. The longer the car, the slower the reaction to turn and the less tendency to have weight outside of the wheels. I can't tell you how many cars I have seen where the owner added weight behind the rear wheels to make the static corner weights look good, and then the car over steer became excessive. J
Bellytank for Bonneville on a budget? I definitely agree with Tman, 100 dollar bills just disappear. My experience was if you have a budget number in mind, multiply by 4 and maybe you will get by spending double that number, maybe not. Don't get discouraged, it took me 5 years which had some low points, but it was all worth it. Oh, and the money doesn't stop their...after doing it once, now I just want to go faster. Good luck, Andy
For those of you that I've already built Lakesters or have been through the tech process at Bonneville before how much documentation do I need to keep? Do I need to take pictures of everything and put it in a book to show tech? Where you guys in constant contact with an inspector during the build process through email or phone or in person? I think I really need to get out the speed week this year and check out the tech process and look at all the builds.
no, stop. if you are in CM you are well within the local inspectors areas. I took mine to ElMo twice for approval and suggestions. Besides you will want to soil it before salting the car. Look up who the local club is and see about joining. This will be your path to the salt. J Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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