To build or buy built

[dreracecar]

You know he's YOUR buddy Bruce.

Never bought me dinner

[grapro]

I have first hand experience on building a S and w kit from the beginning and was surprised how long and cost and time consuming it actually is taking. I'm presently mounting the body,  but my kit arrived last November and i thought it would be rolling by last new years but  it has taken me a full year to get to wear I am. The frame kit was good and even though this is my first dragster build I have built a couple of show winning hot rods and I was amazed at how much stuff there was to do, as Rooman said. Brackets , tabs and making everything work is fairly time consuming and costly. I spend a fair amount of time on it every day and quite a bit of money on all the little stuff and was just looking at my bill yesterday  for my dzuz fasteners and associated hardware and that alone and cost me 250 bucks. If i did it again I would probably buy, but it is also pretty nice when you can say you built your own. But in the end I fired it up in less than a year and ready to run for this spring.

[Paul New]

I have built two FED's my first one had quite a few design flaws as I had a look I wanted to go for (think pointy nose) and it just didn't work to well with the HP levels I eventually threw at it, it did great in the 8.20's-8.60's but not to well in the mid 7's. My next car I spent 3 months on from start to finish and that was a full time job after my full time job. I would love to build another new car just don't have the spare time anymore........

[hemidakota]

First of all Happy Thanksgiving to all...

So thanks for all the input and thanks to Hayden for the phone time and input. I have been involved in a few door car builds just never a dragster. We do have a jig and all the necessary equipment for building a chassis. So I have decided to take the time and build. Is there any particular blueprint anyone recommends? Was thinking of purchasing a couple to study and work with. From what I have read and been told the S&W is on the heavy side, the MW appears to be fairly good print. Did find and print off the don long article you all talked about. And dreracecar I do go to the gym 5 days a week and have for a long time so giving up is not an option.....

[hemidakota]

This is my dad's latest build. The Merpar.

[Paul New]

Dave Tuttle use to offer a kit/blue print to build his chassis, not sure if he stil does this or not.

[225digger]

i have the SW prints , they are pretty detailed with a few bend pages , front axle page , and a few big prints with location for rear , engine , etc ... i think there 100.00 and worth every penny .

[JrFuel Hayden]

Yes, I have heard Dave sells plans also, our car was build by Dave in 1997. Dave's number is 530-547-2402 or 208-549-1500, dragsters@earthlink.net.
You could call Neil & Parks, 785-654-3440, they also sell plans, and good ones at that.

Jon

[Paul New]

I would buy a set of Parks plans for sure his cars work!

[hemidakota]

I have built two FED's my first one had quite a few design flaws as I had a look I wanted to go for (think pointy nose) and it just didn't work to well with the HP levels I eventually threw at it, it did great in the 8.20's-8.60's but not to well in the mid 7's. My next car I spent 3 months on from start to finish and that was a full time job after my full time job. I would love to build another new car just don't have the spare time anymore........

Can you elaborate a little further? Explain more about your design flaws?

[dreracecar]

The best plans available are from SFI. There is no MAGIC any of this. There are no plans out there of a superior design thats works better that others--- they all basicly work the same

[Paul New]

On my first car I had the upper and lower frame rail to close together which mad the car very flexible but that is not a good thing the car was very squirrelly

[hemidakota]

Well I have ordered an sfi chassis spec 2.4c and have talked to Parks and Tuttle, both very informative and funny as can be. I have really enjoyed all of this and thanks for all the input. Everyone has a different opinion but all build the same thing to an extent. This is going to be a blast to do and cannot wait to get started. Now just need to make a plan and stick to it. Good luck with that right?

[ricci32]

Look up dragster supply on the internet he sells a great kit and lots of little tabs  and componants which will make your build easier David Beard is a great guy and easy to work with. He does a lot of work here in the northeast and can custom build anything you need also his prices are great. dragstersupply.com  He has done two cars for me using my componants and constructing the cars to various stages so I could do a lot of the work myself. You will not be disappointed.