Drag Racing Discussions > Front Engine Dragsters
Where to Start
Van:
This is my car that my long time friend and driver, Keven, and I built. It is definitely fast, cheap and safe. We ran 7.11 @189 at the March meet in 7.0 Pro. We're running very detuned to keep it in the 7's.
Junkyard Dana 60 rear, 3.50 gear
Turbo 400 trans
Junkyard 460 Ford block, 1970
Van
swilling:
oh man So much good info here! everything i hoped for an more from all you guys. Really appreciate it.
So just to spell it out - im looking to get into this to build something really really cool, even if that means buying a bare chassis thanks to the Advice on here, i'm not concerned about time or money. m'm well aware of the cost and effort. if i was affraid to spend money, i wouldnt be passionate about Pontiac engines lol.
i dont want to compete, i just want to run this thing at my local track, tune it, run some more, and crunch numbers on what i did and what helped, and what didn't. Just really get down to the nitty gritty stuff.
Its gotta look cool, and oldschool, as mentioned before i plan to just run an N/A Poncho mill to start and get a feel.
Heres my next big question - Thank you to all above who chimed in on the Clutch vs Trans subject. I definitely want to run a Clutch. I get really really excited thinking about running a shorter (180 inch or so) wheelbase with a clutch and some old pie crust slicks and pedaling the thing. Thats what excites me about the stuff you guys do, really fighting to handle a car is by far the most exciting thing to me. Also appreciate the comment about having SAW in the steering. Great example thanks!
So - a couple of things, again thank you all for being so understanding, its really exciting and humbling to come in here and have all you guys freely commenting and helping out, i just cant get over how great of a feeling is, so heres where i'm at.
Running a clutch - obviously the limitations come in pretty quick with Engine RPM and power.
Say i build a 500hp Poncho engine, that falls over after 6k rpm. A 4.10 rear @6k rpm puts me at 140mph - something like that would be more than acceptable for me to have fun and get a feel for everything.
But would 500hp/550 ftlbs (probably making around 400 ft lbs @ 3300) be enough to even get this thing out of the hole when not running a trans. Or was it only the big Nitro engines that could pull that hard off the line to make it worth while using a clutch.
I'd love to Pedal it - not too excited on a fancy slipper clutch but maybe i would enjoy trying to set that up.
You guys mention reversers - is that using the lenco reverse module like on the ST1200 and throwing it off the end of the bell housing, then calling it a day?
plenty more questions to come but i'm already learning a real lot.
Again not trying to compete or run against anyone else, just want to have a dragster that i can enjoy tinkering on, have a blast fighting it down the track, and learning a bunch of things along the way.
Thank you all Again LOVE The pictures!!
Cheers
Sam
dreracecar:
Remember--- this is not the "Run what you brung" 60's, Unless your plans are to run the car in the ally behind your house, there are rules and specs that you must adhere to if you plan to put it on the track- even if you just want to test and tune.
To ask people on this board about clutch set ups and odd configuations with recapped tyres is kind of useless, but tons of advice about Chevy's and PG's using racing slicks
swilling:
--- Quote from: dreracecar on March 15, 2017, 09:21:17 AM ---Remember--- this is not the "Run what you brung" 60's, Unless your plans are to run the car in the ally behind your house, there are rules and specs that you must adhere to if you plan to put it on the track- even if you just want to test and tune.
To ask people on this board about clutch set ups and odd configuations with recapped tyres is kind of useless, but tons of advice about Chevy's and PG's using racing slicks
--- End quote ---
Totally valid point. But by the sounds of things here some of you guys used to run clutches/reverser combos. Id certainly like to know more about the setup. Its really hard info to research.
I guess i mean im not wanting to compete against any other cars or the likes. Even if by the sounds of things a Glide is now the way to go.
Any thoughts on clutching a lower powered direct drive N/A engine like i mentioned above?
rooman:
Sam,
a few years back I drove HAMB member Kerry's blown 354 hemi fed at Mokan. He was running the "pie crust" slicks and it was like driving on ice. My run is on this video starting at about 6:30 and you can see how much I was steering it
And this was on a track that had some traction compound applied.
Roo
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