Some basic simple questions

[Curly1]

Okay I am thinking of getting a 225 inch front engine dragster. My questions are.
1. How do you set it up so it goes straight when front wheels are up?
2. How do you limit wheelies? Or is that even an issue with 225 inch car?
3. Any other tips for setting it up so it leaves hard and straight?

While I think I may know the answers I want to verify with people who have been there done that. Thanks,

[masracingtd1167]

Bruce I am pretty sure you know what to do ! With my car the wheelie bar and the tire are the most important pieces you need to work with ! My bar is 5 ft long and pretty flexible . I want the wheel to hit but not too hard . Just enough to let the tire squat at the hit ! As the car comes up on the tire it will drive the front up a little but not bad and as long as the bar is straight the car will go straight ! I have had the best luck with the 2585 Good Year tire but I also have run the Hoosier 12 x 33 and it was not a bad tire !My motor is out only 36 inches and I have made it work for me . If I had it to do over I would have the motor a little further out ! i moved every thing I could to the front of the car even my ignition box and it has helped a lot !

[dreracecar]

To get a car to launch straight you need 3 things,  rear tires of equal circumference and air pressure, enough weight on the front to keep front end rise to around 6"max, and​ most important is to have somebody in front to back you up straight and back behind the line far enough that you pull into the beams straight

[JrFuel Hayden]

I agree Bruce, plus a wheelie bar that limits the front end height, low enough to control a wheelie, but not too high that it allows the bar to hit hard enough to unload the slicks.
Jon

[dusterdave173]

I agree
one tip is when measuring to center the wheelie bar wheel it must be measured from the axle flange or brake rotor--yank the tires off and do that part right--makes all the difference IMO
Bar to high you gonna fly those fronts--our ideal setting is wheel about 2 3/4 inch up--it can go higher but when too high it is obvious
Bruce is soooo right about getting dang car in the groove--learning what the groove really is and really looks like is not exactly what you may think--study and ask around   
pulling in dead straight with no 'preload" on things form wiggling at the last minute is important   get straight and pull up no Army staging ( left right left)
all this has helped us

[ricardo1967]

Curly,
I'm a newbie but I agree with everything said here. I've learned my lesson that my wheelie bar isn't very effective when left in the trailer.

[Supercat]

ouch... Any damage or were you lucky?

[Frontenginedragsters]

 Curly 1:
I agree with the statements about wheelie bars but Bruce / dreracecar was the only one to mention tire circumference.
Please make this a priority in the shop and the pit area.
We have FED's and rear tire circumference is the only thing steering the car when the front tires are off the ground.
Keep it safe and it stays fun !!
 

[ricardo1967]

ouch... Any damage or were you lucky?

I was lucky. The obvious damage were broken front hub and bent rim (fixed by master Jon Hansen - Hayden Wheels). I plan doing a thorough check in the car before racing again. The car has been in storage since that day (life gest in the way).

[Curly1]

Thanks for all of the great tips. I run an Altered 5.0 in NE2 and have been fairly successful but the dragster is a whole new animal. My Altered is a four link and I learned how to make it work. The dragster of course is hard tail and I know nothing about how to tune that.. Really looking forward to this and appreciate your help and suggestions. This dragster has been a very good working car so I should be okay or at least have a good starting point.

[George]

We run a 223" car . It started as a 600hp injected SBC and now run a blower setup that has maybe 1000hp. I moved all the weight as far forward as possible. The battery is in the nose , 3 gallon fuel tank  and 2-10# fire bottles are all out front now.  I wouldn't suggest running without a wheelie bar. You can see in the picture even a long wheelbase car can carry the wheels.

[Curly1]

I do plan on running the wheelie bar and my motor combination is very close to what was in it. 760 Hp and should be easy 4.90- 5.0.
Driving an Altered I have learned about having it lined up right before you pull the trigger. Lol.

[Paul New]

Wow big air one other thing I see watching your video tighten those shoulder belts more it looks like you can move around quite a bit!

[ricardo1967]

Wow big air one other thing I see watching your video tighten those shoulder belts more it looks like you can move around quite a bit!

Note taken, thanks Paul!

[Paul New]

Wow big air one other thing I see watching your video tighten those shoulder belts more it looks like you can move around quite a bit!

Note taken, thanks Paul!

No problem that is one of my things I notice a friend of mine crashed with his belts a loose and it beat him up pretty good