Drag Racing Discussions > Front Engine Dragsters
Potential FED Build
lake_harley:
Another tiny step today on my parts gathering efforts. Got a Powerglide for free from a friend. Based on the input shaft length it's a 1.76 low gear ratio. Outside is pretty grungy but pulled the pan out of curiosity and the inside looks good and clean. Should be a good core to build. Not thinking it will need too much to make it hold up since Powerglides came out in heavy cars that had way more HP than the mild-mannered 283 I will have.
Last week I contacted Shapiro Steel in St. Louis about 4130 tubing. Prices quoted were almost the same as DOM that I had considered before. Sounded like they have a good supply of all of the tubing I'll need, so 4130 it is...just like most recommended. The plans I have from S&W for a FED show the shoulder hoop as 1 1/2" X .058" and the roll bar tubes as 1 5/8" (.065", I believe). I think it was NHRA rules I looked at online it appeared that 1 1/2" tubes were acceptable for the roll cage if a 6 point cage is built. Did I mis-read/understand that? I would still plan to use the .065" or even more likely .083" if 1 1/2" is acceptable for a 6 point cage. I don't have plans to have the chassis certified but I would like to stay within the guidelines. I have hopes that the car I'm planning will run about 7 seconds (maybe a bit faster?) in the 1/8th mile.
Still looking for a pair of 15" X 8" or 8.5" aluminum slot or torq-thrust (or similar) 5-spoke wheels. Something that will look appropriate on a car that's shooting for a mid to late 60's look. I'd even consider a pair of plain steel wheels. I'd guess some "poor" teams ran them in the 60's? ;D
Lynn
Paul New:
For SFI 2.6A 7.50 1/4 mile and slower you can do a 5-point cage out of 1 1/2 x .065 as long as the cage height is less than 18” tall if it exceeds 18” you need to build a 6-point cage out of 1 5/8 x .065
lake_harley:
Thanks Paul. I guarantee I'll do my best to keep the cage short. I have 1 1/2" dies for my bender but not 1 5/8". If I had to go 1 5/8" I would find someone to do those bends rather than buying a die to do about 6 bends. Instead of .065" on the roll cage I might add a bit of wall thickness on it and go .083".
lake_harley:
So far my search for 8" or 8.5"wide wheels with the 4.5" bolt pattern for my 29.5/9.00-15 slicks has been fruitless. There are a pair of 7.5" wide wheels available nearby but wondered if going .5" under the minimum width wheel recommended by M/T is strictly a no-no? Would it possibly create a handling problem?
My thought is with a 7.5" wheel the slicks would have to be run at a couple pounds less pressure compared to being on a 8' or 8.5" wheel to keep the tread flat rather than slightly crowned?
FWIW the tires I have are listed as having a 8.9" tread width.
Lynn
THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER:
FWIW, I have a set of vintage aluminum Ansen Sprints - two 15 x 10 x 4.5 BC and two 14 x 8 x 4.5 BC - I'd part with. I can take pics if interested.
Re the cage: I would build it with the thought in mind of what the next caretaker of the car might best need. If that means using 1 5/8" so the next owner is able to run the car faster that is what I'd use, even if I had to pay someone else to do the bends. Money well spent
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