Potential FED Build

[crider]

There's quite a few of us that use moped tires on the front

[lake_harley]

Interesting you say that because I believe the tires that are on the wheels now are moped tires. They're cracked and old so they'll be replaced. They're load rating L, and I believe that's a 75 MPH speed rating. I read a bit about load and speed ratings and it seemed a lot of the testing related to them being at "operating temperature" for an extended period of time. Given the use, I can't imagine they'd have enough time to hardly heat up at all in an 1/8 or even 1/4 Mi. pass, but I did wonder about centrifugal force damage/failure.

Looking for the voice of experience, so fire away. 

Lynn

[sknopp]

Lynn, Jon Hansen (Hayden Industries) is a wealth of knowledge on wheels/tires, and I'm sure will comment here.  It's not the speed, it's the weight.  I ran a set of Jon's wheels with Kenda ribbed tires for several years on my FED, then had one go down on a 220 MPH pass.  In hindsight and in talking with Jon, I probably did not have enough air pressure (I ran 32-35 psi) and had the tire come off the rim.  Jon made it right with me, but I did switch back to Goodyear front runners.  They are not nostalgic, but the bead is much heavier.  FYI, I run 60 psi in the Goodyears.
Steve K. 

[dusterdave173]

IIRC Shirley Muldowny lost one off wheel at 200MPH nearly cost her life--about then they all changed out to solids and Goodyears

I ran John wheels and Kendas 160 MPH zero issues--FWIW I had scored a set of vintage wires--called John about fixing them turns out they were valuable to restorer guys on west coast so he traded me new set for my old ragged set and everyone got a win--the resto guy that really needed originals and me that really needed new and true and John who could make a buck both ways--Sweet deal for all involved

[lake_harley]

Parts collecting continues. I now have in my possession or am in the process of acquiring:

A front axle and steering box
Anglia spindles and wire wheels
8 3/4" Mopar rearend
283 machined and ready to assemble with parts already on hand
Chassis plans from S&W
A used set of headers that might work on a FED as-is. (unfortunately not zoomies )

Two remaining "foundation" pieces to be sourced is a pair of 4.5" bolt pattern 15 X 8" wheels (preferably aluminum slots) so I can narrow the rearend appropriately for the wheel backspace, and I think I've settled on wanting a powerglide transmission core at least good enough to use for mockup with an alignment bar.

This is starting to get real.

Lynn

[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?

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

[lake_harley]

Thanks for the offer. 10" is the maximum wheel width listed for the 9.00 slicks so I am curious what you'd want for them. I'd also be curious about the backspace on them. We could talk shipping cost later. I guess with a wider wheel inflation pressure would need to be slightly higher so the face of the slick remains flat? If that's the case, the higher inflation would make for a more stable car at speed, wouldn't it?

You can reply with the wheel price via PM or e-mail directly to;  winter62@att.net

Lynn

[JEFF/21C]

"In the 70's I ran dodge ram 8" steel wheel 4.5 bolt circle while waiting for the mags work well!

[THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER]

h_d,
I sent you an email. The 15s I have are actually 8.5 wide! You win!!

[lake_harley]

Winner winner! Chicken dinner!  I look forward to knowing more about the wheels, but, I didn't get your e-mail. Want to try it again? Or, you can call or text me at 573-286-3335

Thanks

Lynn
winter62@att.net

[THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER]

I sent you an emnail.
Sorry about the lost messages.
I have no text capabilities.