Social > Your Builds / Photo Gallery

Intro New old guy

(1/2) > >>

Dolmetsch:
Hi, Don here.  My FED is a bit different I guess. It was built by me after I retired as a fun car, nostalgia style and moderate power. I had only one goal. To have some fun racing in my later years. It is not, nor was it ever intended to be, the worlds fastest or most exotic or best of anything. It was built to be inexpensive, safe and fun. It has exceeded my expectations, especially in the fun department. The roll bar may seem to some exceptionally large. So am I (306 lbs. )which is, simply put, the reason why. I had also determined the car had to fit in the box of my Dodge Ram for transport and it does that nicely at its 96 inch wheelbase.  This will be my 7th year running it. I race at Picton Airfield exclusively with the occasional trip to nearby Shannonville when I am up to it.  Despite its simple, short design it has proved very popular and has appeared on Gearz  TV many times at the end of the Knucklebuster episode. It has also been in 7 magazines so far much to my surprise since I built it basically as an old boys last toy. It handles exceptionally well and runs like it is on rails. I always have to race V8s and occasional beat them. That is nice but it is mostly just for fun.
The motor is a 1962 slant six from a Valiant bored .156" oversize in a giant experiment that proved out. The pistons were liberated from a chev six and the valves are made by me from stainless chevy 305 replacements. Cam was made for me by Comp Cams to my specs (Thank You Chris Ryan) and is a hydraulic. An 8 inch converter from my friend Frank Lupo(Dynamic Converters) helps the tiny little motor (246 cu in) launch this big old boy off the line, usually with the front wheels hanging in the air. Carburation has been 6 Tillotson snowmobile carbs on a HB manifold , a 750CFM Eddy on an Offenhauser fourbarrel intake and a 600 DP Holley on the same. Despite the huge variety not much difference in performance.
Gears are 3:91sin a 8 3/4 mopar with posi. I let the trans autoshift with a A&A Trans govenor kit (6200RPM max) Trans is of course a 904 style TQ
I guess that is about it. Have another FED under construction. An early 318 poly rail 131 inch WB. No rush though. Just something to work at . 
Don
Here is a pic from Picton Airfield a couple of years ago before the new body. My pal and nemises Pat Doornbos in his BB Chev FED is beside me. We always run each other and yes, occasionally I have actually won.

denverflatheader:
Dolmetsch - Welcome, thanks for info on your car, "cool"  DF

Dolmetsch:
Thanks.  I have since changed the body style to a more traditional appearance. Here it is just before paint.
Don

Dolmetsch:
Glenn suggested I post one of my videos.
 
This one is from last fall's Picton Airfield race. As you can see I wasn't pushing it. I have 4700 stall but was leaving at 2700 and I had the shift set at 3/4s instead of up around 6 grand.  My wife said I was having so much fun I was just too relaxed. I will just call it a senior moment. In truth it didnt matter that day. It was thoroughly enjoyable.
Don

GlennLever:
Thanks,

It is so easy to lose sight of what I think is the purpose of racing, to have fun.

It kind of twists my tail when someone call my dragster a hobby car, but then I remind myself I do this for fun.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

Go to full version