Glenn's dragster thread

[fuel749]

I'm surprised the front motor plate mounting holes on that block would be that different.  I might have mocked the trans and coupler in to see how things looked.  Looks like things are coming along nice though.

[GlennLever]

Front plate was original bolted between the water pump and the timing cahin cover. There is no water pump on the new engine. Plate is completely different.

Ordered a 16 volt battery and charger today. Will be ripping the whole wiring system out of the dragster and installing a new one next week.

Glenn Lever

[GlennLever]

Lots to report.

Ordered today the new 16 volt battery and charger.

Scheduled another Car Nuts meeting to pull out the old wiring harness and build a new battery tray.

Today's project is to fit and measure the straps for the blower restraint on the new engine in the front engine dragster. This evolved putting the blower on the new engine, removing the blower restraint off the old engine and putting it on the new engine so I could get an accurate measurement of the length of the straps to order the new blower restraint.

In that process I discovered two problems that will have to be addressed. One is the rear injectors interfere with the blower restraint plate as they are in a different location on the new engine. The other is the main fuel feed line to the distribution block also interferes with the blower restraint plate. These problems will have to be addressed at a later date.

[GlennLever]

Another update. In the last video we found two problems with the Blower restraint and the the two rear injectors and the main fuel feed line. We address both problems in this video.

[GlennLever]

An interesting thing about new build projects, presents arrive in the mail and for some reason, the bank account seems to decrease in size. Today some presents arrived.

This is an unboxing of the presents, a TurboStart S16V battery (16 volts) and CHG25A charger (for 16 volt batteries) for the Front Engine Dragster. The new engine in Front Engine Dragster has a mag in it. The engine has to turn over quicker when starting to energize the mag so the engine will start.

Although these do not have as many cranking amps as say a Yellow Top battery, the voltage difference more than makes up the difference.

The S16V battery has these specs. Weight 42 lbs, Dimensions 10.30 x 6.75 x 7.25 in, Voltage 16V, Cranking Amps 675, Cold Cranking Amps 595, Reserve Capacity 85

The CHG25A has these specs. Weight 24 lbs, Dimensions 11.125 x 8.625 x 7 in, Voltage 12V, 14V, 16V, Max Amps 25A

[GlennLever]

Another video and another mistake.

Still looking for advice on how to make videos, I screwed up the end of this video, the camera really did not like the ceiling lights in back of me and made me very dark (at lest I turned the mic on this time).

In this video two things are accomplished. 1) a heavily painted heat duct grill is stripped and reconditioned to like new condition, 2) The Powder Coat process is shown and the advantages discussed.



I wrote up the Powder Coat process and presented the needed equipment equipment a DIY person would need on my web site, this is the link to that information https://www.lever-family-racing.com/powder-coat

Glenn Lever

[GlennLever]

Made mount for MDS Pro Mag 20 Points Box 8106, System 1 Remote Oil Filter For Front Engine Dragster.

In this video a mounting plate of 1/4 inch aluminum is cut and fitted to the bottom of the Front Engine Dragster. I need to mount to it the TurbStart 16 volt Battery, MSD Points Box 8106 for the MSD Pro Mag 20, and the System 1 remote oil filter. There is not a lot of room so this could be tricky.

The plate was completed but I ran out of time to show the actual mounting of the components and checking the height of the body.

In part 2 we will mount the body and check height clearances, cut the body to fit around the fuel pump, and powder coat the mounting plate.

[GlennLever]

This video is different from videos I have uploaded in the past.

We have a group of guys that get together on Saturday mornings, and call ourselves the car nuts. The meetings have been going on a long time now, and started on a 1970 SS El Camino, went from there to a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am drag car, and now on to the Front Engine Dragster.

This video is more about what happens when we get together than the project, although we do accomplish things.

I have been dreading cutting the body to fit around the fuel pump but today is the day. How the pump is orientated is dictated by the body and that dictates how the components will be mounted on the floor plates made in the last video.

I will be starting a new playlist that contains the Car Nut videos as they many not be as interesting to people that are not here on a Saturday.

[GlennLever]

How to restore an Intake Manifold, Powder coat, Recondition

 This is another how to video on Powder Coat, this time restoring two intake manifolds from a boat fire.



This is the link to the Powder Coat article on my web site.
https://www.lever-family-racing.com/powder-coat

[GlennLever]

In this video we build a bracket for the Remote Oil Filter that goes into the Front Engine Dragster. Placement and the angle of the bracket were a challenge. I made several mistakes and the project fought me most of the way.

At the end I was pretty discussed with the final result, but it works and I have no time to build another on. The first race in May is fast approaching and there is still LOTS to do.

[Paul New]

I didn’t think 7.0 Pro allowed 2 or 3 steps? Have you checked the rules

[GlennLever]

Yes, I have checked the rules.

I bought the three step as it was $10 more then the two step.

I will only be using two of the limiters, one for the trans-brake (launch) and the second for the high limit (engine over rev protection).

The third step could be used for the burn out, but as I someday would like to go to the March meet will not use it for the purpose.

Rules.
"ALL DELAY BOXES/THROTTLE STOP CONTROLLERS MUST BE REMOVED PRIOR TO QUALIFYING. If you are caught you will be disqualified from race event. All runs prior to that will be thrown out. Throttle stop cylinders may be left on car as long as air supply is removed and the device is disabled. THIS WILL BE POLICED IN THE LANES IF YOU HAVE ONE. Automatic shifters are allowed. Two step or three step rpm controllers are allowed, but only for the control of burnout, launch and maximum rpm. A Start Line Enhancer (SLE pneumatic cylinder) may be used in lieu of an electronic launch rpm control device, however it must be directly wired to the transbrake button and not the ignition box."

Just as a comment. I am disappointed that they allow "Automatic shifters". My feeling is the driver should initiate the shift.

Glenn Lever

[GlennLever]

This video started back on February 24, in the Car Nuts Meeting. At that time a conversation was held between Ken Long, Jim Boehly, and myself. In that conversation the new Control Cable Arm for the top of the Master Power Switch was discussed.

Jim took on the task of machining that arm from scratch. Without that arm, this project could not have been completed.

This video covers the creation of the bracket to hold the new switch, and positions it slightly forward of the original switch. By moving it forward the control lever in the cockpit is put into a better attitude, and provides more mechanical advantage.

[GlennLever]

In this video we located a place for and install the Points Box for the Mag, the Three Step box, the RPM Trigger box, the Tachometer Signal Generator and the battery into their finial locations.

In addition we route the oil lines for the remote System 1 oil filter and connect the filter. I will generate a separate video on how to connect the hoses to AN fittings

[GlennLever]

In a couple of videos posted by -AN fitting sellers, they assemble these fittings very quickly and with ease. In one, in six minutes they assemble three different styles. It takes longer in the real world.

In this video I show what it really takes to assemble AN Fittings on Braided Hose . I cover the basics of cutting braided hose lines and installing -AN fittings on the ends of braided hose.



I also have the 101 basics on my web site at this link

https://www.lever-family-racing.com/lever-family-racing-home/family-vehicles/1978-pontiac-fire-bird/an-fitting-assembly