Glenn's dragster thread

[GlennLever]

Oops thanks for the clarification

I wish you had been right, would have saved me some money

[ricardo1967]

Nice goodies Glenn, I'm looking forward to see your car in action again with the new power plant.

PS.: Since your sourcing car and engine from Indy, you may want to considering moving here and we'll be neighbors 

[coupemerc]

Glenn, just a thought...you may want to find out if those sleeves are removable and Darton may make a sleeve that will get you to a smaller bore.

[GlennLever]

Nice goodies Glenn, I'm looking forward to see your car in action again with the new power plant.

PS.: Since your sourcing car and engine from Indy, you may want to considering moving here and we'll be neighbors 

When the dragster was built I commuted monthly for two years, I think the truck could almost drive there by itself

Glenn, just a thought...you may want to find out if those sleeves are removable and Darton may make a sleeve that will get you to a smaller bore.

Steel sleeves are hard to remove from an aluminum block.

The cost to do it out weights the cost of new pistons.

[hotrodpete]

Soory Glenn, I also went to their site and glanced at the info. Those details like reading the entire description get me again.
on another thought, your builder now has a clean slate to make the best combo he can.

[wideopen231]

Not sure about that block,but never had issue getting sleeves out of  KB,JP-1 or TFX's.Have changed more than care to admit to and just swapped 8 out of TFX going from 4.25 to 4.310 and had a  set of them so cheaper than boring and waisting full set of 4.250's..

[GlennLever]

Not sure about that block,but never had issue getting sleeves out of  KB,JP-1 or TFX's.Have changed more than care to admit to and just swapped 8 out of TFX going from 4.25 to 4.310 and had a  set of them so cheaper than boring and waisting full set of 4.250's..

A number of sources have told me not to try an switch out the sleeves just to change piston size.

[George]

Why not buy the cast iron version and save some $$$$? Sounds like the sleeved aluminum block isn't something you can easily service. My Dart iron stuff has been trouble free . The block is fully filled and run the heads without coolant. We are low buck operation running without a spare engine so durability and reliability are #1. I would love to have an all aluminum setup and save some weight but it isn't necessary or worth the extra cost.

[GlennLever]

Why not buy the cast iron version and save some $$$$? Sounds like the sleeved aluminum block isn't something you can easily service. My Dart iron stuff has been trouble free . The block is fully filled and run the heads without coolant. We are low buck operation running without a spare engine so durability and reliability are #1. I would love to have an all aluminum setup and save some weight but it isn't necessary or worth the extra cost.

Weight

[George]

Power to weight . I understand that formula. I think we are probably in the 1.8-1.9 range .

Have fun with your project ! Warm weather is on the way . George

[GlennLever]

With the difference in weight of the stock cast iron block to aluminum, lost of the coolant system including the water, going to a light weight battery, I need very little HP to get to 7.5

[George]

What do you think the weight savings will be ? 200# + ?

Wallace calculator=Your ET / MPH computed from your vehicle weight of 1750 pounds and HP of 900 is 7.27 seconds and MPH of 185.88 MPH.

Is my guess on weight and HP for our deal. We haven't ran 1/4 but 1/8 best is 4.50 . 

[GlennLever]

What do you think the weight savings will be ? 200# + ?

Wallace calculator=Your ET / MPH computed from your vehicle weight of 1750 pounds and HP of 900 is 7.27 seconds and MPH of 185.88 MPH.

Is my guess on weight and HP for our deal. We haven't ran 1/4 but 1/8 best is 4.50 .

I do not know the weight of the stock cast iron Pontiac block, but I know it is really really heavy. I believe 200#'s in savings is very Conservative.

I believe that with the aluminum block, ditching the coolant system and going to a light weight battery I could almost run 7.5 with the current HP.

With stepping up the HP I could easily run 7.0

Plan is to run one season at 7.5 and push the blower harder to run 7.0

[George]

Sounds like a plan! 2016 here we come!

[GlennLever]

The block for the new engine for the dragster arrived today.

This is an all aluminum PONTIAC block from AllPontiac.com.

We plan on running 7.0 seconds in the 1/4 mile at about 190 MPH

For more detailed pictures see this link

http://www.lever-family-racing.com/lever-family-racing-home/family-vehicles/2010-front-engine-dragster/progress-week-2016-05-20