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Early Hemi 60s style Fed nears completion

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Dolmetsch:
Was at my pal Mike's today. Mike is working on a 60s style Chassis Research type dragster. He has been at it three years. He is now wiring the ignition  and tach and was installing a trans cooler when I was there. Mike Sietsma started this project after seeing an old faded drawing of a early Ch Rsrch frame. First he mocked it up in ABS plastic pipe. Then changed what he didnt like. He did it his way and is unimpressed by other's ideas of how he should do it. The engine is a 331 hemi sporting a custom ground hydraulic cam. The intake is an old marine unit and sports two large single barrels giving about 600 CFM which BTW is enuf for a moderate 331. Stock distributor was reworked by Mike for modern Mopar reluctor and pick up. An early short tail stock Powerglide is adapted to the hemi through a homemade adapater. A 8 inch dynamic converter hides inside the housing. Wheelbase is, I believe, 131. A 30s Dodge front axle rides on 1/4 eliptics and is steered by a rack and pinion from a early sixties British sports car. Rear end is a narrowed 8 3/4 mopar with 3.55 gears twisting M&H 28 inch street slicks. Cooling uses a storage tank rather then a rad. Mike is a plumber who works in hot water heating industry so I never question as he knows his craft.  Goal is a good running safe car for some Sat afternoon fun at Picton Airfield. Actual times are not important. Reliability and fun at first on the list. This is Mike's second ground up build. First was a 41 Willy Gasser which he drives all summer long (also Hemi powered.)  I expect to hear it bark to life in a week or so. He is pretty close. 
Don for Mike S

Dolmetsch:
After three long years of work the old Hemi barked to life at 2.15pm. Mike has been working hard on the rail the last week and told me he wanted it to run this week. Yesterday we spent much of the day preparing the car for firing. The stock distributor has been reworked for a reluctor and pick up coil and a LX101 box used to fire a hi perf coil. When I left there yesterday we had timed the engine best we could by putting the reluctor tooth at break point a 10 deg BFTDC. Mike has some small thing to take care of and valve covers sparkplug tubes and spark plugs to install. When I got there today all was done and he had it sitting on the ground with the vintage wire wheels on front.  He had for safety blocked the back wheels off the ground just in case. He turned on the fuel pump for the first time and we waited while the pump filled the huge float bowls on the two Rochestor single barrel truck carbs sitting on the vintage 2 singles marine manifold. Total CFM will be about 600so that will be fine for this vintage style built 331. He cranked the engine for the first time after giving the carbs several good pumps. Small smoke rings from each zoomie as it rolled over firing. It barked to life for a second. I grabbed a 1/2 inch wrench and loosened the dist giving it about another 5 or six degrees. I nodded to Mike and he hit the switches. It barked immediately to life and we took it up to about 2500 to begin breaking in the cam. The hydraulic lifters filled and self adjusted and the engine sounded good. This is a vintage from back in the day grind. Mike likes it that way. As it was as much as is practical.  I stayed long enuf to be satisified he had it all under control then after two big hand shakes from him I congratulated him on his build and left him to work peacefully on his own. He is no fool so I know all will be well. Tis exciting to watch an old friend conceive an idea and carry it thru to completion. How cool is this rail? If Big Daddy saw it he would offer Mike $ for a ride. At least that is my take. I have never seen a real live one built or running of this style or vintage. It will take a week to wipe the smile from Mike's face!
Don

Dolmetsch:
Pics today
Don
BTW Mike likes the colour black

ricci32:
WOW Don that thing looks great Very retro cool.

Dolmetsch:
Yes, Pictures don't really do it justice. Mike really did a great job with it. Now we have to find him some seat time in it before the big Sept meet. He also built a 41 Willys gasser 4 years ago. It is so retro it is scary. Also 331 Hemi. When Mike says vintage he means it with capital letters. Right down to the camshaft he wants it as it could have been back then. It was a hard sell to get him to ditch the points and go electronic ignition even. Then only if he could install it all inside what was left of a stock distributor(It was all apart in a box with several pieces missing). We don't know for sure but we suspect the pre-narrowed diff is from a Forklift. The rear wheels he had custom made. Fronts are from a 1911 Neuburgh so he has been told.
Don

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