Messages

1

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Changing over to alcohol.

« on: October 12, 2015, 06:15:07 PM »

Guys thanks for all the great info. I have the car back together and think I've solved the overheating issue. The problem I have now is a dead spot in the transition between the front an back barrels.  The carb set up is as follows. carb # 80535-3, jets frt- 144/ rr 144, power valves frt 6.5/ rr 8.5,  nozzles frt #50/ rr #52. With this set up it is much better than it was out of the box but I still have a flatspot. Any ideas? Thanks again .

2

Front Engine Dragsters / Changing over to alcohol.

« on: October 10, 2015, 08:22:05 PM »

Changing my FED over to alcohol and could use some tuning tips with regard to timing and carb set up. Car weighs 1655 w/ driver, 13 x 31's , 4:30 gear, 350th trans. Small Chevy 383, 11:1 , ported 461's ( 2.02/ 1.60) solid roller .257/.264 dur/ .585/ .600 lift. HEI w/MSD module. Holley 750HP alcohol carb ( 80535-3)
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advanced.

3

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Is it Monkey see Monkey do ?

« on: May 15, 2015, 08:37:16 PM »

  My FED had a 3 speed auto in it when I bought it and it works great. Only problem is that it likes to get the front in the air. I've been told to go to a 'glide to change the gear ratio to shave off some low end torque and keep the front end down. Going to add some weight up front and keep the 3 speed.

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Front Engine Dragsters / Re: looking to get started

« on: February 23, 2015, 07:32:56 PM »

Welcome to the club Jason. I got my first FED at 49, wish I would have done this 20 years ago.  Your in the right place there is a lot of good info on here.

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Front Engine Dragsters / Re: New Guy love FED but clueless and scaried

« on: January 23, 2015, 09:24:12 PM »

 I'm another 50 year old that just got my first FED a little over a year ago. It's absolutely the most fun ride I've ever been on. My best advice is start with a good solid roller and start low on the horsepower until you get comfortable in the car then add more power as you go. I was a little scared of mine for the first few passes but after your first 4 or 5 passes it gets easier.

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Front Engine Dragsters / Re: How much ballist do I need in my FED?

« on: November 18, 2014, 04:04:13 PM »

 Will do. Thanks for the information.

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Front Engine Dragsters / Re: How much ballist do I need in my FED?

« on: November 17, 2014, 05:21:53 PM »

   Thanks for the input. Sounds like I need to do some measuring on the engine distance. It sets farther out than some that I've seen, SBC w/ a regular length 350TH and a coupler. I like the legroom, I don't think I'd fit in a car with a shorty 'glide. Probably end up putting weight on the front, driver could stand to lose about 50 lbs. but it's unlikely it will happen. Thanks again.

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Front Engine Dragsters / How much ballist do I need in my FED?

« on: November 15, 2014, 09:15:19 PM »

    I have a 166" FED. with no weight box in the front. With the current engine it pulls the front wheels about a foot and sets down without a problem. I'm pulling out the 355 and putting in a 383 [ sbc ]   About a 120 hp increase. I don't need a bigger wheelstand and don't really want to go to a wheelie bar. Does anyone have a formula on how much ballast to put on the front. The car weighs 1620 with me in it. I'm 260. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

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Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Questions about a flathead FED.

« on: April 11, 2014, 09:26:11 PM »

I've never driven anything with a flathead, but I want own one in my lifetime. The one I found is the engine, trans and radiator still mounted in the front half of a '34 (?) frame, currently it's the power plant for a sawmill on a friend of mine's farm. Thanks for the info. I'm sure i'll have a lot more questions when I get started on it.

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Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Questions about a flathead FED.

« on: April 10, 2014, 07:23:40 PM »

 I've got access to a complete running flathead. I figured on a simple overhaul to freshen it with a cam, intake and carb change.

11

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: Questions about a flathead FED.

« on: April 07, 2014, 12:00:46 PM »

Thanks for the info, DF, I'm still in the pondering stage on this but would like an idea of where I'm going before I start.

12

Front Engine Dragsters / Questions about a flathead FED.

« on: April 04, 2014, 10:29:07 PM »

I've got a 168" car with a small block Chevy that won't cert. Only runs 10.80s. Thinking of upgrading to a new chassis that will cert. My idea is to keep the old chassis and put a flathead ford in it . Since I know nothing about flatheads I'm wondering what kind of time could I expect out of it. Stock motor with a cam, 350 turbo. 4.30 gear. Car weighs 1360 now with the small block. Any ideas?

13

Front Engine Dragsters / Re: My first front engine dragster--need history

« on: November 27, 2013, 06:19:26 PM »

The starter is at the top rail. I'm pretty sure that this is a homebuilt project that was built from some generic dragster plans.It has a real mild motor. the guy I got it from said he ran a best of 10.89 with it, not fast but still fun to drive.  He said that he tried to have to chassis cert done but it wouldn't pass. Some of the welds have been ground.  If I decide to go faster than 10.0 i'll probably get another car. 

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Front Engine Dragsters / Re: My first front engine dragster--need history

« on: November 23, 2013, 02:41:58 PM »

Haven't talked to anyone local yet, figured i'd try here first. From what I've read so far, I think I've got a homebuilt copy of someone else's design. The guy I got the car from said he bought it from a guy in Michigan, doesn't remember his name, too many years ago. Car was supposedly built in the early 70's.

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Front Engine Dragsters / My first front engine dragster--need history

« on: November 22, 2013, 09:06:29 PM »

Got my first front engine dragster and am trying to find some history on it. Car is 168" wb . 8 3/4 Chrysler rear, center steer with the bell crank on the outside of the left tube, torsion bar behind the axle. Car is mild steel, was told the car was built in the early 70's and I've traced it back to Michigan. Trying to figure out who built it.  Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks in advance.