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Preen59
22-12-2008, 05:28 PM
Just for kicks, here's the difference between a cast iron Chrysler 392 HEMI head and an aluminium VW 16v head. As you can see.. The hemi inlet valve is almost as big as the 16v combustion chamber! hahaha.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22122008023.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22122008024.jpg

HEMI inlet port.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22122008025.jpg


We're all set to assemble the HEMI over the break, so as we go, i'll post pics and some info. (If someone shows interest! haha).

Edit:

Always think this thread should have the attached as theme music. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=KklGBOMRISc

Dave

GoLfMan
22-12-2008, 05:38 PM
in well and truely interested matey :D
thats just plain awesome!

Jarred
22-12-2008, 05:59 PM
hahaha

dwarf's all our 4 banger stuff doesn't it?? hahs

Preen59
22-12-2008, 06:02 PM
hahaha

dwarf's all our 4 banger stuff doesn't it?? hahs

Twice the size and about 15 times the horsepower! Hahaha. :biggrin:

DubSteve
22-12-2008, 06:15 PM
Hahaha to insanity I love it!

Mrk_Mickey
22-12-2008, 06:36 PM
MESSIVE BRO! heheh

dubbed
22-12-2008, 07:11 PM
Hmmm I wonder which one uses more fuel!

Great comparo mate.

Preen59
22-12-2008, 07:25 PM
Here's a couple of shots when we mocked it up to work out the chassis sag so we could modify the sump...

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/011120081670.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/011120081669.jpg

And here's the sump on the block..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/051120081685.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/051120081686.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/051120081687.jpg

I'll take some more pics later in the week and post them. :)

Jarred
22-12-2008, 08:02 PM
it's getting there aye!

"I love it when a plan comes together!"

Preen59
28-12-2008, 05:24 PM
Started doing the short block today. We assembled the crank with all mains to check there was no bind, etc. All went sweet.

I also machined 160 thou off the oil pump spacer to lift the pump up and give clearance to the sump. I ended up bolting it to a face plate and facing it off in the lathe, if anyone is interested.

Anyways.. PICS! haha.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28122008057.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28122008058.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28122008059.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28122008060.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28122008061.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28122008062.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28122008063.jpg


Tomorrow we should have the piston/rod assemblies all in and everything torqued down. There's a few small things to do like shorten the oil pump drive etc but we should have the short engine in the car over the break. :D

Preen59
29-12-2008, 07:58 PM
More progress today... And one issue to be resolved tomorrow. :brutal:

We started cleaning up the magnesium Halibrandts. They've terribly oxidized and are going to take some work to get back to new looking and polished.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/29122008064.jpg

Here's a shot of the piston gudgeon buttons i turned up the other day..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/29122008068.jpg

A shot of 3 piston/rod assemblies

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/29122008072.jpg

A couple of shots of the aluminium flange i had to machine up for the back of the bell housing. It has a 4340 insert in it where the circlip will run to stop the jack shaft falling out when the greek coupler is disconnected from the diff.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/29122008066.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/29122008067.jpg



And now for the big issue..

The ONLY thing we didn't check was to make sure the pin end of the rod would fit the pistons (we assumed that they would without modification). They bloody things are 100 thou too wide! ARG! I took the rods to work this arvo and milled 25 thou a side off the pin end (We assumed that would be enough). When i got back we fitted 2 rod and piston assemblies in the block on the same journal.. There isn't enough clearance still.. :duh: So off to work tomorrow to machine another 50 thou off the rods.. After that.. Everything should be shhhhhhweet!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/29122008071.jpg

whiteVR6
29-12-2008, 08:33 PM
Is the Piston and rod the same material ?

If not wouldnt it be better to take a fracton more just in case there is a different rate of expansion with heat ?

Preen59
29-12-2008, 08:39 PM
Is the Piston and rod the same material ?

If not wouldnt it be better to take a fracton more just in case there is a different rate of expansion with heat ?

Correct-a-mundo mate. They currently "fit" but are too tight. So another 50 thou should fix that. ;)

And yes, these engines have crazy thermal expansion rates. For instance, it has 14 thou (0.355mm) piston to bore clearance. I'll post some more of the specs at a later date..

Oh and it will be running STRAIGHT 60w oil.. At 90PSI oil pressure.

EDIT: Sorry i should have pointed out for people that don't know.. The rods are BROOKS forged aluminium. :)

Preen59
30-12-2008, 07:58 PM
Progress.

I took the rods into work and machined the additional 0.050" off the sides of the pin ends. I also milled 0.160" off the top of the external oil filter adapter to give clearance to the chassis.

The cam has been fitted and the Milodon timing gears have been assembled and fitted also.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30122008073.jpg

The bottom end is now done and all torqued down. Everything went together well and we had no issues (Phew!).

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30122008074.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30122008075.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30122008076.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30122008077.jpg

We then prep washed the block and etch primed it ready for paint tomorrow.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30122008078.jpg

The wheels are pretty much finished off. There are a few deep scratches that i am going to have to take some coarse emery to and hook in on them. Luckily this is meant to look like a race car as it would have been run and not a show car, so they don't have to have all the small pits removed.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30122008080.jpg

rayray086
30-12-2008, 09:07 PM
This looks awesome! Unfortunately I don't know much about engines and all that so can't fully appreciate your work, but I love how the dragsters look!

I've been buying The Rodder's Journal magazine over the past half year and love looking at the cars they feature. I remember going over a feature detailing someone's recreation of Tommy Ivo's Barnstormer in its bare-metal stage and it just looked insane!

VW Convert
30-12-2008, 09:53 PM
Great thread Chris, keep it coming.

Might have to change my sig to "top fuel convert" :biggrin:
Cheers

George

Preen59
30-12-2008, 10:14 PM
This looks awesome! Unfortunately I don't know much about engines and all that so can't fully appreciate your work, but I love how the dragsters look!

I've been buying The Rodder's Journal magazine over the past half year and love looking at the cars they feature. I remember going over a feature detailing someone's recreation of Tommy Ivo's Barnstormer in its bare-metal stage and it just looked insane!

Haha it's never too late to learn, though Ray!

Here's something that you'll find interesting.. Rick Macdonald from California, who is the Nitro Cackle car "guru" is the guy who built the engine for the 'new' Barnstormer.

He helping us with this engine build. He has done the fuel system etc for us and has been a great help. We have pages and pages of emails from him with all his info and he has sourced parts for us and become quite a good friend. Really top bloke!


Great thread Chris, keep it coming.

Might have to change my sig to "top fuel convert" :biggrin:
Cheers

George

Thanks, George. I'm glad to see you've taken an interest in drag racing! :)

Jarred
30-12-2008, 10:31 PM
chock full of the good stuff. Love it, love the progress..

Preen59
30-12-2008, 10:44 PM
One thing i forgot to mention is that to increase the rigidity of the block, the water jackets have been filled with "Hardblok", which is basically concrete! :eek:




chock full of the good stuff. Love it, love the progress..

Glad to see some interest.. No point in posting this stuff if there isn't! hahaha

Mischa
30-12-2008, 10:56 PM
lookin good preeny keep posting :) just cos we dont have any input or useful info doesnt mean we're not interested!

rayray086
30-12-2008, 11:25 PM
Here's something that you'll find interesting.. Rick Macdonald from California, who is the Nitro Cackle car "guru" is the guy who built the engine for the 'new' Barnstormer.

He helping us with this engine build. He has done the fuel system etc for us and has been a great help. We have pages and pages of emails from him with all his info and he has sourced parts for us and become quite a good friend. Really top bloke!

That's incredible mate. How'd you manage to get his contacts??? Must be providing some fantastic guidance for you guys :bigok:

Preen59
30-12-2008, 11:46 PM
That's incredible mate. How'd you manage to get his contacts??? Must be providing some fantastic guidance for you guys :bigok:

To be honest, it was pure luck! When we were at the California Hot Rod Reunion last year (2007), we were walking around looking at the cars and we started talking to some guys there with cackle cars saying we were restoring one and needed some info on a cackle engine. They said "See that guy over there with the fire suit pants on and the mustache? That's Rick Macdonald, go and talk to him, tell him we sent you."

So we walked over, introduced ourselves and got talking. He gave us some info on the spot and some contact details. He's been helping us ever since!

Dad and mum went back for the CHRR this year in october again and dad spent about 2 full days out of the 3 they were there for it with him. Learned heaps.



This is Rick in both pics at the CHRR this year adjusting the barrel valve on the "Magicar" owned by Bill Pitts (another long distance friend we've made).

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/12/Magicarfireup1-1.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/12/HutchCackleride1-1.jpg


And here is is running at night. Those header flames are small compared to what it can produce with the right tune up on 100% Nitro. Our setup is going to be fairly similar.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2008/12/Magicar-1.jpg

DubSteve
31-12-2008, 08:10 AM
Preeny man thats freakin awesome stuff man I'm loving this thread WOOT :D

Retired
31-12-2008, 09:32 AM
I usually don't care for top fuel drag cars but jesus mate, this stuff makes me a little moist :bowdown:

Treza360
31-12-2008, 10:21 AM
The wheels are pretty much finished off. There are a few deep scratches that i am going to have to take some coarse emery to and hook in on them. Luckily this is meant to look like a race car as it would have been run and not a show car, so they don't have to have all the small pits removed.
Bit confused by this? Is it going to be raced?
If it's not going to be raced and it's not a show car then what's it for?
Great build up by the way. Definitely something different from the norm on here and very interesting to boot. :)
Cheers,
Trent

qsilverza
31-12-2008, 11:50 AM
just saying that it has been raced and so it doesn't have to look like a showcar as it will be raced :)

Preen59
01-01-2009, 04:33 PM
Bit confused by this? Is it going to be raced?
If it's not going to be raced and it's not a show car then what's it for?
Great build up by the way. Definitely something different from the norm on here and very interesting to boot. :)
Cheers,
Trent


just saying that it has been raced and so it doesn't have to look like a showcar as it will be raced :)

Sorry, to clear things up...

It's a restoration, not a recreation. So we are restoring the car back to the way it was with the trends and styles of that era.

The car will not be raced because of a few reasons..

1. We can't afford to run a nitro car for full passes!
2. The chassis is the original and not up to current spec for safety.
3. We never wanted to race it.

This is more of a display type thing. It's a "Cackle Car". It will be as close to identical to original as possible. The engine has been built a little differently to run for a longer period of time. The idea is that you can display it and start it for people at drag meetings and car shows etc, allowing them to see what it "Used to be like".

Cackle Fest is massive in the states. Google it. ;)

Edit: By the way, don't worry, this car will be by no means soft.. It will still have ~2500 to 3000 horsepower. :)

Valver.
01-01-2009, 04:39 PM
Gee, those rods look pretty weak j:

Preen59
01-01-2009, 08:22 PM
Gee, those rods look pretty weak j:

Yeah but they were the only ones we could get. We wanted to use CA18DET rods but they aren't quite long enough... :biggrin:

Mischa
01-01-2009, 11:27 PM
Yeah but they were the only ones we could get. We wanted to use CA18DET rods but they aren't quite long enough... :biggrin:

shoulda gotten the rods out of a polo gti :driver:

Preen59
01-01-2009, 11:41 PM
shoulda gotten the rods out of a polo gti :driver:

Hahaha yeah well that was the other option... :biggrin:

Preen59
02-01-2009, 05:45 PM
And you guys thought Tim's 276 cam was big...

We lost the cam card for our Herbert 70 cam, so Dad called Rick today and got him to email us the specs so we could degree it (Tomorrow).


From: RMacDonald <>
Date: Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Subject: Cam info
To: Ross Preen <>


Hello, Ross!
I'm doin' just like you said to. No Red until after I send this cam info.....

Herbert "70"
Advertised duration: 320/320
Duration @ .050: 282/282
Valve lift: .525/.525
Lobe separation angle: 110
Lash: .026/.026
Install at: 106
Specs @ .050...
Intake opens: 35 BTDC
Intake closes: 67 ABDC

Exhaust opens: 75 BBDC
Exhaust closes: 27 ATDC

Happy New Year!

Rick


How's that for lumpy.. :biggrin:

Preen59
02-01-2009, 06:38 PM
Time for some more pics..

Here's the block all painted up as we were setting it up to dial in the cam.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/02012009085.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/02012009086.jpg

Here's the first Halibrandt finished fully (My fingers are rather sore..).

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/02012009087.jpg

And here's the back, which as you can see is heavily oxidised.. That's how the front of them started!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/02012009088.jpg

Here's some pics of the jack shaft i made with the greek coupler and the rear flange for the bell housing that i turned up etc.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/Driveline.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/Driveline1.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/Driveline3.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/Driveline4.jpg

It's getting there! :)

Blitzen
02-01-2009, 06:54 PM
Very nice man. I would love to see this in the metal. When do you think you will have it running??

Preen59
02-01-2009, 07:11 PM
Very nice man. I would love to see this in the metal. When do you think you will have it running??

Dad wants everything done by July for the Castle Reigh reunion. :)

Blitzen
02-01-2009, 07:13 PM
Awesome...Looks the goods.

FknDubbin
03-01-2009, 12:52 PM
That thing is an animal to say the least. Nice cam specs too. Defs not peak hour traffic spec!

Preen59
03-01-2009, 10:17 PM
Degree'd the cam today and polished the other rear wheel. No pics though, sorry! haha.

We can't put the block in the car until we get the hydraulic fittings for the remote oil filter adapter. Nowhere has been open so we couldn't get them... :brutal:

Next week we'll get the fittings and bolt the adapter up and then drop the bottom end in the car. Once it's in there, we can start bolting the accessories to it.. :biggrin:

Preen59
03-01-2009, 10:24 PM
That thing is an animal to say the least. Nice cam specs too. Defs not peak hour traffic spec!

Haha yeah they idle somewhere between 2000 and 2500rpm.. :)

Treza360
03-01-2009, 11:43 PM
Haha yeah they idle somewhere between 2000 and 2500rpm.. :)
Heh... That's peak RPM for the diesel boys. :biggrin:
What type of revs at peak power and maximum possible revs will this beasty be capable of approximately?
Cheers,
Trent

Preen59
03-01-2009, 11:49 PM
Heh... That's peak RPM for the diesel boys. :biggrin:
What type of revs at peak power and maximum possible revs will this beasty be capable of approximately?
Cheers,
Trent

Around 2500 horsepower and they will rev to around 9500 rpm.. For about 7 seconds... Hahaha.

This engine has too much static comp to make a full pass at WOT though. For an engine making passes you want about 6.5:1 compression whereas this one has about 7.2. Which is fine for our application (It will sound meaner with more comp) but if you were to make a full pass it would probably lift the heads off or throw the blower at you.. :)

Treza360
03-01-2009, 11:51 PM
Around 2500 horsepower and they will rev to around 9500 rpm.. For about 7 seconds... Hahaha.
This engine has too much static comp to make a full pass at WOT though. :)
Is that the case for all drag Hemis of this era or just this particular engine in question (the static comp that is)?

Preen59
03-01-2009, 11:56 PM
Is that the case for all drag Hemis of this era or just this particular engine in question (the static comp that is)?

Sorry just added to that other post. :)

Yeah the engines of the day had anywhere from 5.8 to 6.5:1 comp from what i know (Which is, let's face it, f*ck all at the moment).

It depends on a number of factors. Including how good you can do your tune up and what nitro percentage you are game to run.. The problem is, with nitro, there are very rarely second chances. :biggrin:

FknDubbin
04-01-2009, 09:34 PM
Haha yeah they idle somewhere between 2000 and 2500rpm.. :)

haha my nitro RC car idles at 4,000 and peaks at around 45,000rpm! But makes **** all power hahaha.

Oneofthegreats
05-01-2009, 04:58 PM
This is cool as Preeny.

You'll have to give me a shout when it's nearly going!

Is that littlefield blower magnesium?

On a side note, your going grey gun's with the dragster, what about the 16V. I'm sure that could do with some attention on your holiday's!

McCosker
05-01-2009, 05:18 PM
This is very cool, I love the nostagic drag scene. The older cars are just amazing.
Where did you find the Hemi, there wouldnt be to many 392's in Aust.
Makes my SBC seem even lamer than it did before.

Preen59
05-01-2009, 05:42 PM
This is cool as Preeny.

You'll have to give me a shout when it's nearly going!

Is that littlefield blower magnesium?

On a side note, your going grey gun's with the dragster, what about the 16V. I'm sure that could do with some attention on your holiday's!

Dad's paying most of the bills on this car so i'm quite happy to be working on this rather that my 16v..

Plus, I mean, come on.. 200 horsepower.. Or 2000 horsepower.. What would you rather be playing with?!

That Littlefield Blower is annodised aluminium. We're actually going to sand blast it off because none of the blowers back in the day were annodised.

I'll give you a call for sure when we get it going.. If your back can handle it we'll give you a Cackle. :biggrin:


This is very cool, I love the nostagic drag scene. The older cars are just amazing.
Where did you find the Hemi, there wouldnt be to many 392's in Aust.
Makes my SBC seem even lamer than it did before.

The block and crank has come from the USA. Pretty much all of the accessories have come from the states. Not much stuff here as you said. :)

Preen59
05-01-2009, 06:34 PM
More pics!

Wheels finished off..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/03012009090.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/04012009091.jpg

Crappy old tyres+boot polish+white craft paint=

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/05012009093.jpg

And after half a bloody day of jerking around, the oil filter adapter is FINALLY on the block!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/05012009092.jpg

The adapter didn't have the thread tapped deep enough. So, i had to go to work, borrow a tap, go to PIRTEK, get some BSPT to JIC fittings, get back to the workshop, tap the adapter to suit the fittings, screw the fittings in, realise that PIRTEK gave me one wrong fitting, drive back across town to swap the fitting (after about 5 goes they got the right fitting for me!!), drive back to the WS, put the new fitting in, and THEN screw it to the block! :brutal:

So finally, NOW the short engine is right to go in the car. :drinkbeer:

Jarred
05-01-2009, 06:39 PM
...drive back across town ..

luckily it only takes 7 minutes to drive from one side of orange to the other side aye??? j:

Preen59
05-01-2009, 06:41 PM
luckily it only takes 7 minutes to drive from one side of orange to the other side aye??? j:

Hahaha that's pretty much spot on too! :biggrin:

It takes atleast 10 during peak our traffic.. Sometimes i go up the street and have to park a block away from where i need to go, too! :eek:

:nana:

Preen59
11-01-2009, 08:19 PM
Got a bit more done today. Assembled the clutch etc and fitted the flywheel to the crank. Then the bell housing and the drive shaft.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/11012009125.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/11012009126.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/11012009127.jpg

We had a heap of issues. I had to take to the block with a 4 inch and grind some off a couple of the mounting lugs to get it to fit in the chassis. Also, for some reason the clutch was fouling on the throw out rod in the bell housing. We can't figure out why it is, because it is the original clutch from that car. Dad grabbed the 4 inch and clearanced it some more (it had been clearanced originally) but it still fouls slightly, so i will have to make a spacer to space the bell housing back about 1/4 inch or so. :brutal:

Here's the old man doing some "slight modification" to the bell housing. :biggrin:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/11012009130.jpg

So anyways, that's where we're up to.. Dramas dramas dramas. Haha. :)

Oh, we have come across an XC V8 auto station wagon (one owner!) that we may be able to get at the right price for a push car (Early drag cars were push started).. So we'll see what happens. :drinkbeer:

Jarred
11-01-2009, 08:57 PM
v8 XC wagon, pimp mobile!

And geez, I can see where you get ya good looks from there preeny :D

Preen59
11-01-2009, 09:25 PM
v8 XC wagon, pimp mobile!

And geez, I can see where you get ya good looks from there preeny :D

Yeah man, roof racks and low! With a push plate on the front!

Haha, what, you mean my uncle?? :biggrin:



Oh, i also forgot to mention, we got the sand blaster up and pounding!! Works a treat. :bigok:

dubbed
12-01-2009, 11:21 AM
Geeze you wouldn't think old buggers like that would be making a ball-tearing Hemi! Make sure you get some good vids. What sort of time and MPH are you going for?

Maybe drop it in the XC afterwards :P Unless you're building a big 460 for it ;)

Preen59
12-01-2009, 05:46 PM
Geeze you wouldn't think old buggers like that would be making a ball-tearing Hemi! Make sure you get some good vids. What sort of time and MPH are you going for?

Maybe drop it in the XC afterwards :P Unless you're building a big 460 for it ;)

Hahaha you'd be surprised at what some "old buggers" can do!

It would probably run around the mid 6's at a bit over 200mph.. Atleast that's what they used to run. They would probably run faster now with treated tracks and new tyre technology etc.

This car will not be raced (as stated previously), it's a restoration. :)

I don't think the XC would be very economical with a blown nitro HEMI in it! hahaha.


Update on the XC: We went and had a look at it this arvo. Looks the goods. Hasn't been registered since 1996 and only has 90 thou on it! It's got the original chrome roof racks, air con, the old double swing tail gate, electric rear window.. All the mod cons! :biggrin: We've agreed on a pretty good price (The old man and I are going halves). We will go back in the next day or 2 with a jumper pack and some fuel and get it running, then it's all ours.

Blitzen
12-01-2009, 05:50 PM
Thats awesome to hear...Finds like that are always awesome.

Preen59
14-01-2009, 09:19 PM
Small update.

Fixed the clutch fouling issue. Converted it from 3 plate to 2 plate with minimal buggering around. I won't explain what i did but it was pretty easy after the :idea: went off and i came up with a solution.


We picked up the XC this arvo! A battery and some fuel down the carbie and off she went in a cloud of exhaust rust! hahaha. Not bad considering it had been sitting idle for 12 years! :)

Here's some pics..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/14012009131.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/14012009132.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/14012009133.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/14012009134.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/14012009135.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/14012009136.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/14012009138.jpg

Jarred
14-01-2009, 09:36 PM
now that's alotta dust!

Pretty good pick up I must say.

should be pretty mint with a bit of spit an polish :D

DaveMack
15-01-2009, 01:36 AM
Bit of a 'boat' though ... that's one BIG car.

Dave

dubbed
15-01-2009, 07:50 AM
That's old skool Ford V8s for ya! Is it a Windsor or Clevo? Awesome XC :D It looks clean as. They're usually laden with rust around the wheel arches, dog legs, window seals, and boot. How does the old boat look in that respect?

Preen59
15-01-2009, 04:06 PM
Bit of a 'boat' though ... that's one BIG car.

Dave

It'd out handle your polo! Hahaha. :nana:

Yeah she's a floater, but it'll be great for cruising. :)


That's old skool Ford V8s for ya! Is it a Windsor or Clevo? Awesome XC :D It looks clean as. They're usually laden with rust around the wheel arches, dog legs, window seals, and boot. How does the old boat look in that respect?

302 Clevo. ;) It's got a little bit of rust which we will repair and a few dings etc, but i mean, come on.. For the price we paid... Who cares!

DaveMack
15-01-2009, 05:52 PM
It'd out handle your polo! Hahaha. :nana:



Any time you wanna try, Preeny. :biggrin:

Dave

Preen59
18-01-2009, 05:46 PM
Moving forward in leaps and bounds!

Scored an esky complete with original motorsport stickers off my uncle..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/16012009139.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/16012009140.jpg

The engine is now finally in the car, and for good! Here's some pics...

The remote oil filter adapter, showing the minimal clearance on the chassis.. This is after i milled 10mm off the block and 4 mm off the adapter!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009141.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009142.jpg

One of the heads, with zoomie attached. We had to fit the zoomies prior to putting the heads on the engine.. HEAPS easier.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009144.jpg

The block, with ARP head studs fitted.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009146.jpg

The greek coupler detached from the diff. We're making an aluminium drive shaft guard at the moment to cover all this.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009147.jpg

SCE copper head gaskets.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009148.jpg

One head, sitting on the studs.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009149.jpg

Fitting the roller followers.. The white stuff is Loctite PTFE anti seize lube. Great for smearing on parts during assembly.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009151.jpg

Preen59
18-01-2009, 05:47 PM
Rocker set fitted.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17012009152.jpg

The adjustable pushrods were too long (GRR!). So we removed the lock nuts on 2, screwed them right in and fitted to number one cyl only, and worked out how much we needed to shorten them by.

Next problem was working out how we could shorten them. The adjusters were too tight to pull out, so we came up with another method.. I used a grooving tool to machine the pushrod down to the adjuster behind the head, and removed 265 thou (the amount we had to shorten them by), then used the tailstock to push the adjuster back in again. It worked really well and all came out sweet. :drinkbeer:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18012009154.jpg

Some more shots of the rockers n stuff.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18012009156.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18012009157.jpg

We fitted the blower manifold and the blower etc and checked everything. All looks OK and should fit fine. Except for the backing plate at the back of the blower which is too close to the magnito, so i'll have to machine 3 or 4 mm off the back of it..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18012009158.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18012009159.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18012009161.jpg

Tomorrow Dad has to call Rick again to confirm the procedure for checking the valve clearances.

Getting closer and closer to that great smell and that ear bleedingly fantastic noise..

DaveMack
18-01-2009, 06:29 PM
Want a sound file when you fire it up. :biggrin:

Dave

Jarred
18-01-2009, 08:16 PM
wahooooooooo!

good to see thi is really coming along!

handy being a machinist when sticking this stuff together aye!

Preen59
18-01-2009, 09:58 PM
Want a sound file when you fire it up. :biggrin:

Dave

For sure, Dave. I'll post a YouTube vid most likely. But it'll be nothing like actually being there.. :(


wahooooooooo!

good to see thi is really coming along!

handy being a machinist when sticking this stuff together aye!

Yes it's very handy being in my trade and also having the equipment i have at the workshop.. Let alone what i have access to at work! :biggrin:

dubbed
19-01-2009, 11:17 AM
Looks loud. Very loud :)

Preen59
22-01-2009, 07:09 PM
Looks loud. Very loud :)

Yep. Well over 100 DB at idle.. :biggrin:

Preen59
22-01-2009, 07:22 PM
Started making the drive shaft cover today.

I took some alloy pipe we had into work and wirecut it down the centre and into 2 pieces.

We had pre drilled the holes and spotted, drilled and tapped the flange on the back of the bell housing for it, so when i got to the workshop, I sat it on and put some screws in to check it would fit (fitted spot on as i thought it would.. :) ). I then filed the Radii on the end of the top part of the cover and rubbed it back and brush finished it with some scotch brite. Came up quite well.

There's still a bit of work to go on it. We have to TIG some tabs onto the end to screw the two halves together etc, but that's pretty much how its going to look. :)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22012009167.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22012009168.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22012009169.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22012009170.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22012009171.jpg

Should get the blower on etc this weekend.. :biggrin: :drinkbeer:

schoona
22-01-2009, 07:36 PM
Loving the progress Preeny!. Can't wait to have the same skills you do. :)

Preen59
22-01-2009, 07:44 PM
Loving the progress Preeny!. Can't wait to have the same skills you do. :)

Thanks mate. :) I take it you're an apprentice fitter/machinist?

schoona
22-01-2009, 07:47 PM
Have been for awwww...4 days :D
OH&S module down, half way through senior first aid. Starting on the tools (to some degree) on monday.

Will be underground coal mining.

Preen59
24-01-2009, 05:51 PM
We got the blower etc on today, with minimal fuss. I also made some rocker cover studs so we can fit the rocker covers with acorn nuts (it looks neater that way). Tomorrow we will attempt to get the idler pulley bracket fitted.

Fitting the blower manifold.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009178.jpg

Rocker cover studs.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009179.jpg

Bottom of the blower. Note the teflon rotor tips..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009180.jpg

Blower gasket.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009182.jpg

Blower fitted.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009183.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009184.jpg

Me wiring up the blower drive bolts (just to prove i actually do some work! haha)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/DSCF2922.jpg

Blower drive all wired up.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009185.jpg

From the drivers perspective....

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009188.jpg

Injector on and screwed down.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24012009189.jpg

Treza360
24-01-2009, 05:59 PM
Me wiring up the blower drive bolts (just to prove i actually do some work! haha)
This is such a wicked thread. My question to you now Mr Preen is yes ok you are doing some work on this car but when was the last time you actually did any work at work? Seems the old fridge factory isn't making any fridges but has turned into a workshop for making old drag car components. :biggrin::nana:
Cheers,
Trent

Preen59
24-01-2009, 06:22 PM
This is such a wicked thread. My question to you now Mr Preen is yes ok you are doing some work on this car but when was the last time you actually did any work at work? Seems the old fridge factory isn't making any fridges but has turned into a workshop for making old drag car components. :biggrin::nana:
Cheers,
Trent

Hahahaha! Funnily enough most of the work i do is at the workshop using MY gear! I only use the machines at work that i don't have at the workshop. I'd like to buy a Mill in the next couple of months and a better drill press (although the Mill would be OK for both..) and then the only stuff i'll really need to do at work is CNC machining. :bigok:

Jarred
25-01-2009, 07:42 PM
nice one preeny, all coming together.

looking good.

what's the go with wiring up the drive bolts?

Preen59
25-01-2009, 07:55 PM
nice one preeny, all coming together.

looking good.

what's the go with wiring up the drive bolts?

Its a great trick for positively locking bolts from coming undone. If you have a look, they're all wired up so that the wire tension is pulling them tighter. :)

GoLfMan
25-01-2009, 11:02 PM
i LOVE the thread bro.....

count me in for a road trip up when its done... cant wait :)

Preen59
26-01-2009, 06:43 PM
i LOVE the thread bro.....

count me in for a road trip up when its done... cant wait :)

Haha, you guys can organise that... :nana:



We got a little more done yesterday and today. Dad polished up the rocker covers, and we also polished and fitted the steering wheel.

I've started working out the blower idler pulley bracket spacers. I've got them pretty much sorted, just need to make some small water jacket block off plates (at work :nana: ) tomorrow.

My uncle and I got the starter together this arvo, which was a pain. It's a 36v planetary drive starter off a bell helicopter (the original blower drive starter my old man had back when he built the rear engine car!). Because of the way it goes together its a pain to get all 3 planetary gears lined up in the right orientation for both the gear sets, and we had a bastard of a time working out how to get it to all line up. Once i came up with an idea, and it worked (I think it was some what of a fluke that it lined up pretty much straight away...), it all went together with minimal fuss and we were very happy about that! :bigok:

Sorry, no pics this time. I'll take a couple tomorrow. :)

Preen59
26-01-2009, 10:06 PM
Here's a shot at Surfers Paradise. I think about '72 or something. This is when Morrie Carlton had the car (he ran Top Fuel in it), the pic is running as A/FD rather than AA/FD but this is similar to how the car should look when finished. :)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/ScanfromCameraHouse.jpg

Preen59
27-01-2009, 06:20 PM
Got a couple of things done today. Knocked up some water jacket block off plates for the block, that double as spacers for the blower pulley tensioner, and machined the clearance in the rear blower cover for the magneto.

Here's the rear blower cover, the block off plates and the gasket i copied the profile from..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/27012009190.jpg

Here's the side of the block off plates showing where i trimmed them on the disc sander..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/27012009191.jpg

And here's the block off plates all finished and polished up (ontop of our newly arrived Enderle hydrometer kit!)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/27012009192.jpg

Jarred
27-01-2009, 06:50 PM
hmmmm...

polished...

Preen59
27-01-2009, 06:57 PM
hmmmm...

polished...

Hmmm, polished or MMMM polished??

Jarred
27-01-2009, 07:29 PM
Hmmm, polished or MMMM polished??

yea sorry, MMMMMMMMMMM polished...:drool: that kinda thing

it's been along week mate...

Preen59
30-01-2009, 10:44 PM
Started machining the fuel pump extension today.

Round aluminium in the diameter i wanted was unavailable at the right price.. So i chopped up a square billet.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30012009194.jpg

And roughed it out..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/30012009195.jpg

I should have it done tomorrow with any luck.. :biggrin:

Jarred
30-01-2009, 10:53 PM
just have to do everything the hard way don't ya preeny! :P

Preen59
30-01-2009, 10:55 PM
just have to do everything the hard way don't ya preeny! :P

You must sit at you PC and wiat for me to update this thread.. I swear! haha :)


It's not the hard way, it's the fun way! :biggrin:

Preen59
31-01-2009, 06:41 PM
Got the fuel pump extension finished today.

Dad had a stumble with the fuel pump drive- The drive he got was for a Donovan gear drive, and ours is Milodon. Rick thought they were the same, but as usual, they aren't. The bolt PCD is bigger on the Milodon gear drive, so the pump drive won't fit. I've got to machine up an adapter tomorrow...

Anyways, onto the pics. I took some pics at various stages so you can see what is involved in turning something like this.. :)

Going back to the very start (I know i've posted these pics previously)..

Blank rectangular 6061(Grade) T651(Hardened and tempered to T6) Billet.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

Roughed out..

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

Machined part of the centre out. One radius completed. After this i parted it off, turned it round and put it in the three jaw chuck to machine the opposing end.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/31012009198.jpg

Both ends done, both radii done.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/31012009200.jpg

Completely finished. Clearance for pump drive and both location registers machined in either end. (With another billet in the pics for a before and after comparison).

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/31012009201.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/31012009202.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/31012009203.jpg

Assembled (for a mock up) with the timing cover and the fuel pump.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/31012009204.jpg


All that's left now is to spot, drill and tap the holes in each flange. I'll do that tomorrow aswell as machine up the drive adapter.

Jarred
31-01-2009, 06:47 PM
looking good p-dogg.

can't wait for the next update! :P

Preen59
31-01-2009, 07:56 PM
looking good p-dogg.

can't wait for the next update! :P

Thanks dude. :) More pics tomorrow.. Hopefully. :drinkbeer:

rayray086
01-02-2009, 08:43 AM
:bowdown: Great stuff Preen! Those CNC machines sure come in handy for you!

Preen59
01-02-2009, 04:52 PM
:bowdown: Great stuff Preen! Those CNC machines sure come in handy for you!

No CNC machines there dude. That was all manual on my lathe at the workshop! :) (Unless you're referring to the drive shaft cover...)



Got a few more things done today.

Dad got the brake master cylinder installed and bled the brakes etc. I made the fuel pump drive adapter, which turned out to be a but of a pain. We didn't have much material lying around, so I had to oxy cut it out of some 10mm mild steel flat bar. I then drilled a 10mm hole in the centre and put a 10mm allen screw through it, a couple of nuts behind it and stuck it in the lathe and turned it down to size. Followed by marking the PCD for both sets of holes. I then marked the holes out, centre punched them and centre drilled them.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/01022009205.jpg

After that, i put it back in the lathe, machined both sides and machined the register for the drive. After that, i drilled the holes, chamfered them and tapped the inner hole set.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/01022009206.jpg

I now need to get some more button head screws, modify them and counterbore the holes to bolt the adapter to the cam gear.

All fiddly crap, but it has to be done. This stuff is all unseen so it doesn't take quite as much finesse to ensure everything looks spot on. :)

Oneofthegreats
01-02-2009, 05:10 PM
Preeny.

I have to say you are the tool master! hahaha.

Absolutely awesome work dude. I wish I had 1/10 of your experience with tool making & machine work!

Keep it up.

Preen59
01-02-2009, 05:23 PM
Preeny.

I have to say you are the tool master! hahaha.

Absolutely awesome work dude. I wish I had 1/10 of your experience with tool making & machine work!

Keep it up.

Thanks man. :)

Like i said before, though, its my trade and i'd want to be alright at it! haha. :drinkbeer:

Jarred
01-02-2009, 07:41 PM
sick too work preeeny..

anytime I need stuff done, you know who I'm calling!

Preen59
01-02-2009, 07:44 PM
sick too work preeeny..

anytime I need stuff done, you know who I'm calling!

Dom?? Hahahaha.

Thanks man. :)

Jarred
01-02-2009, 08:39 PM
Dom?? Hahahaha.

Thanks man. :)

yea, how'd ya know? :P

on a side note, I saw a blown hemi today! actually, two! I liked them alot. :D

Preen59
01-02-2009, 08:54 PM
yea, how'd ya know? :P

on a side note, I saw a blown hemi today! actually, two! I liked them alot. :D

Yep.. They're down right sexy! (And heavy as F*CK!).

Preen59
03-02-2009, 07:23 PM
John Maher, Calder Park 1969. This is our car on injection. :)

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/02/Dragster5-1.jpg

schoona
04-02-2009, 04:00 PM
Hey Preen. Had my first go on this today. I believe it is an "Asquith" and it would have to date pre WWII surely?

Condition isn't that greeat, gets flogged year in year out by novices. Genuinely smiled as the old girl soldiered on to give me my 25mm holes. Am building a G-clamp out of 20mm thick plate. Lots of hacksawing involved (as part of a hand-tools module).

Just thought i would share...

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/02/Asquith-1.jpg

Preen59
04-02-2009, 07:03 PM
Hey Preen. Had my first go on this today. I believe it is an "Asquith" and it would have to date pre WWII surely?

Condition isn't that greeat, gets flogged year in year out by novices. Genuinely smiled as the old girl soldiered on to give me my 25mm holes. Am building a G-clamp out of 20mm thick plate. Lots of hacksawing involved (as part of a hand-tools module).

Just thought i would share...

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/02/Asquith-1.jpg

Not bad! probably ~WWII i'd say or maybe a bit newer. I bet its got some nuts. That baby would spin some seriously big jobs around without too much effort i'd say. Looks nice and rigid too. Almost as big as our radial arm drills. :)

Good to see you're enjoying yourself. Just remember that everyone starts at the bottom and we all make mistakes! ;)

schoona
05-02-2009, 03:30 PM
Was intrigued so made time to find out what was going on with the drill. Here are the plates:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/02/Image0021-1.jpg
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/02/Image0011-1.jpg

Amazing how a 52 year old piece of equipment is still running today, and I'm not even sure about the maintenance of the machine. Goes to show how much "built in obsolescence" there is in todays products...!

PS.Sorry to clog your thread, sligthly relevant/not worth a new thread/you know what you are talking about...


Back to the dragster :)

Preen59
07-02-2009, 06:43 PM
Now back to our regular program.



First up.. Here's a Ford Galaxy my old man does work on and a rego every year.. It's all original and the guy has had it since NEW!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/05022009208.jpg

We got the fuel pump extension finished. All holes drilled and tapped etc..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/07022009209.jpg

I ended up remaking the fuel pump drive adapter. The original was a little too small on the OD and the counter bores for the outer holes would have -just- broken out the side. It would have been fine, but it would have looked like crap. Even though you can't see it, i couldn't have a whole lot of good work and then one part that looks sh*t, so i remade it out of some tool steel. :)

Here it is screwed to the cam gear with the pump drive attached aswell.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/07022009210.jpg

I made the flange up for the blower-drive for the starter today too. As shown mounted to the blower snout. It has to be removed so that i can get my welder mate to TIG weld the drive dog and the flange together on the back using 607 tool steel/dissimilar metals filler rod. (This is because the drive dog is hardened and using normal rod would cause it to fracture)

Also shown below, we now have the blower belt tensioner pulley brackets (with the spacers etc i made) fitted and the timing cover has been re-fitted for (HOPEFULLY!) the last time.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/07022009212.jpg

The fuel was delayed by 2 weeks and should be here hopefully next weekend. We'll be raising the rear end of the Caddy up a but and heading to sydney to pick that up.. :D

Jarred
08-02-2009, 12:19 PM
:cool:

this thing looks wickid.

can't wait for it to all be done.

Preen59
08-02-2009, 12:28 PM
can't wait for it to all be done.

You're telling me! :)

Preen59
08-02-2009, 06:06 PM
Got the fuel pump drive finished today, so the fuel pump is on for good now.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/08022009214.jpg

Guess how i made it? :biggrin:

Now we're awaiting the blower belt to arrive so we can fit that and get the idler pulley lined up correctly. Then we can do all the valve clearances (much easier to wind the engine over via the blower).

Tomorrow i have to make up a bracket to hold the oil filter and also have to burn a hole through the crank bolt with the EDM so we can wire it to 2 of the blower pulley bolts. :)

Preen59
10-02-2009, 08:25 PM
The blower belt has arrived and we are in possession of it! :biggrin:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10022009221.jpg


My (awesome) mate welded up the blower starter drive for me yesterday..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/09022009215.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10022009216.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10022009218.jpg

He's a bloody machine.. And he has a conversation with you while he's doing it!

Our new MOON accelerator pedal turned up today.. So there's yet another job.. Mount the GO! pedal..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10022009220.jpg

And finally, i've started making the chassis mount bracket for the oil filter..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10022009222.jpg

It's all go... :)

GoLfMan
10-02-2009, 08:33 PM
thats some really nice (TIG???) welding there!!!
awesome Preeny, not long until startup then? :D

Preen59
10-02-2009, 08:38 PM
thats some really nice (TIG???) welding there!!!
awesome Preeny, not long until startup then? :D

TIG is correct. You get a gold star. :)

Start up will be a month or so away most probably.. We have to make sure EVERYTHING is 100% spot on before we wind it over.

Peter Jones
10-02-2009, 09:02 PM
Guess how i made it? :biggrin:



A length of hex shaft and two sockets?

Or perhaps a long allen key cut down if it had to be hardened.

Pete

Preen59
10-02-2009, 09:06 PM
A length of hex shaft and two sockets?

Pete

Close, but no wafer. :)

Chopped up an allen key. Got some 16mm bright MS rod, stuck it in the lathe, drilled a hole in it .5mm smaller than the hex from point to point, parted it off and pressed the 2 collars on.

The collars are only to centralise the shaft. :)

Peter Jones
10-02-2009, 09:08 PM
haha guessed it on the edit while you were replying:biggrin:

Pete

Preen59
10-02-2009, 09:44 PM
haha guessed it on the edit while you were replying:biggrin:

Pete

Haha i saw that.. Well done. :bowdown:

GoLfMan
11-02-2009, 06:30 AM
TIG is correct. You get a gold star. :)

Start up will be a month or so away most probably.. We have to make sure EVERYTHING is 100% spot on before we wind it over.

let us know a week in advance (if its possible!) and i recon i'll come up with esky in tow :D:D:D

Mischa
11-02-2009, 07:28 AM
hope you got the right size shoe... i mean moon :) :P

Preen59
13-02-2009, 06:05 PM
hope you got the right size shoe... i mean moon :) :P

They only come in one size.. "Too big for pansy german feet" they call it.. :nana:

Preen59
13-02-2009, 06:15 PM
Got some more stuff done..

After searching half the town (It's not that big, but hey, gimme a break!) for some 16mm aluminium bar, i finally got some and made the blower starter extensions.

I got a metre, which cost me 20 bucks (happy about that), but its unfortunately a pretty crappy stringy grade (not happy about that). I'm not sure what it is, but it's no 6061 nice short chipping high quality type grade.. Anyways, it drilled ok, tapped reasonably well and polished up nice (and aslong as in polishes up nice, that's the main thing, right?).

Anyways, here's a pic..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/13022009228.jpg



I also got more done on the oil filter bracket.

I turned up the collar earlier in the week. Today i split it and put flat on the back. It might not seem like much, but considering i did it with a hacksaw and a file, i'm pretty happy with the result so far..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/13022009232.jpg

(Not to mention my bleeding knuckle when the hacksaw went through, the offcut went flying and I embedded my fingers into the front of the vice and the edge of the soft jaw! :brutal: Don't you just hate it when you think there's more material left than what there actually is??)

Blitzen
13-02-2009, 07:08 PM
Bleeding to the car Gods its all part of it...The car is comming along very nicely mate...You and your old man should be proud.

Preen59
13-02-2009, 07:12 PM
Bleeding to the car Gods its all part of it...The car is comming along very nicely mate...You and your old man should be proud.

Haha very true!

Thanks man. I'll be proud when it's all complete and we fire it up and switch it over to nitro the first time.. :)

Preen59
14-02-2009, 06:08 PM
We had a very productive day today..

I got the oil filter mount finished..

Here it is semi attached so i could work out a few things..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009237.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009239.jpg

Here it is with all holes drilled and tapped and trimmed up.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009244.jpg

Finally, all finished, polished and mounted.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009246.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009247.jpg

I got the blower starter extension rods finished today (pretty much).

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009249.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009250.jpg

We took the belt off and wound the blower over off the starter on 12 volts (it runs 36 normally) to make sure that the dogs engaged fully and everything lined up. It worked perfectly.

We fitted the crank pulley and wired it up too.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009252.jpg

This is a safety mechanism so that the crank bolt can't come undone and the pulley come off. It's happened in the states and a guy got hit. He didn't get hurt, but he could have. With public liability bullsh*t we've got going here these days that's the last thing we need to happen!



Dad fitted some fully hectic custom Ryobi springs in the front of the XC.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009242.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/14022009251.jpg

Looks Waaaaay better. Just the right amount of RAKE (Yeah, you heard me, Tim! haha)

Jarred
15-02-2009, 11:52 AM
get your mullets on Preeny! just the thing to suit that rake you got going!

Top work as usual mate.

Mischa
15-02-2009, 11:54 AM
make the back lower dude! rake = poo

Preen59
15-02-2009, 04:57 PM
get your mullets on Preeny! just the thing to suit that rake you got going!

Top work as usual mate.


make the back lower dude! rake = poo

Rake is awesome! You've gotta have rake! :biggrin:

We should have only gone a coil and a half.. I keep telling dad just to drop the tail a bit to compensate.. But nooooo, he's going to get some new springs and only go a coil and a half.. :(

Jarred
15-02-2009, 05:05 PM
nah, you need to get your air bags on! :P

Preen59
15-02-2009, 07:33 PM
I made the fuel tank restraints today..

I used the hooks off some occie straps that Dom and I bought for 2.50 a pair in melbourne and Dad got some black elastic cord from Bunnings. I cut it and folded the end over and used stainless tie wire to secure the end (with the hooks on the cord already, ofcourse! haha). Black occie straps are impossible to find these days!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/15022009254.jpg




This is the way the tank was held in by Morrie. He said he was only every questioned once by the scrutineers. Apparently this is how it went...

Scrutineer: "Why have you got two occie straps holding the fuel tank, Morrie?"

Morrie: "Well, there's two, incase one of the breaks!" :biggrin:

Treza360
15-02-2009, 07:38 PM
I made the fuel tank restraints today..
I used the hooks off some occie straps that Dom and I bought for 2.50 a pair in melbourne and Dad got some black elastic cord from Bunnings. I cut it and folded the end over and used stainless tie wire to secure the end (with the hooks on the cord already, ofcourse! haha). Black occie straps are impossible to find these days!
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/15022009254.jpg
This is the way the tank was held in by Morrie. He said he was only every questioned once by the scrutineers. Apparently this is how it went...
Scrutineer: "Why have you got two occie straps holding the fuel tank, Morrie?"
Morrie: "Well, there's two, incase one of the breaks!" :biggrin:
Not sure if I missed this earlier, but how big is the fuel tank?

Preen59
15-02-2009, 07:42 PM
Not sure if I missed this earlier, but how big is the fuel tank?

3.5 US Gallons. You can juuust read it on the plate.. :)

Treza360
15-02-2009, 07:48 PM
3.5 US Gallons. You can juuust read it on the plate.. :)
Yeah I figured it was on there but your eyes must be better than mine. So that's what, about 13.25L in proper measurements yes?

Preen59
15-02-2009, 07:50 PM
Yeah I figured it was on there but your eyes must be better than mine. So that's what, about 13.25L in proper measurements yes?

15.911315 litres. :biggrin:

(3.5x4.54609)

Water Boy
15-02-2009, 07:52 PM
Preen your ol man has a wicked workshop set-up going for sure :biggrin:

Treza360
15-02-2009, 07:56 PM
15.911315 litres. :biggrin:
(3.5x4.54609)
So dry US gallons as opposed to liquid US gallons as opposed to UK gallons. Geez the imperial system/s is/are dumb. :duh:

Preen59
15-02-2009, 07:57 PM
So dry US gallons as opposed to liquid US gallons as opposed to UK gallons. Geez the imperial system/s is/are dumb. :duh:

Yeah its crap. I'm just distance measurement is a contant between them!

Oneofthegreats
16-02-2009, 09:52 PM
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

Looks Waaaaay better. Just the right amount of RAKE (Yeah, you heard me, Tim! haha)


Thank's for showing me the rake Preeny! hahahahah

The ol girl has a fair battle scar on the rear passenger door & dogleg!

Preen59
16-02-2009, 09:58 PM
Thank's for showing me the rake Preeny! hahahahah

The ol girl has a fair battle scar on the rear passenger door & dogleg!

Yeah she's got a few battle scars.. And some hail damage. It's going to Brian Keegan to get fixed up later on.

Gotta lurve RAKE! hahaha. :biggrin:

Mrk_Mickey
16-02-2009, 10:33 PM
Fine, I gave in. I read your fricken thread! :nana:

Top work throughout this build man, hopefully I'll be doing some similar work too, in good time of course. I still don't see seXC written ANYWHERE in your thread :nana:

Preen59
17-02-2009, 06:58 PM
I knocked this up yesterday...

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17022009256.jpg

It's a spark plug T bar.

I used an old Sidchrome spark plug socket and some 3/4" stainless tube. You have got NO idea how tough those sockets are to drill.. I had to drill it in the square end about 5mm so i could bore it to press the tube in the end, ensuring it was straight when it was welded. I put the notch in the end of the tube on the mill using a 3/4" cutter, which allowed the cross tube to match up perfectly and weld up really nice. No, i didn't weld it.. I'm not that good with a TIG (nowhere near that good!). I got my mate that i always get to weld intricate stuff for me to weld it. :)

Mrk_Mickey
17-02-2009, 08:55 PM
It looks like a pogo stick with no springs or feet pegs!

Preen59
17-02-2009, 09:17 PM
It looks like a pogo stick with no springs or feet pegs!

Hahaha That is now the name for it.


Grab the Pogo stick and knock the plugs out for me.. :biggrin:

Preen59
18-02-2009, 06:36 PM
Started on the throttle pedal mounting bracket today...

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18022009261.jpg

I've made it out of some 8mm 6061 Aluminium plate. I tried bending it with no success.. I tried it on some scrap first and it just fractured and split in half after it went about 30 degrees.. So i cut it in two and got Craig to TIG it up for me.. :biggrin:

This will mount on the back of the bell housing. The holes from the bell housing will be spotted onto the bracket when we work out the exact position.


I started stickering up the XC this arvo.. :biggrin:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18022009260.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/18022009259.jpg

Yeah baby! Sexy as! :drinkbeer:

Jarred
18-02-2009, 07:34 PM
wikid!

J&J love it!

WABIT
18-02-2009, 10:46 PM
hahaha u mad dog preeny! love the seXCee!!

now cut those springs and put some roadtrian mudflaps on that badboy!!

ohh and the dragcar update looks good too haha

dom

Preen59
19-02-2009, 09:13 PM
hahaha u mad dog preeny! love the seXCee!!

now cut those springs and put some roadtrian mudflaps on that badboy!!

ohh and the dragcar update looks good too haha

dom

Haha thanks man.. Big mudflaps?? Yeah i dunno.. :biggrin:



Got the pedal mounted today.. :)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/19022009262.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/19022009263.jpg

I still need to put a full radius on the top of the pedal bracket where it mounts to the bellhousing (For looks, nothing more.).

Spyda
19-02-2009, 10:52 PM
:eek:

That shiz is too close to the crown jewlz.

static1800
20-02-2009, 09:02 AM
I would hate for that diff to let go in a big way!!!!

Preen59
20-02-2009, 06:23 PM
:eek:

That shiz is too close to the crown jewlz.


I would hate for that diff to let go in a big way!!!!

Hahahaha! That's never happened. Never! If anything happened it would push the front out of the diff.. And that wouldn't happen either. If things break, they just rattle around inside, nothing comes out. :)

Here's what it looks like driving one..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/TomMcEwen.jpg

Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen... This is an actual pass just off the line, not a burnout. Before the days of slider clutches and such. :biggrin:

Preen59
20-02-2009, 06:33 PM
Dad just had a go at me.. hahaha.

He finally read through this thread and it turns out i've made it sound like i've been doing most of the work on this car.. Which is highly untrue!

He has done a massive amount. Far more than i have over the last couple of years. I've been helping here and there along the way, but it's only in the last 3 or so months that i've really gotten stuck in and done a lot of the work.

When i get the pics from Dad previous to when i started this thread, i'll post up all the work he/we (mostly he) have done previous, which is crazy when i look back at it. :bowdown:



Anyways, here's what i did today..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/20022009264.jpg

I put the rad on the top of the pedal bracket, so now that's another finished item. :)

GoLfMan
20-02-2009, 06:40 PM
finishing touches make all the difference :D

Preen59
22-02-2009, 04:29 PM
Yesterday we picked up the fuel (as some of you know).

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21022009265.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21022009269.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21022009270.jpg


While we were at Steve Turner's we had a look at his nostalgia Top Fuel car (front engine car).

"Pommie" Steve Reed is driving it. Unfortunately at the 2nd previous Nostalgia meet at WSID (Where they were taking their first shake down run), the car bogged down off the line (wrong diff ratio) and broke a rod. It destroyed the engine.

Here's some pics of the bits..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21022009266.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21022009267.jpg

This is the burst panel scoop. It's mean't to be straight...

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21022009268.jpg

Preen59
22-02-2009, 04:38 PM
Now.. Onto what we did today..

We did a full day on the XC to get it ready for a blue slip tomorrow.

First up we fitted new King Springs (Only the best for the seX, hahaha)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22022009272.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22022009273.jpg

Then we flushed the cooling system out and fitted new hoses. This is the crap that came out!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22022009278.jpg

Next up was a wash..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22022009274.jpg

Then we cleaned it out, vacuumed it, cleaned all the windows and i gave it a very quick polish. It came up pretty good considering..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22022009275.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22022009276.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22022009277.jpg

Should be ready for the Sydney trip this friday.. :)

Blitzen
22-02-2009, 04:46 PM
Thats epic man!!! All cos of the wrong diff ratio???

GoLfMan
22-02-2009, 04:52 PM
Should be ready for the Sydney trip this friday.. :)

wooh cant wait :D

Preen59
22-02-2009, 05:13 PM
Thats epic man!!! All cos of the wrong diff ratio???

Yeah too tall. Bogged the engine down, it started to pull hard, ran lean because of the low RPM and bang! I was in the stands when it happened. Went off pretty hard. Grenaded the blower case, blew the injector off.. All contained by the ballistic shields but not cheap!

Jarred
22-02-2009, 07:18 PM
sexc's looking pretty good.

hows the engine and trans and all that stuff running? Gone through a tank of fuel yet?? hahah

Preen59
22-02-2009, 07:28 PM
sexc's looking pretty good.

hows the engine and trans and all that stuff running? Gone through a tank of fuel yet?? hahah

The mechanicals are spot on. It's got 86,000 kms on it!

It's not registered yet. Driving it would be very irresponsible.. :biggrin: (No, not yet.)

Dad filled up the Jerry Can this arvo to throw in it tomorrow. Blue Slip tomorrow.. Woo! :driver:

GoLfMan
22-02-2009, 07:39 PM
that jerry can will run it for about 5 mins :nana:

Preen59
01-03-2009, 07:08 PM
I strolled back into the workshop yesterday... To this.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28022009288.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28022009289.jpg

(Sorry for the blurry pics)

We got the Brad Penn straight 50 (can't get 60 in australia) oil earlier in the week, so dad was attempting to get oil pressure this weekend. I made an oil pump drive to be driven by a pistol drill earlier in the week.

Turns out we put the oil pressure relief block off in around the wrong way.. So no oil pressure :duh:. We had a 50% chance of getting it right! haha.

So dad dropped the sump off and pulled the pump off, turned the block off around, and then we reassembled everything.


After that, we got oil pressure! 120 PSI worth, which means we may need to take some tension off the relief in the pump.. But we have to talk to Rick about that one.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28022009290.jpg

Plenty of oil spewing out everywhere, plenty coming out of the rocker gear. So we were very happy! :)

After that we set the valve clearances. I got the great job of winding the engine over, while dad got cranky trying to adjust the pushrods.. Hahaha. :biggrin:


Today we started doing the throttle linkage. The decision has been made that we're using a linkage throttle rather than a hydraulic, so we have to make all the brackets and pitman arms now.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/01032009291.jpg

Guess what the first linkage rod is made out of?? Anyone who is into air cooleds should be able to guess it.. :)

Mischa
01-03-2009, 07:11 PM
Guess what the first linkage rod is made out of?? Anyone who is into air cooleds should be able to guess it.. :)

metal :)

.

Jarred
01-03-2009, 07:14 PM
wikid preeny.

I'm pretty sure i will be driving back up to see this again when it's running! what an experience!

Thanks for showing us round the other day too.

Peter Jones
01-03-2009, 07:17 PM
Guess what the first linkage rod is made out of?? Anyone who is into air cooleds should be able to guess it.. :)


Push rod.

Pete

Preen59
01-03-2009, 07:22 PM
Push rod.

Pete

Hahaha I was nearly going to say "Pete will get this one for sure".. And look at that, you did. :)

Preen59
01-03-2009, 07:24 PM
metal :)

.

Haha bloody engineering students. :nana:


wikid preeny.

I'm pretty sure i will be driving back up to see this again when it's running! what an experience!

Thanks for showing us round the other day too.

All good dude. Glad you guys had a good time. (Post the pics of you in the car here!)

Peter Jones
01-03-2009, 07:30 PM
Hahaha I was nearly going to say "Pete will get this one for sure".. And look at that, you did. :)

Push rods are very versatile:biggrin:

I made a door handle from a cut down 1200 head stud once.

It's still opening my parent's security door 20 years later.

Pete

Preen59
01-03-2009, 07:34 PM
Push rods are very versatile:biggrin:

I made a door handle from a cut down 1200 head stud once.

It's still opening my parent's security door 20 years later.

Pete

Yeah i've used old VW pushrods for heaps of stuff.

"Necessity is the mother of invention."

Jarred
01-03-2009, 07:56 PM
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/03/P2150011-1.jpg

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/03/P2150009-1.jpg

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/03/P2150008-1.jpg

these ones preeny?? :D

It's pretty comfy in there. for me at least. josh - not so much! hahah

GoLfMan
01-03-2009, 10:06 PM
yeh this thing is gobsmacking in the flesh, its so damed crampt in the cockpit... its definately the closest i'll ever come to 2500+hp unfortunately :(

cant wait to hear it run!

Thanks for showing us around!!

Preen59
06-03-2009, 05:56 PM
yeh this thing is gobsmacking in the flesh, its so damed crampt in the cockpit... its definately the closest i'll ever come to 2500+hp unfortunately :(

cant wait to hear it run!

Thanks for showing us around!!

Like i said, glad you guys had a good time. :)

Preen59
06-03-2009, 06:04 PM
Update!

The fuel lines and fittings have arrived. We've decided on the colours for the body panels and we've got a really trick spray painter lined up to do them.


We started making the starter trolley this week. We purchased a $29 Bunnings bag trolley and I hacked it to pieces.. hahaha.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/04032009295.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/06032009297.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/06032009299.jpg

I actually cut the tube with a hand tube cutter. It's pretty soft and not very thick. Went through it like butter. Then i shortened it and oxy welded it back together. After that was the angle frame etc and all the holes n stuff.

This trolley has to house 3 12 volt batteries (in series, 36 volts..), the starter, the cables, the solenoid and isolator switch. Should have it finished tomorrow ready to be powdercoated. :)

Mrk_Mickey
06-03-2009, 06:27 PM
Woo! Coming along nicely mate. Well done again :bowdown:

Preen59
06-03-2009, 07:47 PM
Woo! Coming along nicely mate. Well done again :bowdown:

Thanks man. :)

Jarred
06-03-2009, 08:16 PM
cool little side project.

now what did your dad do on it this week??

Preen59
06-03-2009, 08:19 PM
cool little side project.

now what did your dad do on it this week??

Hahaha. He's been getting the fuel lines sorted and doing the throttle linkage.

He's also been sorting the plug leads. The bloke that's making them asked what they were for and said "Oh, well in that case.. Give me another week and i'll make sure they're spot on.." Haha.

Blitzen
06-03-2009, 08:29 PM
Hahaha. He's been getting the fuel lines sorted and doing the throttle linkage.

He's also been sorting the plug leads. The bloke that's making them asked what they were for and said "Oh, well in that case.. Give me another week and i'll make sure they're spot on.." Haha.

How are the leads made in this case...Are they copper leads, or carbon infused??

Preen59
06-03-2009, 08:53 PM
How are the leads made in this case...Are they copper leads, or carbon infused??

Copper. Your basic wire core leads. The best. :)

They're basically made the same way any others are made. But we needed the right colour, the right length, the right ends etc etc. :bluesbro:

Jarred
06-03-2009, 08:55 PM
Copper. Your basic wire core leads. The best. :)

They're basically made the same way any others are made. But we needed the right colour, the right length, the right ends etc etc. :bluesbro:

right colour aye?

let me geuss are they.... orange...?? :nana:

Preen59
06-03-2009, 09:09 PM
right colour aye?

let me geuss are they.... orange...?? :nana:

Hahahaha! No.. Black i think.. :)

I mean, they're no TopGun 8mm blue leads (good for atleast 24rwkw).. But they'll do. :biggrin:

Preen59
07-03-2009, 04:46 PM
I took to the MOON tank with a holesaw today.. :biggrin:

We have to move the pump pickup from the bottom to the rear end, because with the way it is now, once we put a fitting in the bottom, it will hit the ground.. :brutal:

Solution? Easy...

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/07032009301.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/07032009302.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/07032009303.jpg


After i turned up the cap, I marked it out and cut it around the profile roughly with a hacksaw and filed it to shape. It will be welded in place and a "weld-in" socket will be welded to the end.


Here's a pic of what dad was doing today while i was at work..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/07032009305.jpg

He got the fuel lines started. They can't be finished until the tank is finished so that we can trim the lines to the correct length and attach the fittings to the opposing ends etc.

Dad also got more done on the throttle linkages, which are coming along quite nice.. No pics of them though.. :)

Mrk_Mickey
07-03-2009, 04:53 PM
Nice man! Cuts are clean as!

GoLfMan
08-03-2009, 11:19 AM
nice turning work on the cap there, nice finish :)!

how far off fireup are you now?

Preen59
08-03-2009, 01:58 PM
nice turning work on the cap there, nice finish :)!

how far off fireup are you now?

Thanks dude.

Weekend after next. :) I'll endeavor to get the camera set up.. Or get someone to hold it. :)

Preen59
08-03-2009, 05:42 PM
The rocker covers are on for the final time before the first start.. :biggrin:

I got to the workshop around lunch time today (I was enjoying remaining horizontal too much..). Dad had started on fitting the rocker cover breathers and a couple of other things..

Here's how they finished up when we were done..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/08032009306.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/08032009307.jpg

Hot rodders would be spewing if they saw these pics! :brutal: They all want M/T covers without breather holes. As you can see they had been welded up prior to my old man purchasing them from the states.


I got some die (press tool) springs from work for the blower pop off valve. They're the only thing strong enough to keep it shut. I actually had to put them in the lathe and bore out both ends to allow them to fit over the registers in the pop off plate and the spring keepers. Lets hear it for carbide tipped tooling! haha.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/08032009308.jpg

I started making the support bushes for the bell crank that will mount on the back of the supercharger for the throttle linkage.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/08032009311.jpg

Here's a pic of the linkages so far that Dad's made up including the bracket on the supercharger.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/08032009315.jpg

The starter trolley is almost finished, ready to be wired up and go to the powder coaters..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/08032009313.jpg

Preen59
17-03-2009, 07:27 PM
While i was away in "sunny" Phillip Island, Dad was hard at it finishing a heap of 'little things' off. This included the breather for the fuel tank and finishing the fuel lines. As you can see from the pics, the fuel tank has been modified to accept the new fittings and the different outlet position.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17032009431.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17032009432.jpg

This arvo, i finished off the throttle linkage pivot and bracket. Now we just have to make the pivot arms and cut the rods to length. :)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/17032009436.jpg

dubbed
17-03-2009, 08:08 PM
Awesome mate. I didn't know that dragsters had a mobile starter system. Well there ya go! Shows how much I know about (hardcore) drag racing..

Mrk_Mickey
17-03-2009, 10:47 PM
Woohoo for more progress! looking perfectly machined as always you lucky prick...

I want an apprenticeship!!

Preen59
17-03-2009, 11:01 PM
Awesome mate. I didn't know that dragsters had a mobile starter system. Well there ya go! Shows how much I know about (hardcore) drag racing..

Yep. They were originally push started. Then came the remote starter. :)


Woohoo for more progress! looking perfectly machined as always you lucky prick...

I want an apprenticeship!!

Haha thanks man. Go and find one then! :biggrin:

Preen59
18-03-2009, 04:21 PM
This'll show you what a push start entails.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPbDM3_9imI

This one's good too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fu3yCRBEMA

dubbed
18-03-2009, 09:30 PM
Very cool mate. I like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2qfEk_itaM&feature=related

Preen59
21-03-2009, 09:23 PM
Progress, progress..

I designed up a banner like the old Castle Reigh sign for dad, and got it printed by a mate..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/20032009437.jpg

One panel painted, and yes.. We're happy with the colours. :)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/20032009438.jpg

Today, Dad got the fuel system calibrated. After some slight modification by me, the leak down tester worked perfectly. It's now ready to be run once we hook the magneto up and set it. :)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21032009439.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21032009440.jpg

Meanwhile, i set about doing the fiddly stuff getting the throttle linkage sorted out. With any luck, i should have it completed and working tomorrow. :driver:

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/21032009441.jpg

Jarred
21-03-2009, 09:36 PM
cool as Pdogg!

Cant wait to see this roar into life!

it would defiantly be worth the trip up just to have a cackle! :eek: :D

fuzion
21-03-2009, 09:44 PM
ahh chris my freakin eyes hurt man
to much to read and look at

all you need is some english narrator reading everything out (dont ask me but in a pommy old mans voice everything sounds much more interesting on tv lol) and you could have your own video doco! lol

been reading/looking for ages but never posted lol .. your a bastard that you have so many things readily available to you! :p

Preen59
21-03-2009, 09:51 PM
ahh chris my freakin eyes hurt man
to much to read and look at

all you need is some english narrator reading everything out (dont ask me but in a pommy old mans voice everything sounds much more interesting on tv lol) and you could have your own video doco! lol

been reading/looking for ages but never posted lol .. your a bastard that you have so many things readily available to you! :p

Haha thanks man. :)

We thought about that and tried to contract Ringo Star to do it, but he was unfortunately a little outside of our price range. hahaha. :duh:

You say i have so much equipment on hand, but i want so much more! I guess nothing is ever good enough for some people.. :)


By the way, we're aiming for next weekend for the first start up. All we need is some methanol (easy to get) and to finish off a couple of small jobs and she's right to go. :drinkbeer:

Mrk_Mickey
22-03-2009, 12:53 AM
By the way, we're aiming for next weekend for the first start up. All we need is some methanol (easy to get) and to finish off a couple of small jobs and she's right to go. :drinkbeer:

SWEET dude!!! Make sure you get a vid of it eh? :D

Preen59
22-03-2009, 05:35 PM
SWEET dude!!! Make sure you get a vid of it eh? :D

Yeah we're going to get the camera set up with a tripod hopefully.. Just for you. :)

Preen59
22-03-2009, 06:00 PM
I got the methanol idle metering unit made today.

This is basically just a flow restrictor to meter the fuel drawn from the start up bottle.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22032009443.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22032009444.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22032009446.jpg

We've set this up similar to the way Bill Pitts runs the 'Magicar'.

How is works is, you start the engine like you would normally with a starter bottle squirting under the butterfly, but with the shutoff closed. The vacuum from the supercharger draws the methanol up from the bottle into the injector hat, and the engine can idle (and warm up) on straight methanol. When you are ready, you can open the fuel shutoff, remove the methanol idler tube, and the engine runs on nitro from the fuel tank.

It's a bit of a safety measure, but also it's a good exibition thing, because the engine sounds quite mild on methanol, and when you switch it over to nitro, the engine idles down, gets A LOT louder and the car starts kicking and bucking like it should. :biggrin:


We've also got the throttle linkage completed and working. When i say "we", Dad actually finished it because i decided to sleep in today.. :)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22032009448.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22032009449.jpg

We set the magneto up on our makeshift "test bench" (Patented TPR Engineering design.. j:)) to make sure it was working correctly.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22032009450.jpg

To semi-quote Tim.. This thing's got enough spark to jump start a dead hooker!


After that we fitted it and set it up, fitted the plugs ran the plug leads.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/22032009451.jpg

It's now ready to fire.

Treza360
22-03-2009, 06:33 PM
Good stuff mate. Looking forward to seeing/hearing about the startup. It's gonna be wicked (even if all you do is blow yourselves up). :)
Cheers,
Trent

Preen59
22-03-2009, 07:46 PM
Good stuff mate. Looking forward to seeing/hearing about the startup. It's gonna be wicked (even if all you do is blow yourselves up). :)
Cheers,
Trent

Cheers Trent. :)

If we blow ourselves up, you probably won't hear about it! Haha. :eek:

Treza360
22-03-2009, 07:50 PM
Cheers Trent. :)
If we blow ourselves up, you probably won't hear about it! Haha. :eek:
It'll be on the news. All will be good. :)
Make sure the camera is setup a good distance away so at least we get some footage. j:

Jarred
22-03-2009, 08:09 PM
Wooooooooooohooooooooooooooo!!!

wikid. This is cool as congrats to your dad, uncle and yourself for getting it all up and running and going!

When you say "semi-quote", you really just mean, 'I'm not sure he's ever said this, but its sounds like something he'd say' or what?? j:

Preen59
22-03-2009, 08:19 PM
It'll be on the news. All will be good. :)
Make sure the camera is setup a good distance away so at least we get some footage. j:

Hahaha, Ok will do. :)


Wooooooooooohooooooooooooooo!!!

wikid. This is cool as congrats to your dad, uncle and yourself for getting it all up and running and going!

When you say "semi-quote", you really just mean, 'I'm not sure he's ever said this, but its sounds like something he'd say' or what?? j:

Cheers man.

No, he said that, but about a different ignition. It's a damn good saying though!

Dad got bitten by the mag lead when we were locating it in the drive. He didn't seem to enjoy it much. I heard it, sounded painful. :biggrin:

Preen59
24-03-2009, 06:15 PM
We're now ready to start it 100%.. Except for the methanol.. :duh: But we'll get that sorted this week.

Dad made the toe hoop for the noise pedal..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24032009454.jpg


And i finished off the greek coupler collar.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24032009455.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/24032009456.jpg

I also went round and motivated our auto elec mates to finish the starter. Tony got it done while i was there hindering.. I mean.. Helping him. :biggrin: No pics of that but it was a very neat job. Very happy.

Dad wound the engine over with the starter this arvo and it worked perfectly. The engine buzzed up to 95PSI oil pressure and everything. Schweeet. :)

Mischa
24-03-2009, 08:21 PM
hope you didnt put it all together upside down :P

sounds exciting definitely have the video camera there for first startup :)

Mrk_Mickey
24-03-2009, 08:44 PM
Very sweet dude, I'm excited to hear it! :D

Jarred
24-03-2009, 10:33 PM
ah man. shattered I can't be there to be at the start up!

one day.

DaveMack
25-03-2009, 12:46 AM
C'mon Chris ... get that noise on here. :nana:

Dave

Bug_racer
25-03-2009, 12:53 AM
I hear an event is on this Sunday . Any plans to bring it to Sydney then ?

Preen59
25-03-2009, 03:47 PM
I hear an event is on this Sunday . Any plans to bring it to Sydney then ?

We're going to WSID for the Nostalgia meet on Sunday.. But we aren't bringing the car.. :)

Preen59
25-03-2009, 03:50 PM
hope you didnt put it all together upside down :P

sounds exciting definitely have the video camera there for first startup :)

Crap.. I better go back and check.... Nope, all good. :nana:


ah man. shattered I can't be there to be at the start up!

one day.

To be honest we don't want people here for the first fire up.

But maybe later, for sure!


C'mon Chris ... get that noise on here. :nana:

Dave

Haha, there's plenty of other dragsters you can listen to on the internet that will sound pretty much the same.. Go listen to one of those and stop pestering me! :nana:

Preen59
26-03-2009, 09:38 PM
The fuel bottles turned up today, and the methanol (Left bottle).

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/26032009457.jpg


I double checked the firing order and lead orientation on the distributor (Mismatched leads can cause a backfire and blow the arse out of the engine/pop the blower off etc on startup, if they're incorrect). Then i numbered all the leads.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/26032009461.jpg

Bring on saturday! :)

Mrk_Mickey
26-03-2009, 10:27 PM
Woooo!! Can't wait :D

Preen59
27-03-2009, 09:43 PM
We had a blunder this afternoon, with stress levels going up along with the level on confusion.

This is what happened..

We fitted the magneto switch this afternoon. The switch basically earths out the coil and thus no spark is delivered to the plugs, because the coil cannot build charge.

When we fitted the switch and wired it up, we checked it with the multimeter. Which checked for continuity across either terminal of the switch, and found that the circuit was completed in either switch position (open or closed).

So.. We thought there must have been a problem with the magneto...

We removed the magneto and started to disassemble it.. Then the penny dropped.

:duh: :duh: I said ofcourse the circuit would be completed in either switch position! When we placed the multimeter across both terminals that simply completed the circuit! So very simple, but due to us being paranoid, we assumed the worst.

Lesson learned. A very simple mistake because we didn't think the problem through properly. (Neither of us are great with electrical stuff..)

On the upside, we had to re-fit the magneto and set the timing again, aswell as getting to see how the magneto was assembled. Good practice. :)

After that we wound the engine over on the starter and checked the timing with the strobe. Spot on. Woo! :drinkbeer:

We're all set. :)

GoLfMan
28-03-2009, 10:20 AM
cant wait bro :D:D:D I expect a call when its started!

Mrk_Mickey
28-03-2009, 10:26 AM
Nice one you douche-bag! hahaha. Stilll can't wait...:D

Jarred
28-03-2009, 12:22 PM
nice one team preen...

updtes??

Mischa
28-03-2009, 01:13 PM
yeah mofo its saturday :)

Preen59
28-03-2009, 05:01 PM
We've ran it.. I was in the seat. It was loud. Full update soon. :nana:

Treza360
28-03-2009, 05:03 PM
We've ran it.. I was in the seat. It was loud. Full update soon. :nana:
Wicked. Starts hitting F5 key repeatedly.
Cheers,
Trent

Preen59
28-03-2009, 05:58 PM
Small update here now. Here's some pics.. :)

The fuel lines which i tethered to the chassis suspended to avoid rubbing on the chassis (old kart racing trick. If you want more info i'll post some pics with a how to.)

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28032009464.jpg

And a couple of shots of the car rolled out in the sun (no body panels are fitted).

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28032009466.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/28032009467.jpg

fuzion
28-03-2009, 06:09 PM
thats awesome dude, absolutely love it!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Preen59
28-03-2009, 06:13 PM
The car fired first shot with no issues. We were very, very happy about that.

It was a bit rich on the methanol feed, but pretty close. The bottle isn't big enough and it sucked it up really quick. Hence we had to shut it off and refill! :duh: Need a bigger bottle..

So Dad shut it off, refilled the bottle and we went again. After the second start Dad switched over to Nitro relatively quickly. The engine was way rich on the valve and it half fouled the No. 1 and 2 cylinders. It started throwing raw fuel out the front pipes and rich backfiring (hard to hear in the second video). To avoid engine damage we shut it off pretty quick.

We would have run it again, but we couldn't get onto Rick. Dad was a bit apprehensive about leaning it off and going again without consulting "the doctor", so we called it quits for this weekend.

No oil leaks, nothing broke, the engine ran without any issues apart from tune.. We're extremely happy! :)

This first video below has the engine just running on methanol, no nitro. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcHt08qZTQ

fuzion
28-03-2009, 06:16 PM
god i hope you have no neighbours

the bass was rumbling my floor from the crackling lol

Preen59
28-03-2009, 06:21 PM
god i hope you have no neighbours

the bass was rumbling my floor from the crackling lol

hahahaha! A bloke from down the road walked up to see what the **** was going on! :biggrin:

And that was just on methanol!

Preen59
28-03-2009, 06:49 PM
Here's round 2 with the early shut down due to the mixture as i stated before. That stuff shooting out of the pipes is raw Nitro, not smoke. It was throwing it out on the ground and on the tyres. Waaaaay rich.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29i-GkgwjfQ

DaveMack
29-03-2009, 01:08 AM
The car fired first shot with no issues. We were very, very happy about that.

It was a bit rich on the methanol feed, but pretty close. The bottle isn't big enough and it sucked it up really quick. Hence we had to shut it off and refill! :duh: Need a bigger bottle..

So Dad shut it off, refilled the bottle and we went again. After the second start Dad switched over to Nitro relatively quickly. The engine was way rich on the valve and it half fouled the No. 1 and 2 cylinders. It started throwing raw fuel out the front pipes and rich backfiring (hard to hear in the second video). To avoid engine damage we shut it off pretty quick.

We would have run it again, but we couldn't get onto Rick. Dad was a bit apprehensive about leaning it off and going again without consulting "the doctor", so we called it quits for this weekend.

No oil leaks, nothing broke, the engine ran without any issues apart from tune.. We're extremely happy! :)

This first video below has the engine just running on methanol, no nitro. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcHt08qZTQ


YEEHAH!!! Preeny ... that's what I wanted to hear. I mean ... it's OK to go off and listen to dragsters built by pple you don't even know ... but it's been great to keep up with the build thread and finally hear it sparkle into life. Congrats to you & your Dad. :biggrin:

Dave

Spyda
29-03-2009, 09:55 AM
PURE AWSOMENESS

Mischa
29-03-2009, 10:33 AM
congrats thats so cool :)

GoLfMan
29-03-2009, 10:40 AM
Wooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh :D:D:D

Jarred
29-03-2009, 11:39 AM
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Big congrats to your dad, uncle and yourself man! that's cool as! well done.


i got to sit in that! :biggrin:

Preen59
29-03-2009, 06:44 PM
YEEHAH!!! Preeny ... that's what I wanted to hear. I mean ... it's OK to go off and listen to dragsters built by pple you don't even know ... but it's been great to keep up with the build thread and finally hear it sparkle into life. Congrats to you & your Dad. :biggrin:

Dave

Thanks Dave. :)

Thanks to the rest of you guys for the kind words too.

It was great to finally hear it roar to life. The minute the engine fired, the car finally stopped feeling like an ornament and turned into a real machine. :driver:


We went to the nostalgia drags today. When people asked Dad how the build was going, he was able to say (with a BIG grin on his face) "Pretty close, we fired it up for the first time yesterday!" :biggrin:

Mrk_Mickey
29-03-2009, 06:58 PM
Wow dude, I'm speechless. I can only imagine (which is what I did:D) being you, sitting there in the chair of this machine you CREATED from nothing...I bet you were stoaked! :)

I'm glad the first start went well mate, kudos to you and your old man (and others who might have helped)!

Treza360
29-03-2009, 07:05 PM
Wicked mate. Thread delivers awesome. Result.
Now we just need the WOT videos. :D
Cheers,
Trent

Preen59
29-03-2009, 07:18 PM
Wicked mate. Thread delivers awesome. Result.
Now we just need the WOT videos. :D
Cheers,
Trent

hahaha. Nothing's ever good enough, is it? :nana:

After Dad talks to Rick, we'll fire it up again next weekend. :)

Treza360
29-03-2009, 07:35 PM
hahaha. Nothing's ever goon enough, is it? :nana:
After Dad talks to Rick, we'll fire it up again next weekend. :)
Of course not. Once we get those videos, I'll be after a few full quarter passes. 6 or 7 seconds should keep me happy. :nana:
Cheers,
Trent

Preen59
02-04-2009, 07:41 PM
The second time we started the engine last weekend, it kicked back as it fired and twisted the crap out of the starter bracket stands.. So i made a support brace to fix that problem.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/02042009473.jpg

It's 16mm stainless tube with a stainless brace in the centre. I turned the stands down to be a neat sliding fit in the tube and bolted it to another blower case we "just happened to have lying around". This way when i got my mate to TIG it up, it would be all in the correct position etc etc.

Worked in theory, but..

I didn't put enough clearance on the stands. When the brace was welded (assembled) it distorted slightly and the penetration in the tube pinched the stands. I had to destroy them to get them out. Dad and I ended up having to cut them off and press them out, and it was a bastard of a job. So.. after that i made two new STEEL stands this afternoon and fitted it all back up.

Lesson learned. :duh: :)

Preen59
05-04-2009, 07:25 PM
We started the car again today, after some revision on the tune up and a chat to Rick during the week..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/05042009478.jpg

Check out condensation on the hat and the ice on the butterflies! :biggrin:


We had some trouble yesterday when we tried to start the engine. The starter motor kept kicking back and disengaging. This bent the brackets.. Again! We couldn't find the problem. We checked ignition, cam timing, everything. Tried it again, same problem. :brutal:

We packed up and left the workshop upset and disheartened. We were of the opinion that maybe the starter wasn't spinning the engine fast enough or something similar, but we were unsure.

At about 5:00am this morning it dawned on Dad. I pointed out that the blower belt was a bit loose, but at the time we were looking at other things. The blower belt was the issue all along. It was jumping teeth when the engine was trying to fire. That was the problem all along! :duh:


This arvo i persisted on nagging Dad until he decided we'd tighten the belt up and give it another shot.



Braap! It fired to life straight away. No problems. I even managed to lean it off on the warmup bottle by squeezing the fuel line (old go karting warmup lap trick to lean the engine off and stop it from fouling a plug). This enabled us to bring the idle up and down etc. We even opened it up a touch on methanol. Beautiful.

Once it warmed up a bit we flicked the fuel shut off and it was on to Nitro. It was still a bit rich and we unfortunately did not have enough scope to lean it off enough to get it right (the barrel valve linkage is too long, so we ran out of thread and will need to shorten it so we can wind it in further), so we shut it off after about 30 secs. We did however get a couple of header flames, so we're close.

After that, we pushed the car back in to the workshop (filled with nitro fumes! haha), drained the fuel tank and cleaned out the fuel system.

We should have the tune sorted next weekend. I'm very happy to end the weekend on a high note. :)

Jarred
05-04-2009, 07:29 PM
Wikid styx P-dogg.

Geuss you'll be fixing the bracket up again then huh?
lol

Preen59
05-04-2009, 08:34 PM
Wikid styx P-dogg.

Geuss you'll be fixing the bracket up again then huh?
lol

Yeah i'll have to make some new steel stands and get them chromed. :)

GoLfMan
06-04-2009, 08:20 AM
awesome Preeny, bring on Nats, cant wait to see the bugger runnin :D

DubSteve
06-04-2009, 10:04 AM
Nice work mate!!!

rayray086
06-04-2009, 01:20 PM
Great stuff Preen!

Preen59
10-04-2009, 07:41 PM
Started the trailer modification today.

We're modifying the old Go Kart trailer and converting it into a dragster trailer. Easy as. :biggrin:


Basic outer frame tacked on..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10042009479.jpg

A few braces tacked in..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10042009480.jpg

Fully welded..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/10042009481.jpg

Because i had to do all the welds in place, i had to crawl around on the ground with the floor creeper and weld all the joints underneath overhead. Needless to say, i'll be digging spatter out of my scalp for a couple of days.. Haha.

A few people came round this arvo to see what was happening, and they all commented on how good my welds were, so i must have done alright.. :???: Haha.

Dad's going to be doing all the work tomorrow, because i'm off to bathurst for the day. :nana: So i'll take some more pictures tomorrow afternoon.

Blitzen
10-04-2009, 07:46 PM
Looks the goods man...Should have used tech screws!!:biggrin::biggrin:

Preen59
10-04-2009, 08:50 PM
Looks the goods man...Should have used tech screws!!:biggrin::biggrin:

Hey were talking proper gingerbeering now. None of this army crap. :nana:

Blitzen
10-04-2009, 09:20 PM
Hahahahahaha...We don't go to the extremes of tech screws...We prefer the structural integrity of Zip ties and Gaff Tape!!

Preen59
10-04-2009, 09:34 PM
Hahahahahaha...We don't go to the extremes of tech screws...We prefer the structural integrity of Zip ties and Gaff Tape!!

What about sicaflex?? :bigok:

Preen59
12-04-2009, 10:01 PM
More done on the trailer today...

Support braces tacked on..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/12042009485.jpg

Diagonals tacked in..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/12042009486.jpg

All welded in and axle moved back..

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/12042009487.jpg

Axle tacked in ready for a test. Rear floor supports welded in.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/12042009488.jpg

Preen59
14-04-2009, 09:36 PM
Yesterday I cut the rear section out of the trailer (we left it in to give it rigidity while i welded it up). It moved about 2mm, and that was it.. Which means i welded it up in the right order and the distortion was very minimal. :)

We got the car on the trailer (borrowed some ramps), worked out where we wanted the axle and welded it in.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/13042009489.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/13042009490.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk182/preen59/Drag%20Racing/13042009491.jpg

We need the ramps to be about 500mm longer than the ones we borrowed. The chassis hits slightly on the centre cross brace and the fuel tank also hits, so we need longer ramps to bring the rear up more when the car is at that point..

We also picked up an electric winch (with remote! :biggrin: ) from super cheap for 110 bucks. Gotta work out how we're going to mount that now.. We also need to buy some aluminium checker plate for the floor.

Jarred
14-04-2009, 11:34 PM
Nice Pdogg.

why not duel axle though??

Preen59
14-04-2009, 11:39 PM
Nice Pdogg.

why not duel axle though??

Dual axle is for pussies.. :nana:

Nah it doesn't need dual axle.. Its not THAT heavy. :)

Jarred
14-04-2009, 11:40 PM
Dual axle is for pussies.. :nana:

Nah it doesn't need dual axle.. Its not THAT heavy. :)

it's got bleedin HEMI in it. of course it's heavy! hahaha

coming along well.

when do you think the dragsters first "outing" will be????

Preen59
14-04-2009, 11:47 PM
it's got bleedin HEMI in it. of course it's heavy! hahaha

coming along well.

when do you think the dragsters first "outing" will be????

The Castle Reigh 25th anniversary reunion, finished or unfinished (we've been ordered!). :)