SDRA Dragster For The Coast Build Thread

[Old28]

injected27 - Jason, I replyed to your PM, check it out. No problem posting questions on my build thread, I don't run that tight a thread and like to talk racing with anyone that wants too.

Like I said in the PM, you need to start a build thread so you can get the questions out to all the HAMBster's out there so you get back a lot of ideas. The only catch is we like a lot of pictures.

[Old28]

Well I got the motor back together, all the parts are in place. Put some oil in pan and primed the oil system with my drill and got 45# on the good oil gauge that (64 DODGE 440) passed my way. Filled the rear 8.8 trackion lock with fluid. Put in a set of new plugs.

Got my Optima Battery in and wired today and was able to test fuel pump, electric fan & water pump motor, all worked fine. With some power I was able to turn motor over and test the starter.

The two rebuilt 94's should be done first of next week and once I have then I can build the linkage and finish the throttle cable. Need to get fluid in the PG & converter in the morning.

Lots of small details, but I can see track time a coming.

No real picture work for now and it was 98 degrees today with 99 set for Thur/Fri. It is looking like a long hot summer.

[injected27]

Great news maybe you will be at it soon.

[Old28]

Well the carbs, linkage and fuel lines are done. I need to get a vacuum source for the PG so if I want to leave in in high gear it can shift by it's self. Some times it works better if bracket racing (more consistent ET) even tho you give up some 60' time.

Hope to fire motor later this week.

[Old6rodder]

Originally Posted by Old28

Well the carbs, linkage and fuel lines are done. I need to get a vacuum source for the PG so if I want to leave in in high gear it can shift by it's self. Some times it works better if bracket racing (more consistent ET) even tho you give up some 60' time.

Hope to fire motor later this week.

Fired yet? (pant, pant)

[Old28]

Ya Dick, I tried to fire the motor yesterday and must have missed a hole I bored through in the heat chamber as I had gas running out the bottom of the intake. I am removing the intake so I can epoxy the bottom heat chamber. Hope to have it back on Tue & try again.

No paint this year, just letters & numbers on alum panels. Will paint it during the off season if I don't put the cash in a new "BIGGER INCH" motor to run with the 300" Fords & Chevy's.

[Old28]

Well I had some success today and was able to fire the motor and break in the cam & lifters. Sounds real nice for a little 194" motor. Don't have any Video stuff and can not figure how to get phone video on to my computer.

All the run news is not great I have a water leak in one of the small freeze plugs in the head. Just a small drip now, Has anyone used Bars Leak to try to seal one up or will I have to remove the plug and replace with a new one.

I can get to all three small plugs by removing the intake & exhaust manifolds without removing the head again. I have never replaced these small plugs in the head, any advice

[P-Dog]

Old28,

I'd replace the plugs now instead of later.
In all the years I worked in an auto machine shop I never once saw any head plugs replaced but all the block plugs are always replaced at rebuild time. Your plugs could be rusted paper thin, a blow out at speed could put you right on your lid, I wouldn't chance it.
Real cheap insurance, fix the problem don't just put a band-aid on it.

My two pence,
P-Dog........

[64 DODGE 440]

Originally Posted by Old28

Well I had some success today and was able to fire the motor and break in the cam & lifters. Sounds real nice for a little 194" motor. Don't have any Verdi stuff and can not figure how to get phone video on to my computer.

All the run news is not great I have a water leak in one of the small freeze plugs in the head. Just a small drip now, Has anyone used Bars Leak to try to seal one up or will I have to remove the plug and replace with a new one.

I can get to all three small plugs by removing the intake & exhaust manifolds without removing the head again. I have never replaced these small plugs in the head, any advice

As P-Dog says...Replace them all now while you are starting out. Don't know about it "putting you on your lid", but a face full of hot water wouldn't be much fun at the top end of the strip. Get good plugs, (I prefer brass), clean the holes in the head out well and put a little Permatex around the edges when you install them, it makes the process a bit messy, but I like the insurance.

Great you got it running. It won't be long now.

[Old28]

P-Dog & 64 DODGE 440

I'm with you guys. I re-fired the motor this morning and got some temp in the water again. The plugs are OEM steel and there is a hole in the front one, it is very thin as I was able to open the hole with a punch.

I will get the intake/exhaust manifolds off this weekend and maybe get the new brass plugs installed. I have never removed these small head plugs before. Can you drive them into the water jacket to get them lose and then turn them and work them out???????

[64 DODGE 440]

Originally Posted by Old28

P-Dog & 64 DODGE 440

I'm with you guys. I re-fired the motor this morning and got some temp in the water again. The plugs are OEM steel and there is a hole in the front one, it is very thin as I was able to open the hole with a punch.

I will get the intake/exhaust manifolds off this weekend and maybe get the new brass plugs installed. I have never removed these small head plugs before. Can you drive them into the water jacket to get them lose and then turn them and work them out???????

Never worked on a late model Chevy, but my standard procedure for removing core plugs is to drive a chisel or screwdriver through them and lever them out. Then clean out the seating area and put the new ones in.

[P-Dog]

Old28,

You can drill a hole in the plug then use a slide hammer with a hook on the end, should snatch 'em right out,,,, with luck.

P-Dog........

[Joe Hamby]

Hi Old 28. you might drill a small hole or larger one and use a cross piece with a hole in it and run a metal screw through it and use it like a wheel puller.

[Old28]

64 DOEDGE 440 - P-Dog - Joe Hamby

Thanks guys for some ideas on removing the plugs. May not get to it today as it is already 92 degrese and it is going to top out at 101 later today. This old body don't function well at these temperatures.

[64 DODGE 440]

Originally Posted by Old28

64 DOEDGE 440 - P-Dog - Joe Hamby

Thanks guys for some ideas on removing the plugs. May not get to it today as it is already 92 degrese and it is going to top out at 101 later today. This old body don't function well at these temperatures.

Seems like as we gain years the heat takes more out of us.

[Old28]

Ya Tom, It is looking more and more like a long hot summer for the Central Valley. and that works out to less time in the shop! I need to get all these bugs with the car taken care of ASAP.

[Old28]

Well this weekend at the ANRA Nostalgia 2nd race, Famoso Dragstrip, Bakersfield, CA was about as hot as we get in this area at 104 deg on Sat and 106 deg on Sun. It felt like 120+ in the stagging lanes. The only good thing was the humidity was 8%, I know you guys in Tulsa would take that over 85% any time.

The 2 regular HA/GR of Joe & Jenna along with Dicks HA/GMR were there to race and I had my SDRA ride there so I could promote the class and have the car tech to see where I need to make changes. I am sure old6 will fill you in on the racing as I took off after the first round.

Tech was no big deal, only a couple of small things. I need to completely modify the brake system and the steering before the Aug race. We fired the car up and it sounds real nice, it was running fat, I need to change out the jets as we had a CA (corrected altitude) of 4800 feet both days and it will be the same in Aug at the 3rd race. Normal is 830 - 1500 ft.

A couple of pictures of the cars in the pits.

[bobw]

Nice to see all the cars lined up. Whew! That would be too much heat for me.

When you make the mods the Tech guy pointed out, take good pics. Thanks, Bob

[old sparks]

Tom , could you tell me what mods the tech crew wanted you to make. Since I`m at the roller stage, it would help me alot.

[injected27]

Wow that is some heat!!!!!! Looks like a lot of fun. I might understand the braking problem but your steering looked pretty straught foward. What did they find wrong with it???