Hey!! guys seeing how it's winter and not much going on I thought I would tell you about a new build. I was one of the original Ram Rod members that started out with one of the original 3 Hamb dragsters. After a couple of years we sold the hamb dragster and I graduated to driving an A fuel car owned by a good friend. I drove for him for 7yrs and he decided to retire at age 75 and sell the car which he did. I always have wanted to build a rear engine SDRA(hamb dragster) and have had plans in my head ever since we sold the Hamb dragster. One of our crew members which happens to be a transplanted calif guy and I decided we would build the car. Turns out a good friend of mine Frank Parks built the rolling chassis for us. So enough with the boring crap and now about the car. It will be rear engine,118 inch wheel base, Chev 4Cyl powered,yep high winding chev 4 cyl. The car will weigh approx. 1000lbs without the driver. I will give you more details and pics later.
It`s good to see someone building again. When I built mine ,my friends said you can`t go slower. I`ve found out that it`s fun to try and wring out everything you can get out of your chosen combination. Wish we had more like the Oklahoma guys out on the left side. Good luck and have fun.
Wow! A fabricated rear end housing. You must be expecting many ponies from that Chevy 4 banger. It looks like a really nice innovative chassis.
Thanks bobw, The hole idea on the build is WEIGHT, Were giving up 2cyls. The rearend housing you see weighs 24lbs.
I knew fabricated rear end housings were strong but I didn't realize there was a weight advantage. Looks like the frame rails are formed channel ( unboxed?) and well ventilated. What do you think it will turn?
Bob, The frame rails are per SDRA rules 1/1/2 x 3x 1/8in square tubing. the 6 point cage is built per NHRA rules. As far as what it's going to turn who knows, But I'm pretty sure it will run the 11:50 index with no problem.
You have angularity around the cockpit similar to the Bob's Muffler car, but with closer to a Custom Auto Glass car style nose. Tin work looks good as the rest. I trust you've left some way to turn the mill over by hand when tuning. I didn't, and had to cut a hole in the seat back to get to the crank snout.
Mac, wow that looks sharp! Had a racing friend in Colorado that had a Red with a gm 4 cylinder, someone had made a a valve cover adapter for a cover from a 409, always got second looks from people.
The tin work defines the lines of the car. Without the tin, your eyes kinda do a : wth Very nice. Carry on!
Just needs a '27 T body on the back like the Speed Sport roadster and run the exhaust out under the back.
Tony, you are so right I have been worried the car will look to modern and that's because of the cage we have to use. I was sure hopen the body would take care of that and I think it did. Thanks for your comment.
We have a car running with the SDRA now that looks like the speed sport roadster and its cool but it's a little heavy and we are so trying to build a light weight car. But it would look kool. Thanks
That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw it. Nice ride - first class work. I had problems round-robin bracket racing with my PG trans overheating until I installed a thermostatically controlled trans cooler. Or you could just dump 5 gallons of water over the trans before the next round.
Will the Chevy II 4 banger be a carb setup or injected as in the old style midget race cars? Fine looking build, keep at it.