This is the buildup of a Nostalgia Top Fuel Front Engine Dragster.
Van has decided to build one or two funny cars for drag racing (NFC). Before building the funny cars, he thought it would be nice to have a car for us to play with while the funny cars are under construction. Ultimately, it was decided to have a front engine dragster for play time.
At first, he acquired a rear engine dragster chassis that appeared to be an old Top Fuel car from the early 1970's that was built by Mike Case. That chassis was to be updated so that we had our "interim toy." Instead, the old Top Fuel chassis got cut up and its engine cradle was retained for a new front engine dragster which will be built up from scratch around the Top Fuel dragster's engine cradle.
So starting from scratch, there's a big pile of chromoly tubing gathered on the floor:
There is also an overwhelming collection of race car hardware (not pictured) in the form of Dana 60's, B&J transmissions, TH400's, etc, etc, etc. Most everything collected is really for the funny car program. So while some of those parts may not be "ideal" for the front engine dragster, they will be used and allow us to have a blast.
The dragster chassis itself is being built around a Mark Willliams blueprint and will receive the highest possible NHRA certification for Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster.
Based on the above blueprint, slight changes will be made as noted in this thread, including the latest NHRA updates. Also, relative to the blueprint much of the tubing used in this build will be either, A) one diameter larger, or B) one wall thickness greater. This car is being built with safety in mind, and the weight difference is slight enough (in the Front Engine Dragster field) that it is of little-to-no concern and the car will remain as fast as the NHRA allows.
Next is to secure the tube bender to the concrete and start going to town:
Below, the Top Fuel dragster's engine cradle is secured to the chassis jig and the first pieces of tubing are bent and welded to the engine cradle:
Van has decided to build one or two funny cars for drag racing (NFC). Before building the funny cars, he thought it would be nice to have a car for us to play with while the funny cars are under construction. Ultimately, it was decided to have a front engine dragster for play time.
At first, he acquired a rear engine dragster chassis that appeared to be an old Top Fuel car from the early 1970's that was built by Mike Case. That chassis was to be updated so that we had our "interim toy." Instead, the old Top Fuel chassis got cut up and its engine cradle was retained for a new front engine dragster which will be built up from scratch around the Top Fuel dragster's engine cradle.
So starting from scratch, there's a big pile of chromoly tubing gathered on the floor:
There is also an overwhelming collection of race car hardware (not pictured) in the form of Dana 60's, B&J transmissions, TH400's, etc, etc, etc. Most everything collected is really for the funny car program. So while some of those parts may not be "ideal" for the front engine dragster, they will be used and allow us to have a blast.
The dragster chassis itself is being built around a Mark Willliams blueprint and will receive the highest possible NHRA certification for Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster.
Based on the above blueprint, slight changes will be made as noted in this thread, including the latest NHRA updates. Also, relative to the blueprint much of the tubing used in this build will be either, A) one diameter larger, or B) one wall thickness greater. This car is being built with safety in mind, and the weight difference is slight enough (in the Front Engine Dragster field) that it is of little-to-no concern and the car will remain as fast as the NHRA allows.
Next is to secure the tube bender to the concrete and start going to town:
Below, the Top Fuel dragster's engine cradle is secured to the chassis jig and the first pieces of tubing are bent and welded to the engine cradle: