Fiat, T, Or Bantam Body?

I just got a 125" funny car to make into an altered and need some input on bodies. I like the style of the Fiat but wonder if climbing down the cage into the body is any more challenging than some of the open topped style of the 23T or Austin Bantam. Also do these bodies need to have trees installed to stiffen them up. What's the best way to mount them? Use the funny car rear hinge? The last question is does anyone reccommend a wing kit from any chassis companies that are simple to fab onto the car.
Thanx, Mike

 

Mike..... the Fiat bodies are a little more difficult to get in and out of. if you are looking at the 23T....i have to recommend Hairy Glass. we love ours. no need for a tree, as the body is very well made. use a F/C hinge in the back and make the body so it will tilt, it makes it so much easier to service the trans/clutch. we use 2 dzus fasteners, 1 on each side of the body at the bottom front to hold it down...really simple to do.
as far as the wing goes we are getting ready to make some out of carbon fiber. i don't know how quick you are needing it....but we will have them available in a couple months. if you need one now, i can set you up with the guy that made ours. last i heard he worked for Advanced Chassis in Ohio
(419) 258-2100 his name is Jeff Porter. i'm not sure if he is still there, but he makes a very nice wing for the $$. ours is 13"x48"....give him a call
Darren Russell

 

Go with whichever is the least common style where you race. One of the best things about altereds is they all look different, when a class is swamped by similar looking bodies then you lose some of the variety.

Out of the ones you mention I would go for a T, though there is nothing to stop you looking at something less common like a '35 Chevy (http://www.smax.co.uk/images/car_menacealt3.jpg)

 

Fiat with no question.... Best looking altered!!!

 

I have a 32 Bantam. I really like the body style but it is wider than a 23T and it's hard for a fat guy like me to step into it from the ground level. I use a two step stool, much to the comic relief of my son who can stand flat footed and get in the car.

 

My fiat was great.... Step on the tire, sit on the cage and slide in!

 

I have a 23t on ours its easy to take on and off,easy to get in and out of.
We have a prowler body also and flip back and forth.It seemed to stick out in the lanes BUT we had no turning radius on it,we went back to the 23 t and life is simpler and we saved on the weight. If its for comp dont even go near the prowler per NHRA it does not exist . PERIOD!!
Rick

 

I had this car built for me in 1976. If I had to do it again...I'd do it again. 23"T". The body was mounted like a funny car, and I actually had a Corvette body for it, too.

 

my fiat body raised up to get in and i had help getting my laps latched it made that easier plus i had to start it with the body

the ts are cool but i think the fiat look better and i had both

 

how you post a picture

 

race weight or street weight?

is the race weight fiberglass more prone to cracking? should i get the street weight instead. My funny car body seems to be pretty heavy weight fiberglass.

 

Don't waste your time with fiberglass. All the hassle to mount and paint will be a mute point when the fiberglass takes a dump. Carbon fiber is your friend.

 

altered body

I built a one off body from a prowler, it looks like a 34 chevy. Flip up style mounted and tinned like a funny car. I built a dragster body for the front with canard wings. It was a lot of work , but theres not another one like mine.

 

I never ran an altered but I have to say , back in the days of "pro outlaw" Neil Parkers Excavator... was way high on the cool factor!

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&gbv=2&hl=en&safe=off&ei=HZeESrOeL5LINdHfkNwL

 

Does anyone know of anyone who makes a carbon fiber 48 Fiat shorty body?

 

i just got my new outlaw fiat body and it looks bad as hell i have got it mounted already i bought it from the rod and race shop it took four weeks to get and its fiberglass 1000.00 very reasonable i made mine hinge just like my funnycar and the tin work is just like in my mustang except the chutes levers are on the side and not the top i did change the way the windows went in i flush fitted the windshield and added a 1/2" lip for all three windows to bolt to and it has a t-handle pull latch behind the blower to raise it up i have had the 23t and this is my second fiat body but the fiat is my favorite good luck

there is nothing wrong with the fiberglass body unless you just got the money to spend on carbon fiber probley a ton more i have worked with both materials for me i would rather spend the extra money on the motor

ps mine looks like neil parkers but more bad ass if you want to see it give me you e-mail address

 

My friends old altered, a Rod-N-Race Bantam body that he pinched about 6" out of the front of it because it was too wide.


My T.

 

go different

Go with something totally different. the 23t has been used and abused to the Nth degree. How about one of those roundy round legend bodies. Chop it up and make it fit the chassis. Now THAT would be different. Or... how about one of those corvette roadster bodies.

 

John Dunn's altered body, a widened Legends body.



http://speedwaylegendsracecars.com/

 

Go for what you like, mounting any body is easy enough but get it for yourself not everyone else.

We have got a Bantam and topo and I like them both...I have however designed a one off body that we will make if we ever go fuel.