New to Front Engine Dragster

Hello I have recently retired from Top Fuel Harley and am starting a build on a FED. I have been studying FED for a long time, my cousin runs in the class. I havnt slept much since I decided to do this project surfing the net. I might need a little help every once and a while during the build. I was hoping there was someone out there that loves these crazy rides and could help a little. I plan on running injected nitro at around 50 percent. Will be purchasing a 461 BBC 12:1 forged tomorow. Also have a racing powerglide built by a TAD team, 1.76. Trying to find a good deal on a Jackson valve they work really good.
I have a bird catcher on the way and a custom chassis kit from Mark Williams also on the way. Building jig table this weekend. I really need to know which pump to use, how much to lean it out, fuel system pressure, leanout pressure, fuel curve, can I use a HEI ignition, mags too expensive, 6an or 8 an on fuel lines, secondary pressure, barrelvalve leakdown, barrelvalve number, butterfly gap, timing, spark plug gap, spark plug number, stall speed, rear gear, tire width, still looking for wheels and tires, whether to run a tunnel ram intake, ect. Thanks

 

Sounds VERY similar to a build I have in the shop! I will tell ya as faras Fuel System...worth every $$ tohave it FLOWED by someone that KNOWS what you are trying to do. I sent mint to Spud. Should be lighting it off next week. Shoot me your e-mail, be happy to share some pics of thechassis build, Tim

 

Do yourself a BIG favor and call Mike at RAGE FUEL SYSTEMS 843-623-3500.....almost all of the good running cars run his pump and fuel system.

 

Go over to the classicfunnycarboard . They recently had a injected nitro thread. Its on page 6 now. Sorry I can't link. NHRA Heritage Series A/Fuel has rules. Injected nitro is pretty much owned by Bates/ Adams. Spud Miller [ Fuel Injection Enterprises ] is a good choice for your desires. Let me be a smart ass and say if you can't afford $500.00 for a used Mallory Mag you should quit right now.

 

More of a lurker here than contributor but I'd like to chime in on this one. Ran an FED a few years back with a blown alcohol BB Mopar wedge with a nostalgia group here in the southeast and had a ball. First big lesson we learned is what everyone has mentioned so far... go ahead and PAY an expert to set up your fuel system base line. ABSOLUTELY the only way to go. Had I continued to try and figure it out on my own I probably would have eventually put a gun to my head. Also... I've heard of folks using an HEI but for what it's worth, I bought a used super mag III for $380, had Zig freshen it up for me for a few hundred and never looked back. For someone on a very tight budget ya can't beat them.

Like you I did my own chassis for half the cost (turned out beautifully by the way) and did anything else my crew (which consisted of an industrial machine shop owner and an ace welder) and I could handle in house to save on cost.

As I'm sure you already know... the wealth of information on this board is fantastic. This is the first place I visit each day... and I don't even race anymore!

 

In my opinion, 50% is only gonna get you in trouble. Start out at 85-90 and you will be much happier in the long run. There are many great ones out there that will set you up, choose one, and stick with them as the will help you tune it. Also in my opinion, Gene Adams is the best out there, call him and see what he can do for you. Good luck.

 

Man Thats what I was looking for. I heard to build the car to NHRA Heritage rules that they are pretty much the standard. Also I would love to run a Mag. The only reason I was going to run HEI was because I have a MSD 7al2. But now Im finding out I have to spend another 600 on acc. So I will sell the MSD and get a Mallory Mag. Which one will I need?
Update I have BBC all forged, flowed heads, stainless valves, roller rockers, 12:1,
Enderle Bird complete system with TR2 tunnel ram,
Mark Williams rear
Shorty Powerglide, PTC anti balloon 4000, sheild and blast proof bell
14" wheels came with it but they are a little big for 12" tires, can I run 13's legally?
Have CO2 bottle w/solenoid, but want to use electric shift, but then I will have to run a batt.
Bend kit ordered, I am supplying straight pieces
Strange gear box cheapest of all of them at $329
Front axle and all steering ordered
Cant find a deal on front wheels though.
What do you all think?
Thanks Again.

 

If you are never, ever going to run the Heritage series then some rules can be ignored.
I'm with the others. Get a mag and don't look back.

Manual shift that thing to get rid of more unnecessary weight.
This is not a bracket car you are dreaming up.

Did anyone mention getting a clutch and lenco?

Dave Koehler
http://www.koehlerinjection.com

 

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking manual shift also, but I didnt know if the G's would make it hard to shift. What is an easy to shift shifter? I have been looking at the B&M line of shifters but dont know which one to get but would like to go with the cheapest one that will still be easy to use. My other dillema is steering box shaft length and price.
I have found the SPE box advertised for $329 but when I call everyone says that they dont carry it anymore. Does anyone have a phone number for SPE? Thanks

 

Nitro FED

SPE is long gone.
S&W race cars has a Strange Engineering steering box on the shelf.
I just called to make sure. 1-800-523-3353. Press ext.115 Price is $495

I agree with Dave Koehler: Crowerglide and 2 speed Lenco

Dave: Lay out a combo:
Rear gear, pump & nozzle size, camshaft specs.

 

a/fuel

Dont use a glide. Go with a pedal clutch. I dont have the numbers on my cam here,but it's close to an rv cam very mild.

 

Do this.
Since you have yet to lay any pipe down, concentrate on that. That's a huge time, tools and financial hurdle the first time. Second car is a breeze.

When you do it build it so you can put a can and trans in there just in case your powerglide proves to be a problem. This means you may have to make it 1/2-1 inch wider at the motor plate than you would for a slimmed down powerglide. Kind of depends on whether or not you want on board starting. Not so tough with a powerglide but a full can has that starter snout encased and that sucks up some real estate.

Find a can to borrow when you get to that point. I believe the lenco dimensions are available on their site. The only one to worry about is the length.

And you may as well borrow an old hemi block. If it's properly tubed and has the room to fit either the Hemi or a Chevy it's gives you more buyers when that time comes.

Oh, and don't bother painting the chassis until the end of the first season.

I may still have a thin "trick" shifter from my powerglide days that I can part with. Will look through the boxes.

Dave Koehler
http://www.koehlerinjection.com

 

Dave you gave me alot of things to think about. My Cousin has The Time Bandit out of Garrettsville OH and he runs a Crower and Lenco. That is what I really want but cant afford it yet. Still having a probem getting MW and SW to supply me with the bend package I need for the roll cage. I guess they are all busy. I did get a Mag coming so im good there. I have everything but the bend package. Talk about chomping at the bit. I got a mock up block today, but I am not quite sure how much room to leave for it and the powerglide. Should I move the motor forward and use a MW shaft, like they used to do in NHRA at the end of FED. They moved the motor up and went faster.

 

Powerglide

Scott, we have run a powerglide behind a blown alcohol hemi and run 3.80s on the 1/8 mile and never any transmission troubles for over 5 years now-THANKS! Jim from TN

 

Hey Jim, Thanks for the reasurance. The Powerglide will probably go faster than I want to go. Lookin forward to talking about alchohol drag racing again.

 

Bend Paxkage

When I was building my nostalgia FED I got my roll cage package from The Chassis Shop. Also had them bend a few custom pieces for me and they did it exactly as I asked. At that time they did all bending on thursday and if memory serves I got everything in a week. Can't say they are doing things the same these days but at the time I got excelent service from them.

 

I still need a Mallory Mag Sprint 2 drive for BBC.

Yep, I like Chassis shop also, but they told me I would have to design the parts and at Mark Williams they have everything already designed, because my cage needs to be wider than normal. I am down to needing just a few parts now. I still need a Mallory Mag Sprint 2 drive for BBC. Thanks everyone.

 

Chassis Shop

Sorry that I forgot to mention that for custom bends you need to send them drawings. In my case I work with AutoCAD so that was no problem. Should have brought that up in my post but I'm old and my brain isn't what it used to be.

 

sprint mag

Sprint mags are made for sprint cars on alky ! Save your money for a hopped up super mag 3-4-5. Usually about $400/450. Drives about $125.

 

Will the Super Mag drive work on Sprint 2? Thanks