After a few years of fabrication in my spare time i finally finished the short little rail i call the Senior dragster (as opposed to Junior Dragster cause old people need fun too!)
This 60s style rail is 96 inches long and weighs just inder 1300 lbs without me in it. I loads easily into the back od my Dodge ram 3/4 ton for transportaion to the track. The engine is a 225 with a .140 overbore. Both block and head were planed to get some squeeze and compression is just above 10to1. Cam was an moderate hydraulic grind I found and engine was converted to hydraulics. Head is ported with big valves and narrower stems (11/32"), K motion springs with stock retainers and VK415 locks for 11/32 stem to 3/8 retainer work.
Reworked clifford headers handle the exhaust. Intake is an IR set up with 6 tillotson sidedraft carbs. Trans is a 79 Ply Carevelle unit with a MP econo converter of supposedly 2300 to 2600 stall. Everything possible was made in house including the front axle, shifter and steering wheel.
A used set of 35 year old firestone slicks , 29 X 9 were used to test.
I was nervous to say the least and hadn't raced a race car in almost 10 years. I left easy because I was unsure of everything in the car and wanted to get a feel for it befoe I went nuts. When the car beside me pulled alongside that plan went out the window and I floored it. The tires blazed on the one -two shift and again on the two -three shift. I was surprised.
Shakedown pass was 8.43 at 81.76 with a 2.0 60 footer from my easy start. I was so happy and it worked so goodthat I loaded it up and went home after making the rounds among my old friends. I wasn't going ruin this day. I wanted to savour it. [/img]
