MrObsessive Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Now I'm a mostly factory stock kinda guy with the occasional vintage exotic thrown in. So when Al Raab contacted me to build this little gem for him, I had no idea what it was! This is a "turbo axle" that was made by a company called Turbonique back in the '60's. The way it was described was about as close as you could get to jet propulsion for your straight-liner on the strip! Here's what you get in his kit................... Very easy buildup of this unique addition to rear drag axles in the '60's. Resin is very cleanly molded, and includes some PE parts for some extra detail. I soaked the parts in Whestley's Bleche White for a few hours to thoroughly clean off any mold release. Kit has neat PE "bolts" for detail.........note the white metal "spark plugs". Buildup is quick and easy with just some 5 min. epoxy used to affix the parts. Aluminum tubing can be shortened to suit the length of the car. Don't want to melt the back end! Parts were airbrushed with Alclad Aluminum. Here's a scanned pic of the axle under a '65 Chevelle......... Some of you old timers who remember when these were being used would appreciate this. This is the first time I've seen something like this and it was a nice diversion from the usual! Thanks Al! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVZ2881 Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 OK Bill, now you have to mount it under a car!! looks really cool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ed Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 One would find the Ad for those in the back of Popular Mechanics along with the Gyrocopters and Build your own Hovercraft Plans! Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Flowers Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I remember seeing how to build one of those in a article from CAR MODEL magazine. It looked no where as good as good this one. Bill you should build something to put one of them under. Would be nice to see a drag car or truck you would build for one. That looks like a real nice replica of one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 (edited) Oh Yes, I DO remember them well! It was a direct drive unit geared directly to the rear pinion. There was a lil Volksie bug outta Long Island New York runnin one. It was in an OOLLLDDD magazine aptly named CARS. There were a few cars on the west coast runnin that setup too. They didn't last long though, if I remember correctly the Drag Raceing Asso.'s (AHRA,NHRA IHRA) didn't really have a class for them. Nice castings,aren't they,Bill? ALL of Alans stuff is that nice and sharp! Edited November 26, 2009 by george 53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker589 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 (edited) I found this fascenating! So I went searching and found this: Edited February 6, 2010 by seeker589 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 That is the Tobacco King's Galaxie. I believe it went to auction last year. There was an article in a past issue of 'Garage' magazine on him and the car. Basic story is rich kid with a penchant for all things fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69_charger Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 so... what does this thing do on a real car??? im kinda lost.. but it loks like a turbo on the diff to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 That's exactly wat it was. The turbine shaft was bolted directly to the pinion gear to drive the axles. in the late 60's it was a real innovation! But like I mentioned, the sanctioning bodies couldn't really find a class for it. I THINK the VW running out of L.I. New York was known as the "Thunder Bug" but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69_charger Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 so.. what did that do for it? or basicly what a jet engine does to an airplane? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 The turbo spun at like 56,000 RPM's geared down to make it managable. They were easy 10 second cars an that's why they were banned. They ran on Hydrogen Peroxide fuel, poured into a fine steel wool like mesh the dissovled INSTANTAINIOUSLY providing the forward thrust, like a rocket. I THINK they were only geared to the axles to make them legal for raceing. I'd hafta look in my old magazines to find out more, but basically that's what it was, IF i remember correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69_charger Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 (edited) hydrogen peroxide? isnt that the stuff people put on cuts to kill bacteria? edit: i found this on the net.. http://hotrod.automotive.com/79683/0512-hrdp-turbonique-drag-axle/index.html Edited March 28, 2010 by 69_charger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Yep! evidently the Peroxide and the fine stainless steel mesh were actually VERY volatile when combined. The peroxide created an INSTANT flashpoint within the mesh, it was more like a steel wool looking element an VA-VOOM! Instant trust!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Oh, and there was a sparkplug attached to the houseing to insure complete an total combustion. It WAS/IS a VERY dangerous combination, and SHOULDN'T be tried at home without the proper precautions!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaronw Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 hydrogen peroxide? isnt that the stuff people put on cuts to kill bacteria? edit: i found this on the net.. http://hotrod.automotive.com/79683/0512-hrdp-turbonique-drag-axle/index.html In diluted forms yes (the disinfectant is around 3%), in less diluted forms it is used to make some types of rocket fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOBBS Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Yep! evidently the Peroxide and the fine stainless steel mesh were actually VERY volatile when combined. The peroxide created an INSTANT flashpoint within the mesh, it was more like a steel wool looking element an VA-VOOM! Instant trust!!! Steel wool is actually some useful stuff and very flammable. I saw on one of those survival shows that you can use steel wool and a 9-volt battery to light a fire. Just rub the posts of the battery across a fluffed up pad of steel wool and it sparks to life. It'll burn hot and long enough to dry out whatever kindling you can find. I carry some now in the truck just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white00gt Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 (edited) Steel wool is actually some useful stuff and very flammable. I saw on one of those survival shows that you can use steel wool and a 9-volt battery to light a fire. Just rub the posts of the battery across a fluffed up pad of steel wool and it sparks to life. It'll burn hot and long enough to dry out whatever kindling you can find. I carry some now in the truck just in case. Just don't add peroxide....Pretty interesting that they used peroxide to fuel that thing, wonder how many mishaps they had correcting the mixture- peroxide can be very dangerous if played with Edited April 20, 2010 by white00gt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torinobradley Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 A hydrogen peroxide accident sank the Kirsk... That's what they think, anyway. Nice kit, btw... Might have to get one. Maybe adapt one to a Land Speed Racer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carsntrucks4you Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Bill where did you get this kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchP Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Now I'm a mostly factory stock kinda guy with the occasional vintage exotic thrown in. So when Al Raab contacted me to build this little gem for him, I had no idea what it was! This is a "turbo axle" that was made by a company called Turbonique back in the '60's. The way it was described was about as close as you could get to jet propulsion for your straight-liner on the strip! Here's what you get in his kit................... Very easy buildup of this unique addition to rear drag axles in the '60's. Resin is very cleanly molded, and includes some PE parts for some extra detail. I soaked the parts in Whestley's Bleche White for a few hours to thoroughly clean off any mold release. Kit has neat PE "bolts" for detail.........note the white metal "spark plugs". Buildup is quick and easy with just some 5 min. epoxy used to affix the parts. Aluminum tubing can be shortened to suit the length of the car. Don't want to melt the back end! Parts were airbrushed with Alclad Aluminum. Here's a scanned pic of the axle under a '65 Chevelle......... Some of you old timers who remember when these were being used would appreciate this. This is the first time I've seen something like this and it was a nice diversion from the usual! Thanks Al! Well, being an ex-racer from the early 2000's, I ran Vortech centrifugal superchargers on my '93 Mustang hatch. I'm familiar with "Turbonetics", but not this early brand. However, the technique is still marketed with moderate success. Instead of standard turbo installs with uppipe, downpipes, etc., all crammed into the engine compartment, newer models mount up into the bottom of the chassis above the rear suspension. You lose some psi potential as the engine exhaust must travel 3/4 the length of the car in order to turn the rotor splines which pump up the returning air psi to the engine input. However, the trade off is the ease of install. I never did an after market install, but upgraded the turbo/fuel/computer and a front mounted intercooler on my stock Suby STI (300/300 at the flywheel) which got me 370/370 on the all-wheel dyno. It definitely went nuts with a 6-speed, although very smoothly. Nice Ford! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 This turbonique engine is cast by muh Cuzzin Al overt Ma's Resins! He has ALL sortsa cool little things that'r REALLY neat! Check Cuzzin Al out, you WON'T be dissapointed! "Ma's Resins" is a GRADE A caster!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Invader Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Here's a link to a short Hot Rod Magazine article on the Turbonique: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_0403_turbonique/viewall.html Interesting to note that it didn't use peroxide as a propellent - that was used on the rocket dragsters/funny cars. A short Wikipedia article on Isopropyl Nitrate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_nitrate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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