altered wheel base

[tom slick]

I need help with making a edsel an a couple other cars awb, i have some idea;s but not sure how to do it rite can anyone please help.? thanks tom slick

[CAL]

I need help with making a edsel an a couple other cars awb, i have some idea;s but not sure how to do it rite can anyone please help.? thanks tom slick

Well, I haven't done it, but I read up on it a lot. I have a set of Arnnie the Farmer decals, and kit, only the car is supposed to be an AWB.

But from what I read, and the way I am planning on it, is cutting out the wheel opening. Then cutting out an opening for where the wheel opening needs to go. Glue the opening in the new location, and filling in the space left over with plastic sheet.

It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to do. I guess a lot depends on how drastic of a body shape and line it changes from where it was to where it needs to go. But that is what Milliputt, sand paper, and filler is for.

Edited July 8, 2008 by CAL

[Jairus]

Making an altered wheel base funny car requires a lot more than just moving the fender lip forward, although that is the first thing you see.

It also requires a lot of chassis scratch-building to create a solid framework behind the cut off frame rails to mount the rear axle and wheelie bars in some cases.

The whole "AWB" craze only lasted a few short years as a way to get more of the body weight on the rear axle. Some builders even moved the front axle forward, mounting on leaf springs with a straight tube.

Almost to a car, the AWB craze was an experimental period utilizing trial and error, with no two cars the same.

But since they were all hand made and experimental, there is little chance of messing it up unless you are replicating an actual car.

But it all ended as soon as someone realized a welded tube chassis and fiberglass body went faster, was easier to build and way easier to work on!

No, I don't know who was the first....

So, if you want to make an Edsel AWB, I would put your mind in the very early 60's and simply think... "What would I do to make this car faster and lighter"?

Remove all interior pieces except the dash board. (requires scratch building all sheet-metal support work in the doors, floor and roof.)

Get yourself a good tube or "I" beam front axle and front suspension leaf springs and shackles.

Move the rear fender wheel openings and scratch-build a new frame from the rear axle back. (don't forget to sheet metal it all in)

Leave off the front and rear bumpers... which requires thinning the remaining sheet metal so it looks realistic.

Leave off all glass.

Scratch-build a roll cage.

Then PM James Warkinten for more ideas because he has built a number of these....

[m408]

Have no idea what it means now, but back in my drag racing days, (late 50s) an "altered" meant a change in wheel base lengths and was a special class at the strip. We didn't have funny cars back then so it was limited mostly to fiat coupes and bantam roadsters.

As Jairus said, it was mostly to improve weight transfer. Most guys actually shortened the wheel base and also moved the engine back. Made for a great hook up but was a nightmare to drive. Just a twitch off of the starting line could put you into the guard rail instantly.

[Bowtienutz]

Check My Fotki Site I have some orignal articles on how Chrysler created the original factory cars.

http://public.fotki.com/VincePutt/drag_rac...-awb-factory-a/

Vince

I need help with making a edsel an a couple other cars awb, i have some idea;s but not sure how to do it rite can anyone please help.? thanks tom slick