Nostalgia Fuel Dragster--Blower Manifold (01/28/23)

[Straightliner59]

Port lines and manifold installed!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

It looks good Daniel !  A good night's sleep is often the best time to find a solution to a particular problem (at least for me).  If this is your case too, you must have a good night's sleep my friend! ??

[cifenet]

Daniel,

Super fantastic details!   And yet you are kept adding things to this and we are on page 28 going strong!   

I wonder if it could have been quicker and easier to build the actual thing.   

 

[Straightliner59]

16 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

It looks good Daniel !  A good night's sleep is often the best time to find a solution to a particular problem (at least for me).  If this is your case too, you must have a good night's sleep my friend! ??

Thank you, my friend! More often than not, this stuff keeps me from sleeping!? But, it's the good kind of staying awake!

[Straightliner59]

5 hours ago, cifenet said:

I wonder if it could have been quicker and easier to build the actual thing.   

 

Without question, it would have! ? Thank you for your kind words. I think I have reached the point at which I no longer have a say as to what details I'm adding. The dragster is running the shop!?

[Straightliner59]

Test fitting hat attachments with the blower. I need to make an elbow fitting for the port injectors block. The corner's too tight, for just the hose. Shouldn't be a biggie. Also got the new blower bag made. I'll start detailing it, once the elbow is done. It's feeling closer! Thanks for looking!

[Straightliner59]

Throttle linkage is sorted. It should be straightforward when it comes time to mate it with the hat's cross-shaft. I have some guitar string that is perfect for return springs. It's some of the smallest wound strings I've seen. The line for the port fuel block is made, and lying on the board, in these photos. I've since installed it to the fuel distribution block. I think that's the last item for the manifold. Next, I'll move on to finishing the blower details, so I can get that installed. Once that's done, I can finish up the hat, a lot of which is obviously done. I'll need to make a distribution block for the hat nozzles, and a restraint system for the hat. It's really getting close to completion, and I'm finding it quite exciting!?

[Straightliner59]

I got the blower finished and installed. I ended up milling a new blower restraint plate. The one I had (aftermarket photoetch) was too narrow, and too short. I believe it was produced prior to bags being required, so it didn't allow for the added girth of the bag. So, I fixed that. Next will be getting the plate mounted and the straps hooked up (a little more visual research, first). It gets a little closer, every day! Thanks for looking!

[absmiami]

You’re welcome !

[AmericanMuscleFan]

8 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

It gets a little closer, every day!

This only makes the fun last! ?

[Straightliner59]

10 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

This only makes the fun last! ?

Indeed, it does! I should get the plate mounted, tonight, once the lower section of straps is attached to the brackets on the header flanges. I am really happy with this thing, Francis! 

[Straightliner59]

Other than a couple of minor things, the blower restraint system is complete. I want to tone the straps down, a tad, and add a couple of little details. Once those are done, I'll be on to the fuel lines and distribution block for the hat...wow. ?

[Pierre Rivard]

Looks fabulous Daniel. Getting close on this most complex project. All the metal finishes add a lot of realism 

 

[Straightliner59]

4 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Looks fabulous Daniel. Getting close on this most complex project. All the metal finishes add a lot of realism 

 

Thank you, so much, Pierre. I appreciate that! I kind of feel like we really can't have a large enough variety of metal finishes!? I should be wrapping this up, within the next week, or so! That is pretty exciting!

[Rattlecan Dan]

The detail of that engine is so great I can feel the weight of it! Super work.

[Straightliner59]

2 hours ago, Rattlecan Dan said:

The detail of that engine is so great I can feel the weight of it! Super work.

Thanks, much! I truly appreciate that. After all, isn't at least a part of modeling an illusion show??

[Straightliner59]

In the midst of putting stuff together for the installation of the hat, I started messing around with a length of the braided fishing line that was lying on the workbench. The braid is very limp, once removed from the core, and is prone to fraying and collapse. Because of those factors, I hadn't really given much thought to attempting to replace the core with something of a different size, as I've often done with metal braid. I thought, "Eh? What the heck?" See the metal assembly with the fittings, that was to be the main fuel line into the barrel valve? That's getting replaced with something like the piece directly above it. Of course, I'll apply a tad more care, along with the paint, on the real piece. I inserted that one with old school telephone wire. The bottom length is "stock", the one in the center was inserted with some nichrome wire that was lying on the bench. My late friend Mark Brown repeatedly touted the virtues of braided fishing line, to me. I wasn't seeing it, until a couple of years ago, when I found this stuff at a Walmart. I knew, immediately, that this was what he was talking about. I think it looks better than any of the aftermarket braid I've seen, because of its fine fibers, and weave.

This doesn't specifically concern the dragster, but I wanted to share it. Hey, I was excited about it!?

Edited January 13, 2024 by Straightliner59

[AmericanMuscleFan]

19 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

This doesn't specifically concern the dragster, but I wanted to share it. Hey, I was excited about it!?

If this tip can help anyone, it's worth sharing! ?

[Straightliner59]

14 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

If this tip can help anyone, it's worth sharing! ?

Agreed. I think the stuff looks great! It's not as easy to work with as metal braid, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper. I don't mind the extra time--I'm not running a race, here. The weave is definitely finer than any of the aftermarket stuff that's around--especially as small as this is, in diameter.

[Straightliner59]

The hat lines and fuel block are installed. Since I shot these, I was able to hang the barrel valve. I need to drill holes so that I can install a couple of pins, to secure the hat to the blower. At that point, the hat can be mounted, the fuel lines hooked up, and the throttle linkages fabricated and installed, but that'll have to wait until next time, 'cause I gotta get some sleep. Thanks for looking!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

The sleep of the righteous as they say around here! ??

[Straightliner59]

12 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

The sleep of the righteous as they say around here! ??

You can bet that when I did fall asleep, I was thinking about this thing!?

[Straightliner59]

Hat is pinned and mounted. Throttle cable is in place, awaiting linkage. Fuel return lines are hooked up. Blower belt is installed.

I need to finish and install the injector linkage for both sides of the hat. I also need to install the return spring, once that is completed. The hat restraint strap assembly needs to be made. The main fuel line needs to be cut and hooked up. I found some nice, soft orange wire insulation I think I may use for the puke tank hoses. We're definitely getting closer to glamour shots!

[Straightliner59]

Main fuel line is installed. I also cut and heat-formed a pair of puke hoses. I think I like the orange! I don't have a wide variety of choices on hand, exactly! I have brown. I've begun work on the hat linkage, so that'll be next...

[Straightliner59]

Well, it's done! Except for better photos. I set everything up--tripod, backdrop--these look like soft-focus. I don't really like them, so I won't post a thread "Under Glass" until I get some that I am happy with. Also, I just noticed that the left side of the cowl isn't in place. I think I will try to find something black, to shoot it on. Your comments, critiques and questions are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

Edited January 23, 2024 by Straightliner59