Topless Terror

[Nitrozilla]

Major progress today with the cockpit finished and I promised Niko a tutorial on how I'm doing the fire bottle nozzles.

The pilot is firmly strapped down and I added a photo etch parking brake pedal for the belt release. Also attached the master cylinder to the pedal arm. I put a coat of Future on the helmet and it is nice and shiny. Thinking about putting a couple of drops on the goggle lenses too.

Took some extra pics of the rear end with the driveshaft in place because I was hoping we'd get a better view of the brake line tees with the line going to the master cylinder.

First up though is a mini tutorial on how I'm making the nozzles for the fire bottles. Easy peesy folks. Just take a length of .025 solder, then using a high pressure squeeze, flatten out one end. I use a flat nose plier that is part of a Kobalt 6 piece mini plier set I picked up at Lowes. If necessary, use a huge honkin' hammer, (kidding!!). Trim to desired length. Now split the end with an X-Acto and with a simple twist, separate the ends. Add a fitting and you're done, ready to route along the chassis and aim at the pilot or engine. Sorry about the blurriness, but like myself, sometimes it doesn't focus

[Nitrozilla]

.....and now the progress pics.

[John Teresi]

Joe.....lookng good!!!!!!

[Psychographic]

This is coming along great Joe. Have you figured out your paint scheme yet?

[Nitrozilla]

This is coming along great Joe. Have you figured out your paint scheme yet?

I plan on doing a panel and rivet nose with a peel away paint job of an, as yet, undetermined color. Might do orange and black or might do purple to match the pilot's helmet. And in answer to the unasked question, YES, the Bride of Deora is back on the bench when it's done.

[eviltwincustoms]

Cool little tut.. Joe. It amazes me how you can do these small details with such a simplistic process and have it turn out like it took hours to accomplish!

As for the diora project, I was beginning to wonder if it was going to be resurrected.

(darn predictive text on my phone selects the word I don't want all the time!)

Edited January 2, 2012 by eviltwincustoms

[Nitrozilla]

Your predictive text isn't far off. It looks like it may become a "diora" diorama.

But, back to the subject at hand. I made a battery box and Optima battery that will get hooked up to the MSD relay box and then a coil to the distributor. Still need to make a coil. I hope that's right 'cuz if it's not, somebody correct me before I wire it. I'm taking my best guess here. Tried to find funny car and dragster electrical schematics with no luck.

The oil filters are in place and next comes final hook up of the oil and fuel lines. After that, the cockpit goes in with the routing of the fire bottle lines. A close peek will reveal the pin head buttons I put on to activate the bottles.

Thanks for staying tuned in gang.

[brett]

looking good Joe. Now dont take this as gospel but, fuel engines usually use a magneto which unlike a distributor has its own coil built into it.So imho your ignition box would be all you need.

[Nitrozilla]

.....and that's why I lean on you guys. I know it's a magneto, but I called it a distributor anyway, therefore, the need for a coil that it doesn't need. Thank you Brett.......

[Pro Tech]

Joe, your doing a nice job, keep it going!

Charlie

Pro Tech

[Ira]

NICE WORK JOE!!!

Great Detailng....

[Mooneyzs]

Joe... very nice work on this one. The detail is looking great buddy. You are sure making great progress in this build.

[Nitrozilla]

Thanx Charlie, Ira, Chris. I appreciate everybody following along.

For the most part, the fuel and oil lines are done. I had one minor catastrophe when one of the fuel lines from the pump to the bottom of the tank BROKE. It's easily seen in the center of the last picture. It was a piece of the thin .032 solder and I guess it just got handled too much. I was able to splice it together with another bead. If anybody besides you guys notice it, I'll just say it's a fuel filter. I wonder if I have a Fram decal that small? lol Some touch up is needed for the 90 degree bends with clear red.

Next up, installing the cockpit and wiring the gauges. I've tied down the positive battery cable, but those will be replaced when I wire the gauges and fuel shut off switch.

Happy Trails.......

[John Teresi]

Joe......your getting closer.........looking good.

[W-409]

Detailing looks incredible. If the body looks as good as this frame, this is going to be one super nice build from your bench again. Can't wait to see more work with it.

[Truck parts]

WoW!!!!!!!!!!! What detail you have done.Is looking great

[Nitrozilla]

A "Thank You" type shout out to John, Niko and Gordon.

I popped in the cockpit, ran the fire bottle lines and made the nozzle ends. Still need to do some type of tie down for the lines. Can't have them just lying there. Also need to make the steering column and wire the gauges.

Finally, I made a top cap with ignition wire for the magneto and that will be part of tomorrow's festivities as well.

See ya' then.....

[Chuck Most]

Very cool indeed!

[Nitrozilla]

Glad ya' think it's cool Chuck, 'cuz it's makin' me hot under the collar. lol

On the bench for today is the final routing of the fire bottle lines and install of the fuel cut off switch with steering column. Pictures came out better this time so you can see the hold-downs for each line and the switch is dead center on the steering wheel.

Plans for tomorrow: Blower belt decal / install oil breather tubes / install front fuel pump covers (that's the pin heads in the last picture) / install magneto cover.

Like John said earlier, I'm getting close. Won't be too long before I get back to work on the body and prep for paint. That's still a few days off though, so hang tight good peoples.

[caine440]

Very, very nice!

[Scale-Master]

You asked about correct wiring... I have never heard of or seen a funny car with a battery... Did you put a starter on the engine?

[Nitrozilla]

You asked about correct wiring... I have never heard of or seen a funny car with a battery... Did you put a starter on the engine?

That being the case, where does it get the power from for the magneto, gauges, etc?

I do know that the engine is cranked by a hand held starter on the top blower pulley, so, no. No starter on the clutch housing.

[Scale-Master]

The magneto creates the spark. I don't mean to sound rude, but maybe a little research would benefit you before starting to try to detail a model. I asked about the starter since you added the battery and wondered where you where going with your plan.

[Nitrozilla]

Tried to find funny car and dragster electrical schematics with no luck.

I did research it Mark. I spent an hour doing Google searches using every permutation of "Battery / Electrical / Ignition / Magnetos" ad nauseum with no results that would apply to a F/C or Dragster. That's why I asked for help.

Now that you've told me the magneto is what provides the spark, thank you for that. Does it also power the rest of the car? If so, I'll yank the battery and use it on a project that needs one.

Do you have any recommendations on where I might find a schematic? I'm obviously no electrician, but I can read a wiring diagram.

[Scale-Master]

Looking for only an hour and you give up Joe? I usually don't give up until I find what I need, and I tend to do so before building, but that is just me I guess... As a wise man once said "looking is not the same as seeing..."

Look through Moroso's or Jeg's site for schematics. They used to host some great info. Summit might have something too...