Ace-Garageguy Posted July 27, 2013 Posted July 27, 2013 (edited) This little '41 Mopar came in looking kinda sad, and very well stuck together. Lotsa gloo, and I apparently forgot to get some before shots. I've been wanting to do some period gassers, and this one seemed like a natural starting point. I guess I'm weird, but I'd rather rework an old mess into a race-car, kinda like pulling something out of the boneyard to race, than hack up a nice new model. After setting the car up on blocks to mock up the stance I was after, i found a kinda rough straight axle in the parts stash that has possibilities. It will get working spindles as things progress, and probably springs built up from sheet stock to replace the molded springblobs. The height and spacing of the springs are about right to work with the Plymouth chassis, so it's a good starting point. Rear suspension is more unknown bits from the stash. Right spring spacing and height. The lift bars will get their axle-end brackets modified so that the bars would actually clear the frame rails when they move as the car launches. With the independent front suspension hacked away and a tubular aluminum front crossmember that ties the rails together... ...and on her feet for the first time. I decided to open all the panels, and to do a representation of a one-piece 'glass flip-nose. I need to have a look at the period rules to see when that would have been legal, and then decide on an engine. I seem to remember there was a rule at one time requiring the tire treads to be inside the rear fenders, so that will probably happen. Otherwise I'll have to radius them more (or lift the tail for more clearance, which I don't want to do). Edited July 27, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy
cobraman Posted July 27, 2013 Posted July 27, 2013 Nice ! Looks like it will sit just right. Not too high like a lot of builds ( mine included ). May I ask how many WIP's you have going at one time ? : )
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 27, 2013 Author Posted July 27, 2013 ......... May I ask how many WIP's you have going at one time ? : ) I'm afraid to count at this point. That's why I almost never finish anything.
High octane Posted July 27, 2013 Posted July 27, 2013 Looks like a great start on that "gasser" build Bill.
James2 Posted July 28, 2013 Posted July 28, 2013 Now those are some looooooong trailing arms! I like what you are doing here.....
ScaleDale Posted July 28, 2013 Posted July 28, 2013 What vintage gasser are we looking at? Are you going for super or naturally aspirate? I don't recall gas class cars having to keep the tires inside the wheel wells and I date back to the late 60s. Stockers, yes. Gassers, no. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. (that always happens) Good luck on the build. Dale
W-409 Posted July 28, 2013 Posted July 28, 2013 This is looking like a good start! '41 Plymouth is great basis for Drag Race projects, and especially when built as a Gasser. This makes me to continue my '41 Plymouth G/G with Hilborn Injected Ford Flathead.
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 28, 2013 Author Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) What vintage gasser are we looking at? Are you going for super or naturally aspirate? I don't recall gas class cars having to keep the tires inside the wheel wells and I date back to the late 60s. Stockers, yes. Gassers, no. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. (that always happens) Good luck on the build. Dale I could certainly be wrong, but in the late '50s-early '60s, the cars were closer to street-driven vehicles. That's the period I'm thinking had the fender / tire thing... gotta look it up. Somewhere in there f'glass fenders and noses became allowed too. (Photo from open internet source under "fair use" definition in copyright law) At this point in history, SWC's Olds-powered Willys had the rear tires inside the fenders. Top of fender had to extend out to top of tread...I think. Other shots of the car, and some of the Hemi-powered SWC Willys showed more rubber extending farther out beyond the fender lip. Because I want to use a 'glass flip nose, I need to find when that became legal, then I'll decide which engine to use based on what was hot at the time. Probably be an early Hemi. Edited July 28, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy
1972coronet Posted July 28, 2013 Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) The Ramchargers' High & Mighty was a C/Gas , and it had no fenders (front and rear) and its lifetime was c.1958 - c.1962 . Let me see if I can dig up a pic to post ... EDIT : Here's a photo of the High & Mighty . I was wrong with my guess as to its racing class ; it's actually C/Altered ( ) . Edited July 28, 2013 by 1972coronet
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 28, 2013 Author Posted July 28, 2013 Yup, and "altered" has much more liberal rules. Thanks anyway though.
ScaleDale Posted July 28, 2013 Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) The Nostalgia Gassers Association has snippets of NHRA rules from the '65, '62 and '58 years. Here's the link. http://www.nostalgiagassers.com/category/nhra-rules/ Dale EDIT: Most of the cars in the photo gallery of this site have their tires inside the wheel wells. All are period correct. Edited July 28, 2013 by ScaleDale
Southern Fried Posted July 28, 2013 Posted July 28, 2013 Although I think whitewall slicks limit one to building a very narrow period, and have seen excellent builds that I thought would have benefited from having blackwalls, I salute you on the carrying out of this project so far!
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 28, 2013 Author Posted July 28, 2013 (edited) Although I think whitewall slicks limit one to building a very narrow period, and have seen excellent builds that I thought would have benefited from having blackwalls, I salute you on the carrying out of this project so far! Thanks, and I appreciate your comment. If the fiberglass flip-nose period is later than the whitewall-slicks would be correct for, she'll get blackwalls. The one-piece flip-nose is one thing that will define this build. EDIT: One more thing...the weight of these stock was right around 3000lbs, pretty light really (though the Willys Americar coupe was about 500-800 pounds lighter). With the Plymouth's low weight, which could shed maybe 200 pounds or more during race prep, it could make a pretty quick car with a hot Chrysler Slant-6. The laid-over 6 was intro'd in 1960, if I remember correctly, and would make a more unusual powerplant for a lower-class gasser. Hmmmm..... Edited July 28, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy
Tom Geiger Posted August 4, 2013 Posted August 4, 2013 I like the build. There is that certain romance of bringing a glue bomb back from the dead. Very akin to pulling a 1:1 out of a field for restoration. Part of the fun of the hobby. And Slant Six! Go for it. I had Offy manifolds that worked with a four barrel and one for two one barrels. The two one barrels would be cool, not sure of the period. And split exhaust. There was a guy on the west coast that offered a cast iron split exhaust manifold.
crazyrichard Posted August 8, 2013 Posted August 8, 2013 and a nother awsome build from you sweet stuff
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