What is everyone doing on your car this winter? Anything new or just maintenance?

I am changing to a new ATI 139 tooth flexplate and 10 pitch starter gear. New intake springs and driving down to Summit Saturday to hopefully find a new helmet that I can get my glasses on while wearing. I have ordered 2 different carbon fiber helmets and couldn't get them on with either one. I have never really liked the helmet that I have but it worked. Was hoping to get a 2020 version while they are still in stock and on sale but that probably won't work out for me.

Other than regular maintenance and listed above I did buy a few LED lights to increase interior lighting for night racing. I'm also adding a few to the engine bay and right above my fuel cell so I can see when re-fueling and checking things over on the engine after a pass. Oh and shortening the upper bars on my wheelie bars. I am hitting the bars pretty soon on a pass and feel just a little higher will allow more weight transfer. Should be a pretty uneventful winter for me this year.

Last year I got a hole in a cylinder wall at the end of the year and scrambled to get things back together only to have it happen again with the replacement block. I have been so happy since getting the Blueprint/Summit block. The car is a solid tenth quicker with not a single thing other than the block changed.

We don't have much of a winter/off season! Anyway....phase inspection being accomplished with the included maintenance. Plus, a new set of headers & we have to pull the motor to get them in & out; it's out now.

We have the Hangover Nationals or the Hungover Nationals the end of Dec. Our track opens in Jan. & we just closed the season out the end of Nov. with the Thanksgiving Bracket Nationals.

2BKING

I am considering a Pro Charger for my 582 to gain a little more mph, any suggestions?

Bob

Sold the dragster a couple of years ago, so now working on getting my Avenger back together. Slow going as I had hoped to have it ready last season. Still a ways to go but only able to work on it a few hours a day it's taking a while..
Paint, and chassis setup still to go.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
I am considering a Pro Charger for my 582 to gain a little more mph, any suggestions?

Bob

Bob, I like the way you think.

Unfortunately through no fault of my own I am down longterm again. We had an issue on the dyno from the engine being put on the cell incorrectly and wiped out the thrust. When I say wiped out it was at high idle warming it up for a lash check and it shut off, locked up. It was so bad it blackened the crank. Sent it off to be checked and its now junk, radial crack on the journal and full of heat checks. FWIW this was a Bryant crank. So I am having to decide what to do now. There are no cranks available for this deal(Mopar). So I need to decide whether to wait, spend/waste more money changing the combo to just throw in the towel on this deal, my truck. Been one hurdle after another and not sure what I am going to choose just yet. Spent the last two days trying to find a crank. Ill likely give it another week or two and make a decision. On the bright side we finally have the engine done for my 64 Savoy

quote:

FWIW this was a Bryant crank.

I'd have to sell my house to afford a Bryant crank.

ps: It's the thrust, it's fixable (Shaft Tech)

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
I am considering a Pro Charger for my 582 to gain a little more mph, any suggestions?

Bob

I'm not sure you have room for a ProCharger? I would look at the Blower Shop 250 with a single carb, like they are doing with the dragster set-ups. Plus, it's a cheaper way to go!

2BKING

quote:

Originally posted by Al Alguire:
Unfortunately through no fault of my own I am down longterm again. We had an issue on the dyno from the engine being put on the cell incorrectly and wiped out the thrust. When I say wiped out it was at high idle warming it up for a lash check and it shut off, locked up. It was so bad it blackened the crank. Sent it off to be checked and its now junk, radial crack on the journal and full of heat checks. FWIW this was a Bryant crank. So I am having to decide what to do now. There are no cranks available for this deal(Mopar). So I need to decide whether to wait, spend/waste more money changing the combo to just throw in the towel on this deal, my truck. Been one hurdle after another and not sure what I am going to choose just yet. Spent the last two days trying to find a crank. Ill likely give it another week or two and make a decision. On the bright side we finally have the engine done for my 64 Savoy

Really sorry to hear about that Al. It sucks when you don't run one of the Wal-Mart engines.

Curtis

How does the Summit block compare to the Dart ?

New Sunset Performance Engines 615 sr 20 aluminum motor, new Hughes transmission and converter, new HOP Ultimate Big Dawg 139 starter, new Strange Ultra center section and new M/T tires. Should be lost as last years easter eggs come Feb.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Cmar:
Curtis

How does the Summit block compare to the Dart ?

I have never had a Dart to compare to, so I really can't say. I can say though that I am considering buying another one to have 2 shortblocks. I will try to find that out from my machinist the next time I speak to him and report back. He does lots of bracket, STK and SSTK stuff so I'm certain he has cut lots of Dart stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by Al Alguire:
Unfortunately through no fault of my own I am down longterm again. We had an issue on the dyno from the engine being put on the cell incorrectly and wiped out the thrust. When I say wiped out it was at high idle warming it up for a lash check and it shut off, locked up. It was so bad it blackened the crank. Sent it off to be checked and it’s now junk, radial crack on the journal and full of heat checks. FWIW this was a Bryant crank. So I am having to decide what to do now. There are no cranks available for this deal(Mopar). So I need to decide whether to wait, spend/waste more money changing the combo to just throw in the towel on this deal, my truck. Been one hurdle after another and not sure what I am going to choose just yet. Spent the last two days trying to find a crank. I’ll likely give it another week or two and make a decision. On the bright side we finally have the engine done for my 64 Savoy

I would hope they are helping you out Al?

Car is pretty much ready to go I believe, after piddling away at it over the past couple years. Did swap out valve covers recently. The aluminum Moroso flanges are bent up a bit and leaky. I had a good set of steel chrome Moroso covers in the loft, so easy fix. I'll straighten up the aluminum one's and put in the spare parts loft. Making plans to get my trailer squared away. Need good interior lighting, and some water intrusion repairs. Might set up a good toolbox/workbench as well. Other than that, my winter may be keeping an eye out for tracks racing when temps allow so I can knock the rust off of my racing legs and hopefully prepare for 2026 season.

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
I am considering a Pro Charger for my 582 to gain a little more mph, any suggestions?

Bob

don't do it

I bought a new to me car and picked it up right after season ended. Spending the winter setting it up and getting it ready to race. Changing some stuff on it and a complete rewire from scratch using a pdm and solid state relay. No more mechanical stuff for me, this stuff is way easier and more reliable. Plus you can do a lot more with it that you can't with a standard relay. Anyway, that's it. Oh, a quick peek into the engine to make sure it's all good and that's about it.

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:

quote:

FWIW this was a Bryant crank.

I'd have to sell my house to afford a Bryant crank.

ps: It's the thrust, it's fixable (Shaft Tech)

Bob

The one with the radial crack was the thrust and it is not repairable. FWIW it is at Marine who repairs cranks for Bryant. The other is a Callies and not to bad so it will likely be ok.

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskaracer: and a complete rewire from scratch using a pdm and solid state relay. No more mechanical stuff for me, this stuff is way easier and more reliable. Plus you can do a lot more with it that you can't with a standard relay.

I think those are excellent. What brand pdm are you using?

New Lamborghini orange paint

Sold both Deuces Wild Dragsters, 1 turn key to Oklahoma which is already competing on the Big Bucks scene, Sold the other to SG World Champ Val Torres in California rolling and the engine combination to a local racer who's gonna make a run a Big Bucks Bracket Racing this year. We have his 2022 American Dragster in our shop now installing the combination.

As far as a DRR Build, I'm going "Old School" and will be hoping back into the door car side for the first time in about 33 years! I can't wait to show ya'll what we will be doing.

Shameless plug - Watch for our 12 Days of Christmas Sale on Drag Race Solutions to begin this Sunday! Also DRR Gear can be purchased along with your parts on the same site now.

Merry Christmas to all,
SL...