what changes , if any, have you had to make to your suspension setups in a dragster when changing from iron to aluminum blocks?

None

DRB motorsports. I noticed you have a Diamond race car. Call Dan as has been noticed with more people running alumn. blocks a few easy changes will make a huge improvement. Also Gary Fleenor at Fleenor Trans. has a Diamond and alumn. motor and this was a change from iron to alumn. I kinda know what the changes are but feel it is going behind someones back to post. Dan has the info on his cars and the data so call him.

same as noted above .... none

except car runs faster because its 110 lbs lighter

quote:

Originally posted by Paul S/Q:
same as noted above .... none

except car runs faster because its 110 lbs lighter

I thought block was only 100 lbs. lighter. Is other 10 from right rear hip pocket being lighter?LOL

from what i've read , brodix aluminum is 120 lighter than dart big M.

I would think that ride height would be affected by the amount of the spring rate.

I agree with calling Dan, give him a call and see what he says. But if I had to venture a guess it won't be major changes, and maybe a shock spring rate change..

This is a Ray Miller I did the engine and transmission. It's owner bought it from guy who weighed 300 plus lbs, and ran a standard issue steel tall deck BBC.

Needless to say, they knew it was gonna need springs when the owners 100 lb daughter got in the car, after I completed the engine & transmission.

They had another identical Ray Miller dragster sitting next to it in the garage aluminum block, the owners other daughter drove.


Springs... maybe





Tall deck

When I switched from iron to aluminum block I also added a 110lb roots blower so it was a wash for me

If its a suspended car you might check the before and after right height, that could affect your bar angle maybe just a little if the height is higher with the aluminum block, other than that just run it

Aluminum block, the bigger issue is main bearing clearances at operating temp.

If it's not perfect, it'll run for a little while before showing itself in the line bore to the next guy, who's hired to fix it.

Then it gets real interesting.

I had to move my top bars up one hole. It was shaking the tires bad enough that I had to lift.

quote:

Originally posted by DRB Motorsports:
what changes , if any, have you had to make to your suspension setups in a dragster when changing from iron to aluminum blocks?

I'd say it would depend on your setup now but likely just a ride height adjustment.

DRB Motorsports, Did you get a chance to call Dan @ Diamond. I told him Monday about your change and he will be glad to go over what he has found to work well.

no not yet. super busy at work . got time. considering throwing everything from the 598 into an aluminum block over the winter. thanks for checking with him. ill get with him soon .

Unless youre going 450 or faster, probably nothing. As Top38 said, maybe a slight ride height adjustment, thats about it

quote:

Originally posted by DRB Motorsports:
no not yet. super busy at work . got time. considering throwing everything from the 598 into an aluminum block over the winter. thanks for checking with him. ill get with him soon .

You better order the block now if that's your plan. Brodix was 10-14 weeks out.....

quote:

Originally posted by Jonesz:

quote:

Originally posted by DRB Motorsports:
no not yet. super busy at work . got time. considering throwing everything from the 598 into an aluminum block over the winter. thanks for checking with him. ill get with him soon .

You better order the block now if that's your plan. Brodix was 10-14 weeks out.....

Got it dropped off at engine builder. Excited to see how much it changes it.

All things being equal, it will pick up about a tenth. That's what I've seen on the ones I've done.

On my 2017 american, i had to change from a 400 lb spring to a 350