Sizzlin/Fadster,can we come play with the big boys!?

[Mark Bull]

My Dragster project.
I have decided to put the Willys on the back burner till later in the year after being given the chance to buy this old retired slingshot chassis.
Part collection has been progressing nicely,and i,along with the very willing`Meon Valley Hot Rods`crew,are planning to make a start on it soon.Getting to the Nostalgia Nationals would be nice,but the HRD`s a must!
Quick spec..Chassis built in the late 60`s,been through many owners/configurations,but knows its way down the strip!
Now going to run the Daimler 2.5 Hemi,with a Wade RO34/Holley 390,a MK11 Jag rear axle,4.56(ish)gears.
Any help/advice/ideas greatly welcomed as i`m a complete novice at this!

More pics to follow as it goes together.

[langysrodshop]

Sounds cool Mark, Whats happened to the Minor ???

[Mark Bull]

Minor is still here,but due to pressure of work for bioth Steve and Dave,its not happening at this time.Hopefully things will sort themselves out in the near future and we can get back on it.In the meantime,i will be cracking on with this little gem.

Any advice,help or parts that come our way would be appreciated!
Mainly looking for a pair of front cycle wheels to fit the Pop spindles at the moment.

[BRIT DIGGER]

PMSL!....

Mark as ive said id love you to run with the Oddlot.
but big boys we are not...;).
we just run for fun and have a good time.

i have a spare set of wheels and tyres you can use them.(for setup) till you find a set of your own.
ill have some new ones available march/april time but not sure of the price yet?.

cars looking good though,and im glad your pressing on with it.

im putting a list of dates together which we hope to attend so ill let you know,
if you dont make the nostalgia nationals we maybe able to get you out with us before the hotrod drags?..

I/We will do all we can to help out at the track too...

Sid.

[Mark Bull]

PMSL!....

Mark as ive said id love you to run with the Oddlot.
but big boys we are not...;).
we just run for fun and have a good time.

i have a spare set of wheels and tyres you can use them.(for setup) till you find a set of your own.
ill have some new ones available march/april time but not sure of the price yet?.

cars looking good though,and im glad your pressing on with it.

im putting a list of dates together which we hope to attend so ill let you know,
if you dont make the nostalgia nationals we maybe able to get you out with us before the hotrod drags?..

I/We will do all we can to help out at the track too...

Sid.

Cool..we`ll be there this year for sure.
As i`ve said,i will be up for a set of wheels if you get them sorted.In the meantime,could you measure the diameter of your front tyres and let me know what it is.That will help me sort my ride height for setting up.

[Mark Bull]

Just thought..Doug pulled the torsion bars out of the front suspension yesterday and they are fubar`d.Do you know what they would have been based on?I`m thinking VW?

[kapri]

What makes you think they are VW then Mark ?:D

[Mark Bull]

Coz Matt said so!
Any other suggestions then?

[BRIT DIGGER]

are the bars roughly 3/4" by 1/8"?
if so they probably are vw..
let me know as ive probably got some.

[Mark Bull]

That sonds about right Sid.There are 6 in there.I will check the measurements.I will need to make a new centre block as mine has had the leaves welded in,which i`m assuming caused some of them to break...

[BRIT DIGGER]

That sonds about right Sid.There are 6 in there.I will check the measurements.I will need to make a new centre block as mine has had the leaves welded in,which i`m assuming caused some of them to break...

pullin wheelies dosnt help either....:).

[kapri]

Coz Matt said so!
Any other suggestions then?

So did I when it arrived !!:rolleyes: Not like I've ever owned one ;)

The centre block is a square section and the centre leaves are probably welded in ( as part of construction ) as they would be difficult to slide in as part of the spring pack...this bit you'll discover when you try to put them back together :)

You'd need some form of spacer as ,from memory the original VW stack is 12 leaves thick.

The spring action works by twisting the leaves rather than up and down like a conventional spring. I've managed to get a full spring pack in by wrapping in electrical shape to maintain its shape until located and then it'll unwind if you pull the end due to the grease on the leaves.

[Mark Bull]

And i`m supposed to remember that??I cant even recall what i had for breakfast..tho its a pretty good bet it was a bacon sarnie!
I cant imagine that it is meant to be welded..surely heat is bad for spring steel??
I thought i`d get Simon to make a new centre block,with some mods to allow variable ride height adjustment and a grub screw to hold the spring pack in place.I see a piece of tube that fits over the spring pack used to drive the centre block back in to the tube,if you see what i mean?

[BRIT DIGGER]

And i`m supposed to remember that??I cant even recall what i had for breakfast..tho its a pretty good bet it was a bacon sarnie!
I cant imagine that it is meant to be welded..surely heat is bad for spring steel??
I thought i`d get Simon to make a new centre block,with some mods to allow variable ride height adjustment and a grub screw to hold the spring pack in place.I see a piece of tube that fits over the spring pack used to drive the centre block back in to the tube,if you see what i mean?

mark, an easy trick is to use a couple of old 3/4 drive socket for the middle bit....;).

let me see some close up pics of the outer part where your spring goe into the arms?
cant remember what they were`like.

[Mark Bull]

mark, an easy trick is to use a couple of old 3/4 drive socket for the middle bit....;).

let me see some close up pics of the outer part where your spring goe into the arms?
cant remember what they were`like.


OK.i`ll get some pics tomorrow.

[DeuceTudor]

Mark, i've phoned my brother and he's put a wanted add on his Beetle forums i'll let you know what turns up.

PS. Thanks for letting me take the coupe out for a spin.:D

[Mark Bull]

Thanks Matt..and you`re welcome anytime.
Mind you,you could hose it off next time.....

[edd brown]

are the front spindles transit ,, if thay are i have a pair of wires going cheep

[BRIT DIGGER]

are the front spindles transit ,, if thay are i have a pair of wires going cheep

the spindles are ford pop Edd....

whats the size/deal with the wires?...i could be interested?.

[edd brown]

the wheels are 3and a halfinch by 15 whith tryes and discs
thay were made to fit transit spindles, and thay are £300
ill send you photos if you want

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww225/eddbrown/partsforsale024.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww225/eddbrown/partsforsale026.jpg

[BRIT DIGGER]

thanks edd but a bit thick for me....(price wise)...:).

[Mark Bull]

Sid..pics of the front suspension
The totalled torsion bars and block
And the front arms..they slide in to the front tube and have a square hole in them that fits around the torsion bars

[edd brown]

£300 a bit thick ,,, go on then make me an offer i need a good laff
ive had these a long time and i wont be useing them on my next rod so you never know ,,,,,

[BRIT DIGGER]

yes mate, simple fix there,ive no torsion springs but have put the feelers out for some?
can your mate cut you a square hole through some solid round bar,
same size as the id of your chassis,or bigger and have turned down...(maybe easier to work?)..or a couple of sockets?..much easier!! ;).
when you build it back up weld a good size nut that a pointed bolt can screw through and a series of small countersunk holes in the spring retainer so you can adust the ride height when its on the floor....put some extra holes in your chassis front xmember so you can weld it up when your happy..
the front arms should be held on with nuts and bolts with a friction material between the contact points...this isnt really needed.
hope this make sense?

[Mark Bull]

Perfect sense.We thought it would need some kind of friction less gasket in there.
The front tube has a plate welded on that has been tapped for 2 bolts to hold the torsiom bar block
I have a plan for remaking the torsion bar block...and see where you are coming from regarding welding it in situ..simple when you know how!But..would make it a proper arse to get out again??

So,i know Matt had put the word out,but anyone got half a dozen Beetle torsion bars kicking about?As you do...

Thanks Sid

[BRIT DIGGER]

mark youll be better off looking for a complete rotten front end as the chances of anyone having them lying around is slim?...unless theyve put a (red 7 ???or something)adjuster kit in there instead of the springs?

scour evilbay!! ill take the north!... ;).

[BRIT DIGGER]

£300 a bit thick ,,, go on then make me an offer i need a good laff
ive had these a long time and i wont be useing them on my next rod so you never know ,,,,,

no doubt there worth that but im a tight **** and pretty much broke so ill not make you laff!!!.... probably cry?.. ;).

[Mark Bull]

mark youll be better off looking for a complete rotten front end as the chances of anyone having them lying around is slim?...unless theyve put a (red 7 ???or something)adjuster kit in there instead of the springs?

scour evilbay!! ill take the north!... ;).


Ok,will go ebaying.
Ah,prancealot Pink..he may have somthing,i`ll drop him a line.

[kapri]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Beetle-lowering-kit-swayaways-King-pin-models_W0QQitemZ270520444601QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item3efc4666b9

[Mark Bull]

Kev..would they weld to the end of my existing tube then?They would be a good idea if i can make them work with what i have got...may be worth a punt?

[Mark Bull]

Just thought about it..they would need to go in the middle of the tube..how far apart would they need to be..not got a lot of room to play with.Plus would be a bit worried about cutting the front tube.May be i need to see a set close up?

[BRIT DIGGER]

Just thought about it..they would need to go in the middle of the tube..how far apart would they need to be..not got a lot of room to play with.Plus would be a bit worried about cutting the front tube.May be i need to see a set close up?

mark,they are a good thing for lowering, and being able to adjust beetle/bus stock front ends.
not really want you need on your dragster,yes the "lock outbit" the square hole needs to be in the middle or you wont have any movement..:)...

there really is nothing to a dragster front end so dont over engineer it like you might be likely to do on a street/hot rod.

you might be able to use the middle bits out of them kits kev pointed us to?
is that what you were thinking kev?.

[Morris460]

When I did a front end years ago I made a "C" shaped piece that was let into the tube. The inner part was a square with one side missing which the leafs sat in. The outside was tube size. The fourth, open side had a boss set in the tube and a grub screw and locknut clamped the leafs in place.
Worked well and ensured that the leafs could not move and wear bits out.

[Mark Bull]

I was thinking along those lines myself

[kapri]

mark,they are a good thing for lowering, and being able to adjust beetle/bus stock front ends.
not really want you need on your dragster,yes the "lock outbit" the square hole needs to be in the middle or you wont have any movement..:)...

there really is nothing to a dragster front end so dont over engineer it like you might be likely to do on a street/hot rod.

you might be able to use the middle bits out of them kits kev pointed us to?
is that what you were thinking kev?.

I was thinking either way Sid to be honest. Either incorporating to adjust height or just a cheap way of getting the machined bit.

Only one per tube Mark .BCL have probably got them on the shelf ( I'm told Tims just reopened).

[DeuceTudor]

Mark,not had any joy yet (re-springs) but a place called Volksheaven in doncaster has been mentioned they sell second hand beetle spares might be better than evil-bay.or you can get them new from Coolair at £90 a set may be go halfs with sizzlin sid as you probably only need half the length for the rail ??

[DeuceTudor]

www.volksheaven.co.uk/ -tel + 44 (0)1302 351355 seems these are the people to talk too Mark.

[Mark Bull]

Thanks Matt...if nothing turns up i will give them a call.

[Mark Bull]

Still collecting parts,but getting close to starting in earnest.
Mocked up with the blower and bigger wheels tyres today.Taller tyres to come next week...

[BRIT DIGGER]

looking good mate!..... :).

[Little Terry]

Nice. Keep at it.

[Mark Bull]

I got my bumpsteer kits today.5 sets from your lead Kev,£27.50 delivered.Superb!These will be used as inserts on all the suspension and steering arms to give me the tapers for the ball joints i am using.Could be a usefull tip to keep on file...

I have a question for any slingshot historians...whilst i have been looking at pictures for ideas and inspirations,i have noticed that some cars have the motor installed with a fairly severe forward rake.It looks as mean as can be,but i was wondering why they did it?Anyone shed any light on it?