Oh Lord Yeah !!

the dodge · Post by **the dodge** » Fri Sep 28, 07 11:16 am

dunno about all those levers looks a sod to steer with no steering wheel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

going back to levers thou dont tractors have a set of those for the implements they use maybe they use it for ploughing fields up?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Sep 28, 07 11:18 am

Its got a Lenco gear box, seperate lever for each gear, that much i do know, how it works i dont

the dodge · Post by **the dodge** » Fri Sep 28, 07 11:28 am

talking of gears & gearbox's anybody know how a topfuel gearbox works it seems to be foot down all the way do they only have 2 gears (forwards & backwards) if so how the hell does it do 300mph+ in 1/4 of a mile in less than 5 seconds, dont get me wrong ive seen them race live (not for a few years mind)and its impressive and ive seen them on the box

also has anyone else ever sat in one? i sat in rune felds topfuel funny car years back and there isnt a lot of space in there to do much let alone drive the thing hats off to them guys for having the kahunas to drive at those speeds, also the vision out of the front screen its like looking through a letter box!!

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Sep 28, 07 12:19 pm

As a kid I sat in a Top Fuel slingshot rail.

For you guys new to this hobby that was when the engine was in front on Top Fuel cars and the driver sat behind the rear wheels with the diff between his legs and feet against the bellhousing.

I was not very old so the supercharged early Hemi seemed even bigger and more impressive than they do anyway. They were not covered in wires pipes and straps like they are now either. Just nice clean polished alloy and chrome. Iron block.

Even for a half pint kid like me there was not a lot of room in the cockpit.

I never forgot that feeling of sitting there behind that engine. Never.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Sep 28, 07 12:35 pm

and yes water air IC's the heat exchanger for that sits flat up against the floor behind the driver's side back wheel with a big fan. It's also got a 5 gallon water tank built into the fuel cell.
We'll probably put a coil in there to cool the tranny once Donnie learns this Lenco is a nightmare and whacks a 'glide in the car.
Still it runs nice on 93 octane gas and idles like a stocker

the dodge · Post by **the dodge** » Fri Sep 28, 07 12:59 pm

dave, i agree its a great feeling something you can never forget, it would be awesome to sit in one with the engine running just to feel the power etc,,

slingshots is that late 70's era, i started going to pod about 1984/5 and everyone was raving on about the new 300" topfuelers from the us, ive seen pictures and stuff and a few static slingshots but not seen one running thou

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Sep 28, 07 1:19 pm

good news is this one has a passenger seat Dave!
The brakes are a bit odd, the big long lever by the side of the tranny is for staging the car and in the previous owners case used for monsetrous half track burnouts, very handy in Bognor on a sunday morning- tee hee.
I'll post a pic of the new bonnet when we get it out of the mould, should be awesome, although forward visibility was already dire and with this bloody great cowl on there- er

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Sep 28, 07 2:05 pm

the dodge wrote: slingshots is that late 70's era?

No. Mainly the 60s. It would have been the late '60s when I sat in a car.

The first competitive rear engined Top Fuel cars started coming out in the early 70s.

the dodge · Post by **the dodge** » Fri Sep 28, 07 5:25 pm

nice looking motors, dave you dont come across as old enough to have been a kid in the 60's,

has anyone been to the big daddy don garlits museum? ive heard its well worth a look showing all his machines from way way back (dave do you remember those? - only joking!) was he credited with being a major influence on the rear engined topfueler? if not the inventor?

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Fri Sep 28, 07 5:57 pm

the Inventor after lossing part of his foot
The Garlits museum is well worth a look, as is the Petersen, NHRA etc etc
different parts of the country tho

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Sep 28, 07 6:06 pm

He wasn't the inventor of the rear engined dragster. Even if he claims he was.
But his was the first one that was actually competitive and won races.

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Fri Sep 28, 07 7:00 pm

Wasnt he Dave ??, i thought it was his idea against opposition, due to the bad/ dangerous explosion on one of his swamp rat front engined Rails ?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Sep 28, 07 7:40 pm

And back to the thread, we have the chutes packed, the tyre blown up and the battery charged, oil changed and the valves set properly.
I think it should be a laugh tomorrow

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Sep 28, 07 9:39 pm

Hey Tweety. Back off. Anyone would think this was your thread or something.

Oh hang on.

It is!

AllKiller wrote:Wasnt he Dave ??, i thought it was his idea against opposition, due to the bad/ dangerous explosion on one of his swamp rat front engined Rails ?

That was the reason he changed to a rear engined car. And he was the first to be competitive with one. But there had been a few try it over the years. 1970 or 71 I think? I would have to look it up.