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1989 Daytona tube chassis race car

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 12:11 pm
by Jon Connolly
Thought I`d start a thread on this, I have an ongoing health problem ( knackered back ) which means I haven`t done much car wise for a few months but spent the time collecting parts.

Will now start fabricating this this month ( albeit at a slow pace ) ... probably will not be fit enough to drive this year ??

I have bought another smallblock Dodge Ram racetruck from USA as a " parts donor " vehicle together with parts from my old Valiant so have everything together now.

Spec is as follows :

Mopar 360 block bored and stroked to 408 c.i.
Forged JE pistons
Forged Eagle H beam rods
Forged stroker crank
Roller cam 630
1.5 roller rockers - Indy 440 - 1
13.5 to 1 CR
Race gas
Coleman Racing screened dry sump.
Barnes 6 stage oil pump
Indy 360 - 1 heads with dual springs blended bowls and port matched to intake. 288 cfm intake 189 cfm exhaust.
2.10" + 1.55" valves
Indy 360 - 3R single plane tall intake port matched
Indy valve covers
Johnson bros custom pushrods
850 Holley double pumper : 80 prim / 78 sec jets
HVH 2" supersucker carb spacer
Pro form electric water pump
Alli rad + manual elec fan
MSD 6AL + disi + leads
16 volt electrics, no alternator

3 stage refrigerated - r744 - system ( primary batch fuel cooling, incoming air cooling, inline fuel cooling )
Aeromotive fuel pump, aeromotive filter, aeromotive pressure regulator with 1 gallon cell and return line
727 Duncan Watts trans
Coan 4000 stall convertor

Ex Paul Mander cage tagged to 7.50 with 4 link rear
Steel centre section
DRE fibreglass nose, doors, boot
Lexan / MR10 all round
Ford 9" narrowed rear
AFCO adj coil overs
Mustang 2 rack and pinion
Leeda front struts ( Thanks Mopar Mark )
Front discs, rear drums
TRS 5 point harnesses
Kirkey seat

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 1:52 pm
by sinny
Top stuff Jon, good luck with the build mate & don't forget to keep the updates coming. :thumbright:

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 3:35 pm
by TyreFryer
Hi Jon, hope your health issues aren't too serious and you're on the mend soon.

Didn't you decide to sell this on, what made you change your mind? I'm looking forward to following your progress on this.

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 3:55 pm
by Jon Connolly
Hi Martin

Nothing major just Bananarama! up my back

Doing this for my son .... remember ?

I will probably help test and set it up though as he is only 15

;)

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 4:27 pm
by TyreFryer
Oh yes, sorry I forgot.

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 5:25 pm
by Jules
Hey Sinny ... you know that new hood you was lookin' for?

Well there's 1 in the top pic :thumbright:

I'll keep him talkin', you sneak round the back :lol:

:D

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 5:29 pm
by Ivor
Careful with that back Jon!

Nevertheless, it will be great to see this one up and running, the spec is really interesting :thumbright:

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 12 6:25 pm
by Pete
'hope you make a quick and full recovery, Jon :thumbright:

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 12 7:36 pm
by Jon Connolly
Took yesterday and today off work and had a good go at this

It is now still rolling and steering

Will afix some unistrut left to right bearers to allow transporting

Next stage is to get it blasted and primed ready to plasma cut out the remaining floor sections and bulkhead

There is a nice inner sill / ledge which lends itself to have a couple of pick up points and I am leaving all the double skinning in the passenger compartment roof and walls for pick up points too

Rust isn`t a major issue ... just a few patches around screen and outer sills

:thumbright:

BIG THANKS TO GRAHAM .. really looking forward to building this car

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 12 9:01 pm
by AllKiller
Looking forward to see this come together :thumbright:
Love the shape and size of these little missiles 8-)

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 12 8:28 am
by DaveB
What a shame youve cut up a nice classic Jon ;) :lol:

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 12 7:23 pm
by Jon Connolly
Got the car back from the blasters today and it is a bit rough around the edges ...

All of the rusty bits are being cut out

The inner and outer sills are now cut out and a new 50 x 30 box will be welded in beneath the bottom door shut joint. These will then be secured left to right to each other to stop the body flexing

The front of the car, front sub frame and firewall will be cut out next week before putting on the jig

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 12 6:58 pm
by Jon Connolly
50 x 50 x 1.5 mm box section now mig welded in place full length under each door shut ... this is to give rigidity to the bottom of the car to allow 2 pickup points each side straight into the box section

This will also be a good interface for finishing floor edges and supporting outer sills

Next job is to put " unistrut " spreaders in to prevent any bowing then all the remaining sheet metal can be removed

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 12 9:49 pm
by db
Good thing you know what you're doing :shock:

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 12 10:09 pm
by andyrob
quicky project than Jon :lol: where does this fit in with the amx :?
your 10 times more mad than me !!