FLATCAD RACING Bonneville 2011 Build

[38FLATTIE]

I started building a '38 Lasalle, with a blown Cadillac flathead. Somewhere along the line, I became consumed with the engine. You can see that build here:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=430439

After setting a build goal of a hard to reach 500 hp, I asked myself what I really wanted to do with the mill. I've waffled for the better part of a year now, and decided that the salt was where I wanted to go.
Soooo, here we are. I don't want to 'undo' the body mods that fink'd did to the Lasalle, so a '38 chevy coupe is the lucky recipient of the flatcad.

And since I'm new to LSR events, any advice is welcomed and appreciated! We will be running in the XXO/BVGC class, on a 151.208 mph record set by Mike Hegarty in 2004.

[fiveohnick2932]

Meeting all the safety requirements are almost harder than building/coming up with the motor. Your chassis has to keep you safe and the car going straight at high speeds so its no place to skimp. Get the motor to be "good enough" and then dile in your chassis. THEN when you have the bugs out of the chassis go balls out on the motor. IMHO

[HotRodMicky]

Originally Posted by fiveohnick2932

Meeting all the safety requirements are almost harder than building/coming up with the motor. Your chassis has to keep you safe and the car going straight at high speeds so its no place to skimp. Get the motor to be "good enough" and then dile in your chassis. THEN when you have the bugs out of the chassis go balls out on the motor. IMHO

This is what i `ve heard ,too
Kinda takes the fun out of it....
But if i would live in the USA i would have a Bonneville Race car for sure !!!
I´ve only been to El Mirage but i love it!!!
Go for it!

[fonti]

Originally Posted by HotRodMicky

This is what i `ve heard ,too
Kinda takes the fun out of it....
But if i would live in the USA i would have a Bonneville Race car for sure !!!
I´ve only been to El Mirage but i love it!!!
Go for it!

Well...it is possible from out of the US - even without a ton of money!! It's gonna be my 3rd time this August on the salt...

[Bearing Burner]

Gas class requires headlights,taillights,grill,door handles trunhandle,trim,raingutters.bumpers etc

[RichFox]

Actually moderiat customizing is allowed. The rain gutters are a must have. Hinges not so much.

[38FLATTIE]

Rich, I've alread done to much to the Lasalle to make class, and I don't want to undo it, and put the build that much more behind.

I picked up a GM 7.5", a Watts link, and a 4-link, so the first order of business is getting that under the '41. I'll post progress pics.

[41 Dave]

Buddy, Does this mean the LaSalle will get a different mill ? How about a vintage Cad Eldorado dual quad mill for it ? Just a thought . . . . .

[38FLATTIE]

Originally Posted by 41 Dave

Buddy, Does this mean the LaSalle will get a different mill ? How about a vintage Cad Eldorado dual quad mill for it ? Just a thought . . . . .

Dave, to do this right, it's going to cost me a little cash.

So, the Lasalle, along with some of the custom parts, will be sold.

Also, I replaced the 41 Chevy with a 38 Chevy coupe, and I'll be posting pics soon!

[RichFox]

WHAT? The whole LaSalle thing is down the tubes now? And your selling your pretty heads? MyMy.

[moparsled]

went by the machine shop this afternoon with the Hemi block, The second FlatCad block was bare sitting on the floor, getting ready to head to the tank. Nolan looked like he had been "cuddling" with it all day!!

crossing my fingers that it's all good!

I forgot to ask-- what did Angelo say about flowing it?

[38FLATTIE]

Angelo is going to flow it, and call me with initial (stock), and max flow numbers.

[moparsled]

awesome!! I wondered if he expressed any surprise at the size of the block, or if he had any issues about hooking the thing up to the bench.

so he's going to do some work on one cyl to see about improvements?

[moparsled]

Originally Posted by 38FLATTIE

He was surprised by the block size, and the port configuration!

He has the bad block, and will flow test one cylinder as is. He's then going to port it, until there is no more benefit to porting.

BAD ASS!!!! EXACTLY what we need to know!!!

[RichFox]

Seen on the salt yesterday

[edweird]

Originally Posted by 38flattie

i saw that. "scrap iron" from savannah, ga., running xxo/bvgcc.

i'm proud to say that i did the lettering on that car.

[Bearing Burner]

The car has run 139+ at Maxton

[RichFox]

Results show it running twice on Monday. A rookie pass and a 141.075

[plan9]

we arent a bucks up operation but we do have some neat parts like yourself. we set a goal of 2010 Bonneville come hell or high water and we made it. the motor in it now is probably good for 120 (got to 114 mph), perhaps a bit more if we really dial it in.... a real healthy hot rod motor for sure, perfect for shake down runs. no flow testing, no overdone scientific BS right now.

my opinion.... dont worry about records..... focus all efforts on getting the car to meet SCTA safety, start on that NOW. think about where everything is going to go... gauges, fire bottles, switches etc.. figure out what the minimum safety regulations are for the current record and build for more power... never hurts to over do the roll cage. perhaps get a hold of the safety inspector for your class and ask what to do about questions along the way.

i wouldnt throw big bucks at an engine right now especially since it will be your first meet... K.I.S.S., point is to get out there and run a car.
do build as nice a hotrod motor as you can.. you, me and any other racer knows that this is pretty much a lifetime commitment.... whats the rush?

you will need to register for 2011 speedweek ahead of time... do it right before the meet and you will be charged $600.00 vs $400.00.
at the very least buy a helmet before starting the cage, distance between side of head to cage padding cannot be the width of your fist. we doubled up on cage padding to fix the problem, it tech'd fine.

there is a shit ton of stuff to think about for race day too... gear, tools, place to stay, gas money for your truck and race car (you need to buy event gas if you are going after a record). $50.00 for 5 gallons of 100 octane unleaded. think about head gaskets, a few sets of plugs and wires, running a magneto? running injection? ...you will need nozzles and pills for tuning... how about a quick change... you will need multiple sets of gears for maximum adjusting. race tires, rollers for race car transport, type of wheels etc... li$t goe$ on and on. $$$$$$$

[38FLATTIE]

Originally Posted by plan9

we arent a bucks up operation but we do have some neat parts like yourself. we set a goal of 2010 Bonneville come hell or high water and we made it. the motor in it now is probably good for 120 (got to 114 mph), perhaps a bit more if we really dial it in.... a real healthy hot rod motor for sure, perfect for shake down runs. no flow testing, no overdone scientific BS right now.

my opinion.... dont worry about records..... focus all efforts on getting the car to meet SCTA safety, start on that NOW. think about where everything is going to go... gauges, fire bottles, switches etc.. figure out what the minimum safety regulations are for the current record and build for more power... never hurts to over do the roll cage. perhaps get a hold of the safety inspector for your class and ask what to do about questions along the way.

i wouldnt throw big bucks at an engine right now especially since it will be your first meet... K.I.S.S., point is to get out there and run a car.
do build as nice a hotrod motor as you can.. you, me and any other racer knows that this is pretty much a lifetime commitment.... whats the rush?

you will need to register for 2011 speedweek ahead of time... do it right before the meet and you will be charged $600.00 vs $400.00.
at the very least buy a helmet before starting the cage, distance between side of head to cage padding cannot be the width of your fist. we doubled up on cage padding to fix the problem, it tech'd fine.

there is a shit ton of stuff to think about for race day too... gear, tools, place to stay, gas money for your truck and race car (you need to buy event gas if you are going after a record). $50.00 for 5 gallons of 100 octane unleaded. think about head gaskets, a few sets of plugs and wires, running a magneto? running injection? ...you will need nozzles and pills for tuning... how about a quick change... you will need multiple sets of gears for maximum adjusting. race tires, rollers for race car transport, type of wheels etc... li$t goe$ on and on. $$$$$$$

A lifetime lifetime commitment? Naw, it's a one time deal for me-ask my wife, that's what I told her! LOL!

I think this is some very solid advice, and exactly the direction we are going. Many of the parts we are going to use in the engine are months out anyway. We are starting with the rear end, then front end, then chop and roll cage. From there, we will start fire system, electrical, etc. We want to get the best car we can, then worry about the best engine we have time for.

One of the tech guys mentioned he may be able to get us a 'pre-inspection' in the Denver area, and we're really hoping that works out.

As for the equipment we will need while there- I better get busy and start looking for deals!