Rex Rods Sling Shot

[pitman]

Jeffrey,
There's an image lurking hereabouts of the early hemi powered roadster? where the builder simply cut the hood sides carefully, to allow the valve covers to protrude (lower front edges). It was pure art-work. In a street driven form, I'd "gasket" the edges, but you get the idea.

[Tman]

So, is the Black Dahlia going to be the push car!?!?!?!

[JeffreyJames]

Originally Posted by pitman

Jeffrey,
There's an image lurking hereabouts of the early hemi powered roadster? where the builder simply cut the hood sides carefully, to allow the valve covers to protrude (lower front edges). It was pure art-work. In a street driven form, I'd "gasket" the edges, but you get the idea.

I think there were two of them actually. One is sitting in the Henry Ford Museum and another might be a California car. Maybe they are the same one. Looks like Tazmanian devil popped out the side if taz knew how to artfully cut the hoodside haha!!! Sort of a jagged cut but fits the valve cover perfectly?

Yeah I thought that was a neat trick and perfectly executed. However I think it draws ever more attention to the area and I don't think I was it as a focal point. maybe on a lighter painted car it would work for me.....thanks for reminding me!

[JeffreyJames]

Originally Posted by Tman

So, is the Black Dahlia going to be the push car!?!?!?!

I would shit myself if I seen that car pushing an FED.

[Johnny Switchblade]

Cool car!
Sounds great!!!
Shoot the camera man and set up a tripod.

[cowboy.3d]

Thanks for sharing, I have chills!!!!

[Blackie]

That was worth getting a kink in the neck...

[dragsled]

Very cool ride , cool vidieo ,hope mine turns out as nice

[Beep]

Yes...........................verrrrry cool indeed

[Skotz]

Isn't that the engine that Norm Jones(our local Hemi buddy) built for Steve?.....I didn't seem to see any credits for that part????

Nice Digger....can't wait to see it in person, and hopefully line up with the Flathead FED next to it at DOTD....I just love the fact that more and more folks are coming up with true Nostalgic type Dragsters around here.

[Retro Jim]

That was so damn kool ! Yea the camera person was a little excited but hell would wouldn't be if you were there !
To me there is nothing better than a front engine dragster ! I have always loved them and always wanted one but just couldn't afford to have a frame built . Maybe one day ...who know .
Hope to see a video coming real soon seeing the FED smoking down the track !

Retro Jim

[BLAKE]

ACK! Great video, but the combination of my toothy grin and the twisted viewing angle just gave me a helluva neck cramp.

Totally worth it.

[dustdevil]

FED's are badass!! Cant wait to see video of this run down the track. Congrats!!

[Candy-Man]

Very Kool........ Did Norm build the hemi as suggested above ? That would be better yet !

Steve, you will be in for great ride very soon at the drags like no other, you will be forever addicted...... Congrats....

[von Dyck]

Interesting positioning of the "94s". As the digger comes out of the hole (leaves) the fuel moves toward the rear of the float bowl starving the main jets and giving a very lean condition to an engine demanding more fuel, not less! As Edd Byrnes would say, "But what do I know?"
Anyway, nicely executed FED.

[daddy_o's_diner]

Um, yaaaaaaa

I feel like I need a cigarette - and I don't even smoke!!!!!!

TOTAL BAD-ASS. Can't wait to see more

[El Jefe]

I can't believe this is up already & the shitty video to boot. I want a do over on the video and will do that soon. After hanging out at Rancho de Tardel for 4 days burning the candle at both ends following a two day bonzai run from Austin to Santa Rosa w/ the engine and other car parts, we fired off the engine at 8 pm on Saturday night I was so excited, I wasnt much of a videographer. Just too excited. Don't worry I'm not going to quit my day job. There are a number of people that helped me along the way but there are two in particular that made this dream come true. First off Keith Tardel @ Rex Rod & Chassis for not only scratch building the most beautiful period perfect chassis based off an early 60's chassis research model 442 but also did all the body panel & paint work too. My week here with him has been nothing short of spectacular watching him work and make things come together. He's a freaking genius. This whole idea was hatched after Keith came to the DOTD event that we put on at Little River Dragway back a year ago. This was followed up by a night in a bar in January at the GNRS and it was on. We collaborated on this long distance and I started gathering all the parts w/ Keith's expert advice while he started to put together the chassis and assemble the parts I was sending him. It was great to watch this thing unfold even though I was 1800 miles away. Secondly I would like to thank Norm Jones who is "Hemi-riffic" ( if you know Norm you know in his opinion the only way to power anything correctly is w/ a hemi) and he rebuilt this '56 DeSoto for me top to bottom. It was Norm's influence that had me go buy a junked '56 DeSoto just so I could get the motor and have him school me on it and try and find something to put it in once he was done w/ the rebuild. Well it sat for a year rebuilt in my garage on a stand and we had all kind of crazy ideas what car to swap it into, but it wasn't until the Digger Dream took hold that we knew where its home would ultimately wind up. I was on the phone with Norm all week as this week progressed getting advice from him all along the way making sure I didn't screw anything up. Norm knows hemis and I know he knew everything was gonna be fine. Well 8 pm came on Saturday night we hooked up the last wire to the mag, prime the carbs & hit the starter and boom we were on the business end of it. Norm was on the phone listening to every crank and then fire. So heartfelt thanks to both Keith & Norm for making this happen. Also wanted to thank Gene Gilmore out here for the help w/ a few spare Hemi parts we didn't have and Wade at Buffy's Stainless & Polishing in Austin for the beautiful job on the solid magnesium halibrand rear wheels and David at centex plating in austin for all the great chrome, also Brendan Murray for the great job on the 40 spoke 18" front wheels and last but not least Cody at Hurst for the meats out back. I'm gonna do a full post w/ the build w pics when I get back home and get it organized. I'm having to do this post on my phone cuz my laptop took a dump and its a pain. Stay tuned and I will see you at a dragstrip near you soon.

[Candy-Man]

Very Kool Steve.....

Yes the Tardel's, not that I know them because I don't, however; it was very interesting seeing all the legends hang out in their pit during Bonneville Speed Week this past August....

Can't wait to see the build pic's !!!!

[mctim64]

Very cool! Didn't he do one of these with a Y-Block a couple years back?

[hotrd32]

Yeah saw the frame on FB ...and would hang it in my living room....so beautiful.....what Drag Racing used to be....cool and raw.....love it!