Hot Rods My belly tank racer build

I had the good fortune of buying a 13' belly tank a few months back from a great guy in Mass. The plan is to build a late 40's early 50's style tank race car like those from the dry lakes.


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These tanks are full of baffles and fuel lines . I started by cutting a few holes so I could get a complete picture of what I was up against to remove them.


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After some strategic planning I was able to split the tank without destroying the flange or the baffles inside.


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I then cut out the baffles on the bottom to make room for the chassis and components.


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Cool!

 

Watching.

 

Cool project - have fun

 

Flatty,banjo and is that an early Mopar axel?Looks like a sweet project.

 

Very cool!!

 

Can't wait to see what you do with this one!

 

I'm sure you'll be able to find a use for the baffles. This should be good! This is first time I've seen the inner workings of a tank, Very Interesting.

 

the engine came from this Ford F1 that was a family farm hay truck. Truck had an incredible 4500 miles on it. I found the truck by the side of the road about 3 minutes from my house.


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Got this " wavy" axle from a local honey hole I frequent. Plan is to run 36 Ford spindles , T spring and wide five drums and wheels on the front. No front brakes.


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gonna run a ford side shift trans , 40 merc rear and this tiny torque I made.


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How did you determine the exact length of the torque tube without a mock up????

 

I've looked at a million pics of tanks . Most have no drive shaft or a super short one. I made the torque tube as short as possible with the driveshaft type I'm planning to run. Let's hope it works out! Really no recipe for cars like this . I usually "wing it " when it comes to building cars. Ha


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I have an extra rear axle just incase your winging it doesn't work

 

Thanks topher I've got a few extras myself


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Neat project!!! Love that shorty tube... Going to run 2nd & high gears only? That Plymouth axle is a hoot!
I have 3 of them, always start each project with the front axle...my cool one man lakester has a 1920 Elliot axle, reminds me of early Indy, lotsa style...
Which frame rails are you planning for the tank? (I see some T's, also an 'A'?)
I have a 'building table' that doubles as a frame jig, and when setting up my 'one man car', I also 'wing' it.
Funny 'winging' story:
I was setting my rear crossmember in my '27 Hiboy, '32 rails, rear 'kickups' kicked up 2" additional, Model 'A' crossmember. Working both sides alternatively, I had my yardstick on the right, and a wooden Harbor yardstick on the left.
Every time I measured from my stretched center wire to each side, I was nearly 1/2" off! Then from the other side? Couldn't find my error, so 3 times measure...then compare yardsticks. Wooden China stick was 3/8" shorter at 30"!!!
Hope my metal Starrett was correct...Checked it with my Lufkin tape. Hope they're both right... LOL
Didn't weld 'til I figured that out...

 

I think it will have 2 shifters . 1st and reverse on one 2nd and 3rd on the other. Seen that done by Mike Barillaro and liked it. This will be my TROG car for next year. Would be nice to have reverse at the hotel.
Please post a pic of your tank Mike . I'd love to see it.

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Ray, you are unbelievable ! A real credit to this wonderful thing of ours.

 

Great project, I'll be watching.....

 

That tank looks fresh off the plane inside...minimal corrosion. Great condition for your project. Any identification on it? You can reapply any existing tags for historical ambience. Upping the speed threshold a little...from your last adventure...sand to dirt to salt perhaps?. Your a man of adventure @onekoolkat1950. Good on you...fun for us.

 

Cool.This will be fun.More photos!

 

Great fun. I'm watching.

 

Looking forward to watching this one come together, although I still think you should make it legal to run at Loring! I'm dying to go up there.

 

Here we go again! Yes Yes Yes!!!


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Looking forward to watching another great build come together, Ray. Belly Tanks rule! We're still drooling over the D-Fender build.

For those of you that are out of the loop, Ray built a killer single seat racer for TROG 2017. The D-Fender. One of the coolest builds, ever!

 

Thanks for the kind words . I really appreciate it.


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^^dont forget he built it in like a few months or something.
As for the belly tank'r all I have is "oh come on" Ray. You just have to keep going onward and upward don't ya?


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