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Hot Rods I'M GOING TO BUILD AN ALTERED.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Don's Hot Rods, Oct 4, 2014.

  1. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    My rpu project is on hold for a while because the 394 Olds is back in the machine shop, getting the mistakes made by the first machine shop 9 years ago corrected. Basically, the engine needs everything redone.........line bored, decked, bored 30 over, crank reground, heads redone, etc, etc. So all of that is going to take some time to do (and a lot more money :mad: but it will be right when I get it back.

    In the meantime, I have this burning urge to go racing again. The first time I had been down the track in over 35 years was when I ran my 27 at the BP drags two years ago, and I loved it. But my 27 really isn't a track car and doesn't hook at all enough to make it competitive. So the alternative is that I am going to build a little altered and it will mostly be done in the old school ways. About 40 years ago I had a 32 Bantam roadster altered that had a 301CI Hilborn injected engine. It was a solid rear suspension car and that is what I am going to do this time too.

    I fully realize that a coil sprung car would be better in most respects, but that isn't what I am after in this build. When I go to Turkey Run this Thanksgiving I am going to buy a fiberglass body and try to find a narrowed rear end and some of the other parts I will need. I would love to find another Bantam body, but they rarely show up there, so I will probably buy a 23 T body, and one with a turtle deck, if possible.

    We will build the frame out of 1.5 x 3 x 1.25 wall tubing, and my Son Dan will do his magic on the cage for me. He has gotten really good bending tubing, from building his own Mustang drag car, and his tig welding has gotten very good, so that part will be easy to do.

    I have the plan in my head, it will have 11 inch M and H slicks on American Torque Thrusts, a solidly mounted 9 inch with a spool and probably 4.10 gears. I have the Moon tank already (thanks to a nice gift from Ken on here a few years ago) and lots of the other parts, like a B and M TH350 trans and lots of SFI approved parts.

    For the past few weeks I have been building the engine, it is a 20 over four bolt main 350 Chevy block with forged pistons and crank, some World Products Sportsman heads with a Summit cam and Harlan Sharp roller rockers. The intake is an Air Gap RPM and I am sending my Holley 750 to All American Carburetor on Monday to have it reworked. The motor will have no accessories and the water pump is an electric one.

    I have no illusions about the car being a record setter, or competitive, but I want to get it into the low 10's and just have a blast driving it down the quarter. In essence, I will just be racing against myself, and that is fine with me. I just want a fun car that doesn't break stuff often. I'm shooting for under 1500 pounds, which should be doable.

    Sorry for the long post, and when I get back from Turkey Run I will be able to post an update of what parts I found there. In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures of the motor I put together for it. Thanks for watching.


    Don

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2014
    1927graham likes this.
  2. oldolds
    Joined: Oct 18, 2010
    Posts: 3,407

    oldolds
    Member

    I would buy a done chassis. Look on racejunk.com. The good deals for altereds seem to be Florida.
     
  3. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    No, cranking out a rectangular tube frame is basically a weekend project for us, and I can make the wb and all exactly how I want it, rather than using someone else's old frame. This way I can tailor it to the body and my position in the car a little better.

    But I have heard Racing Junk has a lot of good deals.
    Don

    Here is something along the lines of what I am planning:

    [​IMG]

    Or this:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2014
    kidcampbell71 and saltflats like this.
  4. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,592

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    Hope you find a Bantam always had a love for them.
     

  5. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    Me too. :) I could just order a body from Speedway, but they quote something like 10 weeks to get one and then there is the shipping cost. If I can pick up a body at Turkey Run I will toss it in the back of the pickup and save a couple of hundred on shipping and probably crating costs too. I've just never seen any Bantam bodies there, but there are a few guys selling 23 T bodies.

    Don
     
  6. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,592

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    What about suncoast they close to you
     
  7. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    Oooooooohhhhhh ........... you gotta hold out for a Bantam brother :)

    Where are you gonna race this Altered at here in Florida?
     
  8. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida


    I don't know who Suncoast is........do they make Bantam bodies ?


    GLENN !!!!!!!!!! How the heck are you ? Haven't heard from you for a long time. There is a track down the road from us...........Immokalee (Sp), it's an 1/8 mile track, and Bradenton is just up the road. And then there are the BP drags (my favorite).

    Don't be a stranger, Glenn.:)

    Don
     
  9. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    Ohhhh Don !!!!!!!!!!

    SunCoast Race Cars is just up the road from my house.
    Here is a link: http://www.suncoastracecars.com/
    Richard (owner) makes the Bantam Roadster AND :) the Coupe bodies (my favorite) :)

    I've just been hibernating here at my shop doing a customers 61 Impala, and enjoying driving my 66 Chevy II Wagon as my daily driver. Are you on Facebook?
     
  10. Love it! "Pure Hell" is one of my favorite race cars of all time!
     
  11. 3wLarry
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,804

    3wLarry
    Member Emeritus
    from Owasso, Ok

    following the dream, don
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  12. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida


    No, I don't do facebook, too old to learn new tricks. :rolleyes: How come I never heard of Suncoast ? WOW, they are right here in Fl and I could drive up and pick up my body. I love the 32 Austin and the Fiat Topo too. I WILL be calling them Monday to check out what they have available.

    Thanks for the heads up.

    Don
     
  13. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    We must do lunch if you come this way for a Body :)
    There are other fiberglass body manufactures here in the state, but I'm not aware of any of the others doing the Bantam bodies.
    A few years back, I sold my Fiat Topilino body that hung from the ceiling in my shop. If I had not sold it, I would be building it today.
     
  14. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    Lunch it is. I remember you selling that body, those are one of my favorites.

    I just googled Homasassa (sp) it's only 202 miles from here, and Dan has a pickup. :) I might not wait till Turkey Run for my body. Thanks to you and saltflats for the lead.

    Don
     
  15. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    Awesome yet one more of your threads to follow. :)
     
  16. mike bowling
    Joined: Jan 1, 2013
    Posts: 3,560

    mike bowling
    Member

    Check out "Hillbily Hot Rodz" for sale list. they did have an old altered roller for sale ($5500.!) that I salivated over for a while.Love those cars.Stock up on Depends! and GOOG LUCK-Keep the pictures coming.I just checked; it's still listed.
     
  17. Going by your RPU build, im not going to miss this! Do you have any pics of your old racer? JW :)
     
  18. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    Thanks for all the input, guys. No, when we moved from NC to California one time the movers lost boxes of ours and in them were a lot of family pictures. All the old pictures I had of everything were lost.

    I'm pretty excited to hear about this place near Tampa that makes bodies, and will call them Monday for sure.


    Don
     
  19. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,244

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I like everything you're doing except the turbo 350. Not only are they the most limp-wristed race transmissions you can try to build (several racers blew them up with alarming frequency) but the 1st gear ratio will also hurt the car's ability to launch properly. The energy is in the fuel. The more fuel burned efficiently the higher the HP. In order to burn the fuel you need to LOAD the motor as much as reasonably possible, especially at launch. A 'glide is the answer for what you want to do regardless of racing 1/8 or 1/4 mile. Read up on this for yourself, don't just take it from me. A 3500 stall in a 'glide with a brake will be the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The rest will fall into place and I'm sure you can produce a winner in many regards. And, you WILL post pics of the build, right? If not you're a weenie poo poo head...:cool:
     
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  20. ididntdoit1960
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,030

    ididntdoit1960
    Member
    from Western MA

    Wow - im doing the same thing right now - I got my Bantam body from class glass they have the old A1 molds and it did not take long - the chassis 2x3x.125 is tig'd together and its a hard tail my tire are from towel city and the wheelbase is 94" - I will be using a hilborn injected (alky) magneto smallblock pg combo with no cooling system.......
     
  21. Sounds like a plan. Solid rear always works in that style car. And I am right with you on building. That is the whole point for me. I watched my friend Bill Vilneff build the chassis for his cool V8 Chev VW gasser. In less then 4 hours he had a good chassis built, the front end narrowed and rear end bracketry done. He was a welder in the mining industry before retraining as a Auto mechanic and it was amazing to see what he could do and perfectly too in a short time. I just hung up the gloves on the sr dragster after 8 years of insane fun but haven't quit racing. Just need something slower and easier to get in and out of. I will be watching your build with interest. MAAS used to sell Bantams.

    anyway goferit!
    don
    Here is some inspiration[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2014
  22. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    Just saying Don, ....... :)
    Gabby Bleeker [Courageous] of Chicago, IJ at Union Grove, WI in early 60s.jpg
     
    Drewfus likes this.
  23. TR Waters
    Joined: Nov 18, 2006
    Posts: 1,439

    TR Waters
    Member
    from Vermont
    1. Early Hemi Tech

    I bought this one a couple weeks ago at the NEHRR in Epping. Bantam 003.JPG Bantam 004.JPG

    It will be going on a R-16 style chassis.
     
  24. Trouble Maker's Tea
    Joined: Sep 11, 2014
    Posts: 816

    Trouble Maker's Tea
    Member

    I'm looking forward to following along
     
  25. TR Waters
    Joined: Nov 18, 2006
    Posts: 1,439

    TR Waters
    Member
    from Vermont
    1. Early Hemi Tech

  26. Trouble Maker's Tea
    Joined: Sep 11, 2014
    Posts: 816

    Trouble Maker's Tea
    Member

    A and A specialties in California sells a Bantam also.
     
  27. 26Troadster
    Joined: Nov 20, 2010
    Posts: 787

    26Troadster
    Member

    don i'm subbed, and will be watching.
     
  28. afaulk
    Joined: Jul 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,194

    afaulk
    Member

    Hi Don, haven't seen much of you on here for a while. We never lose the urge for speed LOL. I'm in the same boat. Regarding Suncoast fiberglass parts....... You'd be much MUCH better off with a Hairy's Glass body (if they make what you want). They're in FL also and much higher quality than the Suncoast stuff I've worked over. P.S. One good glide=a truckload of Turbo 350's. I spent a lot of $$$ learning that. Have fun! Cheers, Allan
     
    saltflats likes this.
  29. Jtg-3
    Joined: Sep 28, 2011
    Posts: 75

    Jtg-3
    Member
    from Huron Ohio

    Hey brother,
    2 on craigs list #1 lima findlay ohio 1932 austin vintage race car 3950. (17 days ago ). #2 cincinatti ohio. 32 bantam roadster $2000. Firm (25 days ago) looks like a great start , good luck don't know if either still exist but might ...
    Jim
     
  30. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,592

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    I am sure that Don is set on his chassis he just needs some glass.
     

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