This is where I will show progress on my 62 Palamides FED. I bought it a few years back as a SBC powered car and have converted it to a Ford Flathead to run with the Denver Flatheaders in the VDRA. This car was run throughout the midwest and was originally built at Palamides Race Cars in Chicago, Il. I purchased it from a family who raced it at Rte 66 Dragway in Joliet, Il and (Union Grove) Great Lakes Dragway in Wisconsin. I had intended in running it as is in Denver, but ran into complications with NHRA rules and budgetary concerns with making it legal for potential speeds. Anyway, this is how it looked in action when I got it. It had a nice SBC, with a CrossRam setup, small cooling system, powerglide trans, big ass slicks and Centerline Auto Drag wheels.
One of the first things I did was change the wheel combo. I am running Anglia spindles in the front so I sourced a pair of hubs, figured out what bearings to use, and had them laced up with stainless spokes to old 17" motorcycle rims. The rear got a set of Rocket Wheels- Halibrand type mags. View attachment 3382147 View attachment 3382147
You have a very cool car! Your front wheels caught my attention. I'm hoping to build a F.E.D. using a front axle which is unusual for dragsters. This would solve a lot of problems for me. Can you tell us a few more details about them? Where did you take them to have the hubs laced to the motorcycle rims? How was it decided which spokes to use? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I got the hubs off the internet auction site as being already used on Anglia spindles, but the bearings were missing. The rims are made by Kaga, a japanese motorcycle rim from the late 50's to early 60's Hondas. Woody's Wheel Works here in Denver did the lace up job and figured out what size spokes to use based in the weight of the known load and the hole sizes in the hubs and rims. So, if you're piecing together a set, ensure the hub spoke hole number matches the rim hole number.
Like it need more pics and thoughts about what you are going to do. Then get it done and come join us at Eagle Field! ps.... go with 8" slicks
Nice looking little dragster. What's the wheelbase? If I had to pick one car that I'd like to have back, my old FED would be in the top two. What would you have had to change to bring it legal concerns? Keeping the Glide with the flathead? Like others have said, more pics would be nice. Can you explain your signature? I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Thanks. The wheelbase is 128" on this dragster. If I wanted to run the SBC and go quicker than 9.99, I would have had to redo the whole chassis. I did a sonic check on the thickness of it and it came just under the current standard by about 0.010". There is also added expense of all the additional safety equipment; Hans device, SFI flexplate, trans cover, engine diaper, etc... A lot more than I initially thought before I jumped into dragster ownership with both feet. haha. I am keeping the glide with the flathead and will show more pics as I post this build. The signature is a quote from the classic movie, "Animal House". I always thought it was funny when John Belushi's character was trying to rally the fraternity to take a stand.
Carl, I went with 10.5" slicks to fit my wheels. You should come out here in June for the High Altitude Flathead/Inline Nationals. This national meet has been the largest Flathead-Inline drag race in the United States for over 20 years and now includes OHV/FED and Gasser classes. Check us out at denverflathead.com
I'd love to all depends on whats happenin here, that's been on my bucket list for a while........ so little time so many race tracks.......
So, after deciding to go with a flat motor, the SBC came out and I started removing all the items from the chassis I wasn't going to use for my build. I took off the gas tank that was a low profile, in-between the rails type, the shiney battery box, the cooling system, the modern electronics like the two-step modules, Auto Meter gauges and tach, etc. I ended up selling most of that stuff to help fund the parts I wanted for it.
Then I needed a motor. A buddy of mine had one in stock that looked good and offered to let it go. We knew it needed to be rebuilt, had a broken rod, no big deal. I stripped it down and got it ready for cleaning and going to the machine shop. Well, the rod punctured a hole in the opposite cylinder and scored the other cylinder. I brought it to my machinist and we decided to sleeve the scored cylinder and patch the hole in the skirt of the other one. The block was going to be filled anyway with no cooling system, so it all worked out.
In the meantime I got an Offy intake and a triplet of Stomberg 97's. I started using another junk block to do some mock-up fitting into the chassis.
Wow, that was a while ago! I will try to resurrect this thread and build. Couple pics of the setting of the motor/trans.
was it a full length trans with the chebby too. i have a 137" w/b fed with a 440 mopar and a shorty b & m t/f. i want it under 10 seconds too. more fun less dough. oh yea, i also have a fed flathead too. one of these days i will get them running.
Yes, it had the full length powerglide with the chevy engine too. Let's see a pic of your flathead FED.
With the engine back from machining, I did a little port work, drilled the holes for adjustable lifters, cleaned it and got the block painted Ford blue.
For the exhaust I wanted something cool. Zoomies are an obvious choice, but I like weedburners. Went to the local metal scrap yard and found some tubing that would fit the bill. I forget where I got the header flange, but a nice thick piece to weld to. I bent the tubes, cut to length and welded them up. Came out pretty good, I think.
More engine assembly as time went on. 3 5/16 x 3.75 bore and stroke, Ross forged pistons, everything balanced just right, hi volume oil pump, Schneider 425 cam, etc. Nothing exotic here.
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