Projects Almost Funny - AWB Barracuda Funny Car Build

That sounds like it would work. I am a little bit leery of welding the axle and going that fast....perhaps getting it X ray'd would set my mind at ease?

But also, the axle is a little bit heavy, and the steering arms especially.

I'm still thinking about it.

On the rear suspension and frame setup...yeah, I've been thinking about that, and that sketch which shows the tire fitting into the trunk, shows a rough idea of how the front bar mounting brackets would sit relative to the frame. They'd be kind of low, compared to most race cars. It looks like the crossmember that they would attach to would be about in line with the main hoop of the cage, so I was thinking the main frame rails would end there, and there would be smaller rails going to the rear of the car. The crossmember would need to have driveshaft clearance, so it would have either a reinforced opening or notch, depending on where the transmission ends up, relative height.

I'm going to make a decent sized scale drawing of side and top view one of these days. Then it will become clear.

 

Last year Hemibert built this Barracuda to run the Southeast Gasser association and did some of the same stuff your considering doing. Here is a link to his build thread. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/southeast-gassers-brand-x-build.994410/

 

^ Works for me.... but I ain't the one building, Jim is a *TOP SHELF* kinda guy.
Love following his projects.
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I'm a lowly 55chevy kind guy

 

Good thread, thanks for the link

 

That was a pretty rusty starting point. Jim, yours will be a cakewalk for you.

 

I've got an identical Dana 60 rear to the one you picked up thats complete drum to drum, same gears too. It's currently holding up my wall. If you want it/need it next time you're in Chandler let me know, I'd gladly donate it so i don't have to move it again.

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I'm really looking forward to seeing this new project come together. You've got a great car to start with and the Photoshop image is perfect. But please don't use a crappy old I beam axle.
Look at the cars Don Long and Jim Kirby built in the end of the gasser era for some cool chassis ideas. The rear suspension should probably be of later design (4 link/coilover) but they went 8s back then with some old style stuff that should be fairly street-able with slightly beefier materials.

 

Perception viewed from every angle possible defies common belief.

 

Ramchargers Dana 60 magnesium center section:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/ramchargers-magnesium-center-section.1087610/

 

Daddy like!

 

I know a buddy that has a complete one if anyone's looking.


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Not me...

 

Wow 22 pages already.
It took me almost a year to get my build thread up to 22 pages and an incredible amount of work done, with pictures too.

 

Yep, these were optional on mid-60s Ford 1/2 tons. Rare too. IIRC, these may use a different bearing/housing end. Had a friend with one of these in a '67, he had to special order a new replacement axle when the bearing went south and chewed up the axle.

 

I was working for a Ford dealership during these years and being in a rural area, we sold a lot of pickups to ranchers. As I recall, the ones ordered with posi all came with the Dana rear ends. We also did a lot of dealer installs of posi units on the 9 inchers for guys that missed the boat.

 

I guess that explains why the used these. I intend to replace the ends with either a Mopar or big Ford 9" style end.

 

Narrow the axle . Angle cut the joints to get more surface area to weld to. Drill the axle to get weight out and cut the top and bottom axle rails down to get more weight out. I drilled mine with a hole saw bit in my drill press, cut the sides down with a wiz wheel
X-ray the welds if you feel the need. I stick welded mine. Remember how much weight they were designed for and how little they will carry when you are done. Looks more traditional than a tube axle.

 

And it's obvious that your Willys doesn't carry much weight on that axle coming off the line!
KK

 

And it's obvious that your Willys doesn't carry much weight on that axle coming off the line!
KK[/QUOTE]

Coming down is the stressful part of going up

 

No one ever died in the fall, it was the sudden stop at the bottom that did them in!
KK

 

If your heart is set on an iron axle, though I'm pretty certain you aren't, an F1 axle is the bang on right width for an early A Mope. I was building a street freak style '66 that I was building some years ago, pretty sure the spring mounts I made are floating around here somewhere. You can have 'em if you wish.

 

Brad2v you are correct I have come up with a f1 axle for my next afx dart and it will be spot on I am just not sure which year it is however when I done my 64 I didn't have it and I wanted it to be just like it was done back then and I must say the big 11x3 drum brakes on the a100 axle stopped on a dime granted I'm sure Jim will be using disc brakes anyway so it won't matter


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I'm looking into some other axle options....keeping in mind that I do want to keep the car light.

 

early mopar tube axles are light compared to I beams

 

The Little Red Wagon had a welded axle up front. I was appalled at how poorly it was done when I saw it at Don Garlits museum.

 

What's the hub to hub width you want to be at?

 

Datsun pickups from late 50's/early 60's had a beam axle, don't know much about them but many years ago a friend of mine had one under his Lloyd gasser style streeter, a pretty small car.

 

Around 56-58 hub to hub, I think.

 

Forged axle would be nice for the street but not for the track...tough call.

 

https://www.racingjunk.com/Nostalgi...toration.html?page=3&categoryId=150&offset=28

Jim did you see this one on Racing Junk?

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