My last build thread was "Front Engine Dragster Update" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=474994&highlight=dragster+update This is the very start of the 49 Chevy Drag Car build
I’m planning on a two + year build. My son will be attending The Hot Rod Institute out in SD. His first class starts Jan 2 http://www.hotrodinstitute.com/?gclid=CNK7j-Sf0KwCFQFx4Aod8lN2Mw He has been working in collision shops for awhile now and wants to try and get into a rod shop. The first class is in Chassis fabrication, so we will pull the current running drive train and adding a four link in the rear and straight axle or camaro frontend. My wife has gotten the drag race bug and this will be her car.[/ Gasser will be the them. http://www.gasserracingseries.com/ I’m thinking 454 engine, turbo 400
Mock up engine and transmission has been put together, front straight axle ordered, rear narrowed axle with four bar ordered. Ok, what is the block and transmission?
First update from my son out at the Hot Rod Institute http://www.hotrodinstitute.com/ Rear four link, front straight axle have been purchased but not pictured here. The first shot is of my son. Know a good shop that is looking for good help. This is not his first car, see this link http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1969_Oldsmobile_Cutlass.htm
I have updated the web site with progress pictures of my son’s build out at the Hot Rod Institute Take a look, remember he is looking for a good Hot Rod Fabrication shop to hang his hat at. http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1949_Chevrolet_gasser_Root.htm . .
New pictures and another update from my son out at the Hot Rod Institute.<? He is still looking for a job. Please forward to any appropriate shops or persons He will be attending the next class, Hot Rod Body Fabrication. The project for that class is again the 49 gasser. A lot to be done and I suspect the projects will not get completed there as the time frame will not allow it. Projects are chopping the top and fabricating the floor (all the while going to classes Here is the link http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1949_Chevrolet_gasser_Progress_Rear_End.htm
Another update. Above is the insert built to go into the original frame. It also holds the brackets for the four link. The entire update can be seen at this link. http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1949_Chevrolet_gasser_Progress_2012_03_01.htm
Second web site update today. It is now up to date for the start of the body class at the Hot Rod Institute. http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1949_Chevrolet_gasser_Progress_2012_03_25.htm
Another HRI Update from Arthur I have stopped working on the wheel well openings as the rear door sills and rocker panels need to be repaired before the work can continue on the wheel wells. Progress is being made on both sides but thought I would only show pictures of the left side so that jumping between the left and right side does not cause confusion in what you are seeing. So I did not have much to work with. There was enough to see the basic form but not much more. There are certainly enough holes that the car will fill with smoke on the first burn out! I tried to make life easier and purchased the rocker panel extension for an aftermarket vendor. In the comparison to the form, of the original body part to the form of the aftermarket piece, I found they were not even close. So I dropped back yet another step and created the floor piece using the original piece cut from the car as a form. I then created the correct curve to match the rocker extension from the floor piece. Then I modified the aftermarket piece to fit the curved piece that was made to fit the floor piece which was made to fit the original piece. Then the forward part of the rocker panel was created. All those pieces were tacked together and then the work on the inner rear wheel well started. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I was given some suggestions on how to get to this point, but kind of went my own way. I certainly learned some good stuff along the way. I have attached some pictures, but the whole process can be seen at this link. http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1949_Chevrolet_gasser_Progress_2012_05_11.htm Thanks, Arthur Lever [email protected]
Well I was extremely lax in my car nuts update of 12 8 2012, so here goes. Well no work on the dragster today, we moved it out into the rain to give us room to work on the 49. </O> Work started by cleaning the floor, some antifreeze was spilled out of the coolant system on the dragster when we moved it, no, during the season there is no antifreeze in the system when it goes down the track, but with the winters here in the north I do put antifreeze in the system. </O> <O</O First step was to unpack the body of the gasser from the trailer. </O<O</O The true success of the Car Nuts is the quality of the food served. <O></O> <O</O <O</O
The body is lifted off its dolly; the body was so light that it wanted to float away.<O</O <O </O <O</O We set it on the frame to see how far off we are. Well it is sitting on the mock up block with six inches still to go to the frame. Time to break out the blue tip wrench to make some room, this was done three times to try and cut as little as possible. The entire firewall will be replaced when we get to it for real. <O></O> <O</O I think the stance is just perfect.<O</O <O </O<O</O
Back it goes into the trailer, real work can not start on it until the blower, and injection is figured out on the dragster. I want to be ready to start testing as soon as the track opens in the spring. Even my wife is into it (well after all the car is being built for her to run down the track, which is her pushing in the white on the left. Well it is all stuffed back into the trailer until we can get working on it</O> Well guys, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to your help. <O></O> <O</O As usual I have updated the web site with additional pictures and text.<O</O http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1949_Chevrolet_gasser_Progress_2012_12_08.htm<O</O <O</O