Picked up a old 1926 model T "race car". Plan is to make a street/strip car. Drop a pretty aggressive "NA Style" cam into an otherwise stock alum. 5.3. Run twin 78/75's with a glide and see how quick I can get it in the 1/8th. Going to try and get away with out an intercooler at first. Space will be a major hurtle with this build! It does fit/tuck quite well in the garage though!

Roller has the following:

Box steel frame 1600lbs Rolling. (or so was claimed)
8.50 Cert
Home built 4 link with decent 9" rear.
Wilwood Discs up front
Mustang II front end.
109.5" Wheel base

So far I've purchased:

MS3 pro
Twin Billet 78/75's with a .68 T4

 

You are going to kill yourself....but I'll watch none the less......lol

T,

 

Probably gonna subscribe, I really enjoyed the old RX7 project.

 

That's going to be quite a handful to drive I suspect! Oh, and its a model T, not an A, just saying...

 

Thanks all, I think it's going to be a wild ride as well! The old owner has been racing it for 9 years or so in the 10.20-10.40 range as a bracket car at around 124. Pretty consistent 1.4x drama free 60's on any track condition he claims. "Just dead hooks and goes, every time" Also said it's been 134 in the 1/4 when it was first put together, had a more powerful engine at that time. Hoping if I lower it a bit with radials all around it won't try to kill me in the 1/8th.

Ha! Thanks for that! Was looking at Model-A fuel tanks and got some old man brain wires crossed! The 3 gallon cell isn't going to cut it. Looking for ideas. Basic 10 gallon 10" cylinder is 28-30" long! Don't think that will look right in the current location. May be stuck making something.

 

Weighed in at 1358lbs as it sits last night. 499 on the nose and 859 on the rear. If If I can keep the drivetrain/fluids all under 840lbs should be 2200lbs! 2400lbs w driver.

 

Putting wheelie bars on it?

 

Thats awesome, be a hell of a ride! I have twin 78’s at 2600lbs with no intercooler currently.

 

I thought you were looking for another RX-7. This looks like its going to be faster if it hooks.

 

A tall T at that! Awesome car! I'd fab a fuel tank to fit wherever you can squeeze it. No real space on a T. The old Dirty '30 seemed aerodynamically sound at 135-140, so you should be good, lol. Sub'd for the winter project.

 

I was, but this popped up down the street and was priced right with an 8.50 cage. From what I hear they are easy to tag as well. I had always wanted an open engine bay setup as well. Easier to work on with my old man back.

This Dirty Thirty? LOL! Poor guy... he had alot wrapped up in that car!


I found a 8" tank that's 40" long. Still only 8.5 gallons. Probably enough for what I'm doing to just toss in the original location and go.

 

That's the part of "That's racin'!" we don't care to emphasize too much...
Glad he got out OK!

 

Yeah, that was it. Should have made my post past tense, lol. Knew he crashed it. But hey, it wasn't an aerodynamic problem!

And the original tank was oval, 10 gallons and under the seat. Are you putting it there???

 

No, the tank is pictured in post 5. Mounted out back on the roll bar. I looks good there I think, but it's only 3.5 gallons or so. the 40" long won't look as cool for sure. But it won't stick out pas the body.

 

Just think of the pressure on the windshield at 100 MPH! Are you thinking of lowering the lid a bit?

 

My bad. I was thinking "original" as in how Henry built it.

 

I do appreciate the concern! If anyone has any nifty aero suggestions, I'm all ears. As much as I'd like to, I can't chop the top, I'm too tall and barely fit as is.

It does have a tempered glass windshield, but I agree. I had read it takes 20,000 to 24,000psi to break tempered glass. Then calculated the Dynamic pressure on my 42x16" window at 160mph wind speed and came up with 15,360 psi. So I *think* I'll be ok. Especially if I stick to 1/8th mile. I don't see ever going that fast. I know its trapped in the low 130's without issue in the past. I can't imagine i'll be going over 140 in the 1/8th. I'd also thought about simply removing the fwd and aft windows. All possibilities. Some sort of goofy wind deflector just behind the radiator may be another option to try.




Step 1 is to get it running and see how bad it really is. The car has been running 124 mph 1/4 miles for years now without issue, so it may be fine going 130's in the 1/8th. Only stability plan for now is to lower it a as much as I can and get it on radials. Unfortunately the rear tire tucks under the body so I can't lower it much. Maybe 1.5" with the 275 tire.

It has a 25.4" tire up front now. I'm going to drop that down to a 20.8". Should drop the nose 2.3".
Has a 29.5" slick on the rear. Moving to a 275 radial will drop it .75" and give a lot more stability.

 

Long shot...what about extending the frame and turning it into a tall T pickup? Longer wheelbase and you could lower it lots. I've seen your work, well within your ability. Spitballing.

 

Thanks, I had thought about extending the wheel base out, but was thinking the front end would be easier to do than the rear. I'll look into it. Wouldn't help the aero but I think it would track straighter for sure. Have to be careful I don't end up with $10k worth of fabrication on $3k worth of chassis. Its far from a "nice" car or collector. I don't expect it to set the LS world on fire or anything. I'd be happy with some 5.50's if it was stable and safe at that level.

 

Sweet!