Page 6 - NM SPRING
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looking for a challenge. The plans    obstacles. Before a tube was cut                 Spring 2017
were drawn up for a most unusual      and welded it was first reviewed in
build. An old school frame and look   a computer program that simulated
was a must. At Brian’s request a      the load and stresses it would be
double rail design was chosen to be   subjected to. The chassis design
made of chrome-moly tubing. This      was modified several times during
style of frame suited three needs:    construction to ensure a quality
looks, strength and safety. With      product. The result is a chassis
the strength of this design, front    that’s been inspected and tagged
strut bars became unnecessary         for 6.0 seconds.
providing a cleaner look. The idea
was to build a car that resembled       With the chassis plans
a vintage fuel altered. Hairpins      finalized. Jim and Jon could begin
were chosen to locate the forged      construction. With the chassis in
aluminum straight axle up front       their capable hands, work began on
with a custom torsion bar similar     the dual fuel, dual ignition engine.
to those used by old fuel altereds
and funny cars. The chassis             A lot of time and energy went
wheelbase was stretched to 125”       into the fuel and ignition system
for high speed stability. Knowing a   that would allow a smooth and
fuel tank was needed up front, the    efficient transformation. Managing
design required that the radiator     fuel delivery and ignition timing
be relocated to the trunk. The        specific to the fuel being used were
louvered trunk lid would allow the    but a few of the hurdles that needed
heat removed from the radiator to     to be overcome. This is how it all
escape aided by dual electric fans.   works:

  From the start, the car was           For street driving pump gas is
built to compete in Hot Rod           the fuel of choice. There is a 15
Magazine’s annual Drag Week.          gallon tank located in the trunk. A
This event requires participants      Weldon pump and regulator were
to drive their cars 1200+ miles       chosen for their proven reliability.
over five days competing at four      Sitting on top of the Littlefield
different tracks. Putting your car    8-71 High-helix retro blower is
on a trailer or towing in any way     a polished Hilborn four port up-
is against the rules resulting in     right tall EFI casting. This was
instant disqualification. Rules also  heavily modified to accept a larger
prohibit support vehicles of any      fuel rail, four Injection Dynamics
kind to follow along. Competitors     nozzles along with both electronic
can however choose to pull a 4’       and mechanical idle air control
x 8’ trailer behind their car if      valves. A throttle position sensor
they like, so a trailer hitch was     and barrel valve round out each
incorporated into the rear of the     end of the throttle shaft. To fire the
chassis. Jim knew this chassis        EFI fed mixture, an MSD ready
would be subjected to forces not      to run distributor located in the
normally seen in a race car. The      stock rearward position was used.
street driving and pulling a loaded   An MSD AL-7 digital ignition box
trailer presented a unique set of     provides the spark. A F.A.S.T. XFI-

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                                             Nitro Madness Magazine
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