Split chassis dragsters?
Discussion
Hey
Was watching an old Santa pod DVD today, which got me thinking. The stardust super pro et dragster was on there...it was 2007 I think, if I remember rightly, didn't the car come in 2 parts to the track...ienthe chassis was split in 2 and then put together at the track?
..I was just wondering who made the chassis...is it just a special feature that particular car had or have others done it? If not why don't more do it? Does it have disadvantages?.....just always seemed like a very clever way of fitting a long car into a standard size garage to me!
Was watching an old Santa pod DVD today, which got me thinking. The stardust super pro et dragster was on there...it was 2007 I think, if I remember rightly, didn't the car come in 2 parts to the track...ienthe chassis was split in 2 and then put together at the track?
..I was just wondering who made the chassis...is it just a special feature that particular car had or have others done it? If not why don't more do it? Does it have disadvantages?.....just always seemed like a very clever way of fitting a long car into a standard size garage to me!
Edited by 37chevy on Wednesday 4th April 00:43
Theres a number of two piece dragsters in the UK. Zane Llewellyn, both of Martyn Jones & Crunch's last two cars, Pete Walters off the top of my head.
Only down side I can see could be having a rigid section where the join is where a one piece chassis would have constant flex throughout the length, that said it doesn't seem to cause any of the above problems and makes transport/storage a lot easier.
Only down side I can see could be having a rigid section where the join is where a one piece chassis would have constant flex throughout the length, that said it doesn't seem to cause any of the above problems and makes transport/storage a lot easier.
Flying Toilet said:
I believe Steve Johnsons is also 2 piece too.
Most of them has been converted at a later date apart from Zane's whose was built like that from scratch.
Ah yea, Steve's is too. Pete's was built as a two piece as was Syd's new car. By Rich Walters and Kev Cerusale respectivelyMost of them has been converted at a later date apart from Zane's whose was built like that from scratch.
Cool thx for that, yeh Petes car is a lovely piece of kit, his dad did a great job of it!
Just out of interest, how come there are less dragsters and altereds racing in the uk than doorslammers? They make more sense to me as they're lighter but don't know if they're more expensive to race or it's just a personal
Choice thing?
Just out of interest, how come there are less dragsters and altereds racing in the uk than doorslammers? They make more sense to me as they're lighter but don't know if they're more expensive to race or it's just a personal
Choice thing?
In fact, both my old car and Steve Johnson's were already 2 piece chassis. Both cars split behind the roll cage so you could adjust the pre-load on the rear end. Mine has(had?) turnbuckles in the top rail and pivots in the bottom rail, and Steve's has plates with multiple positions.
So, after Steve split his, and Kev Cerusale split mine, they were both 3 piece chassis. Obviously a lot easier to take them apart where there were no brake lines or control cables.
My old car is now Laura Turbuville's car..
My new car was purpose built to split (it's longer than my truck...).
And I have crash tested the design so I know it's safe :-) Also easier to replace the whole front end after the wall redesigned it.
So, after Steve split his, and Kev Cerusale split mine, they were both 3 piece chassis. Obviously a lot easier to take them apart where there were no brake lines or control cables.
My old car is now Laura Turbuville's car..
My new car was purpose built to split (it's longer than my truck...).
And I have crash tested the design so I know it's safe :-) Also easier to replace the whole front end after the wall redesigned it.
There was a really good piece by Zane about his split chassis on the Bootsoop website which I was going to post a link to, but the site is now inactive.
From what I recall the joints used multi-layer finger plates from Mark Williams. The chassis split in front of the drivers safety cell.
From what I recall the joints used multi-layer finger plates from Mark Williams. The chassis split in front of the drivers safety cell.
We built ours from scratch, built the chassis first and then cut it in half (scary times!)
Makes it so much easier for storage and transport
Never had a problem with it, 4 clasps/bolts and then the two cross braces bolt in.
Our next car will most probably be two peice aswell, dont think its been done to this type of car
Makes it so much easier for storage and transport
Never had a problem with it, 4 clasps/bolts and then the two cross braces bolt in.
Our next car will most probably be two peice aswell, dont think its been done to this type of car
peterwalters said:
We built ours from scratch, built the chassis first and then cut it in half (scary times!)
Makes it so much easier for storage and transport
Never had a problem with it, 4 clasps/bolts and then the two cross braces bolt in.
Our next car will most probably be two peice aswell, dont think its been done to this type of car
You're a star!!! Thanks for the info....lol now all I need to do is save some pennies lol....might take a few years haha!.... Start off with a street strip car I think!Makes it so much easier for storage and transport
Never had a problem with it, 4 clasps/bolts and then the two cross braces bolt in.
Our next car will most probably be two peice aswell, dont think its been done to this type of car
Ours is fairly simple. Each frame connector is machined out of a piece of bar the same diameter as the tube.
The connectors are split vertically over about 3 inches where they join. 50% of width of the bar is on one tube, and the mirror half is on the other tube.
A rebate is machined on the frame side of the connectors and they are inserted into the frame tube and rosette welded. A single bolt
then clamps the 2 halves of the connector together.
The steering column has to be split too. A flange was welded on either end and they simply bolt together.
So, 6 bolts and it's apart.
Held up well when I hit the wall hard enough to destroy both front wheels, and the wing, and to add an 8 inch offset to the front end.
The connectors are split vertically over about 3 inches where they join. 50% of width of the bar is on one tube, and the mirror half is on the other tube.
A rebate is machined on the frame side of the connectors and they are inserted into the frame tube and rosette welded. A single bolt
then clamps the 2 halves of the connector together.
The steering column has to be split too. A flange was welded on either end and they simply bolt together.
So, 6 bolts and it's apart.
Held up well when I hit the wall hard enough to destroy both front wheels, and the wing, and to add an 8 inch offset to the front end.
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