The Dragula!

[PlastiZapCA+]

Got my big block Chevy valve covers from Shape Ways. They're slightly larger than I was hoping. The faux engine will be covering up the battery area so it might work to my advantage.

[PlastiZapCA+]

Almost done making the front axle and mount. It was more work than I expected! It looked easy on paper.


The axle is is solid 3/16 aluminum round stock. I made the bends using my vice and took lots of measurements to ensure the correct angles.


I made a single center mounting block to sit inside the frame rails. I made this from aluminum round stock. I drilled a hole through the round bar, cut it half with a band saw then hand shaped it using a sanding stick. The bottom was squared on a belt sander. A lot of work, wish I had CNC equipment! I'll clean up the tooling marks and mirror polish it and the axle when I get to the cosmetic part of the build. I just need to tap and thread the ends and cut some aluminum to hold the RC12e steering blocks.


It's getting there! I decided not to use the Shape Ways valve covers so I'll have to make my own now.

[RC10resto]

Great progress, very nice

[TRX-1-3]

I immediately thought of the rob zombie dragula. But this is super cool. Thank you for including some brass fab 101 pit tips. And I learned the sand in the tube trick this early in the game! Thanks guys.

[PlastiZapCA+]

Great progress, very nice

Thanks! I'm going to stay at it until I'm done.

[PlastiZapCA+]

I immediately thought of the rob zombie dragula. But this is super cool. Thank you for including some brass fab 101 pit tips. And I learned the sand in the tube trick this early in the game! Thanks guys.

You're welcome! I want to see you guys start on your own projects. Jump in there!

[PlastiZapCA+]

OK, I scrapped the previous front axle mount despite all the work I put into it. It was too bulky and ugly. I made a new axle that attaches directly to the frame. You'll see it later. I'm in uncharted territory so stuff like this is bound to happen.


It's officially a rail dragster! The solid carbon fiber rod will be inserted into all four rails making it super strong. Got to do lots of yard work today but will get back to work on it later. I'm trying to have it up on it's own wheels by Monday night. Ambitious, we'll see if I make it!

[Russ Winn]

This is the kind of stuff I really get into. AWESOME job on it!!! I can't wait for the next update.

[PlastiZapCA+]

I do believe she'll be rolling by tonight!


Here's the new axle and mount. I just need to solder it to the rails and box in the mount. I've already inserted the four sold carbon fiber rods into the rails. Amazing how strong that stuff is, you can hold the car from the very front of the rails and it doesn't bend or budge at all.


To make my axle mount even stronger I put sold aluminum tubing into the mount and then tapped and threaded it. The axle itself is also threaded and I'm using stainless steel screws. I'll box it in once I've finished soldering it to the frame.


Taking lots of measurements put me right on the money! The ends of the axles are already tapped and threaded, just need to bend up the knuckles from hardened aluminum sheet. I set the front of the frame to ride only 3mm off the ground for a slammed look.

[PlastiZapCA+]

This is the kind of stuff I really get into. AWESOME job on it!!! I can't wait for the next update.

Thanks man! I hope to have her rolling tonight.

[PlastiZapCA+]

I've achieved my goal for this week! I have a roller!! Getting the front end sorted was the hardest part. Now that it's behind me the rest should be fairly smooth. Next week I'll finish cleaning up the cage and then start on building the supports for the rails at the firewall. Then I'll figure out how to cram the radio and steering gear into that little compartment.


The Dragula has risen!


I gave it some little springs to help with the bumps. I'll reshape the knuckles when I get to the cosmetic part of the build so they won't look so boxy.


I think it has more steering than it needs. It will help when turning the long thing around though.




See ya next week. Drag on!

[rraeford]

So so so so cool!

[Russ Winn]

She's coming along great! I think the scale is spot-on. My dad would get a real kick out of it. He was into drag racing during that era. BTW, what type of battery are you going to squeeze in it?

[PlastiZapCA+]

So so so so cool!

Thanks!

[PlastiZapCA+]

She's coming along great! I think the scale is spot-on. My dad would get a real kick out of it. He was into drag racing during that era. BTW, what type of battery are you going to squeeze in it?

Thanks, I think the front is a little wide, should help with stability though. Did your dad run a car? Got any photos? I love vintage drag cars, I've been wanting to do a build like this for a long time.


I chose a Turnigy 1.5 lipo 2s. A drag car only needs to make one pass so I think this should do it. Honestly, this car will be sitting on my desk 99% of the time. I thik it will be fairly quick though due to the light weight. Mocking up some support rods/ torsion bars for the knuckles in this photo.


I'll be building a brass cover over the battery. A faux engine will be built over the cover complete with drag pipes and a mechanical resistor that looks like a crazy blower or turbo. I'm going to have fun with it.