Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I'm interested in building a street legal, TWO seat, winged sprint car. The transmission and rear end is the problem. If the hot rod style quick change with a front yoke won't work because of having such a short drive shaft (and other issues) a I.R.S may be needed. Looking at the hot rod sites for a I.R.S Winters/Hailbrand quick change, 5-6 k is too much money. I'm in the process of gathering information. I want it to be as close to a modern sprint as possible, with the provisions I need. I haven't desided on which way I want to include a second seat. Either inline or a side pod ? A couple of years ago, the "Outdoor Channel" built a side pod car. I have seen a few inline sprints but, they are built for track purposes's only, with no starter. The "in line" does have the appearance of a sprint car limo. The "side pod" looks like a sore thumb sticking out but, retains a almost...stock wheel base. Problem # 1- Which "looks" better ?

Appearance, is very..... important. I have seen a few well,.... ugly built cars. I want the car from the motor plate forward, to be standard length so a factory body will fit.

Problem #2- Transmission- I would rather have a automatic transmission. I just can't hear a sprint with a manual tranny ! Just don't seem right. The problem is, leg room for a bell housing inside the cockpit. The GM powerglide case is smaller that a turbo 350/400 but the bell housing is the same size. I have thought of not using the typical "motor plate" to mount the engine and just making mounts. That way, I could mount the tranny to the engine, and not the motor plate. This would move them forward and the bell housing would not be in the cockpit. But, is there enough room for this ? If, I don't use stacked injection and just use a carb., height for the stock hood I assume, would be fine to move the engine forward. With my first measuements using a 350 tranny (I hand handy) the bell housing is apx. 10-12" deep. So, this is about how far I would have to move the combo forward. I can make a fake, motor plate or shield to close it all in. But is this the best solution ? NOTE- (with the bell housing inside the cockpit, the throttle pedal looks like it would be ok but having enough room on the left side for a brake pedal looks to tight)

Problem #3 Rear end- If I mount the tranny to the motor plate, the drive shaft will be very.....short and not have much travel. This is why I thought of a I.R.S. The quick change center section would mount solid to the frame so the suspension will work independently giving Lot's of travel. But, like I said, the cost is very high. Using the quick change is not only important for sprint car looks but, I will need to be able to change gear ratios for low down grunt city driving but, also for highway use. I would rather use a standard quick change with solid axles. Looks, gear changing and use sprint wheels with knock off's. As far as I'm concerned, using the torsion bar front end as well as the standard 4 bar, jacobs ladder, shocks and the solid axle, will be fine. Except for having a second seat, I don't want this to be a "Hot roded" version, of a sprint car. I have helped my best buddy on the planet, Chad 'THE MAN" Fegley #13f sprint car, for several years now, and it has been time in my life. Due to health problems, I will never be able to race what I believe to be, the best type and most exciting form of racing there is !

This is my second dream in the automotive part of my life. My first was, (along with the help of Chad & Pat Heng of "The Shop" in Lincoln Ne.) we built a replica to a 1966 Ford 427 Shelby Cobra. It is sh*t load of fun. So,....if I can't race a sprint car, a street legal version, done properly, is second best.

I will appreciate any and all opinions and advise you may have. I will include my email address if anyone wishes to converse or see more photo's of what two seat, sprints I have. Or, if you happen to have any photo's.

Thank you,

Kevin

email- [email protected]

Just a thought maybe a vitntage sprint would be a option. I have never raced a sprinter but did restore a vintage sprinter last yr and i am working on my second one. You can build it or buy it done and they do let you enjoy the sport we love.

LETS RACE BOYS

I have seen some vintage sprints made for the street. I have a pic of one but don't know the year. Very nice though. Yours looks great. I'm really interested in building a modern car.

Thanks,

Kevin

If your seats are in-line, that would help with your too-short driveshaft problem............

I agree. If I make it a in-line car, I figure with the lengthend second seat, the drive shaft would be 2.5'-3' longer. Someone e-mailed me about this "shorty" B & M powerglide. It may work well.

Any ideas about the bell housing width problem, for pedal & feet room ?

Here's a pic of a Ford tranny. Does any company make this "small bellhousing" for a powerglide ? I did not see one on the TCI site. What covers the converter on this one ?

This would help a lot !

Depending on how big you are, and how big the actual cockpit is, you could move the pedals away (rearward) from the motorplate.  A bell crank type throttle will work fine for this.  As for the brake, instead of mounting the master cylinder in the standard location with the pedal going forward, I have seen some mounted back towards the seat, and low on the frame, with the pedal going straight down. 

That sounds interesting, brake pedal down like some tractors I've seen. Good idea.

I've been contemplating building such a car. I am opting for the in-line version. I was wondering on the rearend as well. How do you plan on using a quick change rear since they are all posi? Or am I all wet on that? I'll be following your thread as well. Good luck.

LaTeR,

Kurt

 I too have been wanting to build a street legal car for some time now, but a single seater. My solution to the drive line problem is to build a street legal champ dirt car, longer wheel base, more room for drive line. There was a guy some years back that lived in the bay area (San Fran) I believe, that had a street legal sprinter with a 289 Ford and a C4 trans. His entire drive line consisted of 1 universal joint, that’s it. He used to be the pase vehicle for NARC. He told me that, as long as he was on the track, it was no problem. On the street however, when he was leaving a stop light, the back of the car would drop down beyond the range of the one u-joint if he got on the gas a LITTLE too hard. If he took off easy, it was OK.

There are several around with chevy V-6 power that look good and give extra room also.

A double bearing deal to mount one rear wheel sounds interesting also so that one wheel always freewheels.

That way you could have HUGE stager and still be able to turn a corner without dragging a wheel.

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They make several differentials to use in the Champ car (10") QC center sections. The pavement boys, especially door slammers use them. It takes the place of the spool and bolts right in. They are usually pretty pricey new but check around the with pavement pounders for a good used one.

Some good comments. I'm leaving now (7:00 am central) out of town. I'll get back to you all tomorrow.

Thanks,

Kevin

In my opinion the best two-seater sprintcar I ever seen was developed by Joel Knott down here in Australia. I have riden in both behind the driver and beside the driver two seat versions and this one was by far and away the best.

The best thing about this car, is that from most angles it actually looked like a normal sprintcar. Albeit a sprintcar who had been on a macdonalds diet for a few months.

Joel's idea was to simply cut the chassis in half, straight down the middle, and weld in extensions to make the chassis wider. This way, everything from front to back remained the same as per lenghths.

Obviously the hood and wings then had to be custom made, but if you offer a wing manufacturer or hood manufacturer prominent signage, im sure you could get someone to rig it up.

This car looked tough, and with the Big Block Chevy Joel had in it.. it was a weapon!

From the looks of it, he could go twice as far on fuel mileage, too.....

Fenders are like vacuums... they both suck.

That looks pretty cool ! The only thing I don't care for is the two fuel cells, looks odd. But, don't know what else you could do about it ? One HUGE.......tank. lol !

I assume it was only for the track with no starter or tranny.

What did he do for a front axle and suspension and what for the rear end ?

Do you have anymore pics & details ?

By the way, can you email me the photo's ? When I click to save, a window says I have to be a "power user" ?

Kurt- there are many hot rods that have the champ center section with a posi unit.

Winter's IRS

Installed

I e-mailed the track for any information.

Thank you very much.