6th Chapter of Drag Car Project

Drag Car Project to March 27, 1999

It has been a long haul building this car -- but it is ready to go. New trans and torque converter are in, all the little things have been done. Did a few burn outs in the driveway, and drove it up and down the street a few times -- sounds and works GREAT!

The first public debut is this weekend at the SEMA / Import Auto Salon at Pomona. Dates are 3/26, 27, and 28.

We will test it a few times in the next few weeks, then take it out for public running as soon we get it dialed in for respectable times.

Images on the right are loading the car (for the first time!) into the trailer for the Pomona show.

This update as of February 26: Graphics are on, and we were on schedule to test, then make it to the Battle of the Imports on Feb 27 & 28. However, the Art Carr transmission failed before even leaving the shop. This will probably be no surprise for anyone who has attempted to deal with "them" since Art sold the company early in '98. We had already committed to them (order was placed, parts were sent to them) prior to the sale, and had no idea what we were in for. It is very disheartening to see a former industry leading company go down the tubes so fast when ownership is changed. We are not talking about simply poor parts that fail prior to even being put into real service, we are talking about outright lies on what work was performed, and when it was shipped. Specific examples are months to make an adapter that does not exist, and being told the trans was shipped on "Tuesday", waiting a week, and then (after many phone calls) finding out the transmission isn't even built yet.

Another transmission has been ordered, obviously from a different supplier, and will be here in a week or so. We are locating a different torque converter person also (since the Art Carr torque converter was also not working correctly), and should have a new converter in a few weeks. We will then reassemble the car, and go testing as soon as possible.

(Lower part of page is progress images)

Progress: Bodywork is all done, graphics should be ready in about two weeks. All lexan (side, front and rear) is done, but will not be installed until the last minute (starts getting scratched as soon as the protective layer is removed). Still waiting for the nitrous fuel pump and knock-sensor-timing -retard unit (last of the electronics), then we can wire the car. Brake system is all plumbed, and some of the fuel system. After much consultation, NOS and ourselves have agreed upon a 2-stage set up. The first stage will be controlled by their newest programable progressive controller. The second stage activation is still being discussed. The manifold has six foggers installed, three for each system. The car was finally complete enough that we could do the center of gravity calculations. With that number, plus corner weights, all four link points in space, tire diameters, springs rates, shock compression and rebound rates, and other data, we can now start running the software to pick some (hopefully) close starting points on rear end geometry and shock settings. We were also quite satisfied to find out the total weight (w/o driver) is looking right about 1850 - we were expecting it to be more.
	Front shots
	Front shots with nose off
	Engine bay from left and right
	Yes, the engine is in there somewhere --
	Holley projection under the K&N in left image, exhaust shown in right image
	Rear shots
	Rear frame area
	Interior with MSD's, projection control, and nitrous box
	Nitrous system plumbing is ready