noname
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
- Messages
- 1,487
I don't know how many of you folks are into vintage drag cars but I've been here for a little while now and thought I should share one of the builds I am currently working on.
For those who may not know what an altered wheelbase (AWB) is, it's a car with the wheelbase modified. Usually the rear wheels were moved forward and often the front wheels were moved forward as well. By doing this, more weight was transferred to the rear of the car allowing the rear tires to gain more traction upon take off. The tire technology of the 60's just wasn't what it is today. Doing this did in fact work. The thing is by making this modification the cars looked, well, a little funny. These cars were referred to as "Funny Cars". Yes, these were the predecessor to the funny cars we know with the flip top bodies.
I first started by doing the necessary body slicing. I moved the front and rear wheel openings forward, then filled the gaps with strips of sheet styrene.
Here you can see the chassis glued back together after a length was taken out. The front suspension will also have to moved forward just a little. You'll also notice that the gas tank was cut out. They often used smaller "moon" tanks toward the front of the car to save weight and get the fuel closer to the carb or fuel injection.
And because everything was moved forward, I also had to make room for the newly constructed rear wheel wells.
Thanks for looking!
For those who may not know what an altered wheelbase (AWB) is, it's a car with the wheelbase modified. Usually the rear wheels were moved forward and often the front wheels were moved forward as well. By doing this, more weight was transferred to the rear of the car allowing the rear tires to gain more traction upon take off. The tire technology of the 60's just wasn't what it is today. Doing this did in fact work. The thing is by making this modification the cars looked, well, a little funny. These cars were referred to as "Funny Cars". Yes, these were the predecessor to the funny cars we know with the flip top bodies.
I first started by doing the necessary body slicing. I moved the front and rear wheel openings forward, then filled the gaps with strips of sheet styrene.
Here you can see the chassis glued back together after a length was taken out. The front suspension will also have to moved forward just a little. You'll also notice that the gas tank was cut out. They often used smaller "moon" tanks toward the front of the car to save weight and get the fuel closer to the carb or fuel injection.
And because everything was moved forward, I also had to make room for the newly constructed rear wheel wells.
Thanks for looking!