Crankshaft end-play

Vic used a V8 trans with Zephyr gears. In his last dragster he eliminated the trans and ran high gear only. 136 mph, a record that still stands although Bob Ambrose ran a REM 2-cammer in Sacramento on straight alky and has come very close. Bob uses a Powerglide trans.
 
Jim Brierley said:
Vic used a V8 trans with Zephyr gears. In his last dragster he eliminated the trans and ran high gear only. 136 mph, a record that still stands although Bob Ambrose ran a REM 2-cammer in Sacramento on straight alky and has come very close. Bob uses a Powerglide trans.
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Interesting info.
Didn’t know that auto trans would be allowed ?
 
Jim Brierley said:
126 in the quarter is great! I ran a Cook, mostly on gasoline, and was consistent at 116 MPH. My friend Vic Smaldino ran his Fargo on 100% nitro, consistently beating all other bangers, flathead V8's and many late V8 dragsters. His fastest time was 136, backed up at 2 different strips. Believed to be the fastest banger ever. His car is now in the Speedway Motors museum. I've run my Cook at Bonneville, in lakester class. Fastest time for me was 167, turbocharged on strait alcohol.
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Just found your post here. Wondering if you knew my father, Terry Conley. He was also good friends of Vic's his entire life.


Martin
 
nkaminar said:
Radio solder? What variety of solder do you recommend? The regular 60/40 lead/tin or tin/silver eutectic or the lead free solder you buy for plumbing? Or what? Also what flux do you use? I assume you have shinny babbett to solder to but what about the steel? How do you you handle that? Plus, what soldering iron do you use?
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My '31 leaks a LOT of oil from the rear main, I know the crankshaft end clearance is quite high, (bearing clearance is .0015"), so I suspect that is why it leaks so bad. I plan on pulling the rear main cap and building up the thrust surfaces. I was thinking on using lead free plumbing solder as it's fairly hard. Methinks radio solder (typically 50-50) is too soft. I have decided to buy some type 2 babbitt (tin based) and use that. Am waiting for the delivery.

Henry, being thrifty (aka cheap) would not have used solder for bearings, but used the more expensive babbitt for a reason.
 
Typically electronics and radio solder is 60/40 this has lowest melting point @ 350-360 devs
50/50 was banned in the 80’s from plumbing and piping if memory serves and has higher melting point close to 400 devs

J
 
Typically used Babbitt is grade 2 , it’s composition is 87% tin-7.5% antimony-3.5% copper.
The lead free plumbing solder is 95-5. 95% tin—5% antimony
 
When stopping at a stop light, put the transmission in neutral and take your foot off the clutch. That will help save the thrust bearing.
 
This is 1 of the reasons why I've learned to drive without double clutching I only double clutch when I'm down shifting this minimizes the wear and tear on the thrust bearing!!!
 
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