Dragster Chassis Explanation

[kod99]

First, let me say Hi to all. I'm new here and have already had many of my questions answered. One which still plagues me is a detailed explanation of just what the different types of dragster chassis are and how they work. It's confusing me...hardtails, swingarms, slipjoints, 4-links. Where can a guy find details of the different types?
I'm ready to start looking for my first dragster and need help. Any and all would be appreciated!

[slowmotion]

1st of all the engine belongs in the front (see pic). Not in the back like most of these guys are doing. :D

Good question. There are guys on here alot more knowledgeable than me. Your answer will probably be here soon. Good luck with the car!

[oldtimer]

Engine in the front, 120" wb.

[suicidebomb]

Engine in front, 90-95" wb. :shock:

[slowmotion]

My brother's car is a hardtail slipjoint car. From my understanding, hardtails are fine for smooth tracks. If you race at rough tracks, you may want to look into a suspened car. As far as the slip joints, I think you have to be putting alot of power to the ground to make them work. I've always wondered about the joints. You have metal on metal rubbing. Seems to me like it could wear out in those spots.

[curtisreed]

kod99, a hardtail car has no suspension of any kind. A slipjoint car has no shocks but does have a suspension of sorts, there are different ways of achieving a slip joint. Our slip car has uprights on both sides in front of the footbox that has a pipe coming down from the top rail into a larger diameter pipe on the bottom rail allowing the chassis to bow. Not many uprights on our car so you have to stay on top of chassis maintenance. There are single, double and triple slip cars, where the slip joints are in different places, ours is just how Victory chassis did it. You can have a hardtail that has front suspension, David Lanning AKA- Hammertime on here has that on his car.

A fourlink car has a rear suspension just like a fourlink door car with a wishbone and drive shaft. Some people claim that a fourlink is not as good as a swimgarm car because fast cars can be upset going on and off the stop or when whipping the throttle at the big end because of roll rotation.

A swingarm car has the bottom bars tied together and pivots like the swingarm of a motorcyle except that the heim ends allow it to roll rotate more but not as much as a fourlink. It's possible maybe someone has some pics of the rearend of a foulink and swingarm car they can post up for comparison. David???

Suspended cars are definitely smoother to drive and are better on rough tracks and bad shutdown areas. I don't believe they are more consistent than our car on the tracks we race on and we have data to prove it, although the resale on them is better. You would have to make the judgment call on your racing surface. I can say our slipjoint car hits like a truck ran into you when it takes off compared to a suspended car, it's a blast. I hope this helps some.

Curtis Reed

[kod99]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Doorracer hit the nail on the head with the kind of info I was looking for. I am beginning to understand the differences.
I would surely welcome any elaboration on his descriptions.

Does anyone know where I can view some detailed dragster chassis drwaings. That would really help.
Thanks.

[fla1976]

Here are a few sites to check:

http://chassisengineering.com/index.asp

http://artmorrison.com/layout.php

http://www.competitionengineering.com/default.asp

http://markwilliams.com/chassisKits.aspx?CategoryID=216&gclid=CNOhmomQ7pcCFQS7sgodlGznDw

http://www.autoweldchassis.com/index2.ivnu

http://secure.chassisshop.com/Default.aspx

http://www.dragstuff.com/racing/Chassis/

[I972Nova]

I have some pictures of my front suspended hard tail car on here under ad 1419318.

It was a non suspended car when I got it and was very rough to drive. After I had it front halved it smoothed it out about half. On the track it is really smooth but driving around the pits can be rough.

Davids car (hammertime) is a dual suspended and he says that is the only way to go. If I would have had the money, I would have had it done.

I recomend at least a swing arm and preferably dual suspended.

[hammertime]

kod99, a hardtail car has no suspension of any kind. A slipjoint car has no shocks but does have a suspension of sorts, there are different ways of achieving a slip joint. Our slip car has uprights on both sides in front of the footbox that has a pipe coming down from the top rail into a larger diameter pipe on the bottom rail allowing the chassis to bow. Not many uprights on our car so you have to stay on top of chassis maintenance. There are single, double and triple slip cars, where the slip joints are in different places, ours is just how Victory chassis did it. You can have a hardtail that has front suspension, David Lanning AKA- Hammertime on here has that on his car.

A fourlink car has a rear suspension just like a fourlink door car with a wishbone and drive shaft. Some people claim that a fourlink is not as good as a swimgarm car because fast cars can be upset going on and off the stop or when whipping the throttle at the big end because of roll rotation.

A swingarm car has the bottom bars tied together and pivots like the swingarm of a motorcyle except that the heim ends allow it to roll rotate more but not as much as a fourlink. It's possible maybe someone has some pics of the rearend of a foulink and swingarm car they can post up for comparison. David???

Suspended cars are definitely smoother to drive and are better on rough tracks and bad shutdown areas. I don't believe they are more consistent than our car on the tracks we race on and we have data to prove it, although the resale on them is better. You would have to make the judgment call on your racing surface. I can say our slipjoint car hits like a truck ran into you when it takes off compared to a suspended car, it's a blast. I hope this helps some.

Curtis Reed

He hit the nail on the head here. A smooth track with a good shut down a hardtail or slipjoint can be made to work. Everyone thinks different on this subject but not every non-suspended car can make it down a bad track a suspended car can. I look to want to get down a track consistent, all track in any conditions so the choice for me was simple shocks were a must. Like stated mine is Dual Suspended front mono shock and dual rear shock with a swingarm setup.

Body/Chassis roll is the biggest reason I do not run a standard 4 link setup even with a anti-roll they still roll. A swingarm will not do this. A 4 link car is better then a hardtail or slipjoint though. A lot of guys will tell you they can get down any track my car can, yep sure they can and I've been down them without shocks also. But I can promise them my car will do it smoother, more consistent and when it does I can flat out park my car between the cones at the finish line, they can not do that.

[hammertime]

Here are some visual aids

Single Shock Front
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/Dragster387b/100_0431.jpg

Swingarm Rear
Notice the Bottom Bars are "X" together
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/Dragster387b/100_1399.jpg

Another swingarm
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/Dragster387b/DSCF0012.jpg

This is a swingarm but also has a anitroll on it, which IMO is useless on a dual shock swingarm.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa306/Dragster387b/4link.jpg

[wildman5105]

If you have questions about chassis, check out the add on RJ #1396988 give him a call.

[dparker]

1st of all the engine belongs in the front (see pic). Not in the back like most of these guys are doing. :D

Good question. There are guys on here alot more knowledgeable than me. Your answer will probably be here soon. Good luck with the car!

Hate to do this to you Slowmotion. But.....
Well kod99 if you decide on a front engine dragster you might as well get a 1914 steam engine pickup and a wooden trailer to pull it with. That way everything you have will be from the same point in time. Racing is evolving, change is not always bad. Don't get caught up in a time warp. HaHa!! :lol:

[suicidebomb]

1st of all the engine belongs in the front (see pic). Not in the back like most of these guys are doing. :D

Good question. There are guys on here alot more knowledgeable than me. Your answer will probably be here soon. Good luck with the car!

Hate to do this to you Slowmotion. But.....
Well kod99 if you decide on a front engine dragster you might as well get a 1914 steam engine pickup and a wooden trailer to pull it with. That way everything you have will be from the same point in time. Racing is evolving, change is not always bad. Don't get caught up in a time warp. HaHa!! :lol:

So is a reciprocating internal combustion engine, aint that what you're running?

[shawnp]

All good info. The hardtail car does have suspension and it is all adjusted by the PSI in the rear tires :lol:

Hammtime is a dual shock swingarm guy. I like the mono shock swingarm. I do like a car that is front and rear suspended as well. IMO based on my experiences, I would not go back to a hardtail/slipjoint car and would reluctantly go back to a 4-link car. It has been and will be swingarm for me.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/smpinker/100_3965.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/smpinker/100_2320.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/smpinker/100_1574.jpg

[slowmotion]

1st of all the engine belongs in the front (see pic). Not in the back like most of these guys are doing. :D

Good question. There are guys on here alot more knowledgeable than me. Your answer will probably be here soon. Good luck with the car!

Hate to do this to you Slowmotion. But.....
Well kod99 if you decide on a front engine dragster you might as well get a 1914 steam engine pickup and a wooden trailer to pull it with. That way everything you have will be from the same point in time. Racing is evolving, change is not always bad. Don't get caught up in a time warp. HaHa!! :lol:

No offense taken. If we all liked the same thing, we'd all be racing S-10 trucks. :wink:
I'm sure you caught some crap about racing a truck before. BTW congrats on leading the points.
The reasons I bought an altered are
1. I've always liked them.
2. I wanted a car I could load, unload, and race by myself.
3. I love the nostalgia races. Such as http://www.nostalgiaprocomp.com/
4. They don't need much of an engine to go fast.

[dparker]

To you the truth the spectators like nostalgia cars better. You ought to see the fans go crazy when a nostalgia car outruns one our hard hitting dragsters. I do think it takes an experienced racer to make a older style car competitive on the upper level though. Thats the only reason I'd push a newbe to a suspended dragster. Lord knows we need different kinds of cars racing to make this dragracing thing work. :D :D

[dparker]

1st of all the engine belongs in the front (see pic). Not in the back like most of these guys are doing. :D

Good question. There are guys on here alot more knowledgeable than me. Your answer will probably be here soon. Good luck with the car!

Hate to do this to you Slowmotion. But.....
Well kod99 if you decide on a front engine dragster you might as well get a 1914 steam engine pickup and a wooden trailer to pull it with. That way everything you have will be from the same point in time. Racing is evolving, change is not always bad. Don't get caught up in a time warp. HaHa!! :lol:


So is a reciprocating internal combustion engine, aint that what you're running?


Yep!! But days of racing a flathead motor and a Rodchester carbs are gone. :cry: :cry:

[suicidebomb]

Not true, they still race them around here......Just not at the UPPER LEVEL. :) :)

[lively]

NOSTALGIA ARE HERE TO STAY FOR QUITE AWHILE[ NOT UNLESS NHRA BANS THEM OR SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THAT] 8) 8)
LIVELY

[kod99]

Thanks for all the help so far. I know a little more about the differences every time I log onto the forum and read the replies. The pics are great, hammerime and shawnp!
All of the pics seem to have a four-link system with the swingarm suspension. Is this the norm? It seems to me that some of the four-link benifits would not work as well with the shocks. Am I correct in this assumption?
I think I will take your advice and look for a fully suspended swingarm (front and back) with a four-link setup. I have watched the hardtails run for years and have noticed that on bumpy tracks the driver seems to be in a bit of a fight at times.
Thanks for the help. This site is awesome!

[hammertime]

Thanks for all the help so far. I know a little more about the differences every time I log onto the forum and read the replies. The pics are great, hammerime and shawnp!
All of the pics seem to have a four-link system with the swingarm suspension. Is this the norm? It seems to me that some of the four-link benifits would not work as well with the shocks. Am I correct in this assumption?
I think I will take your advice and look for a fully suspended swingarm (front and back) with a four-link setup. I have watched the hardtails run for years and have noticed that on bumpy tracks the driver seems to be in a bit of a fight at times.
Thanks for the help. This site is awesome!

Not a problem glad we could help :D

[shawnp]

Thanks for all the help so far. I know a little more about the differences every time I log onto the forum and read the replies. The pics are great, hammerime and shawnp!
All of the pics seem to have a four-link system with the swingarm suspension. Is this the norm? It seems to me that some of the four-link benifits would not work as well with the shocks. Am I correct in this assumption?
I think I will take your advice and look for a fully suspended swingarm (front and back) with a four-link setup. I have watched the hardtails run for years and have noticed that on bumpy tracks the driver seems to be in a bit of a fight at times.
Thanks for the help. This site is awesome!

I don't think I understand what you are asking about the shocks. Kind of important to have then on a 4-link. You need to talk to hammertime if you want a dual suspended car. His is for sale. My old dual suspended car is for sale as well. The current car is just a rear swingarm, but is on here for sale.

[Tod74]

If you haven't already, click on the link to hammertime's friend page and check out the pics of that dragster...that car is beautiful and you can tell by his pics it is put together right!. very impressive.