WELD/SUTTON DIRT MISSILE build

[gnx7]

All fiberglass body! Is there a target weight wet with fluids less driver?

This is going to be a madman when it's done.

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by gnx7

All fiberglass body! Is there a target weight wet with fluids less driver?

This is going to be a madman when it's done.

If it was a "Race Only Car" we would build everything on the edge of being too light & constantly inspect, repair & replace ... and it would be 2400#. We're building this to be Greg's "Track Car" that he races in NASA's TTU class some. So we built it much more durable ... and safer. It will be about 2600#-2650#.

[Ron Sutton]

These were beautiful photos ... and a relief .... to receive when we were thinking they were never going to get the body done.

[Ron Sutton]

We had to measure the body ... to be absolutely sure ... of the dimensions for tire width, track width, etc ... before we built the clips. The day the body arrived, we measured it. The front & rear frame clips with suspension were done 2 days later.

[FaBrycation]

Cant wait to see this one on the track Greg.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by FaBrycation

Cant wait to see this one on the track Greg.

It should be some fun huh!!! LOL

Where we meeting up next buddy???

[FaBrycation]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

It should be some fun huh!!! LOL

Where we meeting up next buddy???

I'll be doing Trick-Tools booths in Des Moines and Columbus. and then SEMA. will you be at any of those places?

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by FaBrycation

I'll be doing Trick-Tools booths in Des Moines and Columbus. and then SEMA. will you be at any of those places?

The GoodGuys shows will depend on the truck.... I'd like to see it in "early truck" running.... And SEMA is an undecided yet --- frankly -- other than to see friends - it's boring - compared to (for me personally) PRI....

Do not take that as a knock on SEMA.... it's just not as relevant to me as PRI has become. I may end up doing both.... I've also scheduled FABTECH 2018 and have rooms for that already.

[FaBrycation]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

The GoodGuys shows will depend on the truck.... I'd like to see it in "early truck" running.... And SEMA is an undecided yet --- frankly -- other than to see friends - it's boring - compared to (for me personally) PRI....

Do not take that as a knock on SEMA.... it's just not as relevant to me as PRI has become. I may end up doing both.... I've also scheduled FABTECH 2018 and have rooms for that already.

I'd like to see your truck in that competition also. It's definitely got the right look.
I understand about SEMA. It's a great show for conducting business but I can not see most of it and be just fine with that. the duck will be back this year in the Trick-Tools booth. I am striving to have the fab 100% done. then do the final deets over the winter and then take it to Detroit.

Both PRI and FabTech are on my bucket list. I have yet to attend either.

[Ron Sutton]

Car Year & Model: 70 Ford Mustang Fastback
Competing in: NASA TTU & Track Days
Front Clip/Suspension: GT Track-Warrior
Rear Clip/Suspension: GT Track-Warrior
Engine: Track-Warrior 3 LS7 700 HP
Trans: PPG Sequential Shift T56 6-Speed
Brakes: StopTech 14” ST60/ST40
Owner: Greg Weld
Builder: Randy Chastain – One Off Customs

Here are some photos with the mid-frame structure done at Randy Chastain's "One-Off Customs" shop.

A few things that might not be apparent from the photos are:
* The outer rails are 2x2 x .120" wall
* The inner rails are 2x3 x .065" wall
* The cross bracing is 1x2 x .065" wall

The cross bracing is flush with the top rails, leaving a 1" void between the bottom of the outer rails & the bottom of the cross bracing. This is where we run the brake lines & car wiring to the rear for fuel pump, tail lights, etc.

The brake lines utilize two bulkhead fittings that go through the dog legs (at the firewall) & rear crossmember. The main fuse block, Holley ECU, No-Lift Shift Controller & Data Logger all mount on the backside of the firewall, in the cockpit & under the dash on a rubber insulated panel to reduce NVH to the electronics. The wiring goes through the floor & into to that same 1" void to the rear crossmember ... where it then goes into & through the rear frame rail back to the cell & tail lights.





The engine & trans are just "mocked up" & locked in place in these photos. We do this so the actual engine & trans mounts can be built & the exhaust can be run. The headers & exhaust run down the center of the car.

Later, there will be a "tunnel backbone" structure built into the car. It gets super insulated to help keep the driver cool. Plus JET-HOT High Performance Coatings coats the headers & exhaust INSIDE & OUTSIDE with with their top line 2000° thermal barrier. This is to reduce heat transfer to the transmission & driver.

If you look close, you'll notice Randy fabricated a thin steel panel that attaches to the bottom & top of the fiberglass body rockers. The panel has 6 rivnuts in it to allow the chassis to bolt to the rockers. You can see the milled holes in the frame rails that allow access to these bolts from under the car (with the belly pan removed.) The body is NOT quickly removable. Impossible to seal off the cockpit if it was. But the body can be removed in about an hour if needed for crash repair.







We're going to the Optima Ultimate Street Car event in Las Vegas for the weekend. So no updates until Monday.