Man, you guys don't fool around. Nice work
The Dust-Turd project.
- Thread starter William Gusler
- Start date
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William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Here is what kept me busy for the last couple months, Dick LaHaie's 1981 Top Fuel dragster. Kind of a barn find, was parked in 1985 and hung from the ceiling of a automotive/ hardware store outside Boston for 35 years.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Cleaned it up, removed the incorrect decals and buffed the paint up. I repainted the name on the side that was removed and had the sign painter re do the lettering. All original paint and parts except the front wheels that I replaced with the correct ones.
Dick has passed, but I have hooked up with Jeff LaHaie and he helped me with some original parts from the car and documentation. Wayne Farr, the chassis builder verified it was the 1981 car. Took it to Don Garlits and he wants to put it on display after I put a motor in it.
It is in storage as Buster's lenco install is first in line
Dick has passed, but I have hooked up with Jeff LaHaie and he helped me with some original parts from the car and documentation. Wayne Farr, the chassis builder verified it was the 1981 car. Took it to Don Garlits and he wants to put it on display after I put a motor in it.
It is in storage as Buster's lenco install is first in line
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Back on task, mid plated install complete and trans mount.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Couple more braces and frame work will be done. X brace in the back and adding a diagonal off the front shock mount.
Just so ya'll know, I,m using oem Plymouth tubing on the frame
Just so ya'll know, I,m using oem Plymouth tubing on the frame
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Finished the braces to the shock towers and the removable door bars yesterday.
Today was build a new motor plate to fit between the rails.
Pedals and seat mounts next!
Today was build a new motor plate to fit between the rails.
Pedals and seat mounts next!
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Pedals, steering and seat / floor mounting done/ clutch pivot and throttle in place.
View attachment 1715968821
View attachment 1715968821
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
System wont let me post any more pics, off to build some headers and I will try again later.
Joe Mc
No Car Like A MoPar!
Awesome progress
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Cut front frame horns off and rebuilt for bigger rad.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Rad install and quick release mounts.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Building seat belt tabs today and then staring the header build... yuck.
Joe Mc
No Car Like A MoPar!
Sick work man, sick
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
more random pictures
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Some minor detail work building throttle linkage, clutch switch, adding end plates to the cowl for the firewall and mounting the chute release done last month.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Last week I built a trans tunnel to go from the back of the lenco past the rear panel. Did not want to use the kits you can buy from chassis builders as they are to thin and open on the bottom side. I wanted something really strong as with dropping the clutch at 6K may or may not cause some carnage and the yoke and output shaft are about 6" from my fat ***.
Found some .092 alloy steel 6" pipe and built my own removable containment tunnel.
Made a flange to secure the front to the trans.
Found some .092 alloy steel 6" pipe and built my own removable containment tunnel.
Made a flange to secure the front to the trans.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Had to spit the pipe to fit over the trans back plate and add weld in some fillers.
Instead of making fillers and welding them in the opening, my buddy, who owns Real Deal Steel suggested we use their industrial spot welder and make it look old school/ unique. I built some fillers and spot weld ed them in.
I like the look.
Instead of making fillers and welding them in the opening, my buddy, who owns Real Deal Steel suggested we use their industrial spot welder and make it look old school/ unique. I built some fillers and spot weld ed them in.
I like the look.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Settled on the collector location today and finished the exhaust back to the 3.5" Borlas I saved. Starting on the header tubes in the AM.
Ignore the shitty tabs gob welded to the collectors, that is only to hold everything in place while making the headers. I will make some proper mounts at the end. The mufflers will have a small downward cant and turndowns when complete.
Ignore the shitty tabs gob welded to the collectors, that is only to hold everything in place while making the headers. I will make some proper mounts at the end.
The mufflers will have a small downward cant and turndowns when complete.
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William Gusler
Well-Known Member
The headers are going to be time consuming. Never built them before but still some progress today.
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Headers and exhaust done, off to ceramic coat. Dash cut and completed .
Waiting on my clutch from Crower and going to start firewall and floor this week.
Waiting on my clutch from Crower and going to start firewall and floor this week.
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William Gusler
Well-Known Member
more pics, dash will be pretty basic with three gauges and a tach, all the electronics and boxes hidden behind. Cut and spliced the fiberglass dash to the orignial top half as I wanted to keep the VIN number and replacate the old school fiberglass dash instillation.
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Ironracer
Gearhead
Youre a sick Man! Haha! Seriously, Bro, that's Some Badass work there! Keep it up! Thanks fer The pics!
William Gusler
Well-Known Member
Found the rad was going to interfere with the grille so I cut the mounts and moved the top back.....then the lower hose hit the frame, crap. Had to cut and scallop the rail for clearance. sneek peek at the big ugly snorkel scoop.
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