1970s funny car experts needed

[lou s]

Needing some help on these front ends of  the 1970s funny cars.For the education and to build an accurate car.The revell kits come with the front axle hanging out in front of the chassis like in the first pick. Then a few years later they started appearing further back in the chassis. Most revell kits have the wrong front end in the kit. They never updated the front end. Has anyone ever scratched built a more accurate front end ? Would you have to extend the chassis ? Does anyone have close up pics of a front end ? I’m looking to do the blue max mustang 2.from the looks of the vintage pics I’ve found it has the set back style. Just looking to get everyone’s thoughts.

Edited July 15, 2018 by lou s

[nitro norman]

Check out John Teresi's build of the Mongoose Corvette Funny Car . He changes the front of the chassis of a Revell chassis to one of the later versions.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I've been away from drag racing for many years, so anybody PLEASE feel free to correct me.

That said, I THINK the shot below shows the basic setup that came AFTER the torsion-bar suspended dropped axle in your first photo. This setup has no spring medium. The axle is solidly mounted to the frame by bolts, brackets, and links. The upper link adjusts caster. The frame can be extended to carry the fuel tank forward of the axle.

Modern funny front suspension. No actual "suspension".

 

Edited July 15, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[nitro norman]

There were also versions with the straight axle inside the frame rails, different types of torsion bars , etc.

Edited July 15, 2018 by nitro norman

[Muncie]

39 minutes ago, nitro norman said:

There were also versions with the straight axle inside the frame rails, different types of torsion bars , etc.

Agreed - best to find some photos of the Blue Max chassis.  Fuel tanks size and shape also varied a lot on funny cars in the 70's.  Any reference you can find will be very helpful for the smaller details as well.

I won't claim expert title...

Here's my recipe for 1974 -1978 Funny cars ----

Monogram chassis - has the length, easier to cut down than lengthen a plastic frame.  The Revell chassis was one of the earlier dragster style funny cars. The first Revell kit was Ed McCullough's Revellution which had a wide frame and roll cage to fit.  

Engine location - it's going to be better with the Monogram chassis, but it may need to be moved back, altered chassis tins to match

Monogram KB engine - by 1974, most of the heavy hitters were running Keith Black blocks, the Revell engine looks a little small to me and is a production block.it may take a Revell engine to backdate the supercharger. (can't remember that detail)

Competition resin CRT-510 slicks - the Revell slicks look too small for this era, and the Monogram slicks are too wide.  Front/Rear wheels also from Comp Resins to fit - also available from Slixx

The later 1976ish Revellution had the fuel tank forward of the front axle but the front axle was still on a torsion bar with the axle between the upper and lower chassis tubes - so, a bit of fabricating with brass rod and tubing for the axle, steering and suspension...  

hope this helps

Edited July 15, 2018 by Muncie

[High octane]

Here's a photo or two for you taken a few years ago and these cars were used to make the CTH and Hawaiian models.

[dragcarz]

Hers one I did a few years back, I starter with what I call the monogram chassis introduced in 1984. I swapped the two independent axles for a set up that matched the Geordie Bonin car at the time. This was similar to the set used on the Alcohol funny car I crewed on. It was solidly mounted no suspension on the front