1956 Ford Figure 8 Stock Car

[bobss396]

I'm roughing this out for now. Dug an old parts kit out that has 2 busted roof pillars. They will ge fixed once I have the major body work completed.

Engine will be the VCG Resins 240/300 straight 6. I removed the front crossmember to make room for it. Based on what I did on the '51 Chevy.

I will be using the vent windows, I need more strength for the broken A pillar. Some cars had them,  some didn't. 

I will run a RF safety hub, this depicts a slightly newer F8 build.

[FUSIONBOY]

That is looking fantast!!!!!!

[bobss396]

More progress on the '56. Scratch built the radiator and support. The dash needed location help too. The cage is a parts box donation with added bars. Seat is from Ron Coon Resins.

[TarheelRick]

Really like these older racers, especially the 6 cylinder powered ones. Had the opportunity to crawl into a 53 Ford Hobby Stock at Hickory Speedway back in the mid 60's. A couple of warm up laps let me know pretty quickly that I made a better race fan than race driver. Looking forward to updates.

[wrenchr]

Looking forward to the progress!! Very cool so far. 

[bobss396]

Thanks, still doing some work here and there on it. I have too many things going at once... the story of my life. I have most of the suspension parts painted.I opened up the inner wheel wells somewhat so I can tip the top of the front wheels in to get the negative camber these cars had.

This is the approximate look I am after. This is what we call an "opening day" shot. No body damage. And as the season progressed, more tire clearance would be added. Maybe some door bars or "cow catcher" bumper upgrades too.

 

Edited January 11, 2024 by bobss396

[Rattlecan Dan]

You're gettin it! Gonna be cool.

[MarkJ]

This will probably be the best model of a figure 8 competitor ever built. I will be watching with great interest.

[bobss396]

Having an off week between painful dental surgery recovery, food poisoning early in the week and seeing my pain management doc yesterday. The '40 Ford project got in the way, I'm also dabbling in the '65 Fairlane stock car. But the '56 is coming along. 

[Sledsel]

This is gonna be cool

 

[rondo3154]

Interestingly enough, that is my race car from 1973, and at one point we did try a 300 CID straight six, our class rules had restrictions on the V-8 engines, but none on 6 cylinder's. That 6 Cyl sounded so cool, Clifford intake. Holley 4bbl, Clifford headers, ported and polished...just didn't have quite the grunt a V8 had, if I could get out front I was fine, she would scream! Hope you do the old Mickey Mouse car proud! The actual color of the car was International Harvester tractor red, you could buy it in 5 gallon buckets at the time..

Ron

[Volzfan59]

Looks great so far, one of my favorite body styles. I'm going to check out VSG Resins. I love a Ford 300 straight six. 

[bobss396]

The '56 is back in work. Painted up most of the VCG Resins 6-cylinder that will the engine fit.

Body is essentially done, the chassis too. Made up weight jackers for the front springs.

Small parts box is starting to fill up.

Next is some dash gauges. Rub rails are done, not pictured 

[TarheelRick]

Glad to see this one back on the table. Keep those updates coming. Are you going to remove the radio knobs and light switch from the dash?

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 1/11/2024 at 8:31 AM, bobss396 said:

 

Man...lookit that front camber. Maybe the first "stanced" car on the planet.  

[bobss396]

53 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

Glad to see this one back on the table. Keep those updates coming. Are you going to remove the radio knobs and light switch from the dash?

I'm not sure yet. Probably will remove them.

[bobss396]

38 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Man...lookit that front camber. Maybe the first "stanced" car on the planet.  

These had the camber thing going on both sides. And they were toed-out at least an inch.

They really didn't handle well until the tires were "scuffed" in. Once scuffed, a R side tire couldn't be used on the L side and vice versa.

[bobss396]

Added some shots of the rub rails, seat and belts. Rails are .093" tubing and pinned with .047" brass rod. Much stronger over using all plastic.

Steering wheel was done, using the kit piece, with Tamiya TS 30 silver with Tamiya clear blue over it. Just about any parts store had metal flake steering wheels that were widely used.

Bumpers are done, everything is pinned to help final assembly.

I can start engine mounts shortly now that the engine basics are assembled.

[bobss396]

So, put a 300 cubic inch 6 cylinder into an old AMT kit.. it will be fun they said. 

The 3D printed transmission plus the set back I had to go with made a ton of work for me.

I have to build a transmission tunnel, trim out the firewall after I get the mounts made up 

[Volzfan59]

@bobss396, This thing is going to be so cool! Did you know that you were building @rondo3154 race car when you started project?

 

Steve

[Modelbuilder Mark]

Digging this. I used to see a lot of figure 8 races as a kid. 

 

[bobss396]

3 hours ago, Volzfan59 said:

@bobss396, This thing is going to be so cool! Did you know that you were building @rondo3154 race car when you started project?

 

Steve

No idea. I'm pulling this from a very dark place. I saw a lot of them over the decades.

I have another in mind, more modern with a Vega or Nova body. Even the newer ones circa 1984 still used old Galaxie frames. They took some abuse.

[bobss396]

2 hours ago, Modelbuilder Mark said:

Digging this. I used to see a lot of figure 8 races as a kid. 

 

What tracks? I saw them mainly on Long Island. I'm not sure if they have to still run the 6.

I saw some wicked fast ones in Florida, all V8 powered.

[Volzfan59]

I used to watch the figure eight races on the round track at Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green, KY. Now they only race on the drag strip. Heard they use the round track for staging. 

[Modelbuilder Mark]

20 hours ago, bobss396 said:

What tracks? I saw them mainly on Long Island. I'm not sure if they have to still run the 6.

I saw some wicked fast ones in Florida, all V8 powered.

I am originally from a GM Factory town, Anderson Indiana. Back then the track was called Sun Valley, in later years it simply became Anderson Speedway. High Bank quarter mile track.