Prelude in drag! ( I think!)

[bigalan]

Put this in the ebay thread but thought it was worth putting on here too (to take make to my century!):

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120420201817&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting

[mrbhp426]

That looks so cool!

[BenzBoy]

That's tasty!

[Lewis]

That is an oddball, yet cool, choice

Someone's put a lot of effort into it to say the least!

[WillCarter]

Lovely... guessing the shell is from the mid-nineties, seemed to be a few odder choices back then like Rover Coupes and Granada's etc.

[bigalan]

Had another look this morning - still looks good! Read the spec though and it's like a foreign language to me! Anyone translate?

Would I be correct in assuming its fairly brisk?:

EX TREVOR GRAVES / CONRAD STANLEY SUPER GAS DRAGSTER, GEOFF OWEN BUILT FULL TUBE CHASSIS WITH FUNNY CAR CAGE , WAS TAGGED TO 7.50, CAR WEIGHED 2150 LBS WITH SBF AND GLIDE NOW HAS JOHN SLEATH BUILT 468 BBC DYNOED @ 655 BHP WITH NORMAL SHELL V-MAX PETROL, ( HAVE PRINT OUT) ENGINE ONLY RUN ON DYNO AND STARTED ABOUT 10 TIMES OR SO, NO TRACK USE,EVERYTHING NEW FROM SUMP TO CARB, SUMMIT ELECTRIC WATER PUMP, 1050 DOMINATOR, EDELEBROCK,MORROSO ETC, NEW HEADERS, RAIDIATOR, ELECTRIC FAN, NEW J.W. PERFORMANCE POWERGLIDE AGAIN FROM JOHN SLEATH, 9" REAR WITH STRANGE SHAFTS, SPOOL, 4 BAR, NEW PROP. WELD PROSTARS, DOUBLE AJUSTABLE REAR SHOCKS, M/T,S 32X14.5X15 REARS (NEW) M/T,S FRONT RUNNERS (NEW). PRO BANDIT POWER GLIDE AIR SHIFTER, AIR BOTTLE, TWIN OPTIMA BATTERIES, CONTROL PANEL, QUICK RELEASE STEERING WHEEL WITH BUTTONS FOR LINE LOCK AND TRANS BRAKE,WINDOW NET, FULL HARNESS, SHIFT LIGHT, MONSTER TACH,DEDENBEAR CC3 COMMAND CENTRE, DEDENBEAR THROTTLE STOP (NOT FITTED), MSD IGNITION TWO STEP REV CONTROL, FUEL CELL, TWIN HOLLEY FUEL PUMPS AND FILTERS,PARACHUTE,ALL PANELS ARE REMOVABLE, PAINT COULD DO WITH A FRESHEN UP BUT NOT A MUST DO, CAR IS READY TO RACE,WHEN IT SELLS AM LOOKING TO BUY A YANK OR ROD OR WHY

[stealthstylz]

Geoff Owen is one of the top chassis builders in the UK.

Tube frame means a custom CDS chassis. A funny car cage completely encompasses the driver e.g.



Tagged to 7.50 means it is legal to run 7.50 seconds in the quarter mile or slower.

The car weighed 2150lbs with a small block Ford and powerglide (GM 2 speed auto box). However it is now fitted with a big block Chevy so will weigh a bit more.

The engine makes 655bhp, was built by John Sleath and is a very nice spec by the looks. Same with the gearbox which is a 2 speed Powerglide again. Its fitted with an air shifter which means you have to press a button to change gear rather than move the stick for more consistency.

The rear axle has aftermarket shafts and centre section and is mounted using a 4 bar (the best setup for drag racing).

A Line lock locks the front wheels leaving the rears free to do a burnout. A trans brake engages first and reverse gear simultaneously on the line, allowing you to hold the revs high. You then press a button and reverse is disengaged in an instant making for very fast starts.

Dedenbear throttle stop allows you to slow the car down by limiting the accelerator pedal travel. This is because the class it is designed to race in requires you to run as close to (but not faster than) 9.90 seconds so you need to be consistent.

MSD 2 step allows you to set 2 rev limiters (usually for burnout, launch or actual run). You set the first step for the burnout/launch slightly low, then as you leave the line it switches to the 2nd step and allows the engine to rev to whatever you want.

Hope that helps.

Matt

[dan]

I know Simon Payne's camaro was more or less a street driven promod. Could something like this make a good basis for a Street Eliminator car?

Obviously it'd require major work to get it through the SVA with proper lights and tyres, etc but would the gearbox need replacing too?

Just something which I'd thought about in the past as it seems like a quick way & cheaper way of getting a reliable and potentially competitive Street Eliminator car.

[Greg]

yeah thats a prelude shell, I have some vids of it somewhere

[stealthstylz]

You could make it street legal, however it has nowhere near enough power for Street Eliminator. The difference a set of slicks make is huge. 655bhp in the car as it is should have it running low to mid 9s easy, however to run similar on treads you'd probably need closer to 900bhp. To dip into the 8s you'd probably have to crack 1000bhp.

Matt

[bigalan]

Matt
Thanks for the translation! Sounds like a beast to me! Didn't know about the time thing - trying to run close to a set time without breaking it. Sounds like a bit of a strategy game rather that just going flat out. Must taks a shed load of skill!

[stealthstylz]

Yeah its a lot more difficult (but less expensive) to run to a set time. Relies on driver talent more than a fat chequebook. Sportsman ET is the slowest bracket class. Think its 11.99 seconds or slower iirc.

Matt