Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: Sumner on November 24, 2007, 07:51:15 PM

Title: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Sumner on November 24, 2007, 07:51:15 PM
(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/bvillecar-2/11-23-7-15.jpg)

Well I finally finished to the very front of the car yesterday.  Today I went and got a 4 bolt GM vortec block and hauled it and a steel crank I've had to the machinest to work over for the new motor for my truck.  This little trip was only 300 miles -- down to Farmington, NM and then to the machinist in Cortez, CO and then back home to Utah.  I can see the area where these two towns are in out my front door, but that doesn't mean they are next door.

Back to the lakester.  I thought I had started on the front of the car (ahead of the cage) last spring.  I looked at my build index and saw that it was June of 2006, how depressing.  Well at least I'm working on it some almost every day now and I'm still somewhat optimistic of getting it to Speed Week next summer and running it at least one event.

Here is the link to the build if you haven't been there yet and the front starts about page 49:

 http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/bvillecar/bvillecarindexpage.html

c ya,

Sum 
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: wolcottjl on November 24, 2007, 09:45:23 PM
Congratulations!  A major milestone completed.  Your build documentation is one of the more entertaining sites out there.  I usually lurk and keep my mouth shut.

Joel
ECTA
M/MP
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Harold Bettes on November 25, 2007, 01:29:14 AM
Congrats Sum,

You will soon have the thing on the wheels and soon on the salt!

Regards,
HB2
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: team_cougar on November 25, 2007, 09:11:21 AM
Hey Sumner,
 I just wanted to let you know how inspiring your work is for a lot of us out here miles away from Bonneville.
 Your documentation of the Lakester and of Hooley's Stude are really great and your site and threads are much more than entertaining for me.
I appreciate all your hard work. I appreciate your spirit. And, as another guy on a shoestring, I appreciate seeing another guy like me out there doing it.

 Keep up the good work on the Lakester and the pickup! Hope to run into you at Bonneville one of these days and hope to see the lakester make a run when I'm there.
Andy
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: krek on November 25, 2007, 09:48:38 AM
Ditto what these guys have said.  I'm enjoying the journey along with you!
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: stratman59 on November 25, 2007, 11:21:32 AM
me too!!! great job and thanks
robbie
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: willieworld on November 26, 2007, 05:28:50 PM
me too and ditto  nice to meet you in nov at el mirage keep up the good work  willie buchta
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Stainless1 on November 26, 2007, 08:03:15 PM
Sum, keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing that beast on the salt.  Everyone loves a challenge and inspiration, even us "loaded" old retired guys...
it is looking great
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Vortex1 on November 26, 2007, 08:52:05 PM
Sum, the lakster looks great!

Jim B
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: PJQ on November 27, 2007, 10:52:34 PM
Sum,

There's a lot of amazing engineering to get the suspension inside the body of the car. Well done, looks strong enough to survive 300+!
Your drawings of the body style is reminiscent of "Golden Era" cars. What will the wheel base be?
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Sumner on November 29, 2007, 04:43:34 PM
Sum,

There's a lot of amazing engineering to get the suspension inside the body of the car. Well done, looks strong enough to survive 300+!
Your drawings of the body style is reminiscent of "Golden Era" cars. What will the wheel base be?

Actually those sketches are not two close to what the body is going to look like.  I attached a picture of the Blue Flame that I redid the pointed nose on.  The body will most likely be close to this with a wing like pod going down both sides to cover the axles/suspension and water tanks for cooling and the inter-cooler.  Also the tail will not be near as large as in the picture.

The wheelbase is 152 1/2 inches and the track is about 55 inches.

Thanks guys for the encouragement,

Sum
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: willieworld on November 29, 2007, 05:53:23 PM
very nice piece    willie buchta
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Bville701 on November 29, 2007, 11:21:18 PM
Looks very cool and a lot of engineering is involved. What made you change you mind on the motor from small block to suzuki? Did you think about hyabusa?
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Sumner on November 29, 2007, 11:44:36 PM
Looks very cool and a lot of engineering is involved. What made you change you mind on the motor from small block to suzuki?

Finances somewhat and the number of different classes I can run by changing engine size relatively easily and I might be afraid to go as fast as a small block can go.

................Did you think about hyabusa?

Sooner or later one of those will be in the car,

Sum
Title: Re: The front is done..............well maybe kind of done....
Post by: Stainless1 on November 29, 2007, 11:47:20 PM
What made you change you mind on the motor from small block to suzuki?

I'm guessing it's the softness factor.... there are a lot of soft records in the small motored lakester classes... of course if you did use the Hayabusa motor your record would put you in the 2 club
Looking good Sum, get back to work...