Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion > Build Diaries

Belly Tank Build Diary

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Mike Brown:
Hello All,

I have started a belly tank lakester.  I plan to run the car at the ECTA track in Wilmington Ohio which is close by.  The project started with a P-38 body from Class Glass Performance.  I fabricated a perimeter frame from 2"x3"x1/4" steel tubing (photo attached).  The drive train consists of a LSA crate engine, "shorty" four speed transmission from Jerico and a Winters Xtremeliner quick change rear end. 

Mike Brown

Glen:
Mike welcome to the forum. Please add the city/state you live in so a local may be able to help you. You are on the riiight  track with the build. Keep a photo diary during the build so we can give you any help. :cheers:

Elmo Rodge:
Mike, looks like you've got a good start there. You'll be glad you got the chassis out close to the body.  Tanks have a habit of running out of room very quickly. Wayno

Rex Schimmer:
Mike,
Looking forward to watching your build. My question is: Are you going to more or less copy ever other P38 tank build (the "classic" build)  with lots of axles and radius rods, steering rods, shock adsorbers, spindles, headers etc all hanging out in the wind or are you planning to try to integrate these into some sort of aerodynamic apendage that will provide the mimimum amount of aero drag? If you go with the "classic" build you are then almost completely dependent on having the "best" engine to be able to go fast. If you go with the "aero" approach then you have a leg up on the majority of the other cars. Aero is pretty much a free speed "enhancer" and the reduction of frontal area x coefficient of drag is equal to a proportional amount of horse power increase, i.e. 25% less drag is equal to  25% more horse power.

One other thing about the P38 tank, I know that the center line flange is sure a nice way to make the body removable but it is pretty ugly when it comes to being "aero". Again, looking forward to your build.

Rex

Milwaukee Midget:

--- Quote from: Rex Schimmer on April 07, 2015, 04:25:49 PM ---
One other thing about the P38 tank, I know that the center line flange is sure a nice way to make the body removable but it is pretty ugly when it comes to being "aero".

--- End quote ---

Wayno, are you going to take that lying down?

Oh, yeah, it's the only way you can fit in your tank . . .  :wink:

Mike, best of luck with your build.

And Elmo Rodge is correct - packaging is always the headache on tanks.

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