Rebuilding LemonWedge.

[fullmetaljacket]

After looking in every possible direction I could think of for fenders, I finally decided to go the direction of WEIGHT LOSS, and ordered up fiberglass fenders, a pin-on hood with 5” RO23 scoop, and bumpers. Also planning on mounting the bumpers on aluminum brackets. The fiberglass shipment has already been recieved, and I have no remorse on the purchase yet.

I’ve accepted and embraced that this is a racecar. In the past it’s been a compromise; no more . The goal is to have one of the premier 67 Plymouth B-Body race cars in the country. I rarely drive the car on the street anymore, and when I do it’s just down to the local cruise night. So the specter of a rowdy racecar rolling through the parking lot is as much of a bonus there than it is at the track as far as I’m concerned.

We should be able to shave a good 150 lbs off of the car, most of it right up front where it counts. The goal is to bring it in under 3500lbs. Last time I weighed it, it was 3660. But that was with the old 8-3/4 out back and the stock seats and buddy seat in place. It now has a D60 in it, and I can attest that there’s a significant weight factor there. But it also has lightweight poly race seats now. Those two items just might have canceled each other out, and they certainly moved the center of gravity rearward.

A friend from High School (a LONG ways back ) who owns his own body shop is helping me with the body and paint work on an after hours “friends and family” sort of deal. He’s been instrumental in pushing me to get this project moving.

More updates to come….

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Let it be said, let it be done. You're now talking the language of Drag racers with a weight loss program. It will be better and faster than before. The drivetrain will stress less. Keep us posted.
Hint: Grade 2024 aluminum fasteners with the appropriate washers and nuts will cut a few more pounds especially when deleting the hood hinges.

 

[33 IMP]

Sorry for your loss!
You won't be the first or last victim of poor track maintenance.
I saw a car lose a ton of fluid at the finish line of our local track, and unfortunately nobody in the tower or on-track personal noticed. I tried to reach the guys in the timeslip booth in time to stop the racing, bit didn't make it. Next guy down track rolled a big block Vega several times.

 

[padam]

Very sorry to hear about this! I admire how you found peace about the situation quickly. We all can learn from this. I don't have a lot of laps but, I hear about these things often enough to be realistic. Ideally we have a spotter (how practical is that?) FWIW the rules speak against big-end braking/driving but, everyone that I know close DOES IT! Currently being a heads-up guy and tester I joke that "I won't ever lift" if I'm ahead of them in brackets (to chase an ET) All that said, the track should have been totally cleaned of course. Thanks for sharing.

Bracket racers love to race you guys

 

[Budnicks]

After looking in every possible direction I could think of for fenders, I finally decided to go the direction of WEIGHT LOSS, and ordered up fiberglass fenders, a pin-on hood with 5” RO23 scoop, and bumpers. Also planning on mounting the bumpers on aluminum brackets. The fiberglass shipment has already been recieved, and I have no remorse on the purchase yet.

I’ve accepted and embraced that this is a racecar. In the past it’s been a compromise; no more . The goal is to have one of the premier 67 Plymouth B-Body race cars in the country. I rarely drive the car on the street anymore, and when I do it’s just down to the local cruise night. So the specter of a rowdy racecar rolling through the parking lot is as much of a bonus there than it is at the track as far as I’m concerned.

We should be able to shave a good 150 lbs off of the car, most of it right up front where it counts. The goal is to bring it in under 3500lbs. Last time I weighed it, it was 3660. But that was with the old 8-3/4 out back and the stock seats and buddy seat in place. It now has a D60 in it, and I can attest that there’s a significant weight factor there. But it also has lightweight poly race seats now. Those two items just might have canceled each other out, and they certainly moved the center of gravity rearward.

A friend from High School (a LONG ways back ) who owns his own body shop is helping me with the body and paint work on an after hours “friends and family” sort of deal. He’s been instrumental in pushing me to get this project moving.

More updates to come….

View attachment 1943133

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Great decision should look great too...

never hurts to get a lil' weight off the nose for weight transfer
less wear on tires & brakes or shocks too

Win Win

 

[dvw]

The decision to make a no compromise racecar is a good one. As we all know its still a compromise As most of us are still using the factory floor pan, firewall, rails, etc. When mine was built I focused on 3 main items. Safety, weight, ease of service.Though it still has steel bumpers, fenders, stock unibody (except tubs). The weight empty is around 3125 with a Mega block and truck Dana. Weight reduction from chrome moly cage, moly tube steering shaft, moly tube strut rods, trimmed K frame, light brakes, aluminum drive shaft, light seats, lexan sie and rear windows with no regulators. Carbon bumper brackets, hood, and scoop (all homemade). Stuff that could be improved? Glass bumpers and deck lid, aluminum block, lexan windshield, light non stock steering wheel. If it it's not needed ? Cut it off.
Doug