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Post by Keith Tanaka on Nov 29, 2012 22:39:37 GMT -8
I just built my first car for the '46-'56 class. It's a 1950 Oldsmobile. This car was raced by Buck Baker in the Grand Nationals stock car class in 1950. Total weight of car is 220 grams. This is heavy, but the speed of the car should be similar to the 36D NASCARs. The wheelbase is 4 3/4" which is about 1/4" longer than most NASCARs which typically are 4 1/2" wheelbase. Front track is 2.600", rear track is 2.800". This is narrower than our 36D NASCARs (1960-1979). Motor bracket was made from a 36D motor bracket and a standard Falcon motor bracket. I'll try out this new car at BPR this weekend during the Boola Bash. Hopefully, it will run lap times similar to my 36D NASCAR. I'll post the results of my initial practice lap times this weekend, stay tuned. Keith
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rogeru
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by rogeru on Nov 30, 2012 13:07:11 GMT -8
That's a really nice looking car Keith.
Is there body mount movement, either plummer or floppy side to side? I can't see if there are pivot points but it kinda looks like there could be movement. Whatever, it looks cool and hopefully handles good.
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Nov 30, 2012 17:27:33 GMT -8
That's a really nice looking car Keith. Is there body mount movement, either plummer or floppy side to side? I can't see if there are pivot points but it kinda looks like there could be movement. Whatever, it looks cool and hopefully handles good. Roger, it's a plummer movement. The front portion of the side pan is attached with an "L" shaped piano wire. This acts as the tension for the plummer movement. Keith
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Dec 5, 2012 13:16:24 GMT -8
I ran some practice laps with this new car at the recent Boola Bash at BPR.
The laps times were very similar to my stock 36D NASCAR.
I changed the gear ratio to 8:35 since the motor was running hotter than normal with a 8:33 ratio. The 8:35 ratio works better and the motor runs cooler than with 8:33.
I also had to narrow the rear tires from .700" to .500". The wider tires provided too much grip. The narrower rear tires provided the right amount of grip and made the car easier to drive thru the turns.
I believe the Falcon II is a good choice as far as providing a comparable performance as a good stock 36D with these heavier post war cars.
Keith
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Dec 18, 2012 15:28:00 GMT -8
I raced the '50 Olds in our "Mixed Race" this past Sunday at BPR. Race total laps was 217 which is similar to what my stock 36D NASCAR runs. The lap times during the race were also similar to the 36D car. This new car is easy to drive and is very smooth thru the turns. I believe this new class of '46-'56 cars will be fun and competitive with our stock 36D inline NASCARs. If we have a race in which there are both '46-'56 cars as well as stock 36D NASCARs, we can have two podiums, one for each class. Keith
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Feb 21, 2013 15:20:55 GMT -8
I raced the '50 Olds again this past Sunday in our monthly D3 hardbody races. I did 216 laps this time which is similar to last month's race with 217 laps. Although the car is heavy at 220 grams, it has lap times similar to my stock 36D NASCAR (Matador). These inline Falcon powered old cars are fun to race and competitive with our stock 36D NASCARs. Keith
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Post by slotcar12 on Feb 27, 2013 9:14:06 GMT -8
Keith, I take it from the photos that the pans are not hinged. Yes? Is there advantage to this or do you hidge them? Paul
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Feb 27, 2013 10:41:59 GMT -8
Paul, this chassis has a "Plummer" movement (side pans move up and down in the rear with a front hinge action). The front hinge point is actually a piece of .055" "L" shape piano wire soldered to the front end of the chassis (one for each side pan) and the front portion of each side pan. This arrangement provides a hinge point in the front of the side pan and also provides "tension" by being a fixed point hinge. The rear of each side has a "down stop" at the rear portion of each side to prevent the pan from moving below the bottom of the chassis. There's also a cross bar piano wire which keeps the side pans in alignment. For these type cars, I prefer using this side pan arrangement as its easier to build and provides consistently good handling compared to the more traditional floppy side pans or plummer using a hinged pivot. Keith
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