Project Junkyard Dog

Robert Swartz · 10-14-2013, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

What you DO need to do is, while you're reflecting, pick ONE thing, ONE car that runs NOW. Get it to a racetrack and make it go up and down the track. Throw some Hot-Rod tricks at it and find out what it likes and dis-likes

You're still going to have a learning curve.

BUT get one that already runs, take it to a track and drive it. Good things are worth waiting for.

Right here, is the most sage advice one can get. Usually, I'm long winded in my posts. The above simply says it all.

If I may, the only thing I would like to add, don't be afraid to try things.

Joe Toller · 10-14-2013, 06:34 PM

Great advice all of you, thanks.

If that Buick had been a complete runner it would have probably been racing by now. Painful mistake.

The Inline and V8 carb/dist. cars fortunately are plentiful here; being a rural-ish area with no salt and lots of 4x4s for winter rust is rarely a big issue, and as long as you don't mind a 4 door the cars are easy to come by.

I hauled two hulks off this afternoon and the yard will be hauling off the rest tomorrow. Then I am back at zero. After work tomorrow I will drag a battery and some fuel up and see about that Comet. If it starts, stops, and steers, it comes home. If not, I will wait until I find a car that does. I will keep only one car, and only parts for said car to avoid distractions, and will have to work really hard to stay focused.

Dave Noll · 10-14-2013, 07:05 PM

...

Bob Shaw · 10-14-2013, 07:34 PM

Joe,
Billy and Mark have given you excellent advice. I will add to their recommendations from my experience..
#1..Decide what class you want to run.
#2 Study the NHRA guides and Nitro Joe's stats and decide what car would be best for that class.
#3 Find that car and buy it.
#4 Change the cam, gears, and converter, maybe headers.
#5 Take it to the track and test it.
If it will run the index or close to it you can build it . If it won't run you can change it back to stock, sell it and start with something else.
I have built more than 20 stockers that I can remember and I never build an engine until I know the car is going to work.

Joe Toller · 10-14-2013, 07:49 PM

Good advice again. I kept starting with non-running projects, which, as I should know better, are impossible on a budget, they nickel and dime you to death, and if the missing parts are unique and/or rare, forget it.

This has been quite an education lol!

I am going to start from step one, using all of this advice.

Thank you all for your encouragement and advice!

Paul Wong · 10-15-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Shaw

Joe,
Billy and Mark have given you excellent advice. I will add to their recommendations from my experience..
#1..Decide what class you want to run.
#2 Study the NHRA guides and Nitro Joe's stats and decide what car would be best for that class.
#3 Find that car and buy it.
#4 Change the cam, gears, and converter, maybe headers.
#5 Take it to the track and test it.
If it will run the index or close to it you can build it . If it won't run you can change it back to stock, sell it and start with something else.
I have built more than 20 stockers that I can remember and I never build an engine until I know the car is going to work.

I can tell you one thing.....This is the best dime rocket advice your going to get. Your getting advice from some of the best mentors I've had in the "slow" class car circle.

Joe Toller · 10-15-2013, 03:02 PM

I am very fortunate for all the help, no doubt.

It would be a great idea to take all this advice and make one "sticky" thread...

Joe Toller · 10-15-2013, 03:14 PM

Question, would you just run it as is, off the street, or if you already had a cam, converter, and gear, go ahead and put them in first? Odds are (I will know in about 4hrs) if this Comet runs ok I will drive it home. But with the season over, it would be April before it would see a racetrack. I don't want to tear it apart if not necessary at first; I want to follow everyones advice and see what it will do for a baseline, I guess at minimum I could remove the unnecessary stuff and whatnot over the fall? I have a carport, so no winter tinkering if the weather is as usual...

I want to take everybodys advice, start at square one, and do it right. One car, one plan.

10-15-2013, 03:02 PM	#7
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog I am very fortunate for all the help, no doubt. It would be a great idea to take all this advice and make one "sticky" thread...

10-15-2013, 03:14 PM	#8
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Question, would you just run it as is, off the street, or if you already had a cam, converter, and gear, go ahead and put them in first? Odds are (I will know in about 4hrs) if this Comet runs ok I will drive it home. But with the season over, it would be April before it would see a racetrack. I don't want to tear it apart if not necessary at first; I want to follow everyones advice and see what it will do for a baseline, I guess at minimum I could remove the unnecessary stuff and whatnot over the fall? I have a carport, so no winter tinkering if the weather is as usual... I want to take everybodys advice, start at square one, and do it right. One car, one plan.

10-14-2013, 06:34 PM	#2
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Great advice all of you, thanks. If that Buick had been a complete runner it would have probably been racing by now. Painful mistake. The Inline and V8 carb/dist. cars fortunately are plentiful here; being a rural-ish area with no salt and lots of 4x4s for winter rust is rarely a big issue, and as long as you don't mind a 4 door the cars are easy to come by. I hauled two hulks off this afternoon and the yard will be hauling off the rest tomorrow. Then I am back at zero. After work tomorrow I will drag a battery and some fuel up and see about that Comet. If it starts, stops, and steers, it comes home. If not, I will wait until I find a car that does. I will keep only one car, and only parts for said car to avoid distractions, and will have to work really hard to stay focused.

10-14-2013, 07:05 PM	#3
Dave Noll Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Div. 6, Eastern, WA Posts: 711 Likes: 2,716 Liked 240 Times in 112 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog ... __________________ Dave Noll, EF/S ,?/SA 6526 Last edited by Dave Noll; 10-16-2013 at 05:08 PM.

10-14-2013, 07:34 PM	#4
Bob Shaw Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sedalia, Mo Posts: 441 Likes: 336 Liked 323 Times in 63 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Joe, Billy and Mark have given you excellent advice. I will add to their recommendations from my experience.. #1..Decide what class you want to run. #2 Study the NHRA guides and Nitro Joe's stats and decide what car would be best for that class. #3 Find that car and buy it. #4 Change the cam, gears, and converter, maybe headers. #5 Take it to the track and test it. If it will run the index or close to it you can build it . If it won't run you can change it back to stock, sell it and start with something else. I have built more than 20 stockers that I can remember and I never build an engine until I know the car is going to work. __________________ Bob Shaw V/SA 515

10-14-2013, 07:49 PM	#5
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Project Junkyard Dog Good advice again. I kept starting with non-running projects, which, as I should know better, are impossible on a budget, they nickel and dime you to death, and if the missing parts are unique and/or rare, forget it. This has been quite an education lol! I am going to start from step one, using all of this advice. Thank you all for your encouragement and advice!