traxxaspede

I'm thinking about building a scratch/custom 1/10 scale electric dragster. Not a funny car, but the Top Fuel kind. Im gonna see if i can most of the frame outta carbon fiber, and then maybe balsa sheeting for the bodywork. I know it's probably gonna be powered by 2x6-cell nicd's and a traxxas vxl with very high gearing. im going to have a CPU fan and a heatsink on the motor so i dont fry it one the first run. I am not sure if I will go through with this, but hopefully i will.

A few quastion are
-what axle can i use? I want a solid axle w/no diff
-what tires? Probably really fat foamies in the back and i dont know what in the front.
-what size? i try and research it a bit. should i just take the specs from a real top fueler and scale it down by 10?
-what steering set-up?
-I want a huge wing, maybe a 1/8 scale buggy wing? what mount?
-should i just use epoxy for the cf?
-would it be possible to get it less than say $250? I already have esc, motor, betteries, charger. I might use the radio i have or get a
better one, as a have a traxxas TQ2. I probaly wont go 2.4 cuz of the price. just a futaba compter radio.
-what motor mount should i use? are there any 1/10 pan cars that i can take parts from? the AE RC12 looks like it has a nice motor/axle
setup. would that be too small/weak for a 14.4v brushless dragster?
-is there any regulations to drag racing if i would want to compete? a website with rules? how long is the drag strip?
-do you think that this is going to work?

sixshootertexan

There are plenty of kits out there if you want to start from there. RJ Speed to start with and Team Walbern , Grand Motorsports.
I race under the IMDRA rules.

www.IMDRA.com

traxxaspede

i though it would be fun to buld one my own. Anyway, heres a website with some cool facts about top fual dragsters
http://www.pacificraceways.com/

go to drag racing, NHRA extreme, then click next.

sixshootertexan

Some cars are converted pan cars so you can start from there.
A 14.4v dragster is a lot to start with.
I run Electric Top Fuel . 3cell lipo and 7700kv mamba.
40oz. weight.
Tracks are 132'.
ET's are 1.5s at 80-100 mph.

traxxaspede

thanks. is there an orginazation that run races? could you post some pics or yours, and maybe some specs on it? maybe ill just start out with a single 7-cell. that makes my stampede go like stink with the vxl.

sixshootertexan

This is the organization I run under. www.IMDRA.com

sixshootertexan

Here a link the the IMDRA rules. It has the specs for it's classes.

http://www.imdra.com/Rules08.pdf

traxxaspede

what kind of electronics do you run in the top fuel? would you mind saying the specs, like length, width, wheelbase etc.

sixshootertexan

I'm running a 3cell lipo on a Mamba Maxx with a 7700kv motor.
W/B 26"
Rear Track is about 7" depending on the size tires I'm running. 1 1/2" to 2" wide wheels.
Rear wheels are 2.75" diameter front are 1.5"
Weight is 46oz.

traxxaspede

do you know if IMDRA does any races near Seattle, WA

sixshootertexan

Don't know of any but there is a few in California.

www.mhra.com

sixshootertexan

Sorry it's http://www.socalmhra.com/

traxxaspede

darn. on the rules it said that they do races in washington, but i couldn't find out where in washington.

traxxaspede

I just checked out the RJ speed website and looked at the dragster kit. What do you think i take that design but make it entirely out of carbon fiber? or would i need to make certain parts out of another material like fiberglass. and how about these wheels? http://www.jpspro.com/images/Flyer%20Drag.jpg

and this cf wing

http://www.imdra.com/phpforum/viewtopic.php?t=57

whered you get that cf wing on the front of you dragster? and how much, i might need to get one of those

traxxaspede

If i where to use the RJ speed design with carbon fiber, what thinkness should i use? would 1.7mm be good? its quite expensive. 11"x22" for $85, but that might be anough for the whole thing.

also, 1.3mm, 11"x33" for $100.

Does the front section need to be all that strong? and the RJ speed design looks very lightweight and stiff. just dont know if 1.3mm or 1.7mm would be enough.

sixshootertexan

I just use G10 fiberglass. A lot cheaper and you can cut it with just about any saw. I use .093" thick from McMaster-Carr.Part # 8667k12. The front wing is from a Vendetta 1/18 scale.I like the rear wing Promod27 has for sale I may get me one for my 2009 ETF dragster. Neither wing is CF they are just made to look like that.