Part 3 Let’s Front Half a 330 MPH Top Fuel Dragster!!! Why do they break??

This is part three in the series where I am replacing the front half of a top fuel dragster. In this episode, I explain the process of removing the front end and addressing safety issues that’s some chassis manufactures overlook. I will also share some of my secrets of making these chassis work better in hotter conditions and last longer. Watch to the end for a big hint on what I’m doing to make these top fuel cars stronger, faster and safer. 

[@tylerlarkey8560]

I just stumbled upon these videos and I CANNOT STOP WATCHING. I would no doubt pay for more of these. Super cool info and Rob does an incredible job teaching. 🤓😎

[@robwendland]

Sure appreciate the kind words!

[@wheelitzr2]

I honestly haven't been this excited for a video in quite sometime!!

[@ldtenenoff]

AGAIN UR SCIENCE BEHIND UR ENGINEERING IS AMAZINGLY WELL IT JUST SEEM SO OLD SCHOOL RIGHT,THANK YOU FOR BEING A TEACHER TO SO MANY U R SAVING AND CHANGING LIVES WITH UR CONTENT THANK YOU OH YA ITS NOW 7/29/2021 AND I AM ALMOST DONE WATCHIN UR VIDS FROM BEGING TO THE END PLEASE NO TESTS LOL

[@ScottMorrill27]

Been waiting for a channel like this forever!!!! Can't wait for the next one !!!! Keep up the amazing work !!!

[@robwendland]

Sure appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

[@crazyrat51]

By putting tension on the tubes and TAPPING on the weldment with a hammer lets the molecules of the material re arrange themselves in proper alignment. We were taught this in auto body school MANY years ago. Pull a dent and at the same time tap on the metal that you want to move! EXACTLY the same thing. I have always maintained, "YA HAVE TO BE SMARTER THAN WHAT YER WORKING ON!" EXCELLENT series!!! (BTW, I am a retired body and paint guy, 50 plus years in the trade. Also a former welding instructor, fabricator and an A/Fuel crew guy. Built and owned multiple door slamer and altereds. Also do Custom paint...).

[@robwendland]

Sure appreciate the info and thanks for watching!!!

[@dezertraider]

50 YEARS WATCHING DRAGS,NEVER THOUGHT IT BE BUILT LIKE THIS,EXCELLENT..THANK YOU

[@TheNemosdaddy]

When i was going to welding school in the 90's i so badly wanted to be a chassis fabricator. This is awesome to watch

[@redriverraider]

So glad to find your videos! Love seeing the building/fixing side of the shop! THX!

[@andyb9767]

Thanks for another lesson. I love to watch and learn.

[@larryparrish4742]

Very interesting! And those weld inclusions are scary. Thanks for making and sharing all the videos and your knowledge.

[@bdubz5150]

Love the content. I was an aerospace fabricator for years, but I grew up drag racing. I can't tell you how much I'm diggin these vids. Thanks for sharing.

[@craigbowers4047]

Your videos keep getting better and better. I think you are also being a great ambassador for the sport by sharing some of your knowledge and the tech that goes into the cars.

[@robwendland]

I sure appreciate that and thanks for watching!

[@damienmilk3025]

I don't understand why you haven't got 10 times the number of subscribers, a real tradesman with a skill many of us only dream about. Thanks for posting these videos.

[@Eyecandylvr]

I realize you are a professional and probably have seen this before. I was watching as you used your “slide hammer rig” it’s awesome! The work I did the builders all had a couple of pairs of “VICE GRIPS “ with a slide hammer welded to it. Another tool in the box! Your vids are awesome, never had this much insight to the ground work for those amazing machines! Thanks again for the amazing content.

[@cdnaudioguy]

That was amazing to watch! Thank you so much for sharing your insight into the right way to build a chassis. It all makes SO much sense.

[@kstricl]

This video just earned you a subscriber. Considering how even amateur drags are often down to the third digit, I think anything that helps get that car down track even a thou faster is going to be in demand for these teams, so I can fully understand why you’re not giving away your secrets.

[@jasonellison7761]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge. This is a career path I have come to realize is what I've wanted to do for years. This may be the most straight forward informative vide you will need. Keep it up!

[@robwendland]

Appreciate it!

[@eatshit311]

Love your channel. Thank you for taking the extra time to explain what you're doing.

[@gnmatsu]

I continue to really enjoy the time and patience you put in to putting these educational videos together. So much great information for sure.

[@SC457A]

I liked the idea of adjusting the horns. Chassis building is always a thing I am so interested in. How 2 cars can be built "the same" and one wins, one is okay. The smallest of details in a game decided by thousandths.

[@robwendland]

You got it!

[@michaelisola6328]

Thanks for making these videos ! Very informative.

[@swede910]

This is really giving to the watchers, thank you!

[@zmotorsports62]

Love following along on this project. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Looking forward to the next one. Mike

[@TheMrMused]

Another excellent example of the difference between a craftsman at work and someone who's merely doing a job. Rob, I really hope people watching your videos can translate the passion you have for doing your thing to a passion for doing whatever it is that they do. Might be racing, might be accounting. It's that drive to do something better - not because of competition with someone else, but because *you* know you can do it better. Do it safer. Do it more reliably. Thanks for taking us along on the journey!

[@13btcapella]

I absolutely love these videos, they are very entertaining thank you..

[@nickhoffman5524]

Love the series incredible teaching, thanks Rob

[@robwendland]

Appreciate it!

[@ralphbyers6136]

Excellent work, Rob! I love your videos! I would have complete confidence driving anything you are responsible for!!!

[@teamdrama6251]

As always killer video .i need more .lol great job Rob wish i had half your knowledge. Thanks for sharing .

[@joelchils]

Love the science on this kind of stuff!

[@josh4realz211]

I agree! Nothing else that shows the fine science behind too fuel without going too far in a rabbit hole than how Rob does it.

[@tomzuchowski6590]

This stuff is fantastic! Please keep the videos coming!

[@81husker]

Best channel I’ve found thank you

[@djfaber]

great video man, I'm constantly impressed with all the engineering and tribal knowledge that goes into building these cars.

[@bikebuilder8567]

Its good to have pros to bounce info back n forth on ! some guys dont like talking about the way they do things (top secret) thanx for the vids!

[@TurboDog73TX]

Man I really appreciate Your straight shooting, no bullshit approach to Your content. No one else on YT is showing this kind of work, on cars of this caliber, and the niche is uniquely Yours. Thanks.

[@robwendland]

Sure appreciate the kind words thank you very much for watching!

[@sunelarsen]

Great vid. thank you for sharing what you can!

[@vehdynam]

Excellent information ! thanks so much .

[@stanlucas665]

I never realized how labor intense front halving a top fuel car was. Thanks for the insight Rob.

[@robwendland]

Thanks for watching!

[@garymckinziejr7194]

Rob I love this channel. Keep them coming.

[@robwendland]

Thanks Gary!

[@josh4realz211]

I came from the popular supercharger video. I can say I love the work and what you do, as being a fan of top fuel cars. This is cool too see some behind the scenes and work done, while learning something new. I love your commentary over the video as it gives a perfect way to tell us what's going on, without having all this shop noise to worry about! Keep up the videos, make them longer 😊 20 minutes or so. And I respect your work Rob.

[@johnnym1320]

Awesome stuff Rob! keep them coming love this type of content

[@erniehenshaw4066]

A True Craftsman.

[@funkiwikid6106]

And making sure the tubes don't have any twist is also the other part of the right way. Keep up the good work.

[@mikebowers5228]

Amazing video...I had no idea the amount of work involved in this ! I just subscribed after watching !

[@nhra7110]

Love these videos!

[@funkiwikid6106]

Nice to see racing behind the scenes from a real engineer. Yes you do it the right way.

[@mikebaldwin9972]

I had the index idea in my head when building cart frames back in the 60s and used it all through my building and fab work when I needed to keep things in line!!!!

[@jvadragracingvideos187]

Great stuff mr Rob. Looking forward to next episode. Regards Jonas

[@anthonygibbo1881]

Great work man been watching all the vids 👍🏽

[@rescobar8572]

Thanks a million Rob!! I see the arch in the tube!!

[@mksaeg]

Is it like sighting boards for framing houses?

[@mikeznel6048]

@@mksaeg You mean a story pole for setting headers and window frames and top plates? It's a scribe line to keep all the tubes oriented the same direction.

[@dmeemd7787]

I'm sure I'm the 1000th person (hopefully and most likely) to say this, but these videos get me really excited when they get posted, I see that you, rob that is, put a video up and I immediately go, hell yes!

[@robwendland]

Thanks brother!

[@mooneyes109]

Very cool, it’s cool to see the whole process. I think it’s awesome how you show everything and explain things in detail. It’s awesome that as a crew chief you are willing to put information out there to help everyone understand these cars. Not sure if I’ll figure out exactly what you are doing but nevertheless I’ll still watch along. 🤟

[@gregschultz2029]

Very Interesting !!! Thank You

[@kennethbode2017]

great series

[@lonnieturner666]

Love your videos and little tips I’m building a chassis for my 68 Camaro for drag week and I was thinking about how I was going to make my chassis mounts for ride height and wasn’t fond of tacking the bars to the mounts and then I seen your tip with muffler clamps .. great Chanel !

[@tropicperformance269]

Awesome video!

[@ces188charles6]

Wow Rob, I had no idea just how complicated it was to build a frame. I watched my dad rebuild aircraft fuselages and that was a complex task in itself.....this has really peaked my interest!!!!!

[@jasonanderton3050]

That nomad/sedan delivery in the background looks badass!

[@tomanycooks]

I'm really loving your videos mate.

[@robwendland]

Sure appreciate it!

[@jointventureracing9430]

Awesome informative video! Let’s see a shop tour!

[@MrScottr1958]

This is a very interesting series

[@robwendland]

Thanks for watching!

[@charlesmitchuson9884]

You still the man rob!

[@kh40yr]

Thanks Champ. Cool Beans.

[@robwendland]

Thank you for watching!

[@thomaskimparker809]

Wonder just how many of your competitors watch your vids 🤔 . If I was in the game with multimillion dollars at stake.. I'd have a paying position just to watch every one of my competitors YT channels . YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU COULD LEARN FROM THIS.. SOMETIMES PEOPLE GIVE UP SECRETS AND HAVE NO CLUE THEY JUST DID... LOVE 💘 WATCHING EVERYTHING YOU POST. MISSED MY CALLING FOR SURE.

[@t.smith317tf]

Great job!

[@robwendland]

Thanks for watching!

[@9thdeltaconcepts652]

thank you. more please.

[@TomChame]

Very interesting, thanks much.

[@robwendland]

You bet

[@tomupchurch4911]

💥This guy's cool. It's like Top Fuel with Drew Carey.

[@robwendland]

That made me laugh!!! Thank you

[@mikeznel6048]

I'm guessing all those scribe lines end up all facing the same direction to keep the slight arch oriented the same with all the pieces. Kind of like a large flat bed trailer. They have a slight, but noticeable, arch in them so when they are under load it helps support the weight better. It arches up so when weight is applied, it is level instead of sagging. Just a guess, kinda like prestressing as opposed to natural random stresses.

[@chrisrigoni]

Thank You 🙏✌️

[@billclark5943]

Man I thought I was meticulous and detail oriented. The devil is most certainly in the details though. Have to think that way at this level. You definitely have me stumped on the scribe lines. Some type of position reference I'm assuming. Perhaps to load the tubes torsionally for certain dynamic characteristics but that would be lost when welding the uprights unless they all float. Definetly got me thinking, Rob. Maybe we'll find out......or maybe we wont lol

[@fmboss429]

Can't wait!!!

[@danielsmith-ze3wy]

Have to watch later got to get back to work

[@stevelennox8575]

Standing by with my JB Weld Sir. Don't think that I will be called upon though .....

[@robwendland]

Awesome

[@kyleaukerman5874]

Love the info sir and I'll take any info your willing to share! I've always just imagined how this stuff was done, but know I know! The six thumbs down must be mad you won't give out your secrets!

[@danoc51]

This is exactly what I would be doing if I had the brains and talent.

[@truckladders4104]

Another fascinating and extremely informative video extremely thought provoking The weld inclusion was an eye opener Should the welds be x rayed If I had anyone but a welder of your capability I think I would have the welds xrayed even if it was an extra cost item Thanks Keep up the great content

[@RichieCat4223]

Could you use a laser to keep checking straightness of the tube other than a string ?

[@sammygonzalez7627]

Is this tube for the clutch dust exhaust, pushing it out at the rear Instead inside of cockpit 🤔

[@oldschoolmotorsickle]

Interesting tutorial. TF cars sorta look the same as always but they’ve evolved steadily over the years. Without a moving suspension, the chassis itself must provide the give to keep the tires planted. All four tires. The thicker tube rules mean that people will need to tune in flex somewhere else in the settings. We’ll see who gets their combinations working and who doesn’t, right on the track.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Empty flatbed semi trailers have some serious preload on them. I'm guessing the line on the pipe is for measuring the arc of the curve.

[@fredweather3366]

Would you have considered slightly bending the new tube just forward of the stub instead of spreading them? I assume the left stub was pulled inward like the right because you spread both. Thanks for the great series.

[@kellyhallett7057]

All ways bad ass Rob

[@abitoffcenter383]

If I only still lived in Speedway!! I'd work for you for free. Can't tell you how many times we'd go to Brownsburg! I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people there.

[@robwendland]

Thanks for watching

[@abitoffcenter383]

Hey, least I can do brother!! Really enjoying every vid. Keep it up!!

[@WyFoster]

Great stuff! Only thing is, you mean tube, not pipe. Pipe is a conduit, tube is a structural member.

[@9rjharper]

Yeah. I try not to be too anal retentive, but yeah. A tube is structural, a pipe of for fluid, and a bar is solid.

[@fredygump5578]

I'm really surprised about that porosity! If a guy keeps on welding with that happening literally under his nose, he shouldn't be allowed to hold a TIG torch! That porosity is enough to cause the the frame to fail!

[@Da5idc]

I totally agree - having such a basic mistake on a car like this is really scary

[@rixogtr]

Correct. However there's so many certified welders who do not have a slightest clue of what they're doing. I'm in Australia and I've worked with a lot of people and the common denominator was always the slacky, loose attitude. "Yeeeaah mate just send it" and then it ends like this. I came to a company that does industrial oil coolers. There is a particular hydraulic oil cooler for a massive dozer, 1" OD 1.6mm wall thickness 316 S/S tubing welded with 180 bends to form a serpentine shape. This certified boilermaker who was making those before me usually managed to seal his welds fluid tight after maybe 10 failed attempts just because of lack of skill, and yet even after that they came back because they run 800psi of pressure of hot oil in them. All the welds were so hot pretty much all the chromium precipitated outside base material rendering it non stainless and just cracked....What a nightmare.

[@fredygump5578]

@@rixogtr Yup! I've seen stainless glowing like a cherry. It's supposed to do that, they say! I worked at a company that was certifying welders for a big project, and they had guys trying to pass the overhead test for weeks (mild steel, 18ga and 10ga)! One guy walked off the job after a month because he had been there so long and still couldn't get it. But they didn't ask him to leave. Then I tried the test in my apprenticeship class and almost nailed it on my first try. It me took maybe 20 min. But instead of welding I was stuck cleaning welds and painting cold galvanizing over the welds....

[@rixogtr]

@@fredygump5578 It's funny and tragic at the same time. I graduated at university with masters in Engineering Technology with specialisation in Welding. During my study I became really passionate about watching tig welding videos so while I was studying I did my welding tickets just for fun to see if I like it. I ended up liking it a lot and got emplyed by an exhaust company and then used my experience and moved to Australia and now I work for this dodgy company and I'm contemplating my life decisions so hard :D

[@fredygump5578]

@@rixogtr Basically the same story here! I love TIG welding and I got pretty good at it since I like doing it. There might be demand for that in Aerospace work, but there isn't any demand for TIG welding where I live. There are a few places hiring, but pay isn't great. So now I fix gas stations. I'm working on starting my own business now so I can do something I enjoy doing.

[@waynep343]

@6:21 the inner tube puller.. how about making a longer puller bolt.. and an offset drilled piece of bar stock to slide down the shank that keeps the flange under one lip of the internal tube..

[@clintdonovan6257]

Would love to see rob and tim mcamis on a podcast

[@compt3ck]

Scribed line has me wondering... So are you going to put the tubing in compression on one side and tension on the other somehow? Hmmmmm. Great videos! Cant wait for the next one.

[@cdnbluesdriver]

So the rear IC is "built" into the front half of the chassis? Cool tuning tool!

[@matthewfredrickmfkrz1934]

Do they make left cutting files? @9:11

[@10sec89]

Love the videos. What happens to the old front half? Does that tubing get utilized for other things? That would make a great conversation piece hanging in the garage.

[@robwendland]

Come on over…. It’s yours!

[@southjerseysound7340]

@@robwendland don't tell me that because I might start sweeping up and asking questions until you give me the boot 😆

[@brentowen9480]

You should dedicate some small vise-grips to the bleed screw on your harbor freight buddy.

[@impavitus]

Question, when he's straightening the pipe with that portapower and the hammer, would it be better to use a little heat from a torch too to avoid work hardening the pipe?

[@9rjharper]

I considered that too. I think the minimal amount that he’s moving the tube would be okay though.

[@mcgregor711]

Do they support the chassis during transit. My friends dad use to blow up a inner tube under the car when he hauled it track to track.

[@9rjharper]

I’m sure they do. With our sprint cars and other racecars we would slide blocks of wood under them so they wouldn’t bounce on the springs and shocks going down the road.

[@9rjharper]

Hmm. You index the tubes. Do you put a bit of twist into them somehow? Also, if you happen to see this comment on this olde video, what filler rod do you use. When I was building sprint cars in Indy, I had friends telling me about how top fuel builders use weird 40 ksa filler to allow flex and all kinds of weird things. They may have been making things up though. That was over a decade ago. Thanks.

[@AWSmith1955]

I guess they leave out those rosette welds so you can extract the tube from those horns when front halving.

[@robwendland]

Actually we will have inspection holes to make sure that the tube is back far enough the front will have rosettes that we will just drill out

[@davelowets]

It's amazing how the front end takes off like a rocket from the remaining fuel pressure in the line when it breaks off. Gotta be a scary thing for the driver. 😳

[@josephplatania5593]

I wish I could stop by to help. I love fabrication

[@brianmchattie1475]

What type of tubing is being used? 4130? docol? etc....

[@9rjharper]

4130 condition N

[@DJ-yp4kc]

I've seen 2 guys welding frames up .... a guy on each side at the same time... Help on Distortion? Interesting Info. Hey i own a Harbor Freight Hoist.....lol

[@robwendland]

They are awesome most the time! 🤣