Vintage Dragster Build - Mocking up the Headers

[@davidhyson9910]

Sometimes, the tail wags the dog. The body looks right, and I agree with other posters that the swept back look is cool. Obviously faster too LOL.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@davidhyson9910 I’ve never heard that term, but I absolutely love it. Very true and thank you for the kind words.

[@thegallahers1887]

i kinda like the swept back look 😎

[@ThisOldHotrod]

While editing the video and watching as I was laying out the headers I started wondering should I have swept them up instead of down?

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

That is looking AWESOME and like you said, the body is getting used and that is good. I know the headers aren't what you wanted but it looks DAM GOOD 😮😮😮

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I’m bringing you guys along for all of it. Even my thoughts at times. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. (I’m constantly running everything on this build through my brain) every detail, making sure I build the best car/dragster I can build. I question myself always… that being said. I’m very happy w them and glad I swept them back, or was forced to. 😁👍🏼

[@Biokemist-o3k]

The body looks great!! another awesome video Mike!!1..Thanks for inviting us into your shop..-John

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@Biokemist-o3k thanks John.

[@Biokemist-o3k]

@@ThisOldHotrod Absolutely my friend..I hope to meet you and see this thing in person when it is done..I am in Pa but I am sure you are going to enter this in some competitions...Thank you for explaining the siamese port..I always wondered why they had less then 4 pipes on the one side especially in the flathead engines....

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I’m hoping to make it down to one of EJ Kowalskis events in 2025.

[@johnkranz4004]

Very KOOL Mike I think they look great pointing a little bit to the back

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@johnkranz4004 thanks John

[@stephenhenion8304]

Hey Mike..You are Kicking Some Ass on this build...Don't apologize to anyone in the Model A Community....I have really been following all the progress so far.... can't wait till you fire up that Olds Motor!!

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thanks !!! I appreciate it. This certainly isn’t a preservation KZbin channel. 😎👍🏼

[@nboldrini]

I was hotroddin' in Palo Alto back in 68 and the oldsmobile Rocket was the hot engine at the time. We were putting them in chevies and fords.

[@sdnkjohnson]

Mike, Roll cage came out sweet, nice fab work. Safety first, we want you around for future builds.Great video as always.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thank you. I know. I need to stick around. I appreciate all the support from everyone. Been a huge help and motivator for me and this build. I wasn’t sure how things were going to go.

[@hotrodmyk]

hey Mike, the headers swept back look great. They've got the dragster look for sure. The car is coming along great.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@hotrodmyk thank you so much. Really great response from them. I’m wondering if I should have turned them up? Instead of down. I am guilty of overthinking everything.

[@alanstryker7355]

Roll cage look great! I guess the doors will be welded shut because of the headers.It's looking oldschool more every day.Great Work!

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@alanstryker7355 I appreciate that. My plan is to make the doors removable so if I ever need to just get to the motor, I can by removing the doors. I’m hoping the holes are large enough to clear the bells on the header ends. But I haven’t got that far yet. I’m still overthinking a plan. 😁🤙🏼

[@douglasbarnhart3324]

Looking awesome Mike!! Thanks for the video.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@douglasbarnhart3324 thank you for following along.

[@johnjackett3138]

I can hardly wait until I see You ripping down the track in this awesome machine

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Same here ! I can’t wait either.

[@lynngraham1740]

Man, I am really enjoying this build. I love the creative process.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@lynngraham1740 I appreciate that. Thank you very much.

[@timothynewkirk2654]

Lovin' this Dragster ! You're Zoomin' right along ! ...Newk from Kentucky

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thank you

[@davidpark9727]

Happy to see you back! Also good to see you have picked up some advertising !

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@davidpark9727 not sure I’ve got any advertising. If I do, I don’t know anything about it. 😁👍🏼

[@OGTtom]

Really coming together , going to be awesome when finished , really enjoy your videos

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thank you, I appreciate that.

[@bryanmulligan5319]

Absolutely loving this build. I think the roll bar captures the perfect 50's/60's sling shot look and I'm digging the way it would look without the body. I think you could pull off both styles if you wanted to.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thank you so much. That’s the plan. 😎👍🏼

[@glennnickerson8438]

I think you're in a good spot Mike--you got one impressive shop! Oh yeah, the ride is looking good too!😎

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I appreciate that. Thank you. I’ve got to figure out the damn heat. Something is going on w my furnace. The propane tank deal is getting old

[@glennnickerson8438]

@ThisOldHotrod I got a 10×12 garage with no heat. I got a propane heater but the coupe takes up all the room and I don't want to go boom. Only 15 weeks til spring!😆

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@glennnickerson8438 hahah yes. I’m in a good spot.

[@wow_cars]

I think the headers look much better swept back. I always thought straight zoomies look cheap. Just my $.02. Build is looking great. Keep it up.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thank you 😎👍🏼. You get a plan in your head that something forced you to change it … it’s tough to accept it sometimes. I do like them swept back. I am questioning if I should have ran the ends uphill instead of down. Not sure.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

👍👍

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thanks TP 😎🤙🏼

[@brianvandemortel6710]

Great work its going to look pretty good sucks it wouldn’t work out look forward to to the next video

[@ThisOldHotrod]

It worked out great in the end. I’m happy with them so far. Looking forward to adding the bells on to them once the rear of the body is narrowed and everything is set in its place

[@nboldrini]

I prefer the way you did it. the pipes look nice angled back.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thank you. I’m glad I ended up doing them that way as well. Even though it wasn’t the original plan

[@jamoshotrod]

I really like the look

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@jamoshotrod thanks. Me too.

[@punkinsgarageandpaint8299]

This is so cool.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

Thanks 😎🤙🏼

[@garygoetz8624]

Mad fabrication - storming bonneville esp 5 - interesting way of running headers thru body panels

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@garygoetz8624 oh is that luckys car ? I love that coupe. So amazing.

[@garygoetz8624]

@@ThisOldHotrodyes it’s lucky - many episodes from start to finisf

[@garygoetz8624]

Car look ‘n good Brian lohnes video - a phony a giant, and peanuts the story- the story of 3 insane 1960s funny car Last half shows Mustang funny with driver sitting in trunks space driving area 😎

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I’ll have to look into it.

[@cavemangarage]

Love the build Mike..only thing is please go to a 5pt harness..trust me when I say you will be glad you have the sub belt because that's what will actually hold you in the seat god forbid something happens..trust me on that one

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I know. I have one on the shelf for that reason. I like the loo of the older belt for the “period correct look”. But understand the reason for running a 5 point belt

[@cavemangarage]

@ThisOldHotrod i understand completely but safety is 1st concern..God knows anything can happen at anytime

[@cullybilt1932]

If this build offends anyone, they can always stfu and change the channel. This thing is looking cooler every update!

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@cullybilt1932 ha ha ha pretty awesome! Thank you and I completely agree. I think you’re really gonna like the next video where you can really see it come together with a complete body on.

[@philattley9233]

I think the pipes swept would have been a better look anyways Mike Great work

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@philattley9233 thank you. I think you’re right. I’m happy it ended up working out that way.

[@robbh.6505]

Headers are looking great; that center port flange is difficult to fab.! Hope those 4.56 gears are not too low for top end. May have to go w/ 4.11s on 1/4 mile track. 2nd gear starts were the hot set-up in light cars back then. That Ford top loader is quite stout; comparable to the popular Cad-LaSalle -(still have one!). I'm assuming they have vintage classes today for the old front engine rails. Are they exhibition only?

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I’ll be running the car in the 1/8th mile. I’ve been using the calculator online and if I can get the car in around 1700lbs. W/28.5” tall tire w 250-275hp the 4:56 should get me through the traps at 5k rpm. I just need to make sure I have the right cam to allow that to happen I have calculated it w 4:11’s also. It would help my rpm at the top end. But hurt my launch with a 2nd gear start. It remains to be seen. I’ve got a lot to learn w getting it on the track.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I put on 2 vintage drag race events a year. One on Memorial Day weekend in Maine and on in September in New York. I’ll be putting it through the paces… I’m not planning on taking it easy on it. I’m building it to race it and if it breaks , I’ll fix it. 😁👍🏼.

[@kyleforeman4543]

Great tube bending, all lookin period correct, too bad if the A guys, like u Said it's being used an nit setong for another 40+,can't wait it'll that motor hits spark. Later Mike,what's Allie think about it??

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@kyleforeman4543 she likes it but doesn’t like my crazy excessive commitment to the garage. 🤦🏼‍♂️I don’t blame her.

[@lawrenceessard4086]

Hi Mike, you think of using a😊😊😊 windshield

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@lawrenceessard4086 absolutely not. I sold the one that came with it. Be a funny looking drag car with a windshield.

[@r1lark]

Mike, thanks for showing the roll cage work in detail. It's obvious that y'all put a lot of thought into the cage. Do have a question -- do you plan to put some gussets on the roll cage bars, especially on the back side of the main hoop where it attaches to the frame?

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@r1lark thank you. No. I don’t see a need for gussets on the point of contact on the main hoop at the base. All the dragsters and blueprints I’ve seen online from 50’s-70’s they’re no gussets.

[@r1lark]

@@ThisOldHotrod 👍

[@garygoetz8624]

Video - mad fabrication storming esp 5 -shoe

[@stephenhenion8304]

Dangerous Question Here... would longer doors from a Tudor or a 4 dr Sedan give you the length you need for the headers? You could cut them or section them up. I know its extra work... but i thought it might be a solution.. roll with it.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

I’m happy where I’m at. 👍🏼

[@brianvandemortel6710]

Mike are you planning on bringing it to Romulus

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@brianvandemortel6710 Absolutely!! I’m looking forward to that the most

[@RichieCat4223]

You overthink the wheel at times, yes just angle the tubes back. Remember K.I.S.S.

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@@RichieCat4223 I’m putting my time thought and money into this build. I want it to be what I want it to be. Keeping it simple is most times cutting corners and accepting it to be what you don’t want it to be. I always will overthink things. Because I want to happy with my final result. I’ll never apologize for that. I don’t think I’m being stupid either.

[@RichieCat4223]

@@ThisOldHotrod You're not being stupid, I wasn't implying that. I realize you want what you want but sometimes you have to bend the rules a little bit. If you had someone in the shop with you, you could swap ideas. Two heads are better than one at times.

[@stephenhenion8304]

I was just thinking about those doors... I know this is dangerous, but if you had some cut down doors from a sedan or a Tudor. Would they be long enough to get those straight headers. I know it adds more time and expense, but would it work?

[@ThisOldHotrod]

@ it might push it forward. I’m not positive on the dimensions of a sedan door. I’m happy where I’m at. I think out loud on the camera at times. I chose to leave it in so people know my thought process. Sometimes it adds an element of discussion.

[@davidcooke5766]

Saw your coupe for sale on FB marketplace. Is it really for sale, or some scammers?

[@ThisOldHotrod]

It’s for sale. I have it listed