Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-22-2020, 06:57 PM   #1
flatjack9
Senior Member
 
flatjack9's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oshkosh, Wi
Posts: 4,516
Default Took the 39 to the drag strip

Went to a car show today and they were having nostalgia drags. Ran the 39 with a best et of 18.55 at 72.4 mph. Calculated horsepower form these numbers and came up with about 90 hp at the rear wheels or about 106 at the flywheel. Ouch! On the bright side, I cut a .12 reaction time on my last run. I did have a ball. Haven't been a dragstrip in over 40 years.

Last edited by flatjack9; 08-22-2020 at 08:20 PM.
flatjack9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2020, 07:02 PM   #2
Joe Immler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Massillon, Ohio
Posts: 783
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

COOL. Always love to watch the drags. Glad you had a great time.
Joe Immler is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 08-22-2020, 07:21 PM   #3
RKS.PA
Senior Member
 
RKS.PA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Marana, AZ
Posts: 1,192
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Careful, Jack, you might get the bug to start "tweaking" the '39!
RKS.PA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2020, 07:24 PM   #4
flatjack9
Senior Member
 
flatjack9's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oshkosh, Wi
Posts: 4,516
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by RKS.PA View Post
Careful, Jack, you might get the bug to start "tweaking" the '39!
Did cross my mind. It is 276 cubes with a 4 barrel.
flatjack9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2020, 11:06 PM   #5
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,259
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

"Ouch" is right. I would think that your car would be in the 16's. In 1961, we ran a '36 Ford coupe with a junkyard '41 Merc with "heads 'n carbs" and ran 16.44. This was at Minnesota Dragways, which was an NHRA sanctioned strip back in those days. The guys with stock flatheads ran in the 19's.
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 02:07 AM   #6
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
flatjack9 is the kind of guy that likely 'maintains' his car fairly well. This "episode" of Jack's should prove that it is possible to kind of 'lean-on' these old drive trains, IF ya KNOW what you're doing with a little 'finesse' and don't just 'HAMMER" on it stupidly with abandon. My God, I probably haven't seen a flathead go down a drag strip since about 1968 or '69. Jack....did they have you running something like G/Gas? DD
__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 07:15 AM   #7
JWL
Member Emeritus
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fitzgerald, Georgia
Posts: 2,204
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

I think Jack's E.T. is about right. I ran our tow car with a 286 engine a few times back in the early 1960's. It is a 1946 Merc 4 door with many spare parts and tools for the Dragster on board. My times were in the high 19's and low 20's. 4.44 rear gear and Columbia.
JWL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 09:20 AM   #8
flat 39
Member
 
flat 39's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Clermont FL
Posts: 99
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

IMG_0833.jpg
My '39 on the drag strip.
It faster than a VW.
flat 39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 09:58 AM   #9
flatjack9
Senior Member
 
flatjack9's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oshkosh, Wi
Posts: 4,516
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN View Post
flatjack9 is the kind of guy that likely 'maintains' his car fairly well. This "episode" of Jack's should prove that it is possible to kind of 'lean-on' these old drive trains, IF ya KNOW what you're doing with a little 'finesse' and don't just 'HAMMER" on it stupidly with abandon. My God, I probably haven't seen a flathead go down a drag strip since about 1968 or '69. Jack....did they have you running something like G/Gas? DD
Probably something like ?/Gas. Just grudge racing. I did beat my pal with a flattie in his Model A. I did have a little traction problem off the line and 2nd gear got rubber. Went through the traps at around 3500 rpm. Running a 3.70 Bronco rear. Did 11.80 in the 1/8th.
flatjack9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 10:09 AM   #10
TitusDH
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Posts: 26
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by flat 39 View Post
Attachment 439867
My '39 on the drag strip.
It faster than a VW.
It should. A stock 1970‘s VW 1300 is rated 34 to 50 HP
TitusDH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 10:23 AM   #11
Bored&Stroked
Senior Member
 
Bored&Stroked's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 5,009
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

When I ran my '34 more-door Sedan as a 16 year old at the 'Antique Nationals', with a new 286 cube flathead (first flathead I built), I ran consistent 15.21s, 15.22s with a 4.11 rear. In retrospect, I guess that wasn't too bad of a time for a big-fat sedan on 3 carbs and a kid's first drag race . . .

Somehow I managed to win my class/bracket - which was quite a thrill for a rookie. I think I was the only 'kid' with a car . . . most the guys were decades older than I was. Most of the people I met were very supportive, though a couple of the guys I beat were really pissed that a snot-nosed kid somehow beat them - which I thought was pretty funny at the time.

My mentor was Joe Reath . . . he came by in his big blue Lincoln, just to see how I did. What a great guy ole' Joe was to me . . . treated me like family, not as a 'customer'.

34FirstYearAntiqueNates5 copy.jpg

34FirstYearAntiqueNates6 copy.jpg

34FirstYearAntiqueNates3 copy.jpg

Hays003.jpg

Hays_2.jpg

IMG_0476.jpg

Last edited by Bored&Stroked; 08-23-2020 at 10:54 AM.
Bored&Stroked is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 11:15 AM   #12
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by flatjack9 View Post
Probably something like ?/Gas. Just grudge racing. I did beat my pal with a flattie in his Model A. I did have a little traction problem off the line and 2nd gear got rubber. Went through the traps at around 3500 rpm. Running a 3.70 Bronco rear. Did 11.80 in the 1/8th.

I forgot! Seems like it's coming back to me now...you have one of those RTS 3-speed + O/D transmissions, don't you? If so, which 1st gear ratio is in yours? DD
__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 11:21 AM   #13
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked View Post
When I ran my '34 more-door Sedan as a 16 year old at the 'Antique Nationals', with a new 286 cube flathead (first flathead I built), I ran consistent 15.21s, 15.22s with a 4.11 rear. In retrospect, I guess that wasn't too bad of a time for a big-fat sedan on 3 carbs and a kid's first drag race . . .
Memories of the old days!
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 01:11 PM   #14
flatjack9
Senior Member
 
flatjack9's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oshkosh, Wi
Posts: 4,516
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN View Post
I forgot! Seems like it's coming back to me now...you have one of those RTS 3-speed + O/D transmissions, don't you? If so, which 1st gear ratio is in yours? DD
3.25 first gear
flatjack9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 01:54 PM   #15
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

3.25 1st gear with a 3.70 rear axle shouldn't be too bad off the line.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 02:03 PM   #16
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,924
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by flatjack9 View Post
3.25 first gear
__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 02:08 PM   #17
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,924
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

[QUOTE=Bored&Stroked;1923188]When I ran my '34 more-door Sedan as a 16 year old at the 'Antique Nationals', with a new 286 cube flathead (first flathead I built), I ran consistent 15.21s, 15.22s with a 4.11 rear. In retrospect, I guess that wasn't too bad of a time for a big-fat sedan on 3 carbs and a kid's first drag race . . .






__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 02:10 PM   #18
flat 39
Member
 
flat 39's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Clermont FL
Posts: 99
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Quote:
Originally Posted by flat 39 View Post
Attachment 439867
My '39 on the drag strip.
It faster than a VW.
I found my old time slip.11.34 @ 61 MPH in the 1/8 mile.
265 cubic , 2 Holley 94, schnider f260 cam, EAB heads, T-5 Trans, 3.5 gear.

according to the drag strip calculator it should be about 120-130 HP.
flat 39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 06:55 PM   #19
34fordy
Senior Member
 
34fordy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Fort dodge, Iowa
Posts: 814
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

[QUOTE=Bored&Stroked;1923188]When I ran my '34 more-door Sedan as a 16 year old at the 'Antique Nationals', with a new 286 cube flathead (first flathead I built), I ran consistent 15.21s, 15.22s with a 4.11 rear.

I never saw a flathead run that well around Iowa, but I never saw one without the rear door handles either. Musta made a difference! LOL
34fordy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2020, 07:44 PM   #20
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Took the 39 to the drag strip

Weight is a big issue, there is a lot of weight difference between a full stock body and one that is stripped down. Something like a seat is heavy!
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:00 AM.