The Race Rod

[RPM Frank]

RPM Dragracing introduces Thom Taylors Race Rod

RPM Dragracing which is currently sponsoring the drive train for the “Genesis Chevelle” project by Keith Chrisswell in Las Vegas Nevada, www.zefhix.com.

has recently embarked upon it's own high profile vehicle ourselves. The car we chose was a Thom Taylor rendering for what he had entitled “The Return of The Race Rod” printed in the Oct’ 04 issue of HR. In contacting Mr. Taylor, he provided us with a little more insight to the background of the design, most notably being that the initial draft was commisioned by David Frieburger of HOT ROD fame and the “546” numbers are which David ran at Bonneville, we decided to keep the numbers in place in honor of the inspiration for the project and more notably what David has done for our industry by giving it the shot in the arm in so desperately needed back then.

Project Features:

1 – Conversion to all wheel drive similar to the Summit Roadster, we have a great deal of experience in this area and regularly sell conversion packages for many types of vehicles .

2 – Mounting the side exhaust tips more flush to the body, there will be electric cutouts to utilize them but they would normally exit hidden through the rear.

3 – The steal window supports would be carried out on all the cars glass (Lexan) this would be done by using ¼ inch panels of Lexan and 1/8 steal supports, the Lexan would be routed to enable the supports to mount flush therefore giving a cleaner look and still enabling us to have roll up windows.

4 – Late model LS6 with a satin finished Magnusen Supercharger. 600 real world and streetable HP is the goal and easily attainable.

5 - RPM Dragracing "Full Race 4L60E" and modified 4472 AWD tranfer case. Paddle or button shifter controls off the steering column.

6 – The interior being likened to the street version of Ford’s original GT-40’s, a liberal use of solid brushed aluminum panels for the dashboard with similar controls. The late model racing seats would also contain the vented buttons as per the original.

7 – Paint for the body would be in the original Henry Ford black and the hand painted numbers would be in semi-gloss, with high gloss for the white background. There will be no chrome anywhere on the vehicle, just brushed panels and polished aluminum components.

Current sponsors that Sponsor this site.

www.hydroboost.com
www.rpmdragracing.com

The project also has it's own site that will be comming soon also www.TheRaceRod.com which currently redirects you to www.rpmdragracing.com , the Race Rod will have it’s own section within RPM's site that acts as it’s own as is currently under construction.

Hope you like what you see, because this will be one hell of a Pro-Touring monster. And yes !!! after the pictures and shows are used up I'm gunna drive the wheels off it. :drive: :lateral: :burnout:

P.S. Check out our post under Group Purchasing and the "Free Dyno Tune"

[XcYZ]

Conversion to all wheel drive

We're going to need A LOT of pictures of that thing, Frank. :thumbsup:

[RPM Frank]

Oh you'll be getting plenty, you better get a bigger server real soon too :D

[67Sally]

Cool. I have had a copy of the Race Rod in my favorites file since I first saw the article in HR.
W.

[Hooligan]

I want one... must start selling organs:willy: :willy: :yes:

[RPM Frank]

I could use a new liver, mine moved out after the abuse of the college years.

[race-rodz]

oh oh oh..... i see a match race.......silverstate...next year?
http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=1120

[RPM Frank]

quote: oh oh oh..... i see a match race.......silverstate...next year?

"Your on", as soon as Hooligan ponies up his liver I'll be ready to go. :willy:

[race-rodz]

its on.... :thumbsup:


now i gotta figure out who to sleep with to get some sponsorship parts.

[Hooligan]

I need a bath tub of ice, a couple of gallons of everclear, a volunteer, and a spoon... I never said I was selling MY organs :eek: :D .

[907rs]

I need a bath tub of ice, a couple of gallons of everclear, a volunteer, and a spoon... I never said I was selling MY organs :eek: :D .

I know you see quite a few patients a day, just take some that they don't need... :D

[RPM Frank]

We want your help. RPM dragracing wants suggestions for some of the features you cant see in the exterior pic's of the car. It's on open book, so from mild to wild, suspension to steering, keep it comming. When the car debut's we will make sure that Later-G and it's members get credit for having had a hand in the project.

Remember, this may be a high profile project but we want features that anyone can access to buy or build, thats what we feel the Pro-Touring movement is all about. In other words "No Billet Widgets Carved From Un-Obtanium".

Cant wait to hear from you ................ :burnout:

[race-rodz]

you want ideas huh, well if i had the budget....this is what i would do.

1: ditch the black paint idea, since you are not running a steel body, buy a glass, do the body mods, build a mold, carbon fiber....... im not talking shiny honda hood c/f, im talking matte finish super light c/f race car stuff. c/f is cheap, finding someone who knows how to lay it is gonna be the hard part.

2: any "billet" parts need to be brushed finish, no polished crap. ploished crap is for street rods.... street rods are for posers.

3: get one of the suspension gurus to design the front knuckles/arms, this way you have the mounting points to work from when you make the blue prints for the full round tube moly frame.

4: while the "guru" is at it, have them figure out the rear. irs based on bullet brrof parts..... overkill is good.

5: engine trans sound good, but.... ditch the elec cut outs/hidden exit tail pipes. the exhaust dump flush with the body in front of the rear tires is perfect.

6: interior panels/floor should all be done from carbon fiber too. beyond the seats/steering wheel/ paddle shifter. the only thing your missing is the digital F1 style guage readout.

7: wheels/tires.... i would be looking into F1 pin drive wheels... i dunno what size tires they run..... but i would try to run same size front and rear.... keeps gear ratios the same...and you can rotate them :D

i have a lot of other detail ideas, but they are goin on my project.... i could tell ya...but i would have to kill ya kinda thing.

now this part is very very very important...... if you commit to building a true race rod....... you gotta forget the cup holders, a/c, power windows...etc
a race rod is 98% race car, 2% hot rod. obviously there is no "right way to do it, but there is always the "wrong" way.

[race-rodz]

opps...guess i should have read that part about anybody being able to buy or build..... oh well..... i did say "if" i had the budget

[RPM Frank]

Jeeeeezuz ......... Dude you gotta lay off the caffine, You typed that and posted faster than I can speak ......... :D

Totally Awesome Ideas though, I would definitely like that stuff for the next one, What would you wrap it in ???

[Derek69SS]

What would you wrap it in ???

'39 Chevy Coupe (http://derek69ss.tripod.com/Car_Art/39_Coupe_2/39_coupe_2.html) :thumbsup:

[RPM Frank]

Great Choice, good looking machine, Ok, Who else, keep the ideas comming. :thumbsup: :morepower

[Huxsol81]

I think that the car should be simple, by that I mean if it doesnt serve a purpose as far as performance leave it on the shelf!! The one thing that would look killer is a dash insert similar to Gulbranson's Camaro, those DSE dashes are the cats-ass with 5" gauges for the speedo and tach just to let the uninformed know you mean business! :unibrow:

Darrell

[race-rodz]

i allready let the cat outa the bag to frank for my next project....... it will be a steel awd 33 chevy 3 window coupe. i allready have the body/doors and the awd set up on pallets sitting behind my shop.

but i allready have the 34 truck, a mustang, and a cobra project, so its gonna be a while before i get to it. i have too many ideas, not enough money or time to act on them.... and my shop is waaaaaaaaay too small.

so i think im just gonna have to win the lotto.


and about the caffine.... i dunno what your talking about.... i only drink like a 12 pack of dew a day. :D

[Hooligan]

I think you should skin it in something like this:

http://www.gibbonfiberglass.com/images/line_art/32-sedan-delivery.gif

- Use single lug racing wheels..

- As for interior I like the raw metal look with all the welds showing... Show off your skilz.

- Big speedo and tach... but instead of just a redline the tach should say OH ****. The speedo should say ridiclious seed for what ever the top speed is.

- Front and rear independent suspensions.

- GPS navigation... or do you want a copilot with a map?

- Valve covers could say "Improbablility engine"

- Brake pedal should say emegancy use only.

[race-rodz]

lmao @ "emergency use only"

[4OfaKind]

If you are doing a racing car, I would agree w/ race rodz and use carbon fiber. It is not hard to get but it may be alittle more expensive; think about it.
So w/ that in mind here are my thoughts:

since you are not going with a steel body, use an all carbon fiber body you could sell limited edition bodies to help offset costs
use real racing wheels w/ just one lug nut like F1 or Cart
go w/ LS7 instead of LS2 (GT Corvette motor)
quick release steering wheel w/ guages built in like F1


Here are some links to help:
http://www.carbonbydesign.com/
http://dragonplate.com/
http://www.fiberset.com/

[Keith]

What the..!?! Everyone here sure has some deep pockets!! C/F is $$$$$$

I like the F1 influence (minus the wheel; it needs a guage cluster on some sort of dash) that is being suggested and as you know from my project I love undertstatement. I would definitely make sure the car is de-blinged. Like was suggested earlier, raw metals, no polish...lots of brush for continuity. Car needs a theme that is employed in every, tiny, detail and I think business/industrial is the way to go. I like the idea of a nice, semi-gloss black for the paint job and also those exhaust ends being oval flared and flush with the sides. I'm sure I'll think of more but those are some of my opinions. :)

[race-rodz]

C/F is cheap...bout $6/yard... im poor and i can afford C/F.... getting it laid up is the expensive part unless you have the know how and tools to do it yourself. i do lots of c/f parts....but i dont think i would personally attemp a complete body.

also one other thing i thought about.... the side exit exhaust in front of the tires is a bad idea........ what happens when ya pop a motor?