Dick Harrell drag car (new thread)

[davenkc]

Tom
I will give this a shot. The first thing you need to do is verify that the rear end is square to the chassis in its mounting this is a must. If I know Hardy like I think I do there is a centerline scribed somewhere, probably on the bottom that you can work from.You can adjust the trailing arms to make this happen. Please tell me you replaced all those hiem joints if not now is the time. With that done the rear end and centerline will be your reference. Now to the front end, I am not certain your car was offset w/b but it is a very good possibility.There may be a slight difference in the length of the front end radius rods.again check all those hiem joints, very important! Using your rear end as a reference adjust the front end to bring it into line with your preferences either square or offset somewhat. Given what the destiny of your car most likely wil be square or very close will suffice.
As far as a startup tune up goes I would suggest you contact menmyfcs for a safe ballpark tune up. He as you know is one of the foremost nitro/tuner/crew chief who really does know his engines and is vastly more up to date than me. I would only suggest for you in the event you actually make maybe a half pass with it, I am sure you have no intention of a b**** out run with it, to keep the timeing set NO more than 23 degrees (static with no advance capabilities (ie) locked out mag) and NOT more than 55% nitro.
An iron block & head chevy although likes more than that it is very likely to have a short life (ie crack cyl wall& blown out combustion chambers) Aluminum blocks and heads of today are far better than the old castings and will take MUCH more. Reminds, me it would seem we would get new cyl heads from Mondello very often. Charlie loved to "tip the can" the old 10 10 &10 (old racer jargon) meanind 10% on the blower,10 degrees more lead and 10% more nitro.

On another subject I believe we have thrashed the subject of Dick's 68 funny car enough, I plan to post version of the past/present of the 67 car tomorrow sometime with pics. The much talked about 69 car I have many pic of I am going to get a couple of together and post that next week.
Thanks to you for the fine welcome to this forum.
You can't imagine how bad I want to see my old friend...
your car again. Best of luck hope I helped you even if only a little bit.
Dave

[sYc]

Dave, Great, I thought all of the radius rods were the same length. Back to the drawing board. As of yet, we have not replaced the joints, but will once we do the final assembly. Engine wise, we are set up to run alcohol, not nitro.

As per runnning the car, a lot depends on where it ends up and who has it. I have had several interesting offers, including a big time museum, someone wanting to put it on the Nostalgia FC circuit and one just wanting it to display it at numerous shows and race events. If I do keep it, I do not intend to race it, but would like to see it do a burnout or two. At this time, I do not anticipate the car being sold, mostly because of sentimental reasons and what I have associated with the car. Original DH t-shirt and patch, check made out to Ed Pink racing from DH Racing, signed by Dick, and my most cherished momento, a DH business card, removed from the billfold Dick had in his pocket at the time of death. Holding that billfold sent chills down my spine. I am sure you know where the items came from. That person is close to both of us.

Maybe someday there can be a reunion of known Harrell and Gibb/Harrell race cars. Dick's '67, '68 and '69 FCs, ZL-1 #1, Kim's '70 Gibb Camaro and Lil Hoss. The ulitimate tribute to Dick and Fred.

[davenkc]

Tom
Please consider keeping that car as I am confident you will take it to places it can be seen by the many fans of Dick.
There are more of them than most of us can imagine.

On the car note I said there MAY be a difference in those rods maybe not. measure and see if there is a difference,
it may be slight as to where the front shock mounts are located from say.. the very front of the top chassis tube back to the mount. If they are square chances are car is/was setup to be square and procede accordingly.
Engine wise ok on alky safer fuel but there is no other sound like a chevy on nitro... even a small % (25or30) makes a unforgettable sound. Best luck.

I have made several posts concerning this car and mentioning the different paint configurations and failed to post pics to document them I am goint to attach them to this message. one the red/black,all red and the tri color
last config.

Again best to you
Dave

[davenkc]

second pic is all red against Limefire (Clare Sanders)

[davenkc]

Last is the tri color it that is my personal fav
This was taken at NY National I dont know by who.
BTW if anyone wishes to claim credit for any pic I might post I will be glad to aknowledge that. credit where it is due. This not a really good pic sorry

[sYc]

Dave; thanks for the tips. I can see that Mo and I have our work cut out for us, just getting the car square. We did a short walk around the car this evening, and both the front and rear ends are not square with the chassis or each other. I guess next time we will need to do more then just eyeball everything. Looks like the first pass needs to be in a big, wide open area. I would suggest standing behind the car, way behind. Tom

[davenkc]

Tom and all
To you first Tom what you describe is not unexpected by me as always with any restoration the attention to detail is the primary consideration. With a funny car maybe paramount is a better word. I know you guys will do the best you can remember do not hesitate to ask if you are not sure. There are many who will help. You know who I mean.

There is another car of Dick's that is under restoration at this time it is his 67. Thought I might share with you what I know of it's past and present.
The 67 was the second of 2 like it built by Don Hardy. Kelly Chadwick's being first. Actually Dick ran it in early 67 before his was finished to honor a race date. This is about his not kelly's so...
The history of this car is well documented. It was built from a new "rear clip" of a real camaro (new never a completed car) with an extended fiberglass front end,glass doors ,trunk lid. Chassis is rectangular tubing ant the normal for the era roll cage. w/b is 115 inches with the rear wheel opening moved up approx 8 in and the front end was approx 12 in extended. It first saw service as an injected only (on nitro) and its many antics (giant wheelies) have been featured many times in/on many publications. I have attached a photo taken early at Green Valley raceway against Mike Burkhart in a similar car.Sorry it is b&w more to follow
Dave

[davenkc]

Cont-
The 67 car was equipped with a blower about I stress about mid year minor chassis mods were made at this time (ie) engine set back a few gussets...the car ran the rest of the season this way and was very sucessful winning an amazing percentage of its match races. In this time this was the bread and butter of the touring funny car.
Attched is a well known pic of the car w/ blower at Orange County Raceway. more....

[davenkc]

cont...
After the season and when the new car (the one Tom Clary has now) was ready to go the 67 was conditionally sold to a party who shall not named, My term used here will be obvious in a min. The car was taken to AMT (the model people) and repainted by them. The reason was as I understand they were going to make a model in it's image but that never happened.Reason being Dick was never paid for the car and he repossed it.When it came back to the shop I personally thought it was beautiful (attached pic)
We (shop) built a new engine and put it back in service. The plan was to use it as a "fill in" car for match racing when the other car was busy elsewhere. Remember this car was somewhat heaver than the all glass body fliptop cars.
(app 2400 lbs) but was still competitve. more

[Salvatore]

Tom, I think a reunion of those cars that made history would be a great idea! I grew up looking at those cars in the magazines and going to the Super Stock nationals at York US30 and Atco, NJ. Maybe the York Super Stock Reunion would be a great place. As for a driver to do some burnouts, I know a good guy that has a double B funny car license. Very reliable and knowledgable. For any chassis mods you need: S+W chassis in Spring City, Pa. or Ed Quay Race Cars. All these people are less than an hour from Maple Grove Dragway, Pa. Keep up the good work. I appreciate all the commitment to Nostalgia racing and our muscle car hobby. Thanks, Sam