Dragster chassis types pros and cons

Bill Baer · 08-23-2011, 09:14 AM

Hey I was out in the garage!
Chris is right on target as usual what he didn't metion is the cost difference a four link car is approximately 50% more money than a hard tail and their resale value is also higher.

offroadr · 08-23-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Baer

Hey I was out in the garage!
Chris is right on target as usual what he didn't metion is the cost difference a four link car is approximately 50% more money than a hard tail and their resale value is also higher.

Seems that higher HP (TD vs SC) cars are solid or slip as well?

Chris Williams · 08-23-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offroadr

Seems that higher HP (TD vs SC) cars are solid or slip as well?

Quite the contrary. With more HP, you have an even bigger interest in planting the tires right. I know people running well into the 6's in and over 200 in TD and into the 180s in SC with four links. You don't get back into slip tubes until you get into the fuelers where the components (u-joints) can't handle the HP.

offroadr · 08-23-2011, 11:17 AM

Interesting , I have yet to see a suspended TAD car. My buddies TD is a slip car, so far best of 6.09 231 but its an ex TAD car.

Chris Williams · 08-23-2011, 11:34 AM

Of course you're right about TAD, but you asked about TD/SC. There, at least today, suspension rules. I bet if you went down the top 50 in national points in those two classes you'd find little more than a handful of un-suspended cars. You can do it, and have a lot of fun racing, but hard to be consistent and win a lot.

We just moved from a hardtail to a suspended car, and there is nothing that would take me back. The difference is amazing: the car is a pleasure to drive and vastly more consistent.

offroadr · 08-23-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Williams

Of course you're right about TAD, but you asked about TD/SC. There, at least today, suspension rules. I bet if you went down the top 50 in national points in those two classes you'd find little more than a handful of un-suspended cars. You can do it, and have a lot of fun racing, but hard to be consistent and win a lot.

We just moved from a hardtail to a suspended car, and there is nothing that would take me back. The difference is amazing: the car is a pleasure to drive and vastly more consistent.

You are correct, just good discussion. Thanks for the input.

Bill Baer · 08-23-2011, 01:18 PM

If you have ever seen a TAD shaking the tires you would understand why no one tried a suspended car.(They some times shake hard enough to knock out the driver temporarly!)
The comments that Chris has offered are correct for TD/SC where consistency is king!
But if you study the comp eliminator dragsters they are interested in all out performance and don't use suspensions because of the weight they also use the smallest rear tire possible to reduce rotating weight and are willing to give up some consistency for all out performance.
Since their class are weight per CI they try to get to the class minimum which is several hundred pounds less that your typical 1800-2000# S/C dragster.

don R · 10-06-2011, 11:39 PM

There are combinations of what was listed above also, and the triangulated 4 link he mentioned is sometimes referred to as a swing arm and is also made with two shocks.

08-23-2011, 09:14 AM	#1
Bill Baer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nothern IL Posts: 596 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Dragster chassis types pros and cons Hey I was out in the garage! Chris is right on target as usual what he didn't metion is the cost difference a four link car is approximately 50% more money than a hard tail and their resale value is also higher. __________________ Bill Baer 3391 SC, 339B SC, QR

08-23-2011, 11:17 AM	#4
offroadr Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Central IL Posts: 80 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Dragster chassis types pros and cons Interesting , I have yet to see a suspended TAD car. My buddies TD is a slip car, so far best of 6.09 231 but its an ex TAD car.

08-23-2011, 11:34 AM	#5
Chris Williams Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 401 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Dragster chassis types pros and cons Of course you're right about TAD, but you asked about TD/SC. There, at least today, suspension rules. I bet if you went down the top 50 in national points in those two classes you'd find little more than a handful of un-suspended cars. You can do it, and have a lot of fun racing, but hard to be consistent and win a lot. We just moved from a hardtail to a suspended car, and there is nothing that would take me back. The difference is amazing: the car is a pleasure to drive and vastly more consistent. __________________ Chris Williams 6304 SC, TD, ET

08-23-2011, 01:18 PM	#7
Bill Baer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nothern IL Posts: 596 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Dragster chassis types pros and cons If you have ever seen a TAD shaking the tires you would understand why no one tried a suspended car.(They some times shake hard enough to knock out the driver temporarly!) The comments that Chris has offered are correct for TD/SC where consistency is king! But if you study the comp eliminator dragsters they are interested in all out performance and don't use suspensions because of the weight they also use the smallest rear tire possible to reduce rotating weight and are willing to give up some consistency for all out performance. Since their class are weight per CI they try to get to the class minimum which is several hundred pounds less that your typical 1800-2000# S/C dragster. __________________ Bill Baer 3391 SC, 339B SC, QR

10-06-2011, 11:39 PM	#8
don R Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 109 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Dragster chassis types pros and cons There are combinations of what was listed above also, and the triangulated 4 link he mentioned is sometimes referred to as a swing arm and is also made with two shocks.