Reinventing my TR6

[tr6turbo]

This weekend I got the engine, rear end and all suspension mounted back on the frame for a trial fit.  I now need to make new front fuel lines and brake lines since the car is two inches longer.

[rficalora]

Great progress Dale.

[alana]

Can I ask why 2" longer? It seems like a ton of work for what superficially seems like a very small wheelbase change.

[74ls1tr6]

My guess for 2" longer would be for the strip.

[alana]

Well yes, I'd guessed that
My question was more along the lines of "Since it's so much work, why go with ONLY two inches".

[tr6turbo]

The two inches is required to meet the 90 inch min requirement for drag racing.

[MGBV8]

Since you're going to all that trouble for two inches, ya might as well make it two inches wider on each side, too!  

[tr6turbo]

Carl,   There is alimit as to how much abuse I want to put myself through.  The rules require a minimum wheel base of 90 inches.  I was called on it once.  Making the car 2 inches wider gives you more frontal area which would slow you down.  The other reason for doing it is the challenge and being able to say I did it.  It will be an even more unique car then it was.

[MGBV8]

Frontal area? Okay, just widen the track width & add flares. Straight line action is a blast, but that is just the in between" stuff.  I'm just trying to look out for you & The Dragon that beckons.  

[alana]

You've all seen Len Renkenberger's car, right? He put about 11" and a back seat in it back in the 80s so he could drive the kids around...







These images are from the 2007 TRials in Hershey.

[MGBV8]

Very sharp. I like it!

[MGBV8]

How goes it, Dale?

[tr6turbo]

Its ready to go to the race car shop to have the roll cage installed.  It will be getting a 10 point cage.  Four for the basic cage, two side bars for side impact, two going back behind the rear axle and two going forward to the front suppension cross member.  What do you think if I let the fenders off and make a Rat Rod out of it?

[74ls1tr6]

"Wow"

Dale you have not wasted any time! I'm impressed at how fast and resourceful you are Dale!

"Awesome"  Rat ummmm, I vote for fenders.

[MGBV8]

"What do you think if I let the fenders off and make a Rat Rod out of it? "

Yeah, big block Chevy with a blower.....it'd be awesome!    

[rficalora]

Time to get all that work done and still mow the grass... don't let my wife see this thread!!

[tr6turbo]

Carl,   It would at least have to be a big block FORD.  No Chevys here.

[tr6turbo]

Rob,  I make my wife mow he grass.

[tr6turbo]

I got the car back from the chassis shop yesterday.  The roll cage turned out well just some details that need to be cleaned up.  Still a lot of work ahead of me.

[MGBV8]

Lookin' good, Dale!

[TR6-6SPD]

Hi Dale,
Any updates to share with us?
You do have heat in your garage don't you?
Ken

[MGBV8]

Ken beat me to it. I was just fixing to ask how it was going with "Stretchhh".    ;-)

[tr6turbo]

I have been working on a lot of detail that does not make much for photos.  Every place the cage passes through the floor and firewall has to be closed up with flashing.  That is complete now.  I painted the portion of the cage that is in the cab.  Put the fuel tank back in.  Started on the firewall getting it ready to paint.  Found a left side fender and lengthened it 2 inches.  Cut my fiberglass hood to get ready to lengthen 2 inches.  Notched out the dash panel to clear the roll cage uprights.

Since I lengthened the car I will not be using the original inner fenders so I need something to support the front valance panel and bumper.  The pictures show the structure I fabricated to do that.  The fenders are supported by the valance panel and the short extension coming forward off of the firewall.  I have designed this so that I can remove the fenders, valance panel, hood, and bumper as one unit by removing a limited number of very accessible fasteners.  Progress has been slow this month but I hope to step it up soon.

[TR6-6SPD]

Dale,
Good engineering there.
Regarding the cage, did you have to remove the windshield with frame in order the complete the painting of it and what specs tubing was used for that cage? All the same size tubing?
Ken

[tr6turbo]

Ken,   Yes I did remove the windshield frame.  Painting would have been a problem if I didn't.  I used DOM tubing.  I wanted to use chrome moly but it was a lot more money then I realized.  It would have saved about 20 pounds.

dale