After World War II, hot rodders raced the dry lakes of California to set new land speed records. War surplus drop tanks were plentiful and aerodynamically neutral, and it didn't take long to make one into a car, dubbed a lakester. According to GM historians, Bill Burke of the So-Cal Speed Shop first attempted to convert a 168-gallon P51 Mustang belly tank, before switching to the larger 305-gallon P38 Lightning tank. Even now, lakesters compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
In 1960 Dick Beith became the first man to set a land speed record in a VW. In 1961 he went back to Bonneville and broke the 100MPH mark with his modified dual carb VW motor. His 1963 Pepco super charged 36hp lakester was able to pull 130MPH!
Drop tank racing
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- ACVWSA Junkie
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Drop tank racing
- retrovan
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Re: Drop tank racing
Wonder what he did to the gearbox and final drive to get that much speed from a VW........??
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
- retrovan
- Donor
- Posts: 8709
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- What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
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Re: Drop tank racing
You Right, Maybe Bugger will tell us what he done............Please......DR WATSON wrote:He took it to Bugger
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
- fig
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Re: Drop tank racing
Fascinating! Thanks for posting Pine!
fig
Kaapse Kombi Kult
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Kaapse Kombi Kult
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right." -- Henry Ford
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Re: Drop tank racing
Ok Back in the 60`s the longest Diff Ratio was a 4.125(33and 8 teeth on Ring and pinion)
Below is the formula to work things out
Formula is D X Pie X N X 0.06 / i D x 3.14 x N x 0.06 / i
D= Tyre Diameter top to bottom eg (62cm/100=0.62mm)
Pie = 3.141
N= RPM
0.06= convert RPM to Km/h
i = Gear ratio x Diff Ratio
RPM D 3.141 0.06 Diff ratio Gear ratio Km/h
ACSF Early 1600 6000 0.58 3.141 0.06 4.125 0.88 180.6723967
Below is the formula to work things out
Formula is D X Pie X N X 0.06 / i D x 3.14 x N x 0.06 / i
D= Tyre Diameter top to bottom eg (62cm/100=0.62mm)
Pie = 3.141
N= RPM
0.06= convert RPM to Km/h
i = Gear ratio x Diff Ratio
RPM D 3.141 0.06 Diff ratio Gear ratio Km/h
ACSF Early 1600 6000 0.58 3.141 0.06 4.125 0.88 180.6723967
- jolas
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Re: Drop tank racing
yeah I have a spare one for you, but you must arrange collection karmakomakarmakoma wrote:Now that is cool.
Anyone have a spare drop tank for me?
by fig » Mar 26, 2018
Sambas in South Africa are good for only 2 things: showing off and sunburn.
Sambas in South Africa are good for only 2 things: showing off and sunburn.
- Klaus
- Carburettor
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Re: Drop tank racing
Awesome
I've always known them as belly tank cars. Love the famous So-Cal Speed shop car.
I've always known them as belly tank cars. Love the famous So-Cal Speed shop car.
Camping is cheaper than therapy.
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"Wanna sell it" "Yeah, but there's a national shortage on 'for sale' signs."
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