High school project

[techteacher]

I`m new to the board and wanted to throw something out to you guys. I teach auto tech at Laguna Hills HS - Orange County Ca. and was hoping someday to actually build a LSR car and run it. It looks like our classes (5) and myself may have the opportunity to do this. There is a foundation that is called collectors foundation and they award grants to schools, museums, etc to keep the art of restoration for cars and boats available to our younger generation. As an autoshop teacher I see this knowledge slipping away along with the programs themselves. We`ve lost 2 programs in our district already in the last 2 years. Our program is strong and I am very lucky that my administration knows the value of career technical education. BTW I am an ROP teacher, spent 30 years in the heavy equipment industry and was given the opportunity to do this. Anyway, I spoke to the director of the foundation and he really likes our idea of a LSR car. What I need to do is try and find an older car that has been at one time run competively but now has been sitting for some time but could be brought back to life to see the salt again. I have restored cars and motorcycles in the past and my classes currently have a 1969.5 Maverick that they built as a street rod. We`ll be showing it at the All Ford Show at Knott`s Berry Farm on the 22nd. I haven`t received the grant, there is a process and I have no guarantee of getting it but it looks good on paper. I need your help! Does anyone know of an older car that would fit our needs? Sorry for the long post but I feel this is a win win situation, not only for the kids but the LSR community as well. Please PM me or email me if can help us. Thanks!       

[Tman]

Watch the classifieds here. Rich Fox moved his car recenlty and it would have been PERFECT for your program. There is a nice roadster there now as well.

[dw230]

Does this car need to be a donation or will you have funding for a purchase?

DW

[techteacher]

Good question - we would love a donation, they are tax deductable and the owner determines the value (within reason) I do have a `64 Galaxie 4dr Custom 500 that were cleaning up, brakes, tune, etc. Has a brand new interior and the new "old" distrest look. Arizona car with the good kind of surface rust. Has a lot of character - 289, 4sp on the floor t10. Could be sold or traded. If we do get the grant, depending on the amount, could be put towards purchase. I`m not looking to go 200mph, the goal is the restoration and putting it on the salt. We are only an hour away from El Mirage so getting the car dialed would be easier. A 100-150mph car would be realistic. Our shop is outfitted very well with fabrication capabilities. Anyone in the area is more than welcome to come by. Heck, bring your car down and show it off. I like to get guest speakers to come in. We`ve had some really good ones visit us. Mark Engle (Jacks son) came in and gave us an awesome history lesson including stories of Jack at El Mirage. Brought in his original time plaque from the 40`s.     

[techteacher]

History is a big part of this also - having the kids research the car, hopefully find or get the original owner involved and finding any info possible on the car. My program has at risk students, special ed, kids with different types of learning dissabilities, EL (english learners). A lot of diversity. These are the kids who need these programs and tend to do well in a hands on enviroment.       

[Seldom Seen Slim]

You might want to check out this thread:  http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,9292.0.html

Michael Werner up in Washington (state) is a high school teacher, and one of his classes is building/has already built a car for the Shell Ecomarathon - and the car ran last year at World of Speed.  It's a build from the ground up - not necessarily perzackly what you're seeking, but he might have information that'll make your journey a bit easier.

[NathanStewart]

FWIW I'm a SCTA tech inspector and I live in San Juan Capistrano.  I'd be more than happy to make an appearance (should I be invited) plus I'm not an old fart like most these guys (no offense but true) so it might be worth while to have someone who's a little closer to their age be involved.  Plus I'm close by and I can give hands-on assistance/guidance with any kind of tech stuff.

[Dynoroom]

Whew Nathan, A hair parting (for those that still have some) shot! I thought I was one of the young ones......... guess that was ~35 years ago....Carry on....... kiddo....  :-P

[NathanStewart]

It's all in fun.  I'm just glad you guys have a sense of humor. 

[McRat]

BLASPHEMY ALERT!!!   


Common Rail Diesel Streamliner (small displacement).  Make your own fuel.  Program your engine with a computer.  Do some aero testing in a cheapo self-made wind tunnel.  3D model it.

21st Century - just like real life.  The records are low enough to keep costs down.

Then in a couple years, make it a hybrid.  Then an electric.  Then compressed gas recovery.

Hate to say it, but 18436572 is just another random number in today's automotive world.  Points are used for grading, not saturating a single coil ignition.  

A 32 Ford is cool, but isn't what the next generation needs to know about hotrodding.

[techteacher]

Thanks Nathan, I`ll take you up on that offer. We need to start somewhere and having a tech guy is a great start. I`ll PM you and we can work out the details. Maybe in a couple weeks? Whatever is best for you. BTW,
I am an old fart!!

[hotrod]

You could also take a salvage wreck and turn it into a 130 or 150 mph club car.

This would give them the opportunity to do all the common repairs / restoration tasks without spending an arm and a leg on speed parts.
A good opportunity to do the tuning and such with an essentially streetable car.

Run the car as a 130 club car the first year, run it as a 150 club car the second year, then go into the production classes on year 3.
Even something as small as a honda 600 like "Evil Tweety" could be a hoot for the kids to build. It took years for Evil Tweety to break 100 mph, give the kids a goal try to build a car that will give Evil tweety a run for its money, and never go over  110 mph.

You should have heard the cheers from all assembled when Evil Tweety finally cracked 100 mph. The LSR community have just as much respect for a builder that squeezes the last ounce of performance out of less than a liter of displacement as we do the 400 mph cars. Show them this years Hot Rod Magazine and their efforts to make something out of a bit of bad luck with a can do attitude.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2L-WNxGIas

Larry

[Stan Back]

Kinda kool to be waiting in the push truck for your racer to get there.

Is there a rule that you can't push past the one?

[dw230]

When Pam was driving the WGB truck the rule was that the truck could not pass her while she was on course.

DW

[hotrod]

You might want to talk to the guys over at the Redondo Beach PD, since they are not far from you and they run a Bonneville car.

http://www.rbpdinpursuit.com/category/magazine-articles/

Larry