Belly Tank Build Diary

[Mike Brown]

Hello All,

I have started a belly tank lakester.  I plan to run the car at the ECTA track in Wilmington Ohio which is close by.  The project started with a P-38 body from Class Glass Performance.  I fabricated a perimeter frame from 2"x3"x1/4" steel tubing (photo attached).  The drive train consists of a LSA crate engine, "shorty" four speed transmission from Jerico and a Winters Xtremeliner quick change rear end. 

Mike Brown

[Glen]

Mike welcome to the forum. Please add the city/state you live in so a local may be able to help you. You are on the riiight  track with the build. Keep a photo diary during the build so we can give you any help.

[Elmo Rodge]

Mike, looks like you've got a good start there. You'll be glad you got the chassis out close to the body.  Tanks have a habit of running out of room very quickly. Wayno

[Rex Schimmer]

Mike,
Looking forward to watching your build. My question is: Are you going to more or less copy ever other P38 tank build (the "classic" build)  with lots of axles and radius rods, steering rods, shock adsorbers, spindles, headers etc all hanging out in the wind or are you planning to try to integrate these into some sort of aerodynamic apendage that will provide the mimimum amount of aero drag? If you go with the "classic" build you are then almost completely dependent on having the "best" engine to be able to go fast. If you go with the "aero" approach then you have a leg up on the majority of the other cars. Aero is pretty much a free speed "enhancer" and the reduction of frontal area x coefficient of drag is equal to a proportional amount of horse power increase, i.e. 25% less drag is equal to  25% more horse power.

One other thing about the P38 tank, I know that the center line flange is sure a nice way to make the body removable but it is pretty ugly when it comes to being "aero". Again, looking forward to your build.

Rex

[Milwaukee Midget]

One other thing about the P38 tank, I know that the center line flange is sure a nice way to make the body removable but it is pretty ugly when it comes to being "aero".

Wayno, are you going to take that lying down?

Oh, yeah, it's the only way you can fit in your tank . . . 

Mike, best of luck with your build.

And Elmo Rodge is correct - packaging is always the headache on tanks.

[WOODY@DDLLC]

Mike welcome to the forum. Please add the city/state you live in so a local may be able to help you. You are on the riiight  track with the build. Keep a photo diary during the build so we can give you any help.

Too late Glen! I already know he is 15 minutes from my house!  He can't escape!
I told Mike you can never take too many pictures or ask too many questions for this bunch! Mike has built some other neat stuff so this should be a clean little machine! 

[Elmo Rodge]

I never said packaging was a headache. It is merely an interesting design exersize.  Wayno

[Glen]

Woody, you know we can't wait to pick on him, Elmo will keep him honest.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

And yet - Mike didn't take the hint so I filled it (location) in for him.  You're welcome.

[Skip Pipes]

Nice start.
Keep posting pics and don't get ruffled over unsolicited suggestions. They're offered up to help and not intended to offend.

Skip Pipes

[tauruck]

Mike, I'm subscribed. Wish you all the best.
Living 15 minutes from Woody is a great start.

Regards, Mike.

[Mike Brown]

I was unable to find anyone to bend the rectangular tubing.  I built the perimeter frame in sections mitering each joint on a milling machine with a home made sine table for accuracy.  Each end was then chamfered at 45 degrees 1/8" deep for welding. 

[Mike Brown]

Rex,

I am going for an aerodynamic build.  I chose the supercharged (565hp) LSA engine mainly for its compact size.  It fits inside the body without any changes.  I think that it will be easier to build an aerodynamic build by mounting the front axle rigid eliminating all the suspension parts. 

[Mike Brown]

I attached a photo of the "shorty" transmission that Jerico built for me.  A tail shaft was just going to make the car longer and the drive shaft shorter. 

[Mike Brown]

This is gear ratio chart showing the speed in each gear at the factory redline of the engine using 28" tall land speed tires and current gear ratios assuming no wheel slip.