Construction Topics > Reference material
70s & 80s Late model tech
thirdgearspeedshop:
Hey guys, I'm researching dirt late models from the 70s and 80s (Camaros, bubble fenders, big spoilers) and I was wondering about the engine tech. did they run dry sump oil systems? electric fuel pumps? water reserve tanks? I'm looking into a pretty detailed build. any info is appreciated. Thanks
Brian Conn:
....there was a whole lot of changes from 1970 thru 1989, if you could narrow it down to ,say a few years, that would help...me at least.
As far as what questions you asked, here's what I can tell you...
I can tell you for a fact that in 1978 there was dry sumps showing up in dirt Late Models...seen it myself.
Electrical fuel pumps , for the most part, where not allowed...too much of a safety issue with them still pumping fuel in the event of a fire.
Water reserve tanks or expansion tanks could be found...some cars had them, others not....something more apt to be found on a pavement Late Model.
Another detail item....in 1979 you could order a roller dirt Late Model chassis from Clayton Peterson Racing Products Grand Island, Neb. with a manual rack and pinion steering set up. It was between the 1978 and 1979 racing season that a lot of drivers converted there front suspension from the coil spring/weight jack set up to the coil over shock set up....around here at least.
thirdgearspeedshop:
Thanks Brian,
To narrow it down, here are a couple of pics I'm looking for technical details on. I'm probably around 9 or 10 in the pic which would be around 1983.
john2:
Great pictures.
Brian Conn:
I'm going to back date those pictures a couple of years from 1983.....
By 1983 , particularly with the N.D.R.A , the bodies where pretty much non stock appearing wedges as opposed to what you have pictured...judging by what you have pictured, I would place them closer to 1979.
Other reasons I am going with that time frame.....
The wheels....both cars are shown with steel wheels.
Both cars show a combination of factory sheet metal and fiberglass body parts. Rear deck spoiler would have been around 12" give or take a couple of inches.
As far as the technical aspects go , both of these cars display pretty much the norm for the late 70's ...particularly the 00 Freddy Smith ride.
There is a variety of different set ups that could have been used.....the front set up could be either of the two that I described in my previous post...the rear more than likely was a leaf spring set up...a lot of the trick set ups for the rear ends would not come into play for a couple of more years i.e 4 links, Z links,etc. although the leaf spring on the Left /coil spring right rear could have been around then, Lefturns75 knows more about that particular set up than I do.
Engines could have went either way, dry sump or wet sump depending on $$$ available.
I did see a few automatic transmissions in Late Models that year....a modified Chevy Power Glide for circle track racing.
Are there any other areas you want to delve into?
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