Drag Racing

[Dan]

I posted this on the Hurricane Forum @Club Cobra af few days ago and haven't gotten any responses, so thought I'd have a better chance by posting it here:

I'm looking at a Cobra build, Hurricane being on my short list. I'll be building for the street. What little racing I anticipate doing will be of the straight-line variety. I've seen threads from owners of cars from other manufacturers suggesting that for drag racing they've had to modify the suspension to frame mounting points to eliminate wheel-hop. Can Mike or Rich fill me in on how their set-up works out of the box in terms of off the the line traction? I know most Roasters are designed with course track performance in mind first and foremost, i.e. cornerning, but straightline acceleration will be equally important to me. Would you suggest a modification of some sort, and if so, is this something you can do at the shop prior to shipping the kit?

Dan

[Rich Burroughs]

Dan,
Our rear suspension is a 3-link rear with a panhard bar for lateral location. We have a top-link mounted to the right of the center section that connects with an 8" connector to an adjustable point on the frame. The two lower control arms are about 18" long and are adjustable as well (both height wise and front to rear).

[Mugzilla]

We would be happy to meet with you and discuss your thoughts and work with you as much as we can to accommodate your needs.

Rich

I would be happy to slap a set of slicks on a HM and thoroughly test it for you guys...

[Rich Burroughs]

Note: My descriptions above were for our Ford 9" Live axle suspension which I would recommend for your application. For all out drag racing I would think the 9" would be preferred over the 8.8" IRS (the 9" is almost indestructible).

[Dan]

Rich:

Thanks for the thorough response. I'm not intending to use this car as a full time dragster, but wanted to know for street use, and maybe an annual trip to the track, that I wouldn't be asking the car to do something for which it simply isn't designed to do effectively. Sounds like the Hurricane could be set up to accommodate my needs. Are the 3 link and control arm ajustments you described as simple as bolting to one of several preexisting points on the frame, or would the alternate mounting points have to be added (customized)?

Thanks again.

[LMH]

Dan,
The brackets for the three link axle are welded on the frame. The top bracket has three holes for different positions of the swedge link and changing it is just a matter of unbolting it and rebolting it to the new hole. I think it wouldn't be a big deal to change it as needed for street or track and could be done in a few minutes.
Hope that helps.
Larry

[Rich Burroughs]

Dan,
Larry nailed it. The lower control arms can also be adjusted in the same fashion by just bolting to one of the three pre-drilled mounting positions.

Rich

[1badmofo]

Dan,

I took my HM out for a little drive yesterday and you could prolly guess there might have been a few hole shots,i have drag race for aobut 20 yrs and i will say i am surprised how well the HM plants the tires when you get on it.......the drag strips will be open in a few weeks here in IN i am sure it will find it way there......

I have a 9 in ford with a 3.50 gear in mine.

Sid

[danc30]

Any times and speeds on your 1/4 mile runs?