New project: Hawaiian Punch Dodge Charger mini funny car…

[musclecarjohn]

Hey guys, I picked this up a few years ago and am just now getting around to showing it some love.

I know very little about this one and the previous owner was a pretty crafty fabricator so I’m thinking he bought this in very rough condition and cobbled it back together in one piece…I bought it basically for a song.

I pulled the body off today and next week, it’s heading over to my sign guy for paint and lettering.
Next up is new alloy wheels and tires…any suggestions or advice is appreciated…thanks in advance.

John

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Looks like an AmEx or Manco frame.
I don't see anything extremely wrong except mis matched tires and the spring mount haphazardly screwed into the valve cover.
I like the hydrolic brakes.

Post up your progress. We're watching.

 

[Hellion]

Looks like an AmEx or Manco frame.

Could be. Has some Manco features (pedals, seat cushions, front spring spindles) peeking out of what appears to be a custom, stretched funny car frame to go with the body. Was looking for a Manco manufactured funny car kart but didn't find any

 

[musclecarjohn]

Could be. Has some Manco features (pedals, seat cushions, front spring spindles) peeking out of what appears to be a custom, stretched funny car frame to go with the body. Was looking for a Manco manufactured funny car kart but didn't find any

Thanks guys…it looks to me like those front extensions have been added…I bought this from my friend Cole Foster, son of the late Pat Foster who’s last dragster creation sits in my garage…both extremely talented fabricators.

 

[Hellion]

it looks to me like those front extensions have been added…I bought this from my friend Cole Foster, son of the late Pat Foster who’s last dragster creation sits in my garage…both extremely talented fabricators.

How would you describe the quality of the welds? I thought I saw a few that were approaching "booger weld" status but they may have been a weld that was *overdone* a little for extra strength or what-not.

*I am not a welder by trade or hobby

 

[musclecarjohn]

How would you describe the quality of the welds? I thought I saw a few that were approaching "booger weld" status but they may have been a weld that was *overdone* a little for extra strength or what-not.

*I am not a welder by trade or hobby

They don't look great, especially on those front extensions...pretty sure Cole cobbled this thing together from basically nothing.
It didn't matter to me because I only gave $600 for it and it was only 3 miles from my home...I knew I'd be investing way more than that, lol!

 

[musclecarjohn]

Loaded in the truck and headed out to paint tomorrow…did all my research on the lettering, enough for my sign guy to take it from here.

 

[Hellion]

I had no idea the body and a lot of the details on it (headlight lens effect, etc) were hand painted with a brush. They passed the 10 feet (and 500 miles through cyberspace) rule. I didn't miss the repaint over the original graphics, however.

Now it makes lots of sense.

 

[musclecarjohn]

I had no idea the body and a lot of the details on it (headlight lens effect, etc) were hand painted with a brush. They passed the 10 feet (and 500 miles through cyberspace) rule. I didn't miss the repaint over the original graphics, however.

Now it makes lots of sense.

Yes, it's all there...still visible and enough for my guy to work with.

 

[musclecarjohn]

Further progress on the little car today, I dropped off the body at Frank Signs with all my photos and we went over everything…not going to paint the car, just removing the lettering that’s on there and Frank just doing his thing…this will have a patina look…there may be some vinyl in there as well, I said no problem.
With that part under control, my buddy Pat and I removed the rear wheels so I could study the drive and keyway size, which appears to be pretty standard.
Pat used to race karts so he turned me on to the hub idea which allows me to custom spec the wheels which will be a 5”-6” stagger as they are sized currently, just swapping in slick tires, which should be here tomorrow.

I removed the seat which will get reupholstered in black vinyl, I’ll get that over to them tomorrow.
More research into wheel styles continue…one thing we know for certain is that they will be polished, lol…Stay tuned.

 

[musclecarjohn]

Latest updates...

The seat went out to the upholsters last week, it's getting new wood boards and being covered in Black leather with Red piping...this procedure is costing me more than I paid for the entire car,lol!

Tires are here, today we mock up the old wheels so I can gauge how wide to order the new wheels and hubs.

The body is at the paint shop, we've decided to paint the whole car complete in single stage then back to my sign guy for the lettering which will be all vinyl.

I painted the chassis and did lots of detailing while I wait.

Stay tuned...

 

[Grizzlymi]

This is going to turn out awesome! Glad you decided to paint the whole thing. Going to be cherry when it is finished.

 

[Denny]

This is going to turn out awesome! Glad you decided to paint the whole thing. Going to be cherry when it is finished.

No, it will still be blue and red.

 

[Hellion]

this procedure is costing me more than I paid for the entire car,lol!

You must be new to rustorations But that’s the general idea, buy ‘em as cheap as you can so the funds jar don’t take such a hit.

I really like the frame and despite the crude puncture in the valve cover, that throttle cable and return spring is graceful and about as “perfect” as can be.

I really like those hubs you showed. Those are quite a unit and I love the way they work.

 

[musclecarjohn]

You must be new to rustorations But that’s the general idea, buy ‘em as cheap as you can so the funds jar don’t take such a hit.

I really like the frame and despite the crude puncture in the valve cover, that throttle cable and return spring is graceful and about as “perfect” as can be.

I really like those hubs you showed. Those are quite a unit and I love the way they work.

I have restored several muscle cars over the years and when I had the body on the funny car done in Candy Apple Red with 23k gold lettering, that was $30k...in 2018 dollars...can't imagine the cost of that now!

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

The Dart was done in red and gold leaf letters. I always thought it look awesome.

 

[musclecarjohn]

Servicing the motor while I wait for stuff to come back, downloaded the manual on this Predator 69727 212cc powerhouse, lol so I know the capacities.

Ordered a new plug and fresh oil, drained the fuel tank which hasn’t been run in years although I did add Stabil a year or so ago.

Fuel looks horrible and the oil even worse…sludgy and lots of shiny particulates…I flushed the fuel which looks 100 times better and will do the same with the oil when it arrives.

Before…although I did add Stabil…didn’t smell like gas.

 

[Grizzlymi]

Makes good varnish now.

 

[musclecarjohn]

Now we have a conversation…stay tuned.

 

[landuse]

Shiny!!