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1967 Rambler American - How To Build Your First Drag Car

1967 Rambler American Radiator
Because this is a Rambler,... 
   
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1967 Rambler American Radiator
Because this is a Rambler, there are no bolt-in applications for the radiator. We used the Flex-a-fit radiator with a 22-inch core that is 2731/44 inches wide and 1811/42 inches tall. The universal mounting brackets allowed us to mount it on the existing six-cylinder core support without welding in new supports. It also came with its own fan, and we added an electronic fan control so we could set the temp and forget it.
1967 Rambler American Trunk
Notice we've avoided the standard... 
   
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1967 Rambler American Trunk
Notice we've avoided the standard fuel-cell-and-battery-in-the-trunk treatment, even though that was our first impulse. The NHRA rules say that if you move the battery to the trunk, you have to add a kill switch and a battery box; if you leave it alone, you don't have to do anything.
1967 Rambler American Headers
The long-tube headers made... 
   
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1967 Rambler American Headers
The long-tube headers made the most power, and they also fit in the engine bay with the 360. We wanted the exhaust to go over the rear axle, so we used a Flowmaster 2.5-inch U-fit dual kit and had Wayne from Speedway Mufflers weld it together for us.
1967 Rambler American Starter
No way the stock starter would... 
   
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1967 Rambler American Starter
No way the stock starter would fit, so we again looked to the Jeepers and stole a ministarter idea from Powermaster. It uses the Hitachi silhouette design parameter, so it fits inside the headers if you remove them. The washers we used to set the lash on the ring gear turned out to be the same thickness as the transmission spacer, so we found one from another AMC engine and doubled them up. The starter makes 250 lb-ft of torque, which is likely more than the original six-cylinder engine did.
1967 Rambler American Car Weight
We weighed the car and found... 
   
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1967 Rambler American Car Weight
We weighed the car and found that without the driver, it was 2,771 pounds. The heaviest corner was the driver's front, which will likely get worse with a CC guy behind the wheel, but the car is still very light. Once we get the rearend back together, we are going to find the center of gravity and work on launching the car.
TCI Automotive
Ashland
MS
662/224-8972

tciauto.com
Holley Performance Products
270/781-9741

holley.com
Speedway Muffler
(951) 371-6454
Galvin's AMC Rambler Parts
Lodi
CA

ramblerparts.com
Service Center
Lomita
CA
Flex-a-lite
800/851-1510

flex-a-lite.com
Powermaster Motorsports
2401 Dutch Valley Drive
Knoxville
TN  37918
(423) 688-5953
Driveshaft Masters
Harbor City
CA

driveshaftmasters.com
Loper's Service Center
Phoenix
AZ
B&C Auto Parts
Gardena
CA
Kramer Automotive Specialties
Herman
PA
724/285-5566

Kramerauto.Com
Auto Meter
413 West Elm Street
Sycamore
IL  60178
(866) 248-6356

autometer.com

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