Trying to determine which is better for our first car. I have been reading the forums and it seems like you should drill straight holes and bend the axles, but wanted to know which is better and why. Straight holes and bent axles seems like the more adjustable and accurate process.
Axle holes, drill angled holes or bend axles?
- Thread starter Flamethrower
- Start date
Flame, there is no contest. Drill your rear holes canted. You can make a fast car bending rear axles but the time it takes to tune is horrible. With a properly drilled block I can tune a car in 5 minutes because there is only one axle steering it. I can also pull the car apart as many times as I like and easily get it back to where it was. With bent rears you have 3 axles steering and the biggest problem is once you have it tuned finally then if you have to take it apart you are starting all over. Most other forums promote the DW line therefore encouraging you to bend your rear axles. That is why a lot of people are pushed in that direction.
John is right, Drilled rears at an angle is so much better than bent rear axles, i first tried bending the axles and never did get it perfect, i got a fast car, but when i took things apart to re-prep i lost all my speed and never got it back.
Thanks for the reply, I have fallen into the DW trap already and have several things to return to a place or two. /images/boards/smilies/wink.gif I finally found your site and I am starting to see the light.
We are about 90 % done on the original car we started and after using a DW tool to drill front axle holes I now have a very slight 3 wheel car (almost 1/32") and the rules specify 4 wheels touching. I really want to do this all myself and my little girl likes something that looks more like a car rather than the smaller faster blocks, but we are running short on time. Race is on Jan 7th. Going to have about 9 days to build the car.
Now I feel like I need to start getting the right tools and start over, time is not my friend.
We are about 90 % done on the original car we started and after using a DW tool to drill front axle holes I now have a very slight 3 wheel car (almost 1/32") and the rules specify 4 wheels touching. I really want to do this all myself and my little girl likes something that looks more like a car rather than the smaller faster blocks, but we are running short on time. Race is on Jan 7th. Going to have about 9 days to build the car.
Now I feel like I need to start getting the right tools and start over, time is not my friend.
it sounds like you have a good understanding of things, make the best out of what ya have and you will do ok.
azgreg said:
you are right, I tell my boy the same thing. It is rare to have a car that looks like a car and is really fast.
The block we have is not too bad actually. I will take some pics later and post them. COM is about 1". We have about 2.5 oz of tungsten rear of the axle and maybe another .4 oz just in front of it. Weight is right at 4.9 oz with wheels and axles, leaving a little room for adjustment to account for a difference in my scale and the scale they use.
Car does not have a name yet.
Line over rear weight pocket is 5/8" from rear of car, will probably be the new axle location on next block. Wheel base needs to be no greater than 4 5/8", rear masking boundary on front axle would be the new location for the front axle.
I would like to go back to the same weight pocket pattern, just moved with the axle. I already have the tungsten for this car and would like to use what I already have. Rear most pocket has majority of it, 2nd from rear a little bit centered on some 3/8" dowel rods. front pocket is empty with just a plug covering the opening.
going to fill the slots on bottom of car and may take out 1/4" of wood on bottom between the axles to try and help get more weight out of the middle.
Once I get the right axle holes in the new block I think I will be on the right track. I have the axles and wheels squared away.
Base paint will remain pink, going to put some pearl white stripes on the sides and maybe the tops along with painting on some windows.
Am I moving in the right direction?
Car does not have a name yet.
Line over rear weight pocket is 5/8" from rear of car, will probably be the new axle location on next block. Wheel base needs to be no greater than 4 5/8", rear masking boundary on front axle would be the new location for the front axle.
I would like to go back to the same weight pocket pattern, just moved with the axle. I already have the tungsten for this car and would like to use what I already have. Rear most pocket has majority of it, 2nd from rear a little bit centered on some 3/8" dowel rods. front pocket is empty with just a plug covering the opening.
going to fill the slots on bottom of car and may take out 1/4" of wood on bottom between the axles to try and help get more weight out of the middle.
Once I get the right axle holes in the new block I think I will be on the right track. I have the axles and wheels squared away.
Base paint will remain pink, going to put some pearl white stripes on the sides and maybe the tops along with painting on some windows.
Am I moving in the right direction?
