So I heard that back in the day, they would make fast cars out

Not much to it. They used the tanks because of their shape and structural rigidity.

Just put all the parts in.

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>>17122250
They would at the very least be fun to paint.

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>not posting the firebird 1,2,and 3

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>So I heard that back in the day, they would make fast cars out of aircraft drop tanks.
This is true

>Would anyone here be willing to explain specifics of their construction and engineering
They are very basic. You can still buy old plans for things like that and vintage sprint cars/formula cars.

>if one could be made today with common parts?
Yes, easily, some vintage hot rod parts like quick change rear ends and period correct engine go fast parts are pricey but if you weren't trying to use period parts it would be trivially easy to make one

If you have to ask on fucking 4chan of all places, it's beyond your comprehension. Buy a Factory Five kit car. All you have to do is put your own motor, transmission, wiring in and it's good to go almost.

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>>17122274
Mate how did I do.

>>17122300
Looks good, I used to have the same one in reversible 1/2"

>>17122313
It's just single direction 3/8, 20-100lb-ft and I got it for 100

>>17122300
>n-notice me s-sempai

>>17122334
I'm pretty happy. Second snap on item I've owned other than a screw driver

>>17122274
Cool, thanks for the info. I have a rusty ass Hyundai Elantra that I might want to harvest the parts off of once it dies. If you took such a dinky I4 and used it in a little drop tank car, would it be fast?

>>17122508
With your level of ability it would be a massive pain in the ass to get a modern fuel injected engine in a homemade car, it's not like legos. Would be much easier to do an aircooled VW engine or a motorcycle engine. Anything with more than 50hp will feel fast in a setup like that regardless of how fast it actually is, because it's an open cockpit, low to the ground, questionably built chassis.

>>17122523
Okay, thanks for the dosage of realism.

So, hear me out, what if I could mount a lawnmower engine to a decently well put together chassis made from 2X4 studs? My main concern is that the engine wouldn't have enough torque to push it more than it would push a lawnmower. I understand wood fairly well as a material and wouldn't push it further than it could handle.

I ask this because the only way I ever seem to be able to learn something is through designing and building it myself. And the info I can find on car modification tends to be marketed at people who know lots more terminology than I do.

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>>17122523
inline 4 have been used in the before
http://barnfinds.com/british-belly-tank-racer/
http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bboard/showthread.php?19237-belly-tank-Indian
its just that a v8 can fit in the same length so why not

>>17122657
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jowett_Jupiter
most modern wooden car I know of
it seems to handle 60 bhp just fine

>>17122722
Thanks, it's unfamilliar to not be shit on here.

>why not
Because money. Unfortunately, I make $13.50/hr doing artisan quality work for a rich ass who drives a black Suburban.

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>>17122771
sounds like you want to build a cycle car
they can be super crude
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nuc-CntAydI#t=4m17s

>>17122787
It'd be cool, but for $1200 KBB value I'm better off driving it into the dirt. 260K miles and no major issues is decent when I don't have another DD.

I was considering selling and getting an okay Volvo wagon, but that invites much higher premiums on repairs I can't do myself.

I remember reading about a badass I4 that Oldsmobile made in the 90s but never put into production.

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https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/wooden-car-frames.793905/

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http://theoldmotor.com/?p=136808

>>17123154
hngggg

>>17122274
I'm interested in this. Did they use the tank as an structural part, or did they reinforce it?

>>17123766
I would assume it was at least partially structural, it's meant to hold fuel and stand up to pressure changes and air resistance. So I'd assume it's at least strong enough.