12-19-2015, 11:08 AM | #21 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Yes it will have a VW mid engine to start a 1500cc and later 2165 cc. At first a smaller engine to see how the car will handle than proceed with a bigger engine.
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12-19-2015, 06:27 PM | #22 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Let us know when you're going to El Mirage and I'll keep my eyes open for you. I usually just drive down for the 2 day meets. Wayno
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12-19-2015, 07:59 PM | #23 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
It sure does. Whoops, not so sure now as looked up some P-80 pics and looks like they had two styles, one mounting under the wing tip and another type mounting on the end of the wing tip.
Last edited by 36tudordeluxe; 12-19-2015 at 08:08 PM. |
12-20-2015, 09:38 AM | #24 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Awesome. Good luck with it. I'd love to see a fully dressed 2165 with dual Webers or the like.
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12-20-2015, 12:35 PM | #25 | |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Quote:
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12-20-2015, 12:55 PM | #26 | |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
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12-21-2015, 01:51 PM | #27 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
There were more than a few different tanks made for all of the WWII fighters. There were different sizes too. Some were aluminum but many were made from materials that were less of a drain on the war effort. Some were even made from non-metalic materials due to there throw away design. The one pictured looks to be a 150 gallon unit made of steel due to the corrosion evident there. Some had skirting where they connect to the pylon and some don't. It definitely may be for a P-38 but there were some P-80 tanks that looked just like that and they were also skirted where they attached to the bottom of the wing tip. These aircraft were manufactured by the same company so I wouldn't be surprised if there was some interchangeability.
The best ones to find are the aluminum ones that bolt together but they are also the most expensive if you can source one. Most folks now days just opt for the fiberglass copies in order to get one that is the right size for their application and ease of modification. A good original should be hanging from a wing in a museum. Last edited by rotorwrench; 12-22-2015 at 01:17 PM. |
12-21-2015, 03:37 PM | #28 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
That is what it is rotowrench, I seen a bunch of them on T33s(2 seat F-80 trainers) at Webb AFB, Big Spring Tx in the early 1950s. I expect the old scrap pile with 4 or 5 of them in it, is long gone. Just an old mans memories.
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12-22-2015, 08:22 AM | #29 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Neat project! I have seen one like that race at a road course over on the West side of Michigan. Fun to watch.
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12-22-2015, 12:04 PM | #30 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Here is a fun photo of a "very early" belly tank car.
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12-22-2015, 07:31 PM | #31 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Here's a funny photo of a funny-looking man having fun in a funny ol' tank. DD
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09-23-2018, 10:58 PM | #32 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Sorry everyone i have been busy more than i had imagine since i have retired. Building a lot of VW and Porsche 356 engines. But today I took the belly tanker to a friend that is going to do some patch panels repairs from the rust you see in the first post. I will keep everyone in the loop what is going on with it .
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09-23-2018, 11:40 PM | #33 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Here what i am trying to see how i will fit the engine and transmission with a low profile fan shroud to fit under the tank. I also have a Ford front drop axle to see if I can fit it etc ...
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09-24-2018, 11:39 PM | #34 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
That is definitely the small P-38 tank. They are made of steel and seam welded together. The larger aluminum P-38 tanks bolt together and are worth a fortune if you can find one. You can fit a V8-60 in the small tank and a full size flathead in the big tank.
My next door neighbor built the third bellytank at El Mirage in 1949. He just turned 88. He also ran it at Bonneville in 1950. Here is a rare Kodachrome color slide of it at Bonneville in 1950. He towed it from CA to Bonneville with his '41 pickup. I too have the smaller version. I'm getting ready to hang it from my garage ceiling. I needed this like a hole in the head but I couldn't live without it. The large aluminum tanks halves were stamped by Ford so we can officially talk about them here. I have a photo to prove it. Last edited by Flathead Fever; 09-24-2018 at 11:48 PM. |
09-25-2018, 12:09 AM | #35 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
this is so nice. looks fun.
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09-25-2018, 01:03 AM | #36 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
I really appreciate the pictures here and the story you had mentioned. I am building mine for the street . I will post pictures as soon as I get it back from my buddy that is doing the patch repairs.
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09-25-2018, 10:14 PM | #37 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
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09-26-2018, 12:39 AM | #38 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
The way the engine will be laid out only the valve covers would be sticking out and for that I can always make some covers to hide the valve covers so they cant be seen. I am building this for the street to.
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09-26-2018, 03:25 PM | #39 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
This has to be the only one left. Its the original trailer for my neighbor's bellytank he built back in 1949. He had owned a mini storage until a few year's ago and this stuff was piled up down there along with his '40 Ford junk yard. He was going to scrap these frames. I said oh no your not! I'm saving that bellytank trailer. Thank god for that little forklift, the bellytank trailer is that one on the bottom.
No suspension, it must have beat that bellytank to death on the way to Bonneville. Looks like they built it strong enough. As you can see it will also will haul an aerodynamic '33 coupe. This photo is proibably taken in 1950. That coupe belonged to my neighbor's friend. That was a neat coupe. They spent all that time putting the hood on it to see if it would make a differenece and when they got to El Mirage, the dry lake's meet was cancelled because of high winds. He doesn't remember what happened to the bellytank's engine in this photo? |
09-27-2018, 01:04 AM | #40 |
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Re: P38 Belly Tank
Thank You so much for this cool story about the trailer and the belly tanker I have enjoy reading about it .
Frenchy |
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