Matt Long’s recently wrapped...
Matt Long’s recently wrapped Dirt Late Model is ready for action after getting skinned with Five Star’s new lightweight hood and roof.
We’ve seen it time and again in racing: The racer or race team that is capable of doing more things in-house always has the advantage on the competition. And the reason for that is simple, by having the option of doing more tasks yourself instead of hiring them out, you save money that can be spent in other, more vital areas.
One area of the racing operation that many teams hire out is body hanging. There’s nothing wrong with this, but for much of it this really isn’t necessary. Hanging a body isn’t rocket science; it just requires patience, a steady hand, and a few tools. Detailing how to fabricate and hang a Dirt Late Model body from bumper to bumper would require more pages than we print in a single month, so we’re taking it a bit at a time. Last month we followed along as racer Matt Long and his crew chief, Jim Cook, hung a new MD3 nose from Five Star Bodies. As part of their package, they also ordered Five Star’s ultra lightweight hood and roof for modern Dirt Late Model bodies. So follow along as we tackle our next project on this Crate Late Model.
Before beginning on the hood,...
Before beginning on the hood, make sure all the deck panels are in place—it just makes life easier. This is a Rocket chassis, but almost every chassis builder provisions their cars for body hanging the same way. Notice how the rollcage includes tabs for bolting up the roof.
Five Star’s MD3 roof is a...
Five Star’s MD3 roof is a molded composite piece that’s surprisingly light. Here, crew chief Jim Cook begins by placing the roof on the car and finding the best side-to-side placement. Once he has it where he wants it, a few vise clamps hold it in position.
Measure to the firewall to...
Measure to the firewall to make sure the leading edge of the roof is straight.
Once the roof is properly...
Once the roof is properly positioned, Cook drills holes in the roof from underneath so that he can use the tabs for alignment.
Driver Matt Long is a tall...
Driver Matt Long is a tall guy so Cook creates a little headroom by using longer bolts and a stack of washers. The roof isn’t a structural element on the car, so this isn’t a big deal.
Once the roof is attached,...
Once the roof is attached, it’s time to fabricate and mount the sail panels. These are fabricated from flat sheets of aluminum that are bent to shape. If you’re purchasing a used car, use the old panels for templates to save yourself some time and effort.
Cleco fasteners are a great...
Cleco fasteners are a great investment if you’re going to be hanging your own bodies. They install and remove easily so that you can test fit and move things around if necessary without having to drill out pop rivets.
Cook uses a strip of aluminum...
Cook uses a strip of aluminum that has been doubled over and then bent into a 90-degree angle to provide a little extra rigidity at the rear of the panel. A few pinches with a shrinker tool provide the curve you see here.
On the left side of the car,...
On the left side of the car, the bottom of the panel is mounted flush with the edge of the car so that when the car is in yaw through the turns it catches as much air as possible and directs it toward the rear spoiler. A piece of aluminum angle is mounted to the deck to provide a vertical surface to attach the bottom of the panel.