How to Build a Competition Engineering Rear-End Dragster

Suspend the dragster frame at its front and rear support areas so that the vehicle is at least 15" above the floor. Place wood blocks under the front and rear of the dragster so that the weight of the vehicle is balanced and secure in place as you attach the rear axle housing to the 4-link suspension of the dragster.

Insert the Ford rear 4-10 gear and axles into the competition C9030 rear-end housing. Connect the gears and axles by aligning the splines of the axles into each gear and secure the gear key-way to connect the gears together. Secure the gear yoke to the axle housing and attach the rear axle housing face plate to contain the gear and its parts inside the housing. Tighten the bolts to the housing, setting the torque wrench at 20ft-lbs. of pressure.

Place the competition rear-end housing at the end of the dragster so that the 4-link suspension bars and the housing brackets are lined up. Support the rear-end housing and gear using a hydraulic jack, and raise the rear end axle to the approximate height and distance where it will be when connected to the dragster. Insert the suspension bars into the corresponding rear axle housing brackets and secure using the bolts that come with the 4-link suspension. Be sure to tighten the securing bolts to 60ft-lbs. to insure that the suspension bars will not become loose during operation. The 4-link suspension has adjustable eyelet adapters that allow for the angles and bolts to work together when installing. Just insert the suspension eyelet into the housing bracket, and line up using the suspension bolts.

Measure the height of the rear axle yoke to be sure that the drive shaft can be connected to the rear axle correctly. Check for height discrepancies and adjust the 4-link suspension bars accordingly. If the height of the axle housing is not correct, it may be necessary to remove the housing and adjust the 4-link suspension so that the axle is at the correct height in relation to the yoke coming from the transmission. A short drive shaft connects the two, and it must maintain a reasonable angle for proper operation. The 4-link suspension can be adjusted at the eyelets. Loosen the securing nut below the eyelet, and either screw in or screw out the threaded rod of the suspension bar to get the correct distance and height for the axle housing.

Connect the transmission to the rear axle using the correct drive shaft and the securing nuts to accomplish the connection. Many dragsters have a tubular circle welded into the frame for strength that the drive shaft will pass through. Check the distance of the outside of the drive shaft housing to the inside of the circular frame piece to be sure that there will not be any rubbing of the drive shaft during operation. Secure the drive shaft to the transmission yoke, and then attach the wheels to the axle. Remove the support blocks from under the dragster, and check to be sure that all the right spaces are between the parts when the dragster is sitting on its own wheels and competition rear-end axle and housing.

Fill the competition rear-end axle housing with gear oil prior to moving the dragster. At least 2 quarts of gear oil will be necessary to lubricate this high powered rear axle gear during use, and the oil must be inserted prior to use.