1999 Early

Motor

11 inch race-modified Kostov (178 lbs.)

Drive type

Datsun 5 speed, flywheel, and clutch removed. Automatic tranny version idea scrapped in favor of a transmissionless, direct drive setup. Reconfigured system has motor's output shaft fitted with a flanged adapter that mates to a new driveline that feeds directly to the rear end. No reverse.

Driveshaft

The second half of the driveline is longer and starts with a female splined slip joint that mates into the front section's male splines and ends with a flange w/universal that bolts to the new Ford 9 inch differential. Created and installed front and rear driveline loops.

Rear axle

'57 Ford nine inch axle setup out of a V8 Chevy LUV minitruck. Changed-out 3:25 ring & pinion set and installed new 'taller' 2:50 gears. Locked minispool. Air shocks & traction bars.

Wheels & Tires

Front - 13 x 5.5 American Racing 4 spoke w/175/50/13 Pirelli P7.

Rear - 14 x 7 American Racing 5 spoke chrome rims with Mickey Thompson junior dragster sized baby wrinkle wall drag slicks (20" dia.).

Batteries

28 12 volt Hawker Genesis 16ahr @ 336V nominal, 378 lbs. total pack weight.

Controller

Godzilla 1200 amp programable controller

12 volt system

Baby Optima YT, no DC-DC - external charging required.

Other Mods

None

Car weight

2005 lbs. (weighed on scale)

Races and EVents

3-1999 Wired magazine article 'Suck Amps' features White Zombie.

5-22-1999 Bandimere 'Mile High Drags'...1st run of 3 ETs, 16.951 @ 73.67 mph. Shown below left, is a photo from the magazine 'Top Gear' that did a feature on the NEDRA Bandimere drags of '99. You can see the sticky baby wrinkle wall slicks and the 14 x 7 chrome coke bottle American Racing wheels. Right photo...White Zombie heats up those same tires at the '99 Bandimere races.

Carnage

None

Plasmaboy Quotes

  1. Bandimere races "I was way off with the gear ratio I chose, and the acceleration out of the hole was sluggish.... the car was way over-geared with its 2:50 rear gear set. The race day was a hot 85-90 degrees and I forgot to ice the controller water as I usually do, so the 'Zilla went into thermal limit early on in the run, compounding the sluggish acceleration. Once the car hit about 20 mph, it really started to pull hard as the 'Zilla sucked 750 amps from the battery pack. On the last third of the run however, the controller decided to roll back the current as it heated up, and the battery amps sank to around 300. My first run was anything but terrific at 16.95 @ 73 mph."
  2. Bandimere races "I am encouraged that with my gear ratio so far off (way too tall with a 2:50) at the Bandimere races, it did as well as it did. I still believe that the Zombie's direct drive will turn in mid 13s very soon. Stay tuned folks, a 3:90 ratio is being purchased for the Ford 9 inch rear end, and with this ratio, the Zombie should be up to my expectations."