Build Project: Midnight Panic

mobil1syn said:
/sidetrack

put the pump in the tank where it belongs, pumps push, not pull and then push.

check your vent sizing, if you get a clogged vent you introduce vacuum and that will increase the likelihood of cavitation

/sidetrackover
Click to expand...
/more side track

Very, very true. In this case I an only feeding a Quadrajet of a square body, where the top of the feed line out of the bed mounted tank is above the carb. Fuel pump is way down low on frame rail close to tank. It was mostly OK with the 4 point walbro pickups i put in it then, but our sweet cali gas rotted them out. Went to a clunker pickup, works OK for me, sort of. Just clarifying no need for an in tank pump right now. Future plans... (dreams) will be more than mechanical injection. :grinpimp:

/end side track, maybe.
 
I’ve been thinking about your possible fuel starvation issue during nose stands and such. Aerobatic aircraft have the same problem (Even worse) while doing some of their antics. What they use is a flexible pick up tube with a weight on the end. That way, which ever way the fuel is thrown by G-force, the pick up is thrown there also.

Might be a consideration.

Edit, this brings up the subject of oil pick up. You wouldn’t want to stand on your nose for five minutes and lose oil pressure. Not sure what the planes do about that. Could be the same answer.
 
WaterH said:
I’ve been thinking about your possible fuel starvation issue during nose stands and such. Aerobatic aircraft have the same problem (Even worse) while doing some of their antics. What they use is a flexible pick up tube with a weight on the end. That way, which ever way the fuel is thrown by G-force, the pick up is thrown there also.

Might be a consideration.

Edit, this brings up the subject of oil pick up. You wouldn’t want to stand on your nose for five minutes and lose oil pressure. Not sure what the planes do about that. Could be the same answer.
Click to expand...
The answer to the oil part is a drysump system
 
WaterH said:
I’ve been thinking about your possible fuel starvation issue during nose stands and such. Aerobatic aircraft have the same problem (Even worse) while doing some of their antics. What they use is a flexible pick up tube with a weight on the end. That way, which ever way the fuel is thrown by G-force, the pick up is thrown there also.

Might be a consideration.

Edit, this brings up the subject of oil pick up. You wouldn’t want to stand on your nose for five minutes and lose oil pressure. Not sure what the planes do about that. Could be the same answer.
Click to expand...
If I remember correctly, in the RC aviation world they call this a "clunk". I wonder what hose is available that would remain flexible enough to do this, especially in a large enough size to feed a methanol system? I have though about a swivel at the bulkhead fitting in the bottom of the tank with a long pickup tube, but short enough to swing 360* on the bottom of the tank, I haven'y persued that option yet though.
gt1guy said:
The answer to the oil part is a drysump system
Click to expand...
Dry sump is probably the best option if you have the real estate, the external oil tank does take a fair amount of room, lots of added plumbing, plus that is another belt driven accessory that will have to be fitted on the front of the engine,

Currently I am running an accumulator to buffer as many oil pressure loss events as possible,
 
I don’t suppose you can pay for the truck, but now that it’s mostly done, do they pay enough that it makes it worth your time? I realize you get quality family time, but what I mean is, are you money ahead going forward?
 
Skipped_Link said:
There’s guys out there making a living doing this, (they’re running a lot more that 9 shows a year)
I’m to chicken to quit my job, but the truck should be able to pay for itself easily.
Click to expand...
Was always curious how things worked "behind the curtain" for the independent monster trucks or independent shows (so non-Monster Jam/Hot Wheels).

From a payout standpoint, is it a flat amount to show up/participate or is there some kind of profit sharing setup?

It's 100% ok not to answer, as it is just something I've always been curious with independent guys running the roads for shows.
 
ridered3 said:
Was always curious how things worked "behind the curtain" for the independent monster trucks or independent shows (so non-Monster Jam/Hot Wheels).

From a payout standpoint, is it a flat amount to show up/participate or is there some kind of profit sharing setup?
Click to expand...

So far everything I’ve done is pretty much a flat fee,
Different promoters pay different amounts, obviously,

I do think some truck owners set their price, “I’ll do this show for this much $$$”

Twice I’ve been asked about doing shows & the payment amount is right in the first text or phone call, “can you make this date? two day show, pays $xxxx”

If the price isn’t mentioned off the hit, I’ll ask what the job pays, then do the math before committing to the show, (figure travel costs etc)

There’s also merch sales, typically we set our price, the promoter will roll our inventory in with theirs, sale/sell merch, then at the end of the show roll our merch out, & give us our money minus 20-30% & remaining merch,
It’s not a terrible system, I feel it could be a little better, but my wife & I are working on that part,

I’d like to eventually see enough merch profits to restock, give my wife 20%, & pay for the trip, anything left over would go to making our inventory bigger,

Aaaaand of course there’s tax stuff involved,
I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to do something about that this year,
Promoters make dang sure .gov knows where they spent their money, it’s only a matter of time until Uncle Sam wants to know where I got mine,
 
Skipped_Link said:
So far everything I’ve done is pretty much a flat fee,
Different promoters pay different amounts, obviously,

I do think some truck owners set their price, “I’ll do this show for this much $$$”

Twice I’ve been asked about doing shows & the payment amount is right in the first text or phone call, “can you make this date? two day show, pays $xxxx”

If the price isn’t mentioned off the hit, I’ll ask what the job pays, then do the math before committing to the show, (figure travel costs etc)

There’s also merch sales, typically we set our price, the promoter will roll our inventory in with theirs, sale/sell merch, then at the end of the show roll our merch out, & give us our money minus 20-30% & remaining merch,
It’s not a terrible system, I feel it could be a little better, but my wife & I are working on that part,

I’d like to eventually see enough merch profits to restock, give my wife 20%, & pay for the trip, anything left over would go to making our inventory bigger,

Aaaaand of course there’s tax stuff involved,
I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to do something about that this year,
Promoters make dang sure .gov knows where they spent their money, it’s only a matter of time until Uncle Sam wants to know where I got mine,
Click to expand...
Thanks for the insight and that's how I assumed it was structured overall.
 
I’m a ways from really “balancing” the truck there,
Some guys definitely make it look like there’s a pretty wide balance window,
Maybe at some point I’ll be able to feel it,
Currently I’m just popping it up there, & trying to make sure it doesn’t go to far,
 
Skipped_Link said:
…

There’s also merch sales, typically we set our price, the promoter will roll our inventory in with theirs, sale/sell merch, then at the end of the show roll our merch out, & give us our money minus 20-30% & remaining merch,
It’s not a terrible system, I feel it could be a little better, but my wife & I are working on
Click to expand...

Web merch sales? Searched but came up empty.

Awesome project, skillset, dedication, etc. Thanks for sharing.
 
First show of 2026 is a wrap, not a bad showing for not driving the truck (really driving) in approximately 5 months,
The new steering reservoir & fuel cell worked good, with one slight issue, when doing “cyclones” at the end of the night, the fuel is forced away from the pickup causing the engine to lean out after about one & a half rotations,
The second night I topped off the cell at intermission & that was no longer an issue,

I ended up with the fast qualifying times & winning racing both Friday & Saturday,

The only real mechanical issue all weekend was a popped rear steer hose, which ended my Saturday freestyle run a couple hits earlier than I’d like,
I may have to look into 4 wire (higher pressure) steering hoses,

I have a short video with a few highlights I’ll try to upload here,
 
Apparently my “short clip is to large to upload here,
So here’s a couple tiny clips
First one shows the hydraulic line letting go at the end of the clip, must have just landed slightly weird on the rear tire,



Worth noting, it’s really hard to be smooth on the throttle when you know the grill is inches from the track, 😆

Since the rear steer was stuck one way, I finished off the night with a small donut/cyclone, just to test the fuel cell theory,
Obviously it didn’t lean out.



I guess I’ll save the rest of the footage for a long form YT video, I don’t want to scab together a bunch of little half clips, I’ll make sure to post here when that’s up, after I get everything compiled.

Next show is Duchesne UT the 21st of this month.
 
Current 2026 schedule.
IMG_4483.jpeg
 
GLTHFJ60 said:
I love how someone like you can just build a truck how they want and enter the monster truck circuit. So damn cool.
Click to expand...
Building a truck is something I think I know,
The show side of it has been a new learning curve, getting this years schedule has definitely required some effort.

YT recap of this event is up by the way,
More footage from the show at least.

 
Great video. About Alison, is there any chance she is getting more fumes at those shows? Like there less ventilation in those venues? Or maybe more dust. Both can give me a headache.

Stupid question, are the ramps standard? Like they have two 3’ tall ones and one 5’ and so forth. Do you have any ramps built at your house to practice?

Can you do a “stoppy” going backwards?

As far as the recap, it’s great. I would only add some pics or video of damage too. (Like inspecting the hydro line when you got back to the pits.)

BTW, You are definitely correct that a show with all owner built trucks is cool as ****.
 
Skipped_Link said:
Apparently my “short clip is to large to upload here,
So here’s a couple tiny clips
First one shows the hydraulic line letting go at the end of the clip, must have just landed slightly weird on the rear tire,



Worth noting, it’s really hard to be smooth on the throttle when you know the grill is inches from the track, 😆

Since the rear steer was stuck one way, I finished off the night with a small donut/cyclone, just to test the fuel cell theory,
Obviously it didn’t lean out.



I guess I’ll save the rest of the footage for a long form YT video, I don’t want to scab together a bunch of little half clips, I’ll make sure to post here when that’s up, after I get everything compiled.

Next show is Duchesne UT the 21st of this month.
Click to expand...
I was checking this out and then I realized, this is Klamath Falls. Drove past there this afternoon. I should have gone. Good for you!
 
WaterH said:
Great video. About Alison, is there any chance she is getting more fumes at those shows? Like there less ventilation in those venues? Or maybe more dust. Both can give me a headache.

Stupid question, are the ramps standard? Like they have two 3’ tall ones and one 5’ and so forth. Do you have any ramps built at your house to practice?

Can you do a “stoppy” going backwards?

As far as the recap, it’s great. I would only add some pics or video of damage too. (Like inspecting the hydro line when you got back to the pits.)

BTW, You are definitely correct that a show with all owner built trucks is cool as ****.
Click to expand...
First two times with the headaches we were outdoors, first was an indoor venue, but we were staging outside, we blamed possible or nearly heat stroke in that one cause it was hot & no air flow through the truck,
Next was Elko, outside in the evening, so that eliminated the heat,

Obstacles or jumps are normally based on materials the crew have to work with,
Now bigger companies like monster jam I believe setup a course & mostly stick with the design throughout a season, or series, I’ve never been on the same or comparable corse twice yet.

Backwards stoppie, like hit the popper backwards & bounce the front tires in the air? If so yes, Tim in Hillbilly does that a lot, he calls them pop & drops, usually guys doing these have some kind of bar in the rear in the hopes of it possibly keeping them from going over backwards. & it usually works.

Thanks for the feedback on what you’d like to see in the videos, I’ll use those suggestions.

toyotajeep said:
I was checking this out and then I realized, this is Klamath Falls. Drove past there this afternoon. I should have gone. Good for you!
Click to expand...
Southern Oregon guy? Or were you just in the neighborhood?
We’ll be up by Salem later this year, (September I think)
 
Skipped_Link said:
First two times with the headaches we were outdoors, first was an indoor venue, but we were staging outside, we blamed possible or nearly heat stroke in that one cause it was hot & no air flow through the truck,
Next was Elko, outside in the evening, so that eliminated the heat,

Obstacles or jumps are normally based on materials the crew have to work with,
Now bigger companies like monster jam I believe setup a course & mostly stick with the design throughout a season, or series, I’ve never been on the same or comparable corse twice yet.

Backwards stoppie, like hit the popper backwards & bounce the front tires in the air? If so yes, Tim in Hillbilly does that a lot, he calls them pop & drops, usually guys doing these have some kind of bar in the rear in the hopes of it possibly keeping them from going over backwards. & it usually works.

Thanks for the feedback on what you’d like to see in the videos, I’ll use those suggestions.


Southern Oregon guy? Or were you just in the neighborhood?
We’ll be up by Salem later this year, (September I think)
Click to expand...
I live north of Klamath Falls. But every body here shops in town. It’s the only place.
 
Skipped_Link said:
First two times with the headaches we were outdoors, first was an indoor venue, but we were staging outside, we blamed possible or nearly heat stroke in that one cause it was hot & no air flow through the truck,
Next was Elko, outside in the evening, so that eliminated the heat,

Obstacles or jumps are normally based on materials the crew have to work with,
Now bigger companies like monster jam I believe setup a course & mostly stick with the design throughout a season, or series, I’ve never been on the same or comparable corse twice yet.

Backwards stoppie, like hit the popper backwards & bounce the front tires in the air? If so yes, Tim in Hillbilly does that a lot, he calls them pop & drops, usually guys doing these have some kind of bar in the rear in the hopes of it possibly keeping them from going over backwards. & it usually works.

Thanks for the feedback on what you’d like to see in the videos, I’ll use those suggestions.


Southern Oregon guy? Or were you just in the neighborhood?
We’ll be up by Salem later this year, (September I think)
Click to expand...
reverse stoppie is normally called a reverse popper, the pop and drop refers to not driving the trick out from the jumps.
 
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