To the Guys who have done it, how do you establish the track width and rise you should use? Also do you change the engines angle to compensate for the lifted front end?

I've not built one myself, but I've been to enough Gasser shows to make some dangerous observations. Actual numbers are going to depend on what body you are using.

Most I've seen have the front tires centered in the wheel well, or a touch closer towards the outside fender edge. Most guys are using early 60s truck axles (60" track with very narrow front tires). If the track width is too narrow, it just doesn't look right, but you don't want the tires right at the fender edge, either. A lot of the available "hot rod" axles are too narrow (unless your running a 30s or 40s coupe), in my opinion.


I believe the Gasses rules had a max of 24" from the center of the balancer to the ground. Most I've seen, the center of the balancer was probably 15"-18" off the ground (lift the nose 6" - 8" from stock), if its too high, it will handle like crap at the end of the quarter (if your actually racing it).

No one alters the motor angle (at least not enough to visibly see). All of them I've seen were water pump in the air.
Gene

No most guys aren't using early truck axles these days,most are using the Speedway motors gasser axle setup and can be had in 44" 48" or 50" for around $800

I put a Speedway kit under my '55 Plymouth. Before ordering the kit, me and a buddy mocked up some wheels and tires on the front to get an idea of where I wanted them to land width wise. THEN, i took some measurement, and ordered the axle length that would get me the closest.

It was pretty easy to figure it all out.

Mine is not really a gasser...
I'm working on a 65 Coronet AWB car.
I used a factory I beam axle out of a 68 Econoline van.
Width was slightly narrower than an A-100 axle and you can still readily buy all of the drum brake components reasonably.