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8/23/02
Took the Dually motor back to Rydell to be viewed
by Tony Massaraway, the Area Service Manager. Predictably, he declined to help.
So I now get to sue AT in small claims court. Yuk! And, old buddy Derek "The
Giant" Kistner, who used to work for me, has again failed to make good on
his debt, so I am back into small claims on him, too. What a colossal waste of
time all this is. My time. My money. Double YUK!! I'd rather be racing……
Taking
the Gremlin to Flames tonight for another shot at selling it. Gonna go tomorrow
to the very large cruise near Randy's house in Newbury Park. 8/26/02
The
Newbury Park Conejo Cruise Night was wonderful. Lotsa quality cars. They will
have one more next Saturday night (8/31), then it's over. Talked with Larry at
ATK, and gave him one more day to get Dailey Chevy to come through with a motor
before I file in small claims court. This is so maddening, as I've already lost
a month of space-wasting, money-wasting, time-wasting dumbness with the dually
just sitting and taking up space. It will be at least another 30 days to get this
to court, 30 more after that to get paid or another motor. I'm considering just
taking the motor over to Barrington and fixing it and getting on with it. Decisions,
decisions. And the MESS out front. Triple YUK!!! Road Hog is back, although he
is busy trying to get busy. 8/29/02
Still going in circles on the dually
motor. ATK is trying to make it happen, the Chevy folks just don't want to budge.
I'm either going to have ATK pick up the pieces by truck and let the Northern
California Chevy rep look at it, or just take it over next week to Barrington
and get going on the repair and see what happens in small claims court.
On
the FC front, Randy and I are gong to LACR tomorrow for another test and tune.
I sure hope the track has enough bite to make it worthwhile. Of course we're picking
the busiest day of the year for traffic on the 14 freeway (CHP report). 8/30/02
We
had to wait about an hour for one of my workers to return with my work truck to
which was attached the tow hitch system. We left about 5:30 pm, and got there
in an hour. Traffic was surprisingly very light. And Randy's truck just tows like
there is no trailer back there at all. We set up, got teched, got in line, and
made a pass, which represented a large improvement over previous attempts. I had
gone to a .150 main pill, softened the high speed back to .065, and other than
having to lift a little ways off the line due to some tirespin, it ran fine through
the lights, recording an 8.83 at 158 mph. We're still about 20 mph slow, and a
second off what we need, but the 60' time told the story: 1.46 secs. We need to
be down around 1.15 or less to be on the number. We leaned it out to a .155 in
the main jet, got in line, and lost our chance for a second run when a top alcohol
car oiled the right lane on his burnout right in front of us. Bernie suggested
packing it up, and as soon as we got the car in the trailer he was running cars
down the left lane only, as I had suggested to him. Just great! A nice perk was
looking up in our pit and seeing a beautiful tall blonde asking me if I remembered
her, and she'd kill me if I didn't. It was April Ortiz! I had never seen her as
a blonde. She was signing off on the license passes for the Japanese fellow in
the alky car who messed the track. She has been licensing herself for her Advanced
ET license, and has run a best of low 7's at 205 MPH!! She is looking to get a
6-second pass. It must be nice to be 10 minutes from the track. So for most of
the session all went well, although the 24-volt charger appeared to have taken
a dump, and the starter is a little iffy, sometimes just clicking and not cranking.
It eventually worked, but we've got to find out what that is about. The generator
worked fine, although I see the need for an easy opening latch to reset the breakers
once in a while. Didn't have need for the AC, as it was cool. I also used my spare
helmet as my forced air unit is at Parker Pumper getting flowed. Doug had mistakenly
not worked on it thinking he was waiting for anOK from me, when I had actually
left a message weeks ago to go ahead. The issue is that under a 7.50 ET, a Snell
95 is required, and my helmets are 90's (year of certification). The certs change
every 5 years, so a 2000 is the current cert, but not needed at this time. So
he will go ahead with the fix, and I'll hopefully get some use out of the two
I have. Still got to get the power supply working on the Cool Suit. And the enlargened
fire suit fits great, so comfortable and roomy now, as it should be. That was
a mere $227 for the alteration. We amost didn't go tonight, as the helmet certs
were being clarified by Jim at CIFCA over the phone. Also discovered we need some
interior lights in the FC, to see what we're doing in the dark lines, like belting
me in, etc. And, we can really use the previously mentioned gonna-do-it front
light on the trailer. Happily ET passed his kidney stone last night, and looks
to be ready to be back in action next week. He is sorely needed (and sore). I've
also got to renew my license with a physical this coming month of September. I
intend to take the car out again on Wednesday, and perhaps Friday also, to see
if we can get it in the 7's, which would be right on for Sacramento on the 12th.
8/31/02
Waiting for my truck again---can't reach Mark. I want to take
the FC and Gremlin to the last Conejo Cruise tonight, and time is getting short.
The back continues to be rotten, and work is taking most of my available energy
and time. Gotta take tomorrow and Monday for myself. Just gotta. 9/1/02
Got
Jerry Lee to drive the Gremlin and got both cars to the cruise. The Gremlin again
sucked something into the needles in the carb, or has a float problem. It stalled
about two blocks from the house on the return trip. Gonna pull the blower off
it, drop the price abourt $3000, and hopefully get rid of it. I'll put the Vortech
on the dually after the rebuild. I MIGHT use my Mercruiser injection system still
sitting at Vortech on the dually, but I'll need to take a hard look at the bracketing,
etc. before doing so. I've got the carb box and everything, which I can sell to
Randy for his wagon if need be. Everyone LOVED the FC last night. I drove it in
and out, much to the delight of all. Larry Ofria's son was there, and says he'll
go to LACR on Wednesday with me. That'll work. Maybe we can get the tuneup close
enough to make Sacramento a worthwhile trip. I am a little worried about taking
the work dually all the way there. I need to do some exhaust work, check the oil
(very low pressure, just like the Gremlin was, and a quart down just like the
Gremlin), and I REALLY need some tires, a big hit. Actually, it was $542, and
was done very quickly. Gotta find a spare rim however. And, on Tuesday I'll run
it over to Huth Muffler and verify the leak (manifolds?). Tomorrow I will consult
with Rob Anderson of Vortech about removing the blower. And at the 111 degrees
it was today, and with no AC in the Mercedes (and the mechanic is off for three
days) or the truck (none in it), I think I may just have to invest in a Vintage
Air setup if I'm going to tow to Sacto. I finally figured out why the video woud
not record for more than 15 secs at a time-it is on the memory stick mode. Now
to figure out how to get it on the tape. 9/5/02
Got to LACR, but Ofria
never called. Actually got a partial run on tape, thanks to some Van Nuys guys
who were out at LACR. They came by our pit and showed us their tape of our first
two runs. Then we handed them our cam, and of course that was the aborted run.
Might get some poster shots off the tape, though. Louis promises to come by with
his tape so I can load it here.
We're still quite off on the tuneup, run 9.O's
in the high 150's. I tried going leaner on the second run at a .160 in the main,
and that worked well. On the third run I bumped it up to a .165 and a .70 in the
high speed, and it didn't like it at all. So we're going back to the .65 in the
high and see what gives. I've decided to forego Sacto now, as we just don't have
a tuneup. Again saw April Ortiz, looking lovely as ever. We're really stumped
at this point.
9/11/02
Pete Mauriello has kindly offered two communications
with several informative and helpful strategies. I have done most of them already,
but a few remain, and they may hold an answer to THE question. On the dually front,
we completely disassembled the motor, cleaned off the pistons, and found two more
pistons with impact marks, though much less severe than #5. Now what the heck
could have gotten in there, or more likely what was already in there that got
loose into THREE (2, 5, 8) cylinders? Obviously nothing got through the air cleaner,
and nothing came off the carb, so something must have been loose in the heads
or manifold. If I had been driving through ground zero with no air cleaner a year
ago, then I could understand it. But motoring down the freeway at 5 mph WITH the
air cleaner on, and after 2000 miles? VERY mysterious. Going to pull the blower
off the Gremlin probably tomorrow, and work toward closing the hood back up. Dropped
the price to $5900. Haven't heard from Louie with the FC runs on tape as yet.
Got a frame out of the aborted third run showing nitro-like flames-really hot.
SO some good came out of it. That picture has been sent to CIFCA for the poster.
9/19/02
The
bad news is CIFCA needs a 4x6 of the shot. That will take a little doing.
Was
going to take the mags to Zig today, but my trailer ramps are on the work truck,
and it's impossible to get under the car in the trailer. So, tomorrow for that.
Completed my "FAA" race car physical (once a year over age 55) complete
with EKG, and will send that back tomorrow with my check to NHRA. On the VERY
good side, the slimball against whom I prevailed in arbitration has a check for
3/4 of the money due today. That's a nice switch, for a big change. He had the
temerity to ask for a discount on the remaining balance!! Unbelivevable attitude!!!
Yeah man, I WON'T put a sheriff in his store (at $220 per day) if he pays in ten
days!!! How's that for a deal? Randy and I will be starting on his garage in about
3 weeks. That will be nice to do some good things for him. We may get some side-by-side
runs come Jan-Feb. 9/24/02
Took both mags to Don Zig. Had Joe check
the rev limiter, which works as designed, although it starts cutting spark at
8000 rpm and clicks things off at 9200. Both mags were down a bit on charge, at
about 3.4 amps rather than the ideal 3.8. Mind you, these are about a year old
from being freshened, and one was not used at all. I ran the tuneup problem by
Don, who suggested a really good guy to come out and look at the setup: Pete Mauriello!!
Small world, eh? In the dually world I ordered two more pistons. Don Barrington
called and I am dropping off the other head to have the valves checked this morning.
He is done with the block. Picked up one head and the block. Don suggests the
mysterious section of spring found in the pan could be from the rear main seal.
We'll check that a little later today. He said all the valves on the left head
were leaking. Apparently debris just goes everywhere under vacuum. It will be
interesting to see what gives on the right side head valves. 9/26/02
Going
to pick up the right side dually head tomorrow from Barrington. Sounds like he
did the valves on that one, too. Talked with Pete Mauriello again. Pete feels
strongly the cam is retarded a tooth or more. We discussed just how to dial the
actual # in to see what is what. I feel capable of doing it. It would be helpful
to locate the cam card for the motor to see what it SHOULD be. I'll call ISKY
and see what they can recommend as well. 9/28/02
The dually right head
was leaker as well. So either the valves never really had a good seal or they
all had taken some junk in the seats. So that makes about $500 in machine work
so far, plus the pistons, gaskets, etc. to come. This looks like $800 to a grand
in repair parts alone on a guaranteed motor (YUK!!!). In a happier vein, a fellow
named Gary from San Marino called several times during the week about the Gremlin.
After three false starts (he didn't make the appointments), he showed up this
afternoon, took a ride, and loved it. Turns out he used to own a Gremlin with
a SBC years ago. He's got a bad hip and lousy knee, and we've both owned Gremlins.
Sorta blood brothers as it were. He appears very interested. If he does not come
through, I will take the Gremlin to Famoso next week for the Hot Rod Reunion.
On the tool front, I had been looking for my dial caliper for weeks, and broke
down and bought another for for $109 last week, noting I would trip over the other
one shortly. I did. Fortunately, I got full credit on its return (unused). Ran
into Vince Ofria at Flames last night, and he says he'll come out Wednesday to
work on the FC. 10/6/02
Naw, he didn't even call. Gary did not respond
to my calls of other interest in the Gremin (more later), so I took it to Famoso.
Ran just great all the way up and back. Held 165 degrees and just purred along,
listening to the radio, chatting away with good friend from over 40 years, Ray
Zecca. He and I are SO physically trashed. We laughed about the extreme gymnastic
exploits of our youth, the great days of Muscle Beach, etc.
The Hot Rod Reunion
at Famoso was great. They had a very expanded cackle fest at 6 PM where about
40 nitro cars came down the return road and into the staging lanes, and lined
up one after another in the left lane until they each had to shut off. Remarkably
different sounds there, including the Howard Cam Special which not only sounded
different but had the sweetest smelling exhaust. Ran into Gene Winfield, a legend
and seemingly ageless 74 now who looks and acts about 30. Full head of healthy
hair, walks like a teenager, eyes sparkling, energy just nuclear. This guy is
scary young. I'm not kidding about this. He has moved to Mojave and is busier
than ever. He has a car show scheduled on Sunday Nov 10th at his shop, the day
of the NHRA Finals (he regrets not catching the conflict in time). I'll make it
up there and check out his scene. I indulged myself in the Ring of Fire event
at 9 PM on Saturday. For $14 each a crowd of 1320 people were allowed in the staging
area, surrounded by 50 fuel cars. All lights were turned off, and for over 3 minutes
it was surround-sound thunder of snarling, barking, cackling, throaty, rumbling
fuel cars growling at each other. Utter heaven. There were some tears, mostly
from the nitro fumes. It was truly a moment to remember for a lifetime. To be
immersed in a sport, surrounded by the thunder of interest and participation and
the crowd….well, just spectacular. It just doesn't get any better than that.
No takers on the Gremlin there, although there was great interest and constant
crowds around it, and some cards taken. Gary called me while I was there and said
he'd broken a rib, and asked that I call him Monday or Tuesday. So, the Gremlin
may still go to him after all. Also saw John Van Houten (who may be CIFCA race
director next season), Randy (Mike Kirby's twin engine car lunched the rear engine),
Monty from IMI (who suggested I bring the new starter back down for a peek). Randy
showed me Tim Haan's mind-boggling display dragster re-creation of some famous
front-engined beauty. This car is built to literally mil-apec standards, with
lots of CNC machined parts, all powder coated, flawless body work, carbon fiber
seat, unique engineered brackets, etc. It won't pass tech because the roll cage
apparently does not meet new standards. Tim told me it was a "design exercise."
Yeoww!!!! This is a humungo dollar exercise! Startlingly well done, mind-boggling
in its perfection. He has no interest in running it, just starting it and displaying
it. 10/14/02
Got the mags back from Zig. Oddly, the points on the spare
mag, which has only sat in its case in the trailer, were a bit corroded. I will
henceeforth keep it in the house in a closet, with a bag of dessicant close by.
I will also wrap the one on the motor in like fashion. In a fleeting though talking
with Randy yesterday, it occurs to me that our timing marks may not be correct.
Oh, I think the marks are in the right places on the crank hub, but I my not be
properly referencing them to TDC (top dead center). Either today or tomorrow I
will ascertain that. Perhaps our problem has just been lazy timing to this point.
That would be nice. I need to procure a positive stop to screw in the #1 spark
plug hole, so that I can determine real TDC. You have obviously not gotten this
update as yet, as the NEW whiz-bang PC (Piece of Crap) computer on which this
site is stored and from which it is updated has continued to not work. What a
colossal waste of time and money that has been. I should have just bought a complete
Compag, Dell, etc. and been done with it. Bad advice from a good guy. So much
for the bargain component approach. After spending almost three months a probably
close to a grand messing with it, it is over being diagnosed ($70) and may need
its brand new guts replaced (another $155 and up). Oh joy. These are meaningless
things in the bigger scheme of life, and yesterday sadly proved that when I got
a call from my sister weeping and telling me her husband had just suffered a deep
brain hemorrhage. I ran down there and in discussing it with his neurosurgeon,
the outlook is extremely bleak, and he is presently not operable because of being
on a blood thinner regime. Should he make it far enough to get surgery, he has
only a 50-50 chance with his heart problems of surviving anethesia. And all that,
providing he doesn't throw more clots or get pneumonia in the interim. So boys
and girls, take all this racing stuff for what it is supposed to be: FUN. It is
a lot of work, a great deal of frustration, but it's all good. 10/27/02
There
has been a little good, and a lot bad. Had a client go just ballistic over NOTHING.
I don't mean over something little, I mean over zero. We have been SO attentive
and working to do some really good and thoughtful things for this guy. This guy
has me by the wallet, and knows it. That is the point. Our contact does not allow
for lawsuits, but he is doing it anyway, guaranteeing, along with some lying and
deception as to where the hearing was, to cost me thousands, which of course I
don't have. He has infinitely deep pockets and this is just sport screwing for
him. Also, good friend and brother-in-law Jock died last Sunday. So sad.
On
the brighter side, business has been good, and would be much better if people
weren't involved! Got the mags back on, after much massaging by Randy on some
new keyways. We found the lower pulley loose, about 3 degrees worth. Now we can't
get the thing to fire. I believe the entire problem has been a timing thing. So
I've got to re-determine TDC, check the front markings, and start again. Yuk!
Just more proof that the idiot (ka-boom) who was surfing on the CIFCA chat site
REALLY has no clue as to what it takes with these cars. 11/7/02
Done
ZERO on the car for the last few weeks, thanks to the ruthless sport-litigation
thrown upon me by the above-mentioned insane client. Have got to take the car
out today and take a picture for the CIFCA calendar. And finally we have commenced
on the improvements to the Garage Mahal: building some more cabinets, covering
the exposed shelving with sliding Maple doors, and running major electrical to
the far side of the garage for the cabinet-making operation and saw.
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