8/23/06

Well, a lot has happened since last April. LOTS of work, and that's good. I did take the barrel valve to Enderle and Jm replaced all 4 O-rings in about ten minutes for ten bucks, plus giving me a spare set.

I got it back on, Roy and I installed the O-ringed manifold (perfect fit), and put the blower back on. We fired it up and it leaked out of the burst panel. This panel is NOT what I had wanted, rather I wanted a pop-off valve. The machining of the boss for this burst panel is bad in the upper right corner, not providing enough meat for the unit to seal. We pulled off the idler, pulled of the NUMEROUS Allen-head bolts holding the burst panel, and did what we could to seal it up.

It took two months to finally get the car back out of the trailer and install the idler, set the refilled CO2 bottles back in, and get ready to fire it up. I suggested to Roy we change the oil, and it was true baby kaka, as expected. I thought adjusting the valves might be appropriate, too. I caught a MAJOR disaster waiting to happen: #6 exhaust valve was about to drop, due to a keeper having worked halfway out.

We pulled off the blower, manifold, and both heads. The left head proved TOUGH, as one of the two extra bolts (a flathead Allen in the intake port) required a propane torch to heat the head up enough to get it loose. Whew!

The #6 cylinder had three cracks, #2 had a piece MISSING between the intake and exhaust valves, and #1 apparently was the recipient of that piece and the piston was peppered, APPARENTLY not fatally, by the piece.

Short story: the heads on which I spent $2500 having them D-ported by Tri-C Engineering and Mike Kirby at Sissel's are junk. At least the right side head is history. The left actually looks just fine.

So now to find a set of $2000 aluminum somethings to put on there. CRAP!!

We pulled out the backup motor which has been sitting under my table saw, covered with sawdust (only on the outside, fortunately), and Roy and I are going to work on getting that in tomorrow morning.

9/14/06

Started it up today. Sounds MUCH better. BUT, we have an oil pressure issue. At one point it jumped up to 80 pounds, but basically lingers around 20-40 pounds. Not enough.

That it went to 80 is what intrigues me. It is way smoother and nicely responsive.

I started it quite briefly twice, for perhaps 30 seconds the first time and 15 seconds the second. My neighbor's wife (he is Aldo, she is Maureen), peeked through the fence asking how much longer I was going to be. I said one more shot for 20 seconds. She asked me to promise NOT to do one more start, and walked away mumbling something about "you know what I can make trouble for you….”

I did not start it again. I took off for the bank to get Bobcat Willie his cash and came back just after the police had left. Roy and the two police had a great time looking at the cars in the front, and they were very pleasant to Roy, he claims. As I drove up a jet took off and deafened everything for 15 seconds.

Totally silly stuff.......

I dragged out the latest exhaust (remember from ebay?), and it contains NO muffling. I need to grind the bottom of the flanges to clear the head bolts, and I'll use Joe and his plasma cutter tomorrow for that. It appears I'll need to put a little "S" in the 4" diameter portion to clear my lift rams, and could get about 24" of muffler in there. That should do nicely to bring it within reason. So I'll invest some more time and money into yet another exhaust scheme. I think this one might really do it, with a turnout in front of the rear tire. I don't know if I need to cut the body, but if so I can put a trim plate around the opening and cap it when not used, or just leave it.

My neighbor is just a complete idiot regarding this.

I already have two Suburban mufflers and the alien-like flexible stainless 2-1/4” setup, but that really is impractical to install over the existing headers. I might try putting a flanged adapter to the mufflers (they have collector flanges on them now), and maybe just hook them up like that for a shot. I'm intrigued, though, by being able to put a real exhaust in the car, which might afford me the opportunity to run some other tracks. In any event, I'll drag all the pieces out this morning with Roy and see what we can devise.

I am REALLY anxious to get this out on the track and get some lap time. I just received my license renewal form in the mail from NHRA, so it is time.

9/17/06

I ordered some Aero Turbine mufflers, about 22” overall length, 4” in and out. These are purportedly quieter than an equivalent Magnaflow Outlaw of the same size. I am picking up some 4” U-bends at Sepulveda Muffler tomorrow morning, and Roy and I will start fabricating the “S” in the system when the mufflers arrive around 9/21/06. We did the flanges with Joe's plasma cutter. The car is back in the trailer awaiting the mufflers.

I'll do my license this month (it requires a physical).

10/2/06

Got the single 4” u-bend from Kenny at Sepulveda Muffler. A mere $75!! Randy came by today and midway through fabbing the muffler to the header, suggested we shorten the whole assembly to squeeze the muffler in FRONT of the body lift strut, eliminating the two 45-degree bends and about 20” of length. We did so, and after several tentative measurements and cuts, made the final cut and took the assembly to Kenny, whom we discovered had just that moment purchased the business from Harry. Nice going Kenny! Kenny was running off to the business license department to register, so he asked we come back tomorrow. I will. Kenny will swedge the rear portion of the pipes to accept the forward sections. Once accomplished, I'll just tack the mufflers in place and test it all out. If good, I'll make up the left side system and send the super shortys off for performance coating at Rewarder headers. Once back I can have the mufflers tig-welded in place for a neat look. If these sound great, I'll probably use some on the KiloKub.

I spoke with Roy, who happened to have an inside look at an Accusump system while on a truck run through Texas. He feels we were getting low pressure from some slightly smaller fittings on the replacement motor and the slower fill time on the canister. I also do not have the Titan pump on this motor, and that might explain some slowness in building pressure. We have a few little test to make once the “quiet” exhaust is on. If unsuccessful, I'll we'll pull the pan and pump and swap in the Titan from motor #1.

10/8/06

Fabbed up the “mufflers” without the U-bend for now. I set them on, and they are still rather loud.

I DID find what may be the answer to the low oil pressure situation: there were only three quarts of oil in the motor!!!

I called Roy, and he just has NO idea how that could have been. He and I both remember putting LOTS of oil in there. In my hurry NOT to run it long, I forgot to check the oil pressure after it started. I did crank it until I saw about 10#, but ran it less than 10 seconds, hurrying to shut the fuel off and pack it back in the trailer before any police showed up. I was gone within 6 minutes of starting it, including putting it back in the trailer and leaving the property.

Roy will bring his dB meter on Tuesday, and we may try a sound test by taking it up to Ollie's and trying both exhaust systems.

The tires are holding air for about one day before going REAL flat. I need to research some sealant or a tube for them at this point. Removing 24 screws in the bead will not be the greatest.

11/5/06

Went with Randy to the Bakersfield Fuel and Gas Championships. This is the LAST race to be held by the GoodGuys organization. They are bailing from racing and sticking only with Car Shows. Sad.

Next week is Pomona and the big boys.

It was great to see a few CIFCA guys out in the nostalgia fuel funnycar ranks, doing well. I am SO not ready for nitro in my car.

I replaced the bad fuel return line from the pump which Randy found last week with a new Teflon unit from Orme Bros. Roy and I will install it on Tuesday and fire the car briefly. I will then add 3 quarts of oil to recharge to Accusump and then check the chassis, fire suit, and lap belt certifications for expiration dates. I will also mail my license renewal back to NHRA, but after I obtain a copy of my EKG from my doctor. I thought I did not need it. Wrong.

3/4/07

Today is my 12 th wedding anniversary, and approaching my 14 th anniversary with the FC. The last 12 years have been NO racing. That's a VERY long time to keep holding onto the dream.

I have gotten the fire suit updated, a new helmet, the blower restraint re-certified, and am readyt o mail my license renewal in to get me legal again.

The chassis cert is good until July 07.

I have only to put the blower restraint back on (and receive my renewed license), to take it out.

The Garage Mahal has changed a little: I put in a car lift. I doubt the FC will see much use from it, although possible.

It has been a long haul to get this thing back to humping.

The motor change should have done the trick. We'll find out soon.

I have not yet bought another set of heads. That WILL occur soon, now that I have a little cash to use.

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