Continuing Thread: What Are You Fix-It'ing Today?

[A930Rocket]

If he’s climbing up the gutters, you might want to check your attic for squirrels.

[stevej37]

Put a piece of window screen over the bottom...with a zip-tie to hold it in place.

[herr_oberst]

1/2" hardware cloth would probably be the better bet, because window screen would probably clog pretty quickly.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Put a piece of window screen over the bottom...with a zip-tie to hold it in place.

You mean over the outlet.

It goes underground so technically doesn't really have a 'bottom'.

But your solution would still work, except if a squirrel wanted, a window screen wouldn't keep him out.

Would have to be something more durable.

I had a resident squirrel who would take peanuts from my hand. He's been MIA for over a year now, but I really enjoyed having him around.

[stevej37]

^^^ yep...I see now that his goes into the patio. Mine are all open on the bottom and empty onto stones.
The little red squirrels are the worst pests here.

Hardware cloth would be good and easier to bend and shape.

[porsche tech]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

If he’s climbing up the gutters, you might want to check your attic for squirrels.

No squirrels in attic. Already had roof rats (or dune rats) and think that’s taken care of. I have hardware cloth screens on the bottom of regular down spouts. Several chain drips And two that go into the ground (one on a rear patio and one under the driveway. The two into the ground have pop up drains where they terminate. The squirrels can (and do) jump from trees to roof and back to trees. They chew gutters, mail boxes, lawn furniture, you name it. Nonstop problem for all the neighbors. First time I had one get stuck. UGH!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by porsche tech

--snip--First time I had one get stuck. UGH!

Ah....so this was a rescue!

Nicely done, sir.

Our little friends need our help, as much as they can be a bit pesky....they are just doing their thing - much of it due to loss of habitat. Not their fault!

[A930Rocket]

A noob job with the body filler but I’ll sand it down this weekend.

[A930Rocket]

I think I’m going to try and extend the flares down the rear bumper. The question is how to mount them, so the bumper is removable.

[ted]

Pulling an engine today.
Got a lifetime supply of caps and plugs for 2 race cars and 5 engines.

[ted]

2 hours to remove the front plenum, drain fluids and remove engine and drop it into the truck.
Car is on the chassis dolly after some cleaning it gets pushed into the corner till the engine is ready.
Deadline August Monterey Reunion at Laguna Seca.
I have 2 broken engines both have a snapped snout?
I'm getting a new crank with a fat snout and whatever else it takes.

[A930Rocket]

Ted, can you expand on the snout you’re talking about. The front end of the crankshaft?

[ted]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Ted, can you expand on the snout you’re talking about. The front end of the crankshaft?

Yeah the snout right behind the harmonic balancer is where the crank is snapped.
They make a narrow and a wide snout crank.
This kind of a break would be more common on an engine with a belt driven blower.
So not sure why my road racing car has snapped the snout off on 2 cranks.
Perhaps they were both used cheap small snout cranks?
I will be sure to get a new quality crank with the bigger snout.
I run the older 23 degree 630hp V8s in this car and have been trying to make do with 2 less expensive engines in it.
Lucky I like the way this car handles and stops so this effort is worth the time to me.

My other race car runs quality 18 degree 740hp engines and those have not had this problem.

[Baz]

I think it's the water pump leaking where I'm losing coolant - so going to replace it tomorrow on my '02 Silverado. Should be a straight forward job. Look forward to getting this resolved!

[A930Rocket]

Thanks, Ted.

[ted]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Thanks, Ted.

Perhaps the snout failures were related to one of these 5 reasons.
I'll know in a couple weeks when the race shop gets them disassembled.
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2009/07/five-ways-to-break-the-nose-of-a-crankshaft/

[GH85Carrera]

I guess one reaso to run Chevy engines is they are likely a bit cheaper than a Porsche engine. Although race parts are always expensive by design.

I have never heard of a broken snout on an engine. I presume the block is OK, just a new crank and front of the engine parts needed?

[ted]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I guess one reaso to run Chevy engines is they are likely a bit cheaper than a Porsche engine. Although race parts are always expensive by design.

I have never heard of a broken snout on an engine. I presume the block is OK, just a new crank and front of the engine parts needed?

Glen for now I am going to go with your damage assessment.
Yes the reason I went to V8 race cars is that 700hp Porsche power was not in my racing budget.

[aschen]

Front tire life goals.

Looks alot more fun working on actual race car vs a street based track car, still sorry for your cranky crankshafts

[ted]

Originally Posted by aschen

Front tire life goals.
Looks alot more fun working on actual race car vs a street based track car, still sorry for your cranky crankshafts

True, with body removed it is easy access to everything.

The first engine that failed was at the 2018 Long Beach race, saw that motor disassembled today.
See video of the snout snapping off as I short shifted into 5th on the front straight.
So far I've been lucky to always have coasted off track and not mess up a session for the other racers.

This engine had been rebuilt years ago and ran well for many years.
It had a heavy Scat crank 57lbs, could of aged out or maybe a balance issue.
The block and 6 inch rods were still good.
Had 2 types of pushrods, bent and broken lol.
Pistons and valves did touch so going to replace them too.
The heads are aged out, one was cracked near a head stud but not related to the crank failure. They were Brodix 11, old spec heads for 360 sprint cars so no big loss.
The heads were why it never made more than 560hp on the dyno.

Dropped off the second engine (the one we pulled out yesterday) and should know soon what happened to that one.
Hopefully the heads are good on that engine, it made good power at 630hp.
If I'm lucky the big parts will be just a crank and pistons.