Looking out my front window

Zeke · 07-22-2003, 04:30 PM

About 12 hours from now, I'll be on the road to Willow Springs. I'll post pics of any 914s that show up. Chris Campbell will be there for one.

Lots of last minute preparations. You think you're done when 10 more things pop up. Oh, gotta go buy some gas, see ya.

Ron Meier · 07-22-2003, 07:07 PM

Hey Zeke, I hear it's nice up there now. Buildings, paved pits, water, etc, have fun!

woodman · 07-23-2003, 06:51 AM

Way to go Milt! and good luck!

M. Hendrix · 07-23-2003, 10:29 AM

Good luck Mr. Milt, show your ass up there!

M

Zeke · 07-23-2003, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by M. Hendrix
Good luck Mr. Milt, show your ass up there!

M

Say what? When someone shows their ass, I think of being an AH.

Anyway, mostly good day, some bad. Hurt the motor in the heat. I can blame this on the carbs. And I did the carbs but listened to others on jetting. So, I have a couple of siezed pistons. I'll put new P&Cs in there and be back soon. Rest of the car is pretty good. Little tail happy, but that can be dialed out.

Really not much to report. Chris C's car is very nice and pretty quick. Jack Olsen and Dennis Hartigan were there with 911's. You know, Black BeautyII. Dennis has an '82 SC.

That's it.

M. Hendrix · 07-23-2003, 07:06 PM

Ouch!

I hope I didn't jinx ya.

M

07-23-2003, 07:13 PM

Were your carbs set too lean? How hot did your oil get? I hope you can get it together to be at the POC short track on Aug. 17th. Good luck!

John Rogers · 07-23-2003, 07:21 PM

Milt, make sure you cut open the oil filter to see if anything got into the case from the piston problem. I was looking at the temps up there and you are MUCH tougher than I am!!! I am looking for a way to get an a/c unit in the race car??? Good luck.

Zeke · 07-23-2003, 08:23 PM

Oil was a constant 260, head temp constant 350. Track temp was 150 and the air density was above average for the region and the 100+ air temp. Idle jets are 50 after 60's filled the oil with gas during cam break in. I'll look at the air correction and other jets, settings tomorrow.

Something varnish like or very fine (not grit) closed off my idle jets. I'll do a thorough examination of the oil, filter, gas tank and lines before anything else.

To top everything off, one of the spark plugs wires was off after the first session. I gotta get some wires that stay on better than that. These are 8mm spiral core Pertronix wires that require the little brass plug end to be screwed onto the top of the plug. I haven't liked the feel of these ends and the way they don't seal the sheet metal that well.

John Rogers · 07-23-2003, 08:41 PM

Look at some of the plug wires such as Accel or MSd with the really long boots that cover the whole plug which are used by the drag racers. I've used them for years and they have never come loose and sometimes can be a bear to get off even!!

campbellcj · 08:51 AM

What Milt is trying to say is that it was H O T out there!!!

When leaving the track at 4pm-ish, the thermometer in my truck said 105° and it felt much more humid than usual for the desert. I drank at least 6 liters of fluids but was barely keeping up with the sweat output.

Anyways, I had a blast and it was great to meet Milt in person finally. His car looks really slick and should be a fun ride once it's sorted a tad more.

My car was nearly flawless. The only new issue was that I discovered the outboard driver's seat bracket is starting to tear out of the floor. It was previously welded by the PO but obviously not very well. I'm gonna replace the seats and mounting setup anyway so this isn't a biggie.

The gigantic oil cooler setup by Ottos is almost "too good". Even in that opressive heat, the car ran at about 190 all day. Once the thermostat opens, the temp gauge doesn't budge after that.

I also confirmed that I need shorter 4th and 5th gears. The car just can't pull hard up to redline with the stock -4 gears and the small motor. So, in the 7-8 area and the front straight, I wasn't fully in the powerband in 5th because I was only pulling about 5000rpm's in 5th. I could barely pick up 15mph all the way down the front straight. New short-geared box w/ LSD is in work already. Further tuning (carbs) and lightening will help the power-weight ratio too.

I also learned that it's not a bright idea to unload the trailer on a fairly steep (hill) residential street. I had a brain fart and bumped my neighbors mailbox. Fortunately no major damage to cars or mailbox, just a piece of wood I'll have to replace. Doh!

John Rogers · 07-24-2003, 10:28 AM

Chris, something I have noticed in the vintage races is that all the 2L cars are running much lower gearing since their engines are peaking in the 7500 RPM range and don't seem to make much power below 5000. They usually shift down a gear for turn 9 just before the turn in and back into 5th about where the pit exit is on the front straight. I am putting in a lower 5th gear since I am going to a six and loose the low reving/high torque four which had top speed at 5800 RPM. If I was to rey to rev to 7500 with the same gearing the car would be terrible.

campbellcj · 07-24-2003, 03:16 PM

Yep John, that's the scenario. I am exiting 9 at somewhere around 95-100mph indicated (too scared to look at the speedo) near the top of 4th gear; then I get into 5th near the pit exit and I just can't get the car back up into the powerband before I brake for 1. You're fighting the wind pretty hard up over 100mph and with these little motors, the tall gearing just doesn't help at all. My redline is set to 7200.

Zeke · 07-24-2003, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Meier
Hey Zeke, I hear it's nice up there now. Buildings, paved pits, water, etc, have fun!

Yeh, they even built the "House of Charmin," a four holer with handicapped stalls, a ladies only and sinks! If they had a shower, it would be just like home. Only a little hotter.

And, yes, everything is paved that needs to be. No need to drive thru the dirt unless you lunch a motor and take a short cut like I did, LOL.

Zeke · 07-24-2003, 04:33 PM

Lots of paving in the paddock.