Technical ***October 2016 Banger Meet - Great Pumpkin Time!***

That coupe had two carbs in use at the recent "Mud Run" but at "Chopped", the recent dirt drags event, it was only running one, with 51 jets, I believe. The coupe is a work in progress by Travis Constantine. The carbs are a bit of fun.

 

Checking in for the month. I was digging around the shop and came across some used champion plugs and was wondering about them and how they might work in an A. 2COM and 3COM. I see on line they are equivalent to the auto lite 3076 I am currently running.



If they clean up and run well I will run them. I like their vintage looks over the modern looking auto lite set I have been running.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

A little side note. I found 6 of the 3COM plugs which leads me to believe they came out of my 22 Buick many years ago and 4 of the 2COM so they prolly lived in an A. Which one is hotter?


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

That coupe had two carbs in use

thank you

 

Good news with your engine. Check the Stipe Aluminum Flywheel as an option. See you Lincoln in June.

 

It's a part of the racing scene.
Finished re-assembly of the car today to get ready for ElMirage in 2 weeks.
Oil in, pre-lubed, good pressure, hit the starter and fires right up.
Ran good for about 30 seconds and then loses a cylinder. Shut down and start checking.
Hmmm, #3 is low on compression, real low.
This might explain it.............

The seat exploded and went out the pipes when the valve head was shoved sideways up into the port.
Stem is bent and the guide broken.
Piston is just beat up enough that it needs to come out too.

There's always Nov race..........J

 

Man I'm sorry to see that.

But your right. In building race engines we all push the edge and despite all efforts things do just fail without warning.

 

total bummer . did it give any warning ? so not cool !

 

Thanks Bluto, it could have been much worst.
This could have happened on course at over 6k revs.
I have a new seat large enough to cut a new pocket and find a valve.

These thing happen with no warning, so far I have been pretty lucky.
Off to the shop this morning, John

 

Thanks, I was bummed at first, not now, just working the process.

Take care, John

 

Tough luck John. I hope it all comes together for a record run at the next race.

.

 

I'm like that ... mad when it happens , but then the repair starts . when we had a drag bike , new motor blew up in my garage , no time on motor . got on the phone & started the repair process . racin is patience thing

 

I've been pretty lucky but things do fail. AND sometimes you do have to remind yourself to just fix it.

 

just looked at weather for Pismo oct. 14 - 16 ................ rain !

 

Steve

Is this baseball? Car or you made of sugar? We race old cars in WEATHER!

 

no , just going to be wet for spectators (me) . ca in a drought for several yrs now , but rain just for TROG

 

I doubt that rain will slow any time beyond normal

 

Picked up my A flywheel and Pressure plate from the machine shop yesterday. I suspect that the pressure plate was made offshore as you can see how much material was removed to balance the complete assembly. The flywheel weighed 36 pounds..stock is supposed to be 66 pounds.

 

that's crazy ..........

 

You could have installed the clutch cover without a bolt there instead

 

it may be the picture, but, that side of the cover looks like the flange is much larger than the other side.
could be it would have been "balanced" differently.

J

 

Rain on Friday..Then partly cloudy...Chance of a shower Saturday and Sunday. We need the rain. Engines should run a lot better in the cold and damp.

 

I sure hope your correct

 

The clutch cover ad flywheel are marked thus allowing mounting the cover on the flywheel correctly overtime. There are two solutions to this problem in addition to what they did. 1. Weld a small weight to the opposite end instead of all that silly drilling which could weaken the cover OR 2. Rebalance the flywheel with the cover in place and drill the wheel instead. In some of my old stuff where parts are impossible to obtain I have used both solutions. Your balancer should have contacted you to explain your options.

My balancer was a one owner outfit and the gent had done this all his life and he still called and left the option to me

Honestly if this were mine I would fill his ear with your dissatisfaction with this stupid solution and find another firm to deal with in the future. If you choose to find someone else to do the job always explain(in a nice way) that if there is ever a problem they should call and inform you AND GIVE YOU THE CHOICE OF SOLUTIONS!

If it were me I;d put the whole mess together...... flywheel and cover and put it in center's and spin it to make sure it's correct. turn it by hand and see if see trys to run over(forward) or back like a wheel and look for a heavy spot and then slam it on the front counter and demand a new cover. But that's just me. I don't recommend it.

All these shops can offer is prompt and correct service. AND THEY KNOW THE WORLD IS A SMALL PLACE.

Remember things break anyway and often enough without someone fucking them up by less than professional work.

Many times here in Europe I have to fight the "It's just an old car" or "THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH" notion.

 

I have to fight the "It's just an old car" or "THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH" notion.
This is exactly why I do my own machining and assembly.
I have over the years spent enough money fixing others "can't see it from my house" mentality to buy the machines necessary.
I just had a valve break in a motor, could it have been caused by me, sure, but I do know if it was not me, it was a human being.
As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.
Keeping this in mind makes you think more about what you are doing, even if it is just opening a bottle of good scotch.
J

 

Half a banger......



Last race of the year. Now we have six months to improve the chassis and get a little more power out of out of 45 inches.

 

jimski , love the car !

I concur with jim on the balance job on the clutch pressure plate . a lot of material off one arm

 

leaving in the morning for a rainy TROG

 

sure is wet here ... more coming ... "rain checks" ?

 

does anyone know if the race at Pismo is still on ?