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Topics - BattlestarGalactic

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Private Classifieds / WTB '64 galaxie spindles

« on: August 30, 2018, 08:37:59 AM »

Found a Wilwood 4 piston kit. Needs stock spindle but I don't have any for wagon since it has '77 Tbird parts on it currently.

Not quite FE, but car is FE powered.

FE Technical Forum / Finally got my carb comparison done Friday night...

« on: July 29, 2018, 08:40:03 AM »

I've had a pair of 735's that I converted to single feed a few years ago. I had a few issues trying to get them working, like float issues that I finally sorted out(was a real "duh" moment). I tried them back in spring before I loaded the car for Beaver. I knew they ran okay but wanted to get a new baseline so I put my 600's back on for first pass at Beaver. Well, my weekend ended quickly with transmission issues so I finally got some time to get to a TnT night.

I made a pass with the 600's. Car went 11.05 @ 122 mph. I bolted the 735's on and tried again. Went 11.08 @ 122. I have a wideband in the car just for this purpose and my A/F went way rich. Was 12.5, now 11.2 so I need to lean them out a touch. I think there might be maybe a tenth in it if I get them dialed in. I wasn't expecting anything real drastic, but was curious and that is why I wanted to try them.

In doing the conversion, I just used a pair of 600 rear plates since that is what I had laying around. I need to investigate what the jetting is so I can take some out. The 600's I run are basically blueprinted stock, with only a jet change to 67(66 stock), the lightest secondary springs, and larger squirters.

The one big thing I noticed was the drastic change in throttle response. Wow, completely different then the 600's. Real snappy, like having an alum rod motor snappy. I'm guessing it has to do with that stepped booster. The 600's work well, but no where near this. I found it harder to keep rpm in the burnout due to any flinch of your foot would zing the motor instantly. I don't run any 2 step. Never have. Never an issue. This would just be something I would have to adjust myself for after 23 yrs of running the 600's.

Not sure when I'll get another chance to try the carbs. At my stick races you don't get any extra time for playing. Two time trails and you race.

Non-FE Discussion Forum / Last race of the season..........

« on: October 25, 2017, 02:05:17 PM »

Well after about 4 yrs, Dragway 42 finally is up and running and they held their first "Halloween Thing" on the new track. Quite the spread. I went up Friday morning, gates opened at 9am. Time trials through afternoon and gamblers race Friday evening.

Three time trials were given, the ol boat went 6.982, 6.983, 6.985. Hmm, not bad for a heavy, small tire, stick shift car with two 600 vacuum Holleys on it? I was pitted next to a few 42 racer buddies from years past that run in Box class with Chebbys. I was all over them, showing my time slips and asking..."hmmm, I don't know exactly what I should dial? Got any ideas?"

They just shook their heads and mentioned how their cars were all over the place and told me I think I should do well this weekend.

I dial 6.98 first round, went 6.985 again(I ran it flat out as I went -.019 red). I get back to the trailer and "they" ask me "what did it run?". I tell them "just another 6.985". The priceless look in their eyes.

I bought back in(why not, it's the last week of the season). I leave the 6.98 on it, go 7.00 as the 60ft went to hell. Next round I go 7.01 as the traction keeps slipping away(pun intended). Fourth round I figure I can't keep holding on and dial 7.00. I go .002 on the light and hit the brakes to a 6.94

WTH? Still took a bit too much stripe, but didn't expect it to pick up and fly like that at 1 am!

Saturday, our one time trial was 6.99 again. There was suppose to be a "dash for cash" time trials on Saturday, but with the car count that was cancelled. Lucky, as my "buddies" told me that I was going to have to dial to the .001 if I entered.

There were 564 entries, so it was PACKED!! That included probably 100 double entries, but the lanes were still jammed full. I made it to second round where I went -.008 red. We had Trick or Treat and then racing continued on til about 1am.

Sunday we got NO time trials as they knew with the car count there was not enough time in the day to get it all in before Monday rolled around. I again went out 2nd round with -.008 red. Ugh. I was really good on the lights overall. Couple reds, nothing worse then a .050 in elims. Much more consistent then earlier in the season. I was really out in left field and could not find a happy place.

I had a really good time. Got to see lots of racers I haven't seen in 4-5 yrs when I used to get to all the 3 day events at the old DW42. One comment was made to me by a fellow racer up in the lanes "Well you know it's like the old days when it's the Halloween Thing and Larry Kortkamp is jamm'n gears". I thought that was pretty cool. That came from someone that I knew of but didn't really associate with much even though we both ran no box points for years.

I did have a slight issue. Seems the back corner of the oil pan has got a drip. Only gets bad when the car is running. Had a few friends tell me that they were wiping up something when I left the waterbox. I poked around, didn't really see anything bad. Just a streak running down the front of the block plate. I cleaned it up, took a blue rag and taped it across the back of the block. Seems like it stayed dry then. I was never stopped by officials so I knew it couldn't have been too bad. This sealed the deal though, the motor HAS to come out this winter. I have 4 full seasons on it, with only oil changes in the spring. Haven't had the valve covers off buy maybe twice? Pretty reliable old dump truck motor.

Non-FE Discussion Forum / Had another good weekend...of sorts. Runner up!

« on: July 31, 2017, 09:21:25 AM »

Milan Michigan had a "Stick Shift Shootout" last Saturday during their "Kick'n it old school" event. Everything had to be pre 76. Car show, swap meet, Great Lakes Gasser, gamblers race and the stick shift race. This was NOT a UMTR event. It was put on by a local stick shift racer in Michigan.

The big twist was they ran it on a .400 Pro tree!! Ya. That put a real loop into cutting a good light, especially with my 29" front tires and 8" of suspension travel. I was adjusting everything I could to try to get a decent light but everyone was in the same boat basically.

The track had TEETH. Car was hooking HARD and basically still pulling the wheels into third gear. The more air I put in the rear tires, the higher it seemed to go.

With only 12 cars showing, they ran a DOUBLE elimination so instead of only 3 rounds, it took 6 rounds to win. It was actually kind fun...until my bye into the final. I hit third gear and all hell broke loose. I split the transmission case in a dozen pieces or more, it puked its guts pretty hard. I made a quick stop and pulled to the side of the track. The starter got down and thanked me for a quick stop. It was near the end of the day and so I didn't hurt the program time wise.

Once we strapped a pan to the bottom of the car we were able to finally get the the transmission in a good enough neutral to be able to pull it back to my trailer. It was jammed up pretty good

. It's ugly. I got it pullled last night and got it apart. Ugly. 1,2,3 are trashed, case is junk. Besides that...it's all good LOL!! I made a call to my buddy Stanley Dye who gave me this GF5R to run 4 yrs ago. We talked this morning and he is setting me up with a new case and gear sets. I have my original Nash I bought in 1997 and will be putting it back in for the meantime. I broke it 4 yrs ago, thus when Stanley gave me a box to run. I fixed mine and it has just sat there since all covered in dust.

I got runner up money, $150(better then sharp stick in the eye). The race organizer is putting another one on in Sept during another nostalgia event at Milan. He hopes more guys will show up and run. Winner got $600, he hopes to make that $1000 next time. If things continue to grow, he hopes to put on 3-4 races next year. The 3 3/4 hour drive is a bit long, but doable. With the air conditioning and cruise control in the Mack it is not a horrible way to travel.

A friend posted pics/videos on Facebook, so you have to find me to see the links.

Non-FE Discussion Forum / Just how lucky can I be??

« on: July 17, 2017, 12:16:18 PM »

Well, I went to Thompson Saturday for my next UMTR points race. Got unloaded, warmed the car up and then made my way to the lanes for first time trial. Life is good. Or is it. 5K rpm and BANG!!!!!! NO go. First gear has left the building. Typical. So typical that it happened near exactly ONE year ago to the day. I was at Norwalk in 2016 for FF Reloaded #1 and on Saturday night, few rounds in I lost first gear at the line. I replaced it with a new set from Gforce. Seems they are only good for one year at a time.

The whole issue is first gear cluster has only 17 teeth. Yes, it is a very, very tiny, thin walled gear. With 600ft/lb and 5000 rpm takes its toll on it. I've got it apart and parts on the way. Will be good for next weekend for the first race at the NEW Dragway 42! I can't wait to see what it is like now.

Non-FE Discussion Forum / Fun Ford "Reloaded" at Norwalk Winner!

« on: July 10, 2017, 09:13:50 AM »

Well, after a rough start to the 3 day event, I pulled it out on Sunday and won Nostalgia class. Then onto the King Ford Run off I went to the semi finals.

Weather was near perfect, except for some light rain on Friday morning as we entered the gates. Beyond that it was blue skies and perfect summer breeze for three days.

We started with 2 time trials Friday for the Gamblers race that afternoon. I have been having horrible time with my lights so I was playing clutch linkage and front tire pressures to get myself back into it. I was close, but with a -.004 first round I was not quite there.

Saturday we got 3 time trials and I was doing well on the lights and the car was running well, in the 11.00-11.03 range. Traction was good and it was carrying the wheels to the 60ft mark. My first faux-paw of the weekend was trying to finally try out the 780 carbs I had converted to single feed. As I was swapping them out I had to swap AN fittings on the carbs. Well my rear carb fitting was stripped and would only unscrew about 1 turn and lock up. I quickly decided to not go any farther. I then tried to get the fitting back in and NOT leak. It took a few adjustments but just short of completely stripping it, it quit leaking like a sprinkler. Ugh. My next major failure was after winnning first round with a .004 light.............I somehow, with much ado I never heard the call for second round and missed it completely. Ugh. My big issue was there was no one around me with Nostalgia class to "watch" for. The sound system is all that at Norwalk(Summit Equip Motorsport Park), but they had it turned down to "1" and you could barely hear it only if no cars were running. In the thick of things it was very hard to hear. It was my complete fault. Oh well. Sunday I turned the radio on in my trailer and had it blaring so that issue could not happen again.

On to Sunday, the car was running well, my lights were good and I went 5 rounds to win the class. That is where the King Ford run off comes into play. They take Sat and Sun winners and run them off. I had to run Sat NOS winner to advance. I stepped up really hard, put a .000 light on him! I then had to run the Street class winner. I adjusted clutch linkage and tire pressure and went .035 to his .025. I went -.002 under my dial. It was moot as he went dead on with a 5. There was no wiggle room if you do the math. That Street class winner(son of a fellow I raced with at DW42 for years) went on to beat the No box winner for King Ford!!! (Box and No box had run off to get a winner).

All in all a good weekend. I did find out that my helmet is out of date? WTH? I told them that I just was at Columbus and they didn't say anything(and Trails is very, very strict). He just said they musta not looked very close. He let me run but said I better get a helmet for my next race. Sooooo, I guess my winnings will go towards a new bucket, and a couple new fittings for the carbs.

Until I get a new photo acct set up somewhere, not pics to add.

FE Technical Forum / Took home all the marbles yesterday.....ended up #2 in points for the year

« on: October 16, 2016, 09:35:00 PM »

Well, we had the final points race yesterday. The 12th annual "Gear Jammers Bash", aka "Dave and Nona Breedlove Memorial race".

I was 4 rounds behind #1 going into the race. That means I had to win and he go out round 1 for me to get around him. Well, half of that happened. I won.

Unfortunately #1 in points made it to the final also. That means he had the championship wrapped up. I did win the final to take home all the marbles, a nice payout and 30 gals of fuel. It was a very tough 5 rounds, and with a little luck I pulled it off. With only a couple classes running it was basically round robin all afternoon.

Not that I'm ready for a 7 month nap, but don't have much choice in the matter. Likely go through the engine this winter. I'm on my fourth season and that is after 35 passes on the dyno to start off. I haven't even had the valve covers off since that first summer(haven't check valve lash or anything). Few oil changes and couple sets of plugs. Not bad for an old dump truck engine. Ran 10.9's at 121 mph yesterday. No different then 4 years ago.