Repairs so far - Page 2

rocket man · #21 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 09:02 AM

Dear Colin,

I can "feel your pain" putting a body back together - it does take some patience as well as being able to see the complete picture - even though at times, the "Frankenstein look" makes you wonder if it will ever look good again. As you have commented, fiberglass is very forgiving - repairing aluminum would take a whole new set of skills or more likely, a hugh stash of cash. Glad to see you are ready for the paint booth.

Regarding the four link, over the winter I replaced some of heim joints - the one in the wishbone was somewhat tired (i.e., loose) - now that I have replaced this joint, I go straight as an arrow. I have not yet "aired it out", simply focusing on hitting the 8.90 index. Hopefully in one of the next few weekends I can give you an all out timeslip - just to give you a target to beat - ha!

Rockey

John A. Simpson · #22 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 06:03 PM

Regarding your headers question, see www.headersbyed.com
for the info and parts you seek.

colin mullaney · #23 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 11:12 PM

Hi Rockey, glad to hear you're "on track". Hope you have a great year. I'll watch for your E.T. announcement and hope I can keep up! I probably won't be out for another 3 months. Too much work and kids, not enough wife and free time.

John, thanks for the link, I've marked it and will spend some time there when I get a chance. It looks interesting.

Colin

colin mullaney · #24 (**permalink**) 03-03-2003, 11:17 PM

I'm still having trouble finding a strut to replace the one I broke. Any leads would be appreciated. I'd like to find one old style Art Morrison strut (photos available). They stopped making them 10 years ago and ran out of stock two years ago. I've had no luck on the internet so far but will keep trying for awhile. I'll settle for a good used pair of any brand if I need to. I'll buy a new pair if I have to.

Colin

cobrashoch · #25 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 08:42 AM

Colin - Last time you checked in with us you mentioned your motor was gitting a bit "loose" and needed freshened. Have you added any goodies to it this winter for the coming season?
As for the header thing, buy a good tig welder. The rest will take care of itself, by my judging of your work ethic. My first set of homebuilt headers were a mess, as I used a mig welder.
cobrashock

colin mullaney · #26 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 09:46 AM

Hi Cobrashoch, the motor changes this year will be minor but I still hope to see some improvements. It ran 9.48 at 142 on the motor under poor conditions. Restrictive 2 1/8 headers, missing torrington bearing between timing gear and cam, tired rings, poor valve sealing (leakdown was 30-65 % on four cylinders), and gears chosen for nitrous. I was going through the top end at only about 6,000 rpm. I won't change rear end gears but the rest is being corrected.

I ran a 8.40 at 160 on nitrous then found one nitrous line was plugged. Must have been horribly rich and giving up lots of power. That has been corrected too.

Since I can't go any faster than 7.50 I'm going to take my time with power improvements over the next few years. I want to spend this year getting the most out of the motor as is, then next winter port the heads. There is a fair amount of improvement available there, especially on the exhaust side. The year after that will be a bigger cam with wider lobe seperation. They tell me there's room for improvement there too. By then I hope to also be using more nitrous. The cheater is set at the full 250 horsepower but the fogger is only at 250 out of 500. I also have another fogger kit I may add. Who knows where it will end, but I'm having fun.

I agree about using a TIG welder, don't like the mess of a MIG for this application. I'm sure I'll curse and bang and temporarily regret doing the headers myself but it the end it will probably work out and I'll feel good about having done it myself.

How's your's coming? What happened since we last talked? What's happening this year?

Colin

HighPlainsDrifter · #27 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 11:53 AM

Colin,
Looking Good !
You should make a business out of glass work over those cold winters.

Headman has weld up header kits[from summit] might be a good place to start your exhaust project.
Good Luck,
Perry.

ps.- it's been drier this winter so I've been cobra cruising!

colin mullaney · #28 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 12:30 PM

Thanks Perry, I bought the Hedman kit last year and got a few extra J-bends as well. Should help me a little but I am connecting them to Dynomax Collector mufflers that will angle out 45 degrees towards the sidepipes. I'm sure that will present some challenges.

My hope is to meet the 95 db requirement at the track with just the collector mufflers and connect them to the sidepipes when I'm driving around town and near police.

Colin

PS, Great weather out there lately, did the Olympic committee have any snow to see at Whistler the other day?

HighPlainsDrifter · #29 (**permalink**) 03-05-2003, 01:32 PM

Colin,
My son was up at Whistler boarding a couple weeks ago, no snow in the village or 1/2 way up, so it's sparce this year with el ninio. Suppossed to get more snow the next few days.
You'll have to let me know if you're at Mission raceway this year, the air at 24' above sea level should put you well into the 7's.
Perry.

colin mullaney · #30 (**permalink**) 03-06-2003, 12:14 PM

I hope to get out there this year, but chances are only about 60/40. I usually get the ready for the year later than I predict and with less racing budget left than I predict. We'll see.

I would expect to improve some in Vancouver at that elevation but since half my power is coming out of a bottle of it's own good air, it probably won't pick up a huge amount. 24' above sea level sounds far better than 3,500' at Calgary though. It's usually about 5,500' corrected whenever I race

Colin