Fried Alternator Wire

[patrickt]

Or you could just drive over to Little Rock and use the big parking lot out in front of the War Memorial stadium to practice running it around in "figure eights" for a while without worrying about hitting anything. It's right off South Monroe Street -- I don't think that's very far from where you are.

[DanEC]

I'm working on it - I'm working on it! Got to get past the teething problems - fried alternator, broken shock, no charge, out-of-order turn signals and brake lights, leaking brake master. And also get over this terribly respiratory crud I've now had for 4 weeks and a day so far, three doctor appointments, two rounds of anti-biotics and one round of prednisone.

Hey Patrick - I'm impressed you know your way aound Little Rock.

[1795]

Dan,

Go with Chas' advice and drive it. As you said, the exhaust leak can wait until winter. Actually, I was pretty impressed that I could hear the exhaust leak, thought that my hearing was worse than it is There is nothing like the feel of an ERA. Hell, just a quick sprint in the car will probably cure you of that respiratory crud; at 100 mph the wind will create enough suction to draw the crud right out of your lungs!

[DanEC]

[quote=ERA Chas;1314548]Dan
Ya know I love you...
but will you just DRIVE THE DAMNED CAR???
Over 4K RPM. With your undercar system, no one on the street will be scared. Carry RPM in the gears.
[quote]

OK Chas - while out for a leisurely ride through the country lanes this morning I hit 5000 in second gear - better? Keith builds a smooth reving motor - revs as smooth as a small block (not that I've ever owned a small block of anything except a late model Mustang).

Dan

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by DanEC

OK Chas - while out for a leisurely ride through the country lanes this morning I hit 5000 in second gear - better? Keith builds a smooth reving motor - revs as smooth as a small block (not that I've ever owned a small block of anything except a late model Mustang).

Dan

ONLY ONCE???
KC builds a jewel of a motor-USE IT!
I know you want to work up to the car and that's fine. But wasn't that a great feeling going through 5K?
Get out and row through the gears using as much engine as possible with downshifts-stop coasting down to stops. You work up a rhythm much easier that way. And you will grin like a fool.
The car really pays you back that way.
This is not like your mid-year which was an excellent addition to your 401K but no match for this dynamically. This really wants to be driven-hard and skilfully.
You can do this with more peace of mind on track if you'll believe me and are street-worried.
I get the quiet country lanes but I have them here too; they are a thrill to get right at the upper limits. Except coming into my development, I drove it like track laps and avoided traffic.
If you 'get it', Cobras encourage you to be immature well into your 'sunset' years.

[DanEC]

[quote=ERA Chas;1314890]ONLY ONCE???
KC builds a jewel of a motor-USE IT!

Well, I didn't have much time - by the time we got back from our usual Saturday morning, senior citizen discount breakfast at IHOP it was already getting pretty warm and I was getting a little shaky from the meds for the crud I'm still taking.


Get out and row through the gears using as much engine as possible with downshifts-stop coasting down to stops. You work up a rhythm much easier that way. And you will grin like a fool.

Here in Sherwood, we have probably one of the highest cop densities in the US - if they see you grinning like a fool they figure you're up to something. I've even had the distinction of being ticketed in my own driveway a couple years ago which I did not take well.


You can do this with more peace of mind on track if you'll believe me and are street-worried.

Not much track access in Arkansas - I think way over at Memphis is probably the closest - about a 110 miles down the heaviest truck traffic corridor in the US. Few dragstrips about 80 to 90 miles away. But I would probably be thrown off for no roll bar. I pretty much have to get my kicks (such as it be) on county roads and if you know Arkansas, there aren't many that have a straight stretch for long. But keep it going Chas I'm slowly getting there.
QUOTE]

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by DanEC

I pretty much have to get my kicks (such as it be) on county roads and if you know Arkansas, there aren't many that have a straight stretch for long. But keep it going Chas I'm slowly getting there. [/i]
QUOTE]

That's the GOOD part..

-and yes, I will Dan.

[patrickt]

Well, you do need to experience what happens when you, for whatever reason, just happen to push the throttle pedal all the way to the floor. First, you need to find out if anything goes "BANG" and falls off your car. But, more importantly, you need to just see what happens, how the car breaks loose, how it comes around, etc. The stadium parking lot is the spot where I'd try that for the first time. With the car just "idling" across the parking lot in first gear, plant your right foot down as far as it will go. That's your first lesson -- there will be many more.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The stadium parking lot is the spot where I'd try that for the first time. With the car just "idling" across the parking lot in first gear, plant your right foot down as far as it will go. That's your first lesson -- there will be many more.

Sage advice from the Master of the Oyster Bar Parking Lot ............

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Sage advice from the Master of the Oyster Bar Parking Lot ............

I never put sage on my oysters.

[patrickt]

In all seriousness, this thread today Intro, cautionary tale is the perfect example of why you need to take your car out to a nice, safe, large, flat, open area and thrash it around a bit where it can safely break without killing you.

[RICK LAKE]

Dan EC Dan if you are still looking for a heavyduty battery connector for the Alt, check the boating world. They have all different styles to fit on the back of the Alt. Complete covering of the stud and connector. Any Large marine store will have it. If you need one, we have Lockwood here and come mail you one. Problem solved. Side note, lie to the guys and tell them you drove the car before someone gets whinie.eek:: Rick L.

[DanEC]

As a followup I ordered a alternator wire boot from Summit and it fits like it was designed for a Ford (I think it's listed for GM alternators). A little shot of WD40 and it slid over the large ring terminal fine and it clamps snugly over the red insulator ring on the alternator. No chance of an accidental short now.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

In all seriousness, this thread today Intro, cautionary tale is the perfect example of why you need to take your car out to a nice, safe, large, flat, open area and thrash it around a bit where it can safely break without killing you.

Dumb advice. Large parking lots or stadium parking lots are usually littered with all sorts of debris and crap. Literally, crap. And aren't normally paved well. You'll tear up your beautiful car.

I'd find a local track, see which club is renting it for a test & tune, or whatever, and use that for sorting your car out. There are plenty of events and clubs that do that around here, specifically Thunderhill, Laguna Seca, Infineon and the Marina Airport.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Dumb advice. Large parking lots or stadium parking lots are usually littered with all sorts of debris and crap. Literally, crap. And aren't normally paved well. You'll tear up your beautiful car.

I'd find a local track, see which club is renting it for a test & tune, or whatever, and use that for sorting your car out. There are plenty of events and clubs that do that around here, specifically Thunderhill, Laguna Seca, Infineon and the Marina Airport.

The WMS is the closest thing he's got to a racetrack.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The WMS is the closest thing he's got to a racetrack.

I forgot, he doesn't have a roll bar anyway.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I forgot, he doesn't have a roll bar anyway.

... and I don't think he'll learn much on a 1/4 mile dirt oval. Well, he might learn about insurance policy exclusions.