BP told on my E-mail Arnie ran 7.23 Friday at Cordova World Series. How did he do Sat. ? Tim M. told me while I was working at the RT.66 Classic event the week before that Arnie made 3 good runs at the Pontiac show at Norwalk a while back. I was glad to hear that.
Lot of people were negative after Beswick hit the wall at Cordova in May. Some boasted to me they were going to get his NHRA license revoked. That he was too old--getting senile? I said, "BULL CRAP! I have seen 30 year old drivers do stranger things." And kill people doing them." "Like doing a burnout with a funny car in the spectator area--and mowing down and killing some spectators!" Yes that really happened--and it was a big name driver.
I was glad when I saw Arnie The Farmer's name on the WS flyer. Apparently the self acclaimed critics change their minds about getting Beswick's license revoked.
I was glad to hear from Tim and BP that Arnie is running good.
Last year when Arnie and I were booked as usual for the 2012 WS ,our names were not even on the flyer! Arnie and I had been reduced to: "AND MORE!" I would like to think, my bitching about that is why Cordova made sure Beswicks name was on the flyer. Why pay us to come and not list us. And how do you explain that to the fans that ask why. It is f---ing embarrassing--I' tell you that! People ask me all year long if I am going to be at the World Series. Fans from everywhere. Even people on the east coast. I had to disappoint lot of fans this year.
But--on the bright side I have been working on the Big Animal. Got the 427 Tunnel Port on a stand to freshen up. I have all new stainless valves. Hopefully only need to polish crank , re hone cylds, Massage valve seats and guides, new valve springs and 10 degree light wt. monal steel Comp Cam retainers. (Retainers on heads yet are still anodized alum. ) New rings and bearings, timing set? ( hopefully the Crower roller and lifters are ok. Have not got that far yet. )The two 660 Center Squirter Holley's will need rebuilt. I will install all new gaskets of course. I only had one orig type 427 steel .025 head gasket. Got it off E-bay couple years ago. $30. Asked on Ford FE Message Board. Pleasant Ford on East Coast had one. Sold it to me for $20.
I Cleaned up and detailed the old Lakewood Bell housing yesterday. Will need a new clutch. My clutch combo in the day was a secret weapon. I used a 11" Savage HP Street Pressure plate coupled to a Hayes organic solid hub Pro Stock disc. That let the clutch slip just enough for that heavy car and help with smoother power shifts. My shifts were so smooth people thought it was an automatic trans. They were astounded when they looked at the car and saw was a stock Ford Top Loader 4 speed and a Competition Plus Hurst--not a Super Shifter. I called my clutch set up a Poor Man's Slider "The car still hauled the wheels and shifted just firm enough. I really could not feel it slip in the gear changes per say.
The air gap had to be adjusted every few runs as the disc rapidly wore. After two events-(12 to 20 runs) I would replace the disc. The next time I would replace the PP also. My friend Jim Naramore of Jim's Racing Enterprises in East Peoria was helping me out in that department. (You can use a lesser PP with a better disc. But not the other way around of course. )
When Ram came out with thier new 3 Paddle "Cleaning Lady" They talked me into trying one in my 2 ton Big Animal . The shifts were so violent my dome light lens fell down and screws came loose on my interior trim. Tried a second run--The Cleaning Lady Cleaned my drive shaft out of the car. It was back to my Poor Man Slider. And of course I had it with me --and new U Joints.
My Hayes 35# steel flywheel needs some dressing--but not bad.
Still lots to do to be ready for a few outings in 2014. Cosmetically everything looks just like it did in 79. Big has always been kept in a favorable environment. Need new tires, batteries, legal fuel lines (not 25 feet of Gates rubber hose LOL!)