Postby Leon » Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:19 am
Ok,the full report:
It was bad luck that started on Fri.Initially when i set up this warmup deal,i figured i could use the existing nozzles and trim the ball valve for heat.Im using .052 nozzles so they are big holes.The idea is valid,but if it dies,the plugs need to be pulled and the engine spun to clear.Period!
Back to Fri.Tom got my milling done,but couldnt get overnight out of chicago.I went 40 miles and got a stock starter and had the drive end milled so i had .100 clearance to the flywheel.Total cost:$200.When my brother showed up,he fixed the messed up block from the race starter and it worked perfect.Good=1,bad=1
Sat came and last minute fitting was done.Car was set up and starter worked perfect.Gassed it and it fired immediately.opened ball valve and it was running on alky,but as soon as it got some heat,the intake gaskets got soft and compressed and let the intake get loose and had a large vacuum leak.Shut it off and tightened everything.Went for the restart and it didnt sound right. Let it heat soak so i could run valves and torque.Left side perfect,right side lash cap fell on ground when pulling valve cover.Not good. #6 ex jam nut came loose and let adjuster work loose and pushrod chewed rocker.Fixed, head cleaned and initial lash and head torque done so figured set nitro settings at track.
Bad luck #3:My driveway transitioning to the concrete pad at the big door is not level.Trailer jacked up and on slight angle at front let electric jack flange bend on 45 degrees.Manually jack and car loaded.Good=1 bad=3
Bad luck #4:Couldn't find chassis sticker as it wasn't applied when inspected cause chassis needed to be painted.Steve went all the back up to Larry's i guess 65 miles and found it. Good=1.5 bad=3.5
Drove all night and got to OKC.Needed to clean up and got room as it was 7 am,track not open till 10 am.Went to track and unloaded.
Bad luck#5:generator wont run direct drive compressor so i have no air for tires and leak checking and blowing off washed parts.Good=1.5 bad=4.5
Bad luck#6:truck has oil all under chassis and front of trailer,leak looks like dipstick tube housing ,clean fill with oil and it wont leak.Good=2 bad=5
Put the car on stands,checked fuel,85% and checked oil filter{clean}.IT fires first kick on gas but dies,do restart try to open alky valve,dies and i close ball valve as it dies,but with a -6 line,metering block,stainless line and nozzle alot of fuel is continuing into cylinder.I figured to spin thru and hit mag switch.What i didnt know was mag was on.My fault cause i didnt yell mag off.Kaboom! blows out right front corner of block and cast iron pieces and concrete hit me in stomach and left arm.Put a hole in my FNL shirt and makes me bloody.Damage includes cast iron,broken right burndown breather,threw off in,ex lash caps as concussion opened valves and 1 hole in concrete. I let myself get off procedure and caused the whole mess as i didnt have any sleep.It aint gonna happen again.
I am going to go back to treating it like a blown fuel car,not a morphidite car.I think i will use a nozzle and run a 1/4 line from a jug on the ground so it wont feed the engine if it dies like Henry said to.