[Jim Nilsen]

I am back from Road America licking my wounds. I wasn't totally prepared like I hoped to be. The weak link was the fuel pickup, I would run out of fuel pressure in or after the hard rights and it wouldn't really let you know by stumbling it would hust keep going. The gauge would let you know with no problem. I kept pulling my foot out of it when it went down and it was surviving all day saturday. On sunday I let the instructor drive to show me his lines and how much more speed the car could handle.
The more aggresive driving and the fuel problem led to going lean and cracking a piston. It didn't seem bad and the thought that I could limp home seemed feasable. It didn't make it, 1/2 way was no problem but it didn't make it past that. I have pulled it apart and the cam and lifters look good and the heads are coming off today to seee how they look.

Greg, you were right about the washing of the cylinders when I was tuning it seems as it was letting some blowby of oil. The back of the car was wearing Shaeffer oil but it was livable.

I learned a lot and got to experince my first blown engine. I wasn't taking it too well at first, kind of like losing your first girlfriend you thought you loved,lol. I am getting over it as I get the parts off and see what is still good.

I have an L82 short block that I can put in to replace it to get going but I am also getting some quotes for a new beefy lower end. I am not sure about the heads and may use the ones from the stockcar engine if they are good still. It will save time and money if I can use them.

The pan needs some welding repair but I did get lucky and the damage is not in the area of the baffles and doors, it is up front on the 1 and 2 cylinders.

I think I can get it back together in time to go back up the 1st and see how it goes. I have to fix the fuel problem at the pickup and have some ideas that I can try and see how it goes. If I can't get it to work I will not go out and push it again unti it is ready.

The car handled like a dream and hooked up very well. The power was more than I thought and when the instructor was driving it was keeping up with the C5's with no problem in both areas. The predictability of the handling was better than expected with no rear bar. The car pushes and the rear sticks right behind. Everyone was impressed with it and the crowd of people that it attracted was more than I could have ever believed. The comments were all positive and some were amazed at the fab work and a few finally got to see what they had been dreaming about doing to their cars and weren't sure how to do it.

The most repeated thing was: "The Corvette wheels look really good" and then I would tell them it has the Corvette factory wheel adapters and then they would look a bit further and see the suspension, it was fun to see the look on their faces when they saw the polished Vette suspension pieces.

All in all it was a good weekend and a tough learning experience but that is what happens, right.

So much to do now and I was going to use this time to finish the interior and the engine bay along with the fuel issue but now it is the engine and fuel system as priorities.

I am trying to kick butt and get it back together.

Wish me luck because I am needing it !!