Okay -- So Chuck - the foreman at SAR just called me to discuss the issues. He's very calm - is a car guy - and get's it. While I've yelled at him in the past - not in a personal way but as a po'd customer... he - like I - seem to be able to separate issues from personal BS. Just setting this up here...
I can't describe the "noises" this car makes but they're not natural or normal sounding to me... so we have a very good discussion about what I can hear and why - and what I did etc in order for him to be absolutely certain that when they button it all back together - that they / we - haven't missed something.
KUDOS TO HIM! Now this is the way this is supposed to go!
I think what I heard/hear - is a throw out bearing squeal... I put the clutch IN and the noise goes away (while still going forward - any speed - doesn't matter).... This car is NOISY no matter what - it's a friggin' roadster - the wind is beating your ears - the exhaust ain't far from the back of your head -- the quick change gears are STRAIGHT CUT.... These TKO trannys are noisy (I think).... tough to pull out of all that - where this is squeal is coming from. I've tried to describe and diagnose the best I can (I'm "fairly" knowledgable...) BUT -- I've never had a TKO 600 -- and I've never owned a quick change rear end... MAYBE the noises are the gears.
Solution -- put HELICAL cut gears in -- Simple -- no biggie on the cost - I said if they need to be fed ex do it! I have no problem with that.
Ditto - if you have the hydraulic bearing in your hand - put in a new one - double and triple check that the install settings are what they are supposed to be -- DUDE! That's the best job a guy can do - that's all I ask.
The other couple of little things are items I've asked them to do.
My point is -- this is how it should go... forget the money thing... that's just my way of adding "leverage" -- and their only way of gaining any traction is to hold the car hostage. While this works with the average customer - it don't work with me - I've already posted that I took a giant step forward and did my part -- AND they've risen to that and are obviously working hard to find a solution to my complaints.
The gear grease puking is also being worked on -- they are going to add a vented can (my best description since I'm not down there) to get this under control. They've been in discussion with Kugel on it and seem to have a resolution.
I said to Chuck -- I'm a big boy -- if it's the rear end -- and it bothers me - I'll pull it out of there and put in something different -- NO BIGGIE... I have absolutely ZERO issue doing that if that's what it takes. I hope I don't have to do that because I L O V E the looks of this whirly jig... and it's the old skool look I am after.
The stupid StarDrive is an easy fix... and the only thing I asked for is a keyed ignition that FEELS quality. The temporary one that was in there was a notchy POS... So he's looking around to try to get something better. I trust him to make this judgement. So let's me just share the StarDrive issue. Because it's patently unfair of me to berate it... it's up under the dash - so I can't SEE what mode it's in. In order to start the car - its SAYS that you just have to have the key fob with you == depress the brake == and start the car. Good luck with that.... if you don't depress the brake enough - it goes into some other mode -- then you don't know where it's at.... you start over - it does nothing... You then LOCK the car using the key fob - and start over - this might work and it might not. SOOOOOOOOOOO I don't know if it's the OPERATOR or the "system" with the EFI and it's computer - and the StarDrive - and or the switch in the brake blah blah blah.... All I know is -- the "koolness" ain't worth the hassle factor for me. I want to push a button or hit the key or whatever and I want the SOB to roar to life. Period. There are NO accessories in the car - no need for accessory mode... no radio - no A/C - no windows - no top - no nuttin' honey. START - OFF. Done.
Regardless - it's O U T. I hope Jocko has a higher opinion of it.
NOW FOR THE BUSTED REAR END.....
Some shafts (like axles but smaller) -- both sides are twisted and broken -- these are out at the hubs...I have the EXTREME HORSEPOWER "HUBS" or whatever they call them. KUGEL says they've NEVER had these break. WTF -- they're CORVETTE C4 stuff - ditto the half shafts... this car is LIGHT -- and ain't no HP monster... They nor I = nor Chuck - has any idea why this has happened. Again - no biggie - just fix 'er up -- and if it happens again -- I rip the REAR out and put something else in. I did not, nor will I, ask anyone to pay for these repairs... nobody knows what's wrong or why and say it should never happen -- good enough for me.... We'll see if the repairs work - and I have a solution if it doesn't.
SO FAR, SO GOOD... Resolutions and solutions... that's all a guy can ask for.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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