Bad day on the dyno...

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

April 15th and check out on April 19th Embassy Suites 300 Congress Ave. Austin Texas.

http://www.terryblacksbbq.com/

It's about a mile and a half from where you're staying.

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Bryan -- I wasn't going to do USCA -- Gwen and I are driving down in her '33 with the other Brizio crazies... But NOW -- I may arrange / ask Sutton if he wants to drive my rig down to USCA --- and see if that works. I'll have to do some poking around now.

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Actually the dates don't work out at all --- USCA is MARCH 28/29th.... I won't be in Austin until April 15th.

BZZT! Wrong answer... Just bring that rig on down anyway, that's what plane tickets are for if you need to be somewhere. Steve, Eric and I will take care of the rig for you.

GG is having their first event in Raleigh, NC the weekend you will be here. I was debating trying to get to it, since that's where I'm from. Not sure that will happen at this point though...

[GregWeld]

You know I was just poking you. I totally agree -- even when guys can spend unlimited amounts of money on "stuff" -- what's the point.... other than "I could". We are just building street cars. GM can put dry sumps on their production cars because of the price they buy for... they've got guys like Stielow to package it - and the customer just pays for it. I think they're smart doing that because of the bad rap they'd get if people went out and tracked their cars and had issues... only takes a few and the rumor mill cranks up... so they're almost in a "must do" situation.

For me -- I'd just add in an Accusump for the track "starvation" / G forces / oil climbing the pan etc occasions.

Originally Posted by carbuff

Just send over that AmEx Black card number when you have a second... ;-)

Seriously though, I'm trying to keep myself realistic about how TOW is going to be used for the next year or two. Here in Central Texas, we don't have the number of big track events that other areas seem to. I have a monthly autocross I can attend, sometimes 2 if I go join the San Antonio group. I get GG twice a year in Fort Worth, again, an autocross, and then USCA assuming I make it.

I do have tracks close by, but will I get to attend more than 2 or 3 events a year at those? Last year I only did 2. If I find that I'm going to be able to do more on a more regular basis, then perhaps it will be time to step up. But given 'life' at the moment, I'm not sure there will be a lot of opportunity yet.

That said, I have some 'life' things in flux right now which could change the whole picture.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

You know I was just poking you. I totally agree -- even when guys can spend unlimited amounts of money on "stuff" -- what's the point.... other than "I could". We are just building street cars. GM can put dry sumps on their production cars because of the price they buy for... they've got guys like Stielow to package it - and the customer just pays for it. I think they're smart doing that because of the bad rap they'd get if people went out and tracked their cars and had issues... only takes a few and the rumor mill cranks up... so they're almost in a "must do" situation.

For me -- I'd just add in an Accusump for the track "starvation" / G forces / oil climbing the pan etc occasions.

Oh I know. And I could do it, but it would delay getting the car together, particularly because the system I would want (the Dailey setup) is 6-8 weeks out right now. And I really like the clean underhood area of TOW right now. I'm trying to keep with the original idea behind my theme and not do add-on stuff at this point. Although Eric would happily package it all up for me.

The Accusump should do just fine for my needs. I've got one on order with Ron, and when it arrives I'm going to have it recoated to change the blue to black to 'hide' it better. I've got some re-wiring to do to integrate it in the car, but that's no big deal. I only spent 6 weeks wiring the car the first time, right?

[Panteracer]

I agree with the accusump idea... I lunched a
bunch of motors and finally put one on my car years
back.... it ran great for a year and a half then I got
the bright idea to shed weight off the front end and
took the oil cooler and accusump off the car and instant
spun bearing... smart guy I am

Most of the Norcal Shelby guys run them on their cars
although I never seemed to need one on the Pantera
It has an Aviad pan that seems to work... try that
with a Pontiac motor not a chance.. Steffs makes some
custom units and I had the guys contact that did the
original Aviad designs but never called him
I have had 4 different type of so called road race pans
on my Pontiacs and none of them really worked

You should have put a Pontiac back in it... then you live
in constant fear of losing oil pressure.. but the Torque
on those babies is incredible

Bob

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

You should have put a Pontiac back in it... then you live in constant fear of losing oil pressure.. but the Torque on those babies is incredible

Bob

I wouldn't mind the latter, but I already have enough worries on the former!

[Panteracer]

I hear ya.. I am so deep into my motor now it is
bombproof and I still wonder about pushing it real hard
I remember the simple days when I bought a junkyard
Pontiac motor for $400 or $455 depending on how many
cubes.. spun till you won and blow it up eventually then
go get another one.. those were the days.. less opitions
less money and to me no worries cause you knew what
was going to happen

Bob

[carbuff]

I hear ya Bob. I'm shocked at the pricing on engine parts these days. It's been a while since I've built one, but everything seems so pricey now. Inflation I suppose...

[carbuff]

The LS7 block arrived today as scheduled. I opened up the crate, and things mostly look ok. I'm not sure what the history of this thing is, but I've never seen a thrust bearing on the crankshaft so worn out. Hopefully there isn't any kind of major problem on the mains. Line honing them will be part of the machine work, so unless it's something really off, I should be fine.

The cylinders have some light scuff from piston skirts which should clean up with a simple hone. So that's a good thing.

Assuming crank arrives as scheduled tomorrow, the block and crank and other pieces go to TSP on Friday to start assembly. Camshaft is on the way for early next week, so fingers crossed, I might get the short block plus cam back by the end of the week or early the next. I can then start reassembly on everything out of the car until the heads arrive...

I don't think I've mentioned this, but part of my push on this schedule is that I'll lose a week around the start of March due to some travel. My mother had to have a knee replacement yesterday, so I'm going to spend some time with her when she heads home from rehab. My sister is taking care of her during the hospital stay, and I'm trying to work out being there when she comes home. Thankfully the surgery went well, but she's in pain and pretty loopy on pain meds right now. I'm just glad the procedure itself is over and she can start on the path to recovery!

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by carbuff

I hear ya Bob. I'm shocked at the pricing on engine parts these days. It's been a while since I've built one, but everything seems so pricey now. Inflation I suppose...

Well gee you aren't building a 300 hp 350 sbc.

[OLDFLM]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

I hear ya.. I am so deep into my motor now it is
bombproof and I still wonder about pushing it real hard
I remember the simple days when I bought a junkyard
Pontiac motor for $400 or $455 depending on how many
cubes.. spun till you won and blow it up eventually then
go get another one.. those were the days.. less opitions
less money and to me no worries cause you knew what
was going to happen

Bob

LOL The summer after I graduated high school (1985) I went through 4 or 5 junkyard 455s racing my Firebird! I'd hurt it on Friday night, be at the yard Sat morning, looking for running Bonnevilles/Catalinas, swap my carb/intake/Crane "Fireball" cam/3-tube headers & Purple Hornies, and be back out Sat night! I still remember my Dad telling me not to rev it like the kids with the SBCs!
Now I have a 4" stroke 440 so that I can!