I didn't even go out to the garage to make sure the car was still on my property for about 2 months after my Dad and I ran the last autocross of the year.
To be frank, I was completely burnt out on the car after 2011. It was a great year. I made three trips to Cali to run RTTC, NMCA/Hotchkis at Pomona, and last but certainly not least, Buttowillow. I also ran the Super Chevy show here along with a handful of SCCA autocrosses. Tore down the trans and put carbon fiber synchros in, replumbed the whole oil system and added a mack truck for an oil cooler. Anyway, it was time to do some hunting and let my girl rest for a while.
The front brakes were toast, I mean toast. Cracked rotors and smoked pads. I put on new slotted rotors and changed to a new pad compound on all 4 corners for 2012. I've had the car out a few times now and WOW, it stops! Better than ever on the street.
I had run Buttonwillow and got the car hot in every heat along with the last autocross and the valves needed checked. They were all pretty much right on the money except for one that was .003 loose.
The clutch came out of adjustment as the clutch and new aluminum flywheel seated at Buttonwillow. I've tweaked the adjustment and got it shifting well. I hope it makes me happy at RTTC. I'm not thrilled about the thought of swapping to a Magnum. Mainly financially.
I inspected the car from bumper to bumper twice while I had it up on jack stands.
Anyway, everytime I get into drive this car it feels foreign to me. In 2011 I just didn't put that many street miles on the car. At the end of the day, the car usually feels foreign to me when I go to the track. I want to put some decent miles on the car this year. I've driven to the office twice in a week and to appointments. My clients flip out. I forgot how much I enjoy just putting around in the car. I've been so focused on performance and racing.
When I got home tonight, I decided to take a little free play out of the clutch. I popped the hood to let it cool off and noticed the air cleaner was loose. The only problem, the stud was broke!!!!!
The air cleaner does rub on the hood when the engine pulls on the mounts (Drivers is solid by the way)but I never expected it to break! All I know is I doged a bullet. It broke off clean and I caught it just in time. If that wing nut would have come off, catastrophic damage. I pulled off the carb and smacked the broke off stud with a chisel and backed it out with a screwdriver. I decided to enlarge the air cleaner like hole so it could float a little. I don't know what else to do, I don't have but an 1/8" of room to spare between the hood and air cleaner. Keep in mind, this car has 6500 miles on it. LUCKY! It was a good time to check all the fasteners on the carb. I found a handfull that needed a little torque.
I took her out tonight and she's stronger than ever. I couldn't even get it to hook in 2nd. I softened up the front shocks and the car is feeling better than ever.
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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