[ratpack] Re: Race car progress

Yeah. I know. But it still hurts. I've been under the car a lot today. I have the left header completely installed, and the right one almost done. I had to remove the starter to do the right and just didn't have the ooph to hold it with one hand an thread a bolt with the other. Maybe tomorrow. But it's actually gone better than I thought. I was afraid I'd have to jack up the motor off the motor mounts. 

It's progress.

r


On 7/17/2012 6:25 PM, PAUL W WATSON wrote:
Carl and I feel fo flipping sorry for you turning 65 in Sept. You young whipper snapper. 

:)Paul

Hang in there old age ain't for whimps.

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Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:55:04 -0600
From: rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To: ratpack@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ratpack] Re: Race car progress
Great stuff John. I wrote a reply on the Elky list, but it deserves another. I love the metal scrounging. :) 

Btw, here's one side of the headers in, with the bolts started:
My body is rebelling against this. It just doesn't like to be treated this way. I guess that means old. I called my old company today to have them prepare a retirement package. I'll actually end up retiring from said company with a pension. Won't be huge, but it'll be better'n nothing. And I got a call today (while I was working on the headers) about getting Medicare insurance. I'll be 65 in September. Argh. 

r


On 7/17/2012 1:45 PM, John Christensen wrote:

    Nice! I hate putting headers in. That's why the Sanderson's are on
    the top of one list I have laying around. Good luck and +++ ~~~ to
    make the salt! Wish I was meeting you! Just won't happen this year
    though.

    I have been out in the garage all day, except for one trip to the
    hardware store, and to Science and Surplus. Who would have thought
    that a lab support stand base would be the perfect piece of metal
    for patching the frame where it's rusty by the left rear control
    arm attachment position. Pretty windy here and about 105* heat
    index. The car said 99 then 105, so I don't know what the temp
    is.    HOT.

    Nate gets off work at 3 and we are going to put the hitch back on
    the Pathfinder. He decided to tow the bike to Sturgess.. The took
    a 6 hour ride each way, and decided 2 days each way on the bike
    would kill their asses. They can use the trailer to sleep in at
    night too. This is in August sometime.

    I have been letting the frame cool, and cooling off myself. I have
    3 out of 4 sides of the plate welded so far. I just have the
    inside seam by the bushing. I want to be slow and careful there.
    JC







    On Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 2:15 PM, Sumol Gai <sumolgai@xxxxxxxxx
    <mailto:sumolgai@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:

        Sent from one of my alter ego emails.

        I've made a buncha progress on my race car...considering that
        I can't work on it as many hours of the day as I'd like.  But
        here's some of what I've accomplished over the last coupla weeks:

        Got the cracked transmission case welded.
        Got a new 2400 rpm stall speed torque converter and installed
        it, along with the transmission.
        Installed the newly-built aluminum driveshaft.
        Installed a rear driveshaft loop, in addition to the front one.
        Gutted the interior and patched the holes that the driveshaft
        punched in it.
        Installed new racing seats.
        Prepared for installation of 5-point safety harnesses.
        Added rear firewall to close driver's compartment off from the
        trunk.
        Installed new throttle valve cable (that was a nightmare).
        Removed old headers, O2 sensors and Exhaust Gas Temp
        thermocouples.
        Remove EGT display box from interior.  It never worked anyway.
        Started installing new, larger headers (made by Hooker) and
        that's where I am about now:





        I just have a teeny little clearance problem.  I'm gonna have
        to remove the motor mount bolts and jack the engine up from
        below and hope that gives me enough clearance to slide the new
        headers in.

        Today I talked with Tim McNees...that name probably doesn't
        mean much, but he's a local race car fabricator...about
        getting a roll cage installed.  It looks like time will be a
        bit of an issue, but I have to get the car to where it's
driveable and onto the trailer before I get to that point. I'll also have to have a new exhaust system fabbed up, since 
        the driveshaft took the one I'd just barely had made
        completely outta action.

        I might make it to World of Speed (Sep 8-11) and then again I
        may not.  But if I don't, it won't be for lack of trying.

        Sumol Gai (aka RtR)

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