Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
#1902849
08/31/15 12:11 AM
08/31/15 12:11 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,871 MI, usa
dvw
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,871
MI, usa
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How I spent my weekend. Got to Norwalk for the NMCA race. Go to back out of the trailer, no reverse. Last week rolling into the staging lanes I accidentally hit the reverse button trying to hit neutral.Everything was OK the rest of the weekend. So fellow racer Fred Rader has a 65 core trans in his truck. Go to jack the car up, jack is broken. Borrow one from Russ Konkowski. I get my pan off, rear band is broken. Disassemble Fred's core, band is good. Casey Fauss-Johnson, his father Jim and I start to get the trans out. Two tabs on the flex plate are cracked (it was fine a month ago but suspension issues plaguing it caused a lot of tire shake), Cause? Don't know. Also the converter is sticking in the crank. a pry bar gets it loose. Appears to have metal transfer from the crank pilot to snout. We start the disassembly. Of course the front planet splines on mine are starting to strip and it won't come off. I borrow a set of snap ring pliers, burred up and the wrong size. It takes a hand file to the tips to get them to fit. My trans is straight cut so none of the gear train is the same. The decision is made to install the core (grubby) gear train from the core. The build goes straight forward. Now the converter won't go into the trans. Casey offers up their converter. Dave Shultz has a new flex plate. Things are looking up. Trans goes back in but the crank hub is tight. Against my better judgement in the heat of battle I flex the plate towards the converter and bolt it up. Get the car running and drink some beer, it's now 9:30 pm, end day one. Day two; Slept terrible worrying. Get the car teched and go untested directly into qualifying. We have to declare our N/SS index prior to qualifying. Will it run 9.25 with the different converter and current air or should I dial back to 9.50? I decide to go for it 9.25. Last weekend it ran 9.170@146.6. Today correction on the weather is similar. First pass 9.132@148.55. It's never been 148, quickest ever run was 9.119@146.6 in cold air. Now how to slow it to 9.25. I have NO tune-up data. We wait until aprox 6:30 for our final qualifier. I get the oil and trans warmed, cool the water and head to the lanes. All suited up, tires checked strapped in and hit the starter, CLUNK. again ,CLUNK. I assume the batteries are dead. Russ tows me back dejected, at least it wasn't eliminations. The starter has never "CLUNKED". Jack it up and try and turn the crank, not happening. Starter is not stuck, converter bolt's aren't backed out. Engine sounded fine when I shut it off in the lanes, nothing out of the ordinary. My theory is the converter has the pump gears jammed back and welded them to the stator. Load up, drink some beer. End of day two. day three; drive home 2 1/2 hours. My lawn mower is in pieces in the garage so it gets reassembled so the lawn can be cut. Friends come over and we push the car out of the trailer into the garage for autopsy. As we sit and talk about it I get a tail bone spasm that about knocks me out, I can't stand, see, or talk clearly. Everyone is in shock. My wife dials 911 and I get checked out. My wife drives me to ER for a further check, 2 hours later I'm OKed to go home. End of day three. I'm still talin and walkin so with one more check-up tomorrow I'll come home after work and tear it apart. Only two weeks until Monster Mopar. Doug
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Re: Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
[Re: dvw]
#1902896
08/31/15 01:02 AM
08/31/15 01:02 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Major bummer Doug.... I know about the odd ball health BS... after my by-pass(split the chest again) I have had dizzy spell... doc doesnt seem to concerned... but I sure am... I fell over one time... good luck with the car...... and yourself EDIT Doug if I were you I'd check crank end play due to the trans
Last edited by MR_P_BODY; 08/31/15 01:40 AM.
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Re: Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
[Re: dvw]
#1903057
08/31/15 11:53 AM
08/31/15 11:53 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506 Az
Crizila
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506
Az
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So, did you ever get the grass cut?
Fastest 300
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Re: Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
[Re: dvw]
#1903105
08/31/15 01:18 PM
08/31/15 01:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 693 Dunnellon, FL
longram60
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 693
Dunnellon, FL
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Wow Doug, you are a dedicated racer! The biggest repair I've ever done at the track was changing a universal joint. Hope it's nothing serious, both on the car and the body.
1979 AMC Spirit, NHRA Q/SA
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Re: Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
[Re: tboomer]
#1903352
08/31/15 06:56 PM
08/31/15 06:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,532 off the grid
340B5
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,532
off the grid
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[quote=tboomer]Doug...Take it easy! I know what happens when you push it too hard...And it aint no fun! [/quote Absolutely correct. Don't push it too hard. Ibuprofen for inflammation. The wife and I use'm for sprinkles on our birthday cakes. Good luck
Yeah, it's got a smallblock.
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Re: Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
[Re: dvw]
#1903448
08/31/15 08:58 PM
08/31/15 08:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,410 Belpre,Ohio
CHAPPER
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,410
Belpre,Ohio
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Doug, sorry to hear about your problems. I had to reply to your post after you mentioned a mower,,, May 2 was my first time out this year. Thought everything was fine until I unloaded the car the next day and found a puddle of water in the trailer. I figured I hadn't gotten one of the petcocks tight after I had taken the anti-freeze out and put water in the motor. After an investigation into the source of the water,,I found that the block was cracked!!!! I was pizzed/upset for a week!!! Then I decided the grass needed mowed,,,mower was making noise/leaking oil,,,BLOCK CRACKED on it too!!! I'm still getting a motor together,,but,,mowing regularly with a new mower.
If you like drag racing, support your local track.
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Re: Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
[Re: CHAPPER]
#1903474
08/31/15 09:34 PM
08/31/15 09:34 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,751 Graham, WA
Polarapete
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,751
Graham, WA
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Might I suggest an electric mower?
I can only solve one problem at a time...
1986 Dodge Ramcharger 440 2wd, Bracket Racer Under Construction 1998 Ram 2500 QuadCab, new daily driver. 2008 Honda Element 2014 Carry-On 7x14 Cargo Trailer
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Re: Do they always go quicker right before they break? Long
[Re: dvw]
#1903594
09/01/15 12:24 AM
09/01/15 12:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,592 Great Neck,LI,new york
hemi-itis
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,592
Great Neck,LI,new york
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Remember Doug,,,,,a bad day at the track is better than a good day at work I went backwards at my last outing Good to have friends like Jim & Casey.Lucky Dave had what you needed
HEMI-ITIS has no cure. My condition is fully BLOWN!!
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