Moparts

Another wonderful day at the track

Posted By: ProSport

Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 05:42 AM

I took the day off work to go to Norwalk and get me a 9 second time slip. I thought it was 3-11, so I get there at 2, they opened the gates at 3 and opened the track at 5, took a nap in the truck.

1st pass, Lokar throttle cable snaps as soon as I hit the gas. One hour later I'm ready to give up and go home after spending about $120 to get there.
Wild Bill came to the rescue with a brand new cable! You're my hero Bill!

2nd pass carb stumbles and goes 10.05 at 133.98. Ok we're making progress.

3rd pass jetted up one number, launched at a higher RPM to avoid stumble but it still stumbled(need bigger squirters), right past the 1/8 mile mark the Lokar cable pops off the ball stud, as soon as it lost power at 110 MPH I heard all kinda racket from the rearend. I guess I cleaned the track for the next guy. It's probably a good thing that I lost power, this could have turned out bad. This was the first day on these new slicks that I spent a month or so saving up for.

Almost every outing for 2 years has been this much fun. I've just about had it, I should have never sold the DartSport.

Attached picture 5506682-100_4035.jpg
Posted By: joedust451

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 05:54 AM

Sucks you had a bad day Bob, hang in there, you'll get your 9s, plus i like this Dart better so don't sell it!!
Posted By: Quicktree

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 07:13 AM

man that does suck, but glad you survived. there's allways another day. and 9s are in it for sure. hang in there Bob
Posted By: 440Jim

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 11:16 AM

Bummer Bob,

Buying a race car is often filled with growing pains the first year. Hopefully you will get all the bugs worked out before winter and next year will be smooth sailing.
Posted By: Anonymous

Post deleted by Defbob - 09/26/09 11:25 AM

Posted By: 340RICK

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 11:57 AM

Bob I so sorry you are having such a tuff time lately.

YOu need to make sure that your gas pedal is bottomed out the same time your carb is W/O im sure the carb is W/O and you still have pedal left and with your big foot pushin it all the way down to the floor its snapping the ball off.

Anyway I wish I would have been thinking last night you should have taken that tire over to Harlow and that dude look at that. I dono if a patch and maybe tubes would save that tire or not????????????

Hang in there the purple dart is a AWESOME car.

Posted By: 73-Dart-sport

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 12:17 PM

Sorry to hear about the tire. That explains why I was having a tough time getting a hold of you. I got stuck in an all day mediation and couldn't make it over. Hang in there, you've fixed almost everything.
Posted By: Hemiroid

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 12:24 PM

What is that thing hanging out of the slick? Looks huge!!
Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 12:33 PM

Thats a bummer Bob... you had your problems for sure.
Did you break the rearend.... what is it, a dana
Posted By: Bubba

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 12:43 PM

I don't know what to to tell ya Bob. I felt your pain. Do what makes you happy.
Posted By: sunroofgtx

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 12:51 PM

Bob, what size are your slicks ? You can borrow my 325 drag radials to get that 9. Sorry to hear about your misfortune. what is that in your slick is right !?!? Yikes. The most important thing that I see you have done this year is spent a lot of time with the family. That can never be made up.. Good luck. I can meet you somewhere if you want the tires..
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 01:02 PM

I had Bob mashing the pedal while I adjusted the cable so it should be bottomed out while @ WOT. I didn;t actually have a cable. I got a throttle cable from one of my fellow Jr racers and we cut it to fit. (It's good to know people )

It's a bolt that's in his tire. Looks like a 1/2" with a nut on it. (that's what the noise was mot the rear end )

I don't know when he picked it up but that could have gotten ugly real quick.

I could tell Bob's disapointment and frustration when he showed up at my trailer to ask to tow the car back. Been there a few times my self. No way I was gonna let him give up that easy.

There's always a way



Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 01:11 PM

It's a bolt that's in his tire. Looks like a 1/2" with a nut on it. (that's what the noise was mot the rear end )



Since its got the nut on it... just tighten it up so
it dont leak................ ..... sorry Bob
I know how that hurts(I cut a side wall on a new slick)
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 01:28 PM

Quote:





Since its got the nut on it... just tighten it up so
it dont leak................







The nut was kinda loose.


Maybe a little red loc tite



Posted By: Dartman928

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 02:29 PM

Bob,


Sorry to hear about all the problems. You will get it figure out. You have been working really hard don't give up.....unless your taking up bird watching

At least you haev been able to get to the track a few times
Posted By: Bigcube

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 02:29 PM

Sorry for all the problems. When things aren't going my way I park the car. No sense spilling the bad luck over the car. I know how you feel.
Posted By: ProSport

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 05:24 PM

Quote:

Bummer Bob,

Buying a race car is often filled with growing pains the first year. Hopefully you will get all the bugs worked out before winter and next year will be smooth sailing.



Yea but this is my 2nd full season with this car, I put a new motor in it, new tranny, wheels and tires, every nut and bolt, just seems never ending. I'm getting tired of spending a ton of money to make 1-3 passes every time out and bust my butt the whole day. I'm not gonna quit, I'm gonna get a slick, bigger squirters, and hook up my 2 step, we're gonna get a 9.99 with this 500" roller turd before winter or the car will be free to good home.


Wild Bill adjusted my throttle cable the correct way. It was getting 98% throttle so after the 10.05 pass I let a Ford guy talk me into letting him adjust it for full throttle, well it must have been way off cuz it had enough force on it to pop it off the ball stud, but I'm glad it did now because I heard the bolt go through the slick a milli-second after the throttle cut off.

DusterDave, you have no idea how much I've talked about that. For the 1st time in my life I'm craving a car that the family can hop in and cruise any day of the week. These street strip cars are just miserable on the street anymore.

Rick, great idea on the patch, I should have asked them, as long as it would be safe.

73DartSport, I was texting you or your son, but I kept missing your calls with all the chaos going on.

Sunroof, thanks! I'm gonna stick with the slicks, I gotta get this thing figured out.

Rob, bird watching is sooo relaxing.
I miss racing with ya.

Well, I'm headed to the garage to loc-tite and tighten that nut in my tire, then go cruisin. LOL!
I'm not going anywhere near the garage today, family time!

Attached picture 5507225-100_4025.jpg
Posted By: VernMotor

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 05:29 PM

Well I hate that you having a bad time with car.I know you get there..I don't need to tell you story with my car this year..when things like this go on.. I just look at car and tell it.. I will win and you help to do it..lay down the law.. I win! you lose dam it !!!
Posted By: 340B5

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 05:46 PM

'...but I'm glad it did now because I heard the bolt go through the slick a milli-second after the throttle cut off. "

Maybe a greater power saving your bacon?

Like Jim said; growing pains. You'll never find the bugs if you don't run it. Maybe a couple and plan the next attack. Good Luck
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 07:09 PM

Make sure you use the red Loc Tite
Posted By: 72chrgrally

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 07:57 PM

Sorry to hear of your bad luck Bob. Keep working at it there is a 9 in that thing somewhere. Let me know if you need anything.
Steve
Posted By: fourgearsavoy

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 10:57 PM

So Bob will I be seeing you on Thursday with a new slick or are we going to try a patch/plug? Just drop it off during the week or if you want to wait on it bring it by the shop Thursday night
Gus
Posted By: blownzoom440

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/26/09 11:20 PM

better luck next time. i forgot the bicycle brake cable as a spare at the track last week.it had me worried.i am glad you got back rolling the same day.Thanks Bill!i hope you will get out soon.
Posted By: ProSport

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 12:37 AM

Quote:

So Bob will I be seeing you on Thursday with a new slick or are we going to try a patch/plug? Just drop it off during the week or if you want to wait on it bring it by the shop Thursday night
Gus



Gus I'll see ya thursday for the Durango alignment. I'm gonna buy a new slick but it's gonna be at least a couple weeks. I have a very tight racing budget because of other stuff we do but I have to get to the track in October for one more test session, probably at Thompson. I love Norwalk but they're too busy and have bolts on the track.
Posted By: ProSport

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 02:47 AM

At 10:30pm I decided to go to the garage and pull the bolt out of my tire. Holy surprise, this thing was longer than the channel-locks I used. It's threaded rod with a nut on the end.

No wonder the car rocked back and forth when I turned right into my pit spot, I bet the one end was jammed into the inside of my wheel.

Attached picture 5508037-100_4036.jpg
Posted By: 4404dart

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 03:21 AM

Quote:

At 10:30pm I decided to go to the garage and pull the bolt out of my tire. Holy surprise, this thing was longer than the channel-locks I used. It's threaded rod with a nut on the end.

No wonder the car rocked back and forth when I turned right into my pit spot, I bet the one end was jammed into the inside of my wheel.


Sorry about your bad luck! That is still a beautiful and fast car! Keep after it Bob.
Posted By: Sledge_57

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 03:34 AM

What the he|| could that be out of? It surely can't be off another car can it?

Looks like something a section of guard rail was bolted to a 4x4 with Maybe off the tractor they prep the track with?

I know I'd be upset, good luck with that 9, I love that car
Posted By: scottydog

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 04:15 AM

Holy [Edited by Moparts - Family Friendly Site - Keep it clean] ! I'd be calling bader right about now.. Jeese oh man .. Sorry about your luck, Bob..
Posted By: ProSport

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 12:42 PM

I'm really starting to wonder about all this now that I've had time to think about it. I met a guy at Norwalk that I recognized from Yellowbullit.com, he had a sweet Stang with a ProCharger. When I was nursing my car back to my pit spot he was getting winched on top of a flatbed. I later found out he smacked the wall and mangled the front of his car in the traps. Then I make a pass and pick up something that looks like a guardrail or wall stud.
Posted By: Quicktree

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 12:44 PM

Quote:

At 10:30pm I decided to go to the garage and pull the bolt out of my tire. Holy surprise, this thing was longer than the channel-locks I used. It's threaded rod with a nut on the end.

No wonder the car rocked back and forth when I turned right into my pit spot, I bet the one end was jammed into the inside of my wheel.



take it back to the track and find where it came out and tell them you want a new slick.
Posted By: 340RICK

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 12:45 PM

Holy smokes Bob

What kinda hillbilly Hot Rod could that have came out of.
Posted By: ProSport

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 12:59 PM

Quote:

Holy smokes Bob

What kinda hillbilly Hot Rod could that have came out of.



I don't know Rick, I'm thinking it came out of a wall barrier, or maybe the wrecked Stang(very nice car).
Posted By: DaKuda

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 01:05 PM

The track should be responsible for something like that. WOW!!!!!
Posted By: chryco

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 01:15 PM

Keep the faith Bud ! Those were pretty minor issues , so be thankful for that . I took mine out last year and cracked my P/G case , this year I went out and bent the front end . Am I done ? NO SIR !
Get er' fixed up stronger and get some good E.T.`S
Chryco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwW6erHBsto

Attached picture 5508629-IMG_3805.1.jpg
Posted By: rtstreet

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 01:31 PM

hang in there bob, in my eyes you already in the nines, had those same thoughts, the last year and a half has been one stupid thing after another for me also (snap ring on the side of a jessel rocker arm locked up the oil pump, last thing that happened).
Posted By: Wicked49670dart

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 02:18 PM

Hey sorry for your bad luck, I too am searching for those high 9's. My car ran 10.20 on N.O.S, took the car out the last time ( only twice this year) readjusted my N.O.S tune-up (was way fat per Monte) and broke the front u-joint and front yoke in half.Buy the time I bought race gas, N.O.S, gas too and from the track and to get into the track cost 320.00 for 1 full pass on motor and a 5 foot launch on N.O.S when the driveline broke, I feel your pain! But I will check the sprag, check the rear end and buy a new driveshaft and try for 9's again till I get it.....Matt
Posted By: blownzoom440

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 02:25 PM

Bob you should call Bader and let them know what happined.if you dont tell them thay dont know there is a problem.
Posted By: RemCharger

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 03:13 PM

It looks like it might be a trunk battery hold down bolt? If the nut fell off it would fall out the bottom....
Posted By: cudabin

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 07:45 PM

Sounds plausible Remi !!!

Bob, Sorry to hear about the bad/good luck.

Glad you slowed down and heard the racket.

My 470 motor threw a rod bearing and I did not hear it until the motor went "poof' !!!

Cheers,

Arnie
Posted By: KatFysh

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 08:11 PM

Wow Bob.. Sorry to hear. That stud looks like it coulda really done major damage. Make sure you check out the inside of the wheel when ya get the tire off. I hope ya get that 9.?? I know you've been working hard and spending the $$$$ for it.

I've decided that I'm done w/ street/strip cars. Its either one or the other. I had a guy come by today. He may be buying my motor out of the Dak.. When the time comes, I'm starting fresh..
Posted By: Dartin

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/27/09 08:35 PM

MAN! That thing is huge!!! Glad the slick is the only damage. Good luck with the 9 sec time slip!!!
Posted By: His and Her 69's

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/28/09 06:56 AM

I would go with the battery hold down stud as I believe Norwalk is all concrete walls now isn't it???
Harlow won't want to sell just one tire as the rollout will be different then the one on your car even though there is only a few passes on them.
You will probably be fighting a car that wants to launch crocked if you replace just one tire.
You can probably patch the tire with no problems if you run tubes in them.

I have a tire with 8 passes and the tire got rubbed by the 1/4 and Harlow told me it would not launch right. I believe it would launch crocked so I am still using the same tire as they decided it was still good enough to run without any issues.

Good Luck Bob and keep on trying for that 9.
David
Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/28/09 12:03 PM

Wow, sorry to hear this Bob! That's some kinda luck to have that happen to a brand new pair of slicks. Keep at it man, it'll be worth it when you get that 9 sec slip. I know you've been 9s before, but getting a new car w/ a different combo to another milestone is still a good feeling.
I'd get a good tire shop to look at the tire, I bet it can be patched. You could always run tubes if you don't already. CHIP
Posted By: V10nacuda

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/28/09 02:24 PM

Bob,
Welcome to the "if it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all" CLUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least you are getting seat time some of us can't even get the motor in the car!!!!
Keep your chin up I would like a PURPLE CAR SHOOT OUT next year at either Thompson or Norwalk...

Good luck
V10
Posted By: max_maniac

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/29/09 03:22 AM

So you went to Norwalk this past weekend and stayed home last weekend when it was the BIG Mopar meet whats up with that



Russ
Posted By: Thumperdart

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/29/09 03:57 PM

Sorry to hear this. And you were VERY luck you aborted that run or that beauty of yours could of been destroyed. I agree with the street/race car and I must say I have WAY more fun driving my car all over than racing it and when you drive em on the street you can usually work out the tuning issues and bugs so your track experience is more fun. Hang in there you DEFINATELY have a nine sec pass coming.
Posted By: TonyS451

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/29/09 04:04 PM

Quote:

At 10:30pm I decided to go to the garage and pull the bolt out of my tire. Holy surprise, this thing was longer than the channel-locks I used. It's threaded rod with a nut on the end.

No wonder the car rocked back and forth when I turned right into my pit spot, I bet the one end was jammed into the inside of my wheel.



Wow, that in one huge bolt . Its amazing how the tire hit it just right...Seems to me you've made it this far, and you're so close. Stay the course, the season is almost over anyhow. You'll be ready to roll in springtime and have the car fully debugged!
Posted By: ProSport

Re: Another wonderful day at the track - 09/30/09 01:22 AM

Chryco and RTstreet, it's a never ending barrel of fun isn't it?

His and Her 69's, I hadn't thought about that, I will definitely be done for the year if the new slick doesn't match the older one. I don't like tubes and by the time I buy 2 of them and pay for dismounts, mounts, and balance I'll have another $150 wrapped up in my 'new' slicks. I am really crushed over that slick, if it wasn't for that I'd fix the cable and get back at it soon.

Russ, my son had a big football game the weekend of the classic, which he fractured his knee cap in , plus it would have been a $300 weekend with hotel money and everything, only spent $120 for the test and tune, they were so busy I only got 3 shots at making a pass, and I killed a slick. Guess I didn't save any money , but I was there for my son.

Thumper I agree, alot of stuff gets sorted out while street cruising, and it's definitely more fun that way!
© 2024 Moparts Forums