Projects Austin Somerset Gasser Build (DragNasty)

Actually I planned to do it last year but had last minute issues that made it difficult. My plan was to leave Republic Friday morning and head East on I-44. I was planning on driving about halfway between Marshfield and Lebanon and then turning around and driving back to the swap meet and then on to the host hotel in Joplin. Then get up the next morning and drive to the track. I think that was just over 200 miles (for good measure). HOWEVER! ....not sure if you noticed or not but Brian @RacerX seems to be planning on making the trip down for the HAMB DRAGS which will be totally awesome! However short of another detour around the start line (which I doubt you will see again anytime soon) he is going to lay total waste to the average Yahoo Cup Field! LOL. I mean he will likely etch a low time on the trophy that will stand forever or at least until he revisits the event. I can't wait to see it!

 

Are you sure he'll convert to nitro when he gets there ? Far as I know he's set the car up for gas as of now. I think it's still mid 9's on gas.

 

You need a nitro tune up for yours.
I will just be bringing my trailer queen.
Speaking of trailer queen I just loaded up and am heading to Ohio for the Super Chevy Show to put on a show for the crowd.
We should about 20 348/409 car there.

 

Yes James like another hole in my head that is exactly what I need....a Nitro set up!

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Just think of all the new parts you can buy, and all the new problems you can trip over. You definitely need to convert to nitro.



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I think you will just sell yourself short if you don't.

 

Oh the voices in my head telling me to do bad things.

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Those were not voices in your head. That was me telling you to go nitro the night we had a long talk on the phone. I will bring a extra jug to the hamb drags.

 

Tiny little sunset wheels up leaving cruise-in tonight.



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we are making a fuel stop in Nevada on our way down Friday to the drags. You could see if meeting is there and driving back to the host hotel gets you the miles? Be pretty cool to see you and Brian both in the same convoy!

 

Hey, I've seen that Lark in the background, before!

 

I didn't get to talk with him but that was the Aurora, MO cruise-in at the Braums. Every last Saturday.

 

So Brian what are you thinking at the HAMB DRAGS you going to make a Nitro pass for the Yahoo cup?

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Got Austin tore down this morning. Did a leak down test and all is well. All the Jessel valve train and headers off. Going to double check head torque then stick her back together for the HANN DRAGS....Look at me a couple weeks ahead of things....lol





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Pretty....everything in here looks perfect.



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Well things are not pretty anymore. We were checking the head torque and one of our last bolts on the driver's side was actually loose and just kept turning as we tried to tighten it.



We tried a longer head bolt but no good. Just for fun we tried to start a 7 inch bolt...no threads left in there at all. So here is the plan. Carefully drill the head hole with 9/16 just shy of the deck. This will which just allow the tap to slip through the head. Then tap probably the last 1/8" or so the head and then into the block. Then carefully work the heilacoil down in place etc. If we are successful we will probably put a stud in this hole....if not we will have to tear into it and remove the head etc...

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Good luck with the repair. I know hindsight is 20/20 but I'm surprised on a build of this caliber you did not use head studs rather than bolts

 

Wow, that sucks man! But better to find it now rather than at the big end when water squirts under your left rear at over 140!!

IF you can get a helicoil to bite, slather that baby in loctite before you put the stud in. It'll all have to come apart anyway if it doesn't hold.
Was there a clearance issue or something as to not use studs to begin with?

 

Agreed. We actually have a brand new set of ARP Studs for the car. However after doing a lot of research on the Jesel Pro Series Rockers I found on stock BBC heads you have to do quite a bit of altering of the studs to clear the Jesel seats. I could find no information on Brodix Race Rite Heads (not even from Brodix) but since they are based on and brag of how close they are to GM originals I assumed the same or even worse. I talked with several trusted race engine builders and they all said avoid the head ache and just use the bolts.

 

NOPE!



Oh well I didn't have any thing else planned for today anyway....lol

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Well it was a good try and well worth the effort had we been successful. But after we got the hole in the head drilled larger we found something a bit odd in there. I kept measuring it carefully so we only drilled down like a 1/16 of an inch into the block or less. But about the time my tape on the 1/2" bit said to stop the drill just dropped. Obviously the 7/16 hole in the block was larger than 1/2. (Go fihure). So we tossed the towel on the head on fix and started taking it apart! What a pain in the back side!








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Good thing this is that this is you're so good at dissembling this thing! LoL!

 

Funny...Thanks.....lol

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It is a good opportunity to take a peak at her and I am happy to report everything looks really good.

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Didn't you just say that?
Sorry couldn't help myself.

 

Shut up James. LOL

 

All I can say is you better throw down for the Yahoo cup.

 

Still waiting to here if Brian is going NITRO or not!