rebuilding after the crash

I've been following along for years now and had read the thread through from the beginning. The magnitude of effort required to keep a car of this level operational is unbelievable. I commend you for your drive to stay on top of everything. Thanks for bringing us along.

 

After working today I pulled the Dana 60. I will go to strange engineering Friday to pick up the new gears and spool.

 

Guess where I was this morning?

 

Moser?

 

It's nice to be close enough to drive there to get what you need.

 

Strange question, why did they black out the Engineering part of the sign?

 

Looks like a “neighborhood” ?

 

I didn't ask.
Jim that built the chassis went with me. He has been a strange dealer since strange was working out of a two car garage. He gets a great discount. Changing the gear ratio meant changing the spool to. The offset is different.
When I got home I worked on the lenco. It's back to a three speed. It was a two speed with a gear ratio of 1.25/1.00 it's now 1.34/ 1.25
The car is being geared for max rpm at the stripe. It also gives me options. A lenco can be shifted into either gear first. So let's say it's a good sticky track. I will use the 1.34. if it's a slick track or if cars are spinning off the line I will use the 1.25. The three speed allows the engine to remain at a high rpm without the big rpm drop that's common with a two speed. Saturday I will go through the blower.

 

Strange is in a industrial complex. Across the street is a regular neighborhood with a school next door. It's nice it's close enough to drive to.

 

Good update

 

It was a busy weekend. Thursday I pulled the rear end. Friday morning I dropped off the Dana at the shop that built the chassis. My Jim and I went to strange to pick up parts. I changed gears in the lenco when I got home. Saturday I re stripped the blower. Today I put the blower back together then pulled the short block the rods were pulled. I want to get the crank sent to mile high crank this Wednesday to be checked out. That's enough for this weekend.

 

You've been a busy guy, for sure!

 

Man you put in enough steps and miles to keep up with anyone’s cardio work outs chasing parts and running from shop to shop. No moments waisted over in Drag City!

 

2026 has started. I have a championship to win. Staying focused.

 

I love your motivation.

 

The Dana is back under the car. The top rear bars were dropped a hole to reduce lift. While putting the right side axle in I found this. That could have become very bad real fast. Nice pattern on the gears

 

wow, never seen a wheel bearing race break like that.

 

Me either. It just goes to show annual inspections are necessary.
I wonder if hitting the wall in Eddyville had anything to do with it? It was on that side.

 

You are nothing if not excellent at breaking things lol

 

Good job, I am amazed at how many things you have caught that could be catastrophic during your inspections!

 

Ouch... axle, housing & wheel okay?

 

Everything else looks good.
When you have 300 HP you have 300 HP problems. When you have 2500 HP then you get 2509 HP problems. Just the way it is

 

Time to take a little break! If I remember right you had posted about attending the Iowa Racing Hall of Fame festivities in Webster City this weekend with your friend and mentor Roger who's being inducted. Enjoy it! You should take some time to check out the museum in Algona too if you can. I was able to donate a few photos earlier this year and visited for the first time in September. Lots of dirt track stuff but there are cool drag racing exhibits too: an exhibit about drag racer Vern Moats who I saw race many times and one of the Grove Bros. later gassers is on display there too. They've recently expanded the racing display area. Great folks there and well worth a visit. Thought about attending the Hall of Fame induction banquet but have a family thing going on so no-go this year. Anyhow, hope you have a great time. Quite a journey you're on and we really appreciate being able to follow along via this thread. One of my favorites on the HAMB!

 

Several of us Orange Crate crew members will be there. I will try to get some photos and post them afterwards.

Possibly my favorite of Roger, although not in the Orange Crate at that event;

 

Unfortunately I won't be able to go to the museum. I'm bringing the heads to service. I'm also picking up a drum of nitro. There just won't be any time.

 

Did this thread just go over a million views?

 

@racer-x
Just asking Since most of us have not seen a Axle bearing broken that way,
Before you install back togater did or are you going to check with Axle Jig bar to see if out now ?

 

Today's day off fun included but not limited to the following. Up early for a 90 minute ride to strange to get a new axle bearing. On the way home I stopped in Wadsworth to change the bearing. The outer race broke off in the press do to the crack. A puller was put on it along with some heat. That worked. It was left to cool before the new bearing went on. I went home and put the rear end back together. Seeing that I had a little time on my hands I honed the engine. That went great. Things are moving forward at a good clip.
The rods showed up from GRP. They are like jewelry. It's a shame they are hidden inside the engine. They have a serial number on them for easy re ordering. They are cam cut for exhaust lobe clearance. Great product.

 

wow.

 

Well now, looks like you’ve got it handled. After seeing your busted axle bearing I’m reminded of an incident my father had with his 34 Plymouth. Long story short the inner bearing on drivers side froze to the axle shaft ( don’t get me started on how they fixed it) several hours later the bearing came off and was replaced .