Last night I finally got to try the auto shift deal I istalled in my TQFLTE 904 trans in the senior dragster. I had discovered with advancing age, declining eyesight and a general uncoordance manual shifting was too difficult for me to do with any repeatable result. Since I dont buzz the slant six over 6000 (4.12 stock stroke remember) I had devised a method of controlling shift points with a lawn mower throttle****embly hooked to the throttle valve lever (kickdown lever) It worked well but still shifted too early (about 4700 at best. )At that Rpm the engine is just coming onto its sweet spot (peaks at 5800) so it worked but could have been better. I bought a govenor kit from A&A designed for 6000 RPM. I installed it this spring but got rained out both times so this is my first race of the year. First pass was a shakedown run with shft points set at 3/4 full range. Worked perfect. Next run I gave her all but the 2-3 shift was a bit high for the leaning tower of power /6. I backed it off just a tiny notch for my third pass . Perfect. There was little "sticky" down so it was spinning badly on launch but still managed a 7.74 at 87.9 MPH . My helpers all Alky RED dragster drivers themselves said I was spinning badly the whole cement lanuch pad section. I may put on my big tires or go somewhere where they race more than once a month. I mounted a video camera on the rollbar. I got on and off mixed up in the sunlight and noise but I did shoot a real neat video from turn off back to the pits and a short one just before I ran. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRbGy9yXhuE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL. I forget how to put it here so if someone will do it for me I would appreciate it. Last run of the night I was in the lanes when an old rival from way way back in run what you brung days (1960s and 70s) was at the front of the lanes. He decided to push back and came and told me they needed to move me back as he had a tire going down and had to return to his trailer . I was suspicious of this ol potlicker as he wasa devious racer from his youth. Sure enuf when I pulled up for my burnout he was on the otherside burning out. I smoked his***** good beating him by more than a second. Back in the day I used to wave when I went by him till one day he told me he didn't mind me beating him but wished I wouldnt wave good bye (I used to wave just before I pulled third which would bury his hopes on every pass). I never got the chance this time since i never saw him from the last yellow. Anyway A fun night. Wish the bite had been better but I know we are on the right track. Don
Great to hear Don!!!! Get that thing working just right. I'll give you a year from this month........ How is the station these days?? Haven't been able to talk with Dad about the music lately. Oh ya, about the jig for the rail, we should get together and take a look at it some time. C.C
Yep. We can do that. The Station is still great! Julie who runs the lanes said to me just before my last run she was disappointed that more folks hadnt built senior dragster and run them there. She thought even two would be fun but several would be great (and great for the track too. ) Don
Monday and yesterday I went over the car doing maintenance. I learned years ago to do my maintanance right after the last race so all is good to go for the next one. If you happened to watch the return road video (I still cant remember how to paste it on here) you may have noticed a wheel wobble a couple of times. I did and i had not seen that before. I went on a hunt and discovered the steering box pitman arm had a lot of movement in it at one point. I took the lid of the car expecting the steering box to be toast but discovered the bolts holding it , two 1/2" bolts were not tight and the box was wiggling. A few minutes later all was well again as I tightened them to full torque. Noticible difference in steering now . Much firmer. I will have to keep an eye on them for awhile, checking them regularily to see if I just hadnt tightened them enuf or if I need to make a mod to the bracketry. I also removed the water pump crank drive belt and installed a home brew electric water pump drive using moroso toothed belt and pulley but my own drive system I ran it for 15 minutes . Temp never went above 170F So it should be fine. On Door cars we used to get a measurable reduction in Et changing to an electric Water pump drive and often more consistant cooling too with a constant speed water pump. We shall see what happens here. I also did some further tuning and think (anyway) I found some more ponies. With the chassis working good and now the shifting taken care of it is time to hunt for some serious HP. I wanna go 10s. Don
Also having trouble getting full throttle. I do not like the throttle pedal****embly I have(MR GSket ) Cable slips in its holder and it is poorly designed pedal anyway. A severe rework in in the works and I ay make a new one. Can not get the secondaries open all the way after about 2 pedal pushes. may be minor butI am not taking that chance. With the NHRA rules 2 return spring, and the holley carb also has a stiff one on the shaft and the pedal****embly also has on it gets a bit ridiculous. Don
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