No I havent snapped, yet....
"Flies in the ointment" I feel like Im in that scene from Amityville Horror where there are all those damm flies, or when I was young and my stepsister killed a whole mess of flies but didnt hit them hard enough and threw them all in the trash....well they were appraently just stunned later a whole swarm flew out at her...
Mack Reeves was as Ive said the most gracious help we had, right when we needed it.
There are other flies in the ointment however than an engine, Summit and Barnett are open tommorow so......maybe theres a chance.
If not were considering a run home, but the weather up there......I may just move here :)
Need a few hrs of sl
eep, still plugging, brakes done (yes really) it only took about 1/2 hr or so , well almost done, I need 1 adapter yet for the MC and although I wasnt going to run one our wilwood proportioning valve sits right under the splash apron real nice, keeps it from getting bumped or someone screwing with it.
5 minutes ago my dad said something poingiont right before he started snoring.
If we dont make Pomona there will be a lot of happy people, there will also be a lot of dissapointed people, unfortunatley the people we want to be happy will be the dissapointed ones and the ones we want to dissapoint will be the happy ones.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Feb 6th....Only a couple days to go
TURKEY TROTS TO WATER GG FROM CINCPAC ACTION COM THIRD FLEET INFO COMINCH CTF SEVENTY-SEVEN X WHERE IS RPT WHERE IS TASK FORCE THIRTY FOUR RR THE WORLD WONDERS
Today, have to leave tommorow for Pomona....
Forgot blog last night so here it is.
Motor issues on dyno, cause unknown will investigate after dont have time for speculation or forensics now, opinions are obviously worthless, our assumption was fuel related , not an issue, no det on #3 non fuel air related.
New motor from #43 on its way courtesy Mack Reeves, this is one of the most AMAZING things to happen now Pomona will be because of him and his infinite generosity in loaning us a motor, for no other reason.
Note:Motor is even more capable than originally thought, evil is a good word for the 3rd Gen Hemi, ableit probably not usefull in marketing materials.
Torque is off chart (not really but amazing with out cam/header combo.) Wheel speed for trap speed/ converter combo looks JUST right, targeting a 1.30 60ft with a 10.0 1/4 from Dyno results looks to be possible.
Getting new tires courtesy Hoosier and our Driver, went with Goodyear originally because of "family ties" mom retired from there, Goodyear refused even discount early on even with moms status and connections. Bought anyway, now wont even run. 1 more thing to do "reshod" the car. Thanks to Hoosier and our driver.
Hoping Coughlin gets his issues squared away, car is capable, would be a shame not to have at least 3 DP cars at Pomona.
"Where is, repeat, where is Task Force Thirty Four? The world wonders."
Tenneson wrote a poem that is credited with the quotes by Halsey
"Flashéd all their sabers bare,
Flashéd as they turned in air,
Sab'ring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered."
END TRANSMISSION
STOP.
Today, have to leave tommorow for Pomona....
Forgot blog last night so here it is.
Motor issues on dyno, cause unknown will investigate after dont have time for speculation or forensics now, opinions are obviously worthless, our assumption was fuel related , not an issue, no det on #3 non fuel air related.
New motor from #43 on its way courtesy Mack Reeves, this is one of the most AMAZING things to happen now Pomona will be because of him and his infinite generosity in loaning us a motor, for no other reason.
Note:Motor is even more capable than originally thought, evil is a good word for the 3rd Gen Hemi, ableit probably not usefull in marketing materials.
Torque is off chart (not really but amazing with out cam/header combo.) Wheel speed for trap speed/ converter combo looks JUST right, targeting a 1.30 60ft with a 10.0 1/4 from Dyno results looks to be possible.
Getting new tires courtesy Hoosier and our Driver, went with Goodyear originally because of "family ties" mom retired from there, Goodyear refused even discount early on even with moms status and connections. Bought anyway, now wont even run. 1 more thing to do "reshod" the car. Thanks to Hoosier and our driver.
Hoping Coughlin gets his issues squared away, car is capable, would be a shame not to have at least 3 DP cars at Pomona.
"Where is, repeat, where is Task Force Thirty Four? The world wonders."
Tenneson wrote a poem that is credited with the quotes by Halsey
"Flashéd all their sabers bare,
Flashéd as they turned in air,
Sab'ring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered."
END TRANSMISSION
STOP.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Feb 5th Dyno
Well I never thought Id see the car on the Dyno,
Not too many gremlins, a few....like the alternator pulley nut I forgot to tigheten...whoooopppssss no biggie.
And well some fittings issues. and a couple other kinks in the system. But the car is plugging away as we speak, I left for a couple of reasons 1) I was tired and 2) I wont do anything but ask nervous qurstions as they do the dial in, best for me not to be there for the high speed stuff, but LOTS and LOTS of Torque.....HP well see....looking good.
Too tired, Dyno vids tommorow (sorry you wont see the ratings)
If converter / trans /trans computer are right its gonna be CRAZY sick....CRAZY ! I HOPE
I HOPE HOPE HOPE,
Long days ahead, must sleep , typeing this with only one eye open......
Till tommorow....
Not too many gremlins, a few....like the alternator pulley nut I forgot to tigheten...whoooopppssss no biggie.
And well some fittings issues. and a couple other kinks in the system. But the car is plugging away as we speak, I left for a couple of reasons 1) I was tired and 2) I wont do anything but ask nervous qurstions as they do the dial in, best for me not to be there for the high speed stuff, but LOTS and LOTS of Torque.....HP well see....looking good.
Too tired, Dyno vids tommorow (sorry you wont see the ratings)
If converter / trans /trans computer are right its gonna be CRAZY sick....CRAZY ! I HOPE
I HOPE HOPE HOPE,
Long days ahead, must sleep , typeing this with only one eye open......
Till tommorow....
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday Feb 4th 2010
Well, were out on the road on our way to Atlanta, our load out and forgotten items run took a hair longer than expected.
But well be in Atlanta tommorow around 10am rested and raring to go....
We now have a car that will run, everything is in place now its just a matter of making it stop....
I have to finish the brakes tommorow....good thing I was a plumber :) Should be an easy one, yeah right something will go wrong and well have to "improvise" but thats ok, not like were not used to it.....people often ask, how did you think of that, or the like my answer is usually its because I come from a long line of people who never have the right tools for a given job....the things Ive done to tools and with the "wrong" tools.....makes me shudder.
But the drive has been good other than the old mans driving, but its not near as scarry as either X wife,....
Had a good day Tuesday and Yesterday with the kids, I miss them horrible, they had been out of town for much of Dec and Jan so ..... well I wasnt able to see them, now that everything is "normal" again , well I am out of town. BUT Come this summer.......Ill be toting them around, they are the ONLY thing Ive ever done, or ever will do that actually matters. And that I have done right. I am immortal if they are loved. THAT Will be my legacy , the love for my children and the time I spend here with them.
Coughlin ran out tonight at Vegas.....I heard he didnt do so well......but what has me thinking is IS he Running the BS3 with the external crank trigger ? Not that that would make him slow, but its a bit of an untested system, with the Hemi, I shouldnt say untested with the 3rd gen hemi, but Unproven is a better word.
I had somone mention Irv Johns car and for our "baseline" items we copied most of his stuff, ratios runout, converter, and headers, so we have a "know quantity" to fall to on those items. The headers, well I think ours are better so well try em, if we fall on our faces with them I have the TTI as a "know quantity" backup. But they also mentioned his "tuner" and if ours was better.....I dont now, I think so, but I also think our system is better.........
Pomona wont tell that , it will take some wring out on the system AND the Combination of converter, headers, etc.....a lot on the chassis side, little on the motor.
I would LOVE to for our Main Sponsor to be able to snap a monster time out the first sanctioned pass.....I will be doing some of the driving in testing so dont expect it there, I will be playing the role of the "Challenger Whisperer" I need to feel the car, the motor, all of it, so I know how it is when its right and when its not......
My toes and my fingertips are the best mechanical diagnosis tools I have, car , well the toes are less important, and the palms less important, but the feel of everything will be interesting.
My dad says if I touch the car too much it will become obvious I need a woman in my life ? Why I would never let my girlfriend touch the car....sheeh pop....:)
Pomona is going to be tight, I am making contingencies with our driver for alternate testing on Sunday....In case the Texas weather sucks.
Right now here in Virginia it sucks....whats with all the snow down here , and colder than home ?!?!
But well be in Atlanta tommorow around 10am rested and raring to go....
We now have a car that will run, everything is in place now its just a matter of making it stop....
I have to finish the brakes tommorow....good thing I was a plumber :) Should be an easy one, yeah right something will go wrong and well have to "improvise" but thats ok, not like were not used to it.....people often ask, how did you think of that, or the like my answer is usually its because I come from a long line of people who never have the right tools for a given job....the things Ive done to tools and with the "wrong" tools.....makes me shudder.
But the drive has been good other than the old mans driving, but its not near as scarry as either X wife,....
Had a good day Tuesday and Yesterday with the kids, I miss them horrible, they had been out of town for much of Dec and Jan so ..... well I wasnt able to see them, now that everything is "normal" again , well I am out of town. BUT Come this summer.......Ill be toting them around, they are the ONLY thing Ive ever done, or ever will do that actually matters. And that I have done right. I am immortal if they are loved. THAT Will be my legacy , the love for my children and the time I spend here with them.
Coughlin ran out tonight at Vegas.....I heard he didnt do so well......but what has me thinking is IS he Running the BS3 with the external crank trigger ? Not that that would make him slow, but its a bit of an untested system, with the Hemi, I shouldnt say untested with the 3rd gen hemi, but Unproven is a better word.
I had somone mention Irv Johns car and for our "baseline" items we copied most of his stuff, ratios runout, converter, and headers, so we have a "know quantity" to fall to on those items. The headers, well I think ours are better so well try em, if we fall on our faces with them I have the TTI as a "know quantity" backup. But they also mentioned his "tuner" and if ours was better.....I dont now, I think so, but I also think our system is better.........
Pomona wont tell that , it will take some wring out on the system AND the Combination of converter, headers, etc.....a lot on the chassis side, little on the motor.
I would LOVE to for our Main Sponsor to be able to snap a monster time out the first sanctioned pass.....I will be doing some of the driving in testing so dont expect it there, I will be playing the role of the "Challenger Whisperer" I need to feel the car, the motor, all of it, so I know how it is when its right and when its not......
My toes and my fingertips are the best mechanical diagnosis tools I have, car , well the toes are less important, and the palms less important, but the feel of everything will be interesting.
My dad says if I touch the car too much it will become obvious I need a woman in my life ? Why I would never let my girlfriend touch the car....sheeh pop....:)
Pomona is going to be tight, I am making contingencies with our driver for alternate testing on Sunday....In case the Texas weather sucks.
Right now here in Virginia it sucks....whats with all the snow down here , and colder than home ?!?!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Feb 3rd 2010.....Its almost THURSDAY ?!?!?!
Not much DP related today except "Phone work" and some calls with other DP teams.
It dawned on me as much as I tell other DP team, I hope they dont take what I say as gospel (and I dont think they do) but its was a fear that people might take what I say as fact, when most of it is just what I have found, THEY may find a different and Better path to these solutions.
Got my Indy Timing setup in today, Im pleased that I got it same day, but well Im not real certain of the quality......on a DP motor, it concerns me, what also concerns me is that it uses 1/8th inch alluminum spacers for the oil pump......why that concerns me is the pickup and pickup bolt clearance at the front of the pan.....its gonna be close. The chain seems, well it seems a bit on the flimsy side.....I dont know this and if I were you would still buy one, I THINK because of the way its done it can be retrofitted to the stock chain/gear, even if the lower is only used as a "pattern"
Other items for the 5.7 finalized.....lots of things thought of and remebered for the trip to Pomona.
Tired, and going to sleep ......
Im looking for a couple of gags for the old man in Pomona....be warned pop :) Well see how good his ticker is .... lol......
And I am looking forward to going for a swim in Cali.....I need some water....in the summer I am an avid swimmer and I miss the water the most in winter of any other Summer activity.
Tommorow.....off to Atlanta again...."lather , rinse , repeat"
It dawned on me as much as I tell other DP team, I hope they dont take what I say as gospel (and I dont think they do) but its was a fear that people might take what I say as fact, when most of it is just what I have found, THEY may find a different and Better path to these solutions.
Got my Indy Timing setup in today, Im pleased that I got it same day, but well Im not real certain of the quality......on a DP motor, it concerns me, what also concerns me is that it uses 1/8th inch alluminum spacers for the oil pump......why that concerns me is the pickup and pickup bolt clearance at the front of the pan.....its gonna be close. The chain seems, well it seems a bit on the flimsy side.....I dont know this and if I were you would still buy one, I THINK because of the way its done it can be retrofitted to the stock chain/gear, even if the lower is only used as a "pattern"
Other items for the 5.7 finalized.....lots of things thought of and remebered for the trip to Pomona.
Tired, and going to sleep ......
Im looking for a couple of gags for the old man in Pomona....be warned pop :) Well see how good his ticker is .... lol......
And I am looking forward to going for a swim in Cali.....I need some water....in the summer I am an avid swimmer and I miss the water the most in winter of any other Summer activity.
Tommorow.....off to Atlanta again...."lather , rinse , repeat"
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Feb 2 2010...Hungry ?!?!?
Last night or this morning it dawned on me, the build is done.....
There are little things to do, but now more than 1/2 will be changeups and alternations. Not build....
So I have decided to "Officially End" the build blog, its purpose was to document what got done on the car what day, there was a point at which it changed from what I intended and carried commentary, some of that was "refrence" for our point of view, but some was hell just rambling of an overworked and under rested New Hemi Maniac.....
SOOOOOOoooo....not to dissapoint, the blog will continue, just it like all other things in life changes. Now its to be about our Journey through the season and from Point A to Point B, as well as lots of pictures, kinda like the "Travelling Gnome" I REALLY want a Pic of the Drag Pak car in front of "Bigfoot Cave" and in front of "The Giant Ball of Twine" Ill get em.....
Right now were on the road back from Atlanta, it is UNREAL , the snow is bad and they have apprently no idea how to clear a road in Wyteville (what state ?)
We stopped at a gas startion this morning and pulling in we saw a "Grill" that had more signs "Burma Shave" Style in the long entrance road and at the end was the picture you see.....
My first thought was Id never eat there, then I thought about it, with all the signs something had to pay for it, and well.....maybe their grub isnt bad, there is a place back home, its been there since the 30's tucked in a negihborhood that has EXCELLENT burgers, 1 of the 2 best in our area. They are the offender of more health code violations and vermin than anywhere, but everyone knows and still eats there, why ? Its a damm good burger :) Hell the Japaneese take their lives into their hands everytime they eat Fugu ( the blowfish sashimi that can kill you) so.....why cant I enjoy a burger.
At the gas station this morning we both got a fried bologna sandwich about 3/4 of a lb of hunk of meat.....me and my dad reminissed about my Grandma Lombardi and her cooking , that was one of her specialties.
My father grew up very poor, poor but loved. He laughed "hell I didnt know until I was 12" I was poor I thought everyone lived that way. My Grandma was frugal, heck all of my family both side, I am , My dad, he spends like a Sailor on Shorleave :) But its nothing about money, its ALL about family and love. My Grandma and Grandpa Lombardi were the sweetest people on the planet. I wish they could see our adventure first hand.
Ive got to go order some "Goodies" for Phase II engine and trans for after Gainesville.....so until tommorow.....(or later tonight)
Ill leave you with a quote from (well my father often says it)
"The biggest detterent to progress is common knowledge of what supposendly cant be done"
Monday, February 1, 2010
Feb 1....Blog from the road
Well we saddled out tonight at about 9:30....long and fairly unproductive day for us at least.
More running that anything, a 3 hr fuel run to and from VP for our "Mojo Juuse" , as well as some other running, me trying to find something that I have realized about this area of Georgia.....they dont have CRAP here in as much as fittings and places that do have the fittings, maybe in Atlanta proper, but wow...not out here. I was suprised, nearly every "Auto Parts" store clerk , and not the chains, but Napa, and some others that were met with blank looks... uhhh.hh...... I mean I get some of that at home but, wow....then again I frequent places at home where I dont get that look, rather places like Workmans Napa, where I can walk in with a wheel cylinder off a 39 Chrysler Royal Winsor (yes Royal Windsor, not Royal not Windsor, they were made specifically for the NY / Pa market ?) And say Jim, what can you do, and by lunch Ive got rebuild kits sitting back on the counter.
Frustration.....had I known this I WOULD have called someone down this way who offered to help in regards to some things, parts....duh...
But were back on the road , old man is driving for now, Im beat.
Car is all ready for a start when the last of the harness gets completed tommorow, and the trans computer is wired in.
So, back down Thursday....and fire, dial and head to testing.
Im tired, it will seem anticlimactic, unless we blow something up (thats not a good ending) or we set some records.....I think we will after Gainesville, when our 5.7 is in and weve really wrung chassis items out and found the best ratios etc.
This now is where we depart completley from the "others" we did certain things as a basline as "known quanitites" as in headers TTI, Converter ATI, etc......now were on our own.
Im going to do this car so a monkey can set a record in it.....those monkeys would be us.. :) And I am thinking, after Gainesville we may just beat to see how many records we can set, while our driver only concentrates on Nationals, we do some record banging at Divisionals....
We , me and the old man have 1 run at this, were gonna make it RIGHT for US, HAVING Fun is a goal........not for others, for me, the engine and something that can run like a scalded cat with a firecracker up its ass....the other DP owners we will share what we learned freely to make them just as competitive, if they share with us, or have, and most have, there are only about 3 exceptions, and I dont worry about them, I understand their position, I have been there myself, Im just not this time so........Itll be fun, there are a couple guys out there that dont need the "Collective" learning some of us are doing, like Caughlin, hes got his own team/money and brains on it.....cool. I think Jeggie is gonna be awful disappointed with something on his car after Pomona, and Im not the only one that thinks so............So he made a mistake or someone he listened to, it will be corrected In short order Im sure. But there are a few others maybe 1 or 2.....I cant wait to run them when we get REALLY dialed in, not first outing, but 3 or 4 events down the road.....thats gonna be fun....
There was some discussion over at Class Racer, I think, and still do the ENGINE is capable of pushing this car to an 8.99...There is no reason not , with a 6.1 at max overbore thats 383 ci (I love the fact that it comes out to that) Cryo treated engine components, driveline, good valves in it, a fuel system that can handle hyperaccurate delivery, and every coating, friction saving technique and item that can be thrown at this engine. I think it can be done, apparently Mike Roth thinks Im insane or yanking his chain or as he said "You have no idea of what it takes" Thats the same underestimation I hope from all our competitors. Well we do know EXACTLY what it takes, and unlike other people who just say that WE are WILLING to do it, is it the easy road no, but "It takes what it takes"
The Nav says 10 hrs till home, yeah right, I believe her when I start beleiving my ex wives.
More running that anything, a 3 hr fuel run to and from VP for our "Mojo Juuse" , as well as some other running, me trying to find something that I have realized about this area of Georgia.....they dont have CRAP here in as much as fittings and places that do have the fittings, maybe in Atlanta proper, but wow...not out here. I was suprised, nearly every "Auto Parts" store clerk , and not the chains, but Napa, and some others that were met with blank looks... uhhh.hh...... I mean I get some of that at home but, wow....then again I frequent places at home where I dont get that look, rather places like Workmans Napa, where I can walk in with a wheel cylinder off a 39 Chrysler Royal Winsor (yes Royal Windsor, not Royal not Windsor, they were made specifically for the NY / Pa market ?) And say Jim, what can you do, and by lunch Ive got rebuild kits sitting back on the counter.
Frustration.....had I known this I WOULD have called someone down this way who offered to help in regards to some things, parts....duh...
But were back on the road , old man is driving for now, Im beat.
Car is all ready for a start when the last of the harness gets completed tommorow, and the trans computer is wired in.
So, back down Thursday....and fire, dial and head to testing.
Im tired, it will seem anticlimactic, unless we blow something up (thats not a good ending) or we set some records.....I think we will after Gainesville, when our 5.7 is in and weve really wrung chassis items out and found the best ratios etc.
This now is where we depart completley from the "others" we did certain things as a basline as "known quanitites" as in headers TTI, Converter ATI, etc......now were on our own.
Im going to do this car so a monkey can set a record in it.....those monkeys would be us.. :) And I am thinking, after Gainesville we may just beat to see how many records we can set, while our driver only concentrates on Nationals, we do some record banging at Divisionals....
We , me and the old man have 1 run at this, were gonna make it RIGHT for US, HAVING Fun is a goal........not for others, for me, the engine and something that can run like a scalded cat with a firecracker up its ass....the other DP owners we will share what we learned freely to make them just as competitive, if they share with us, or have, and most have, there are only about 3 exceptions, and I dont worry about them, I understand their position, I have been there myself, Im just not this time so........Itll be fun, there are a couple guys out there that dont need the "Collective" learning some of us are doing, like Caughlin, hes got his own team/money and brains on it.....cool. I think Jeggie is gonna be awful disappointed with something on his car after Pomona, and Im not the only one that thinks so............So he made a mistake or someone he listened to, it will be corrected In short order Im sure. But there are a few others maybe 1 or 2.....I cant wait to run them when we get REALLY dialed in, not first outing, but 3 or 4 events down the road.....thats gonna be fun....
There was some discussion over at Class Racer, I think, and still do the ENGINE is capable of pushing this car to an 8.99...There is no reason not , with a 6.1 at max overbore thats 383 ci (I love the fact that it comes out to that) Cryo treated engine components, driveline, good valves in it, a fuel system that can handle hyperaccurate delivery, and every coating, friction saving technique and item that can be thrown at this engine. I think it can be done, apparently Mike Roth thinks Im insane or yanking his chain or as he said "You have no idea of what it takes" Thats the same underestimation I hope from all our competitors. Well we do know EXACTLY what it takes, and unlike other people who just say that WE are WILLING to do it, is it the easy road no, but "It takes what it takes"
The Nav says 10 hrs till home, yeah right, I believe her when I start beleiving my ex wives.
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