9/9/24:

I got the 5.57 Gear put in the car, ready for the 1/8 Mile Race at Knoxville, then loaded Ruster on the trailer last weekend after I decided to not tow to Clay City the week before.

I have been fighting the PJ Jes' Engine block plate flexing and likley allowing the engine and Transmission to move backward in the chassis. I need to devise some other reinforcement to keep the engine located forward, but have not had the energy to devote to engineering such a solution yet.

The Engine plate bowing is causing some misalignment issues with the engine accessory-driven parts.
When I had the car loaded on the trailer, I gave the engine a few revs and then the Alternator belt blew off!

So it was time for a bit of investigation and re-alignment of the alternator. I got that Sorted out and I might tow out to Lucky's Drag City, Near Erie PA on Saturday for some TNT.

I missed the TNT at my local track this week as they were having a BIG MONEY RACE - so that means $150 for the gate and lots of waiting around for only 2 runs, possibly more if you make rounds, so I tinkered with the Parts Jeep XJ and sorted out the alternator on Ruster and I hope to hit the TNT near Erie, PA this Saturday.
Lucky's is an 1/8 Mile track that I have never been to, But it seems pretty low-key and should be fun. Elevation is about 300 ft higher than Knoxville so it should give me a good idea of what the car will do with this gear.

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Yes, a plate is supposed to have a fore/aft limiter. I don't have one in mine, but do use a poly trans mount. A solid trans mount is a big no-no and will cause broken tailshaft housing issues.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Yes, I suppose I know all of that now. Ignorance is bliss.

I have only recently started to have problems with it . Probably time for a little refresh / Redux.

Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

9/16/24:

I went to Lucky's Drag City in Lowville, PA, near Erie.

They have open test sessions on Saturdays.
The 1/8 Mile is flat, and the 1/4 Mile after that is downhill. It's more like a street racing with a tree and time slips.

They run the Tree and computer for you, but you or your entourage have to wet the water box and pick up the time slips off the printer. Very low-key place. No starting line prep either.



There were maybe ~15 cars total - you could do as many runs as you liked, no waiting, no staging etc. just pull up and run.

I set a personal best for 60', but could not get near the best on the 1/8 Mile, as the weather was not there. There was a lot of spinning as well as there was no track prep on the starting line.

I got 7 runs in total and got the alternator and oil pump belts squared up as needed!

Ready for Knoxville.

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Woohoo! Man, I would love to run at that place.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

It's Right 8 miles off I90. next time you go to Buffalo / Canada Up through I 79 / Erie way it's there on Sat / Sun.

Super low-key.

Locals seem to love it.
Dirt road into the Place off of PA Route 8.

Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

I'll have to get me one of those. Where can you buy them at!

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

You used to have one.. Remember the Covalt CLAN?

I think there are more now, they just don't race as much

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Looks like a fun place, and about 1 step up from George Ray's in Arkansas.

Was your entourage all wearing black hoodies and wide bill caps since you're running No Prep?

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

My entourage was just me, my ramps, and the Van.
Everyone else had an entourage it seemed.
Some of the entourage(s) were good buddies just there to drink beers while the cars cooled off or so it seemed. Super low-key.

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

9/23/24:

Ruster traveled to Knoxville Dragway and Won every round of Slant 6 racing for the weekend.

Started by getting all loaded up at the Shop earlier that week:


Left the greater Pittsburgh area Thursday nite about 8:30 PM




Drove solid into West Virginia, where at about 1:30 AM Friday I found a good area to pull off that was not hogged by 23,416 Truckers that had the same thought as me.
The Rest Stop off I-77 has a scenic overlook above the Bluestone River Valley. The gate says "CLOSED AT DUSK" but it was clearly open at 1:30 AM when I pulled in and camped out under the sublime moonlight.




I got moving again maybe about 5:30 and was ready for the double tunnel in the route.




Once you cross over Flat Top Mountain in WV, it's net elevation loss to Knoxville.
I had a Beautiful breakfast at a Rest area along I40 in TN, checked a few emails then pressed on to Maynardville.



I arrived at Knoxville Dragway at about 500 Miles and 8.5 Hours Driving time, which is not bad for an ol' 318-2 Pulling through the mountains.


Before Racing Lou and I found the Big Ridge State Park and did some hiking near Lake Norris, One of those TVA Lakes, you know they are everywhere in Tennessee.


It was mostly Hot, so the air and D/A was not there to set records.


Ruster Ran 15 Laps and had some electrical bog for the last 4 passes and somehow won every slant 6 round for the weekend.


I left the Maynardville Area at about 9:30 and Arrived back in PA 11 Hours later to see My daughter's voice recital. She was very happy that I made it back.

A few shots of the trip back:
Pilot / Subay for a sandwich/Fuel Stop:


A Roadside nap near US 52 in Bastian, VA


After another Nap off US-19 Near, the New River Valley Gorge Bridge overlook, It was time to head home through West Virginia, which this time had beautiful blakents of fog in some areas.





Made it home in about the same time with all of that elevation gain and the Bristol traffic along 81.

It was a fantastic weekend!

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

9/29/24

I may have found what was causing my electrical cutouts in Knoxville, still have to do some testing to confirm.
I am done racing for the year now anyway, the Motor plate is very bent after 15 laps of transbrake hits on a sticky track. I now need to straighten / reinforce this plate and install some fore/ aft limiters. Some work to be done for sure!

Some documentation from last week:
https://youtu.be/yd0J9Hdy6n0?si=Uq7Fpp_sWNg4ZwSg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

What is your thoughts on the 5.57 gears Greg?

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

It does not seem to make much difference. Slightly faster 60' but Maybe I should go and try that 5.57 Ratio with a shorter tire too.

I think I need more Cam in there to make HP to realize any gain with these gears.

This 'ol lawnmower cam needs to go!
It's been good to me but I need to try something new

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Thanks for the update. Over the winter I am planning on new shocks and installing my 5.13s.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.