After putting up with bad weather for the last month or two, finally got a warm and sunny day to try our luck again at the track. Mavman got to try out the Maverick and now, that all classes except street, are running 1/8th mile, he had changed gear ratio in the new Strange 9in center section. First time trial netted a 5.98 et. Second trial was a bit faster but the gremlins were lurking on the asphalt. He was lined up with the other Maverick that race's with us on a regular basis. Both left on good light's, the other Mav broke an axle(20yr old Mark William's) Todd ran another high five and after crossing the stripe, pulled the fuel kill lever and turned on the gas idle system. The engine just shut off, after coasting to the return road, started it back up and was greeted with loud knocking in the 414 Windsor. Shut it off and got towed back to the pit's. Both Mav's were done for the day. My Fairmont was dialed in at 6.56 with the 347 from last year. Took it apart this winter and put it back together with no mod's(looked great inside so decided it should work for at least another few meets) Ran a 6.56 first pass and a 6.53 the second, Todd decided to drive the old standby 84 Stang with a 302 and Holley alky carb. With lot's of luck he and I both kept winning rounds, got semi final's(four cars) and we were paired up to run each other. The Stang was running in the 6.96 range all day so I gave up a four tenth's handicap to him. Tree come's down and "bam" my win light come's on and his red one is lit, missed it by just a few hundreth's. I ran the old girl out and clocked a 6.54 et at 103 mph. Todd get's 100 dollars for the semi final loss and I go to the final's. Drew last years runner up to Todd in the championships(Cheby Vega) same guy we bought the enclosed trailer from. Talked to him before the run and decided to split the 700 dollar purse. I had a 6.53 dial and he a 5.87, nailed it on the light and knew right away it was a bad RT for me, he had a .037 to my .085 figured maybe I could break him out on the top end, but should have knowen better after racing him for many years. He won after I had braked and now sit's in first place in points, but I got second place and Todd in fourth. More later on the Windsor problem, engine is coming out as I type.
One of the butterfly screws came out of the throttle body (there are 3 of them). After replacing a blown fuse, I started the motor and it hammered loudly...so I killed it and took yet another long, slow tow back to the pit. Thinking it may have been a rod bearing rattling, I noticed a screw missing from the throttle body. I knew exactly what the hammering noise was. Pulled it down a while ago, one of the heads has 3 indentations from the screw. One piston has 2 "nicks" in it. Very minor, easy fix with a die grinder. It could have been a heck of a lot worse! Still, though, I was disgusted because I had just bought these heads and it set me back a good chunk of change. I guess in a few years if I had grenaded the motor and had to have the head(s) welded up, it wouldn't be so bad...cause I would have gotten more passes out of them, but them still being shiny (even the chambers still shine....) and new, I wasn't happy. Had to order gaskets earlier. Going to touch up the top of the piston and knock the burr down on the head and bolt it back together.
great read as always. Sorry about your head Todd. even still, congrats to both on the good start in the points!!!!!
I had the same type of thing happen to my 429 CJ some years back. I had just finished rebuilding the motor and put a nitrous plate on it. The nitrous plate raised the carb an extra 3/4". A screw came out of the baseplate of the carb and found it's way into number one cylinder. Cracked the cylinder wall and dented my piston and head. I never did anything to the head, just bolted it back on to the sleeved motor. It ran great for years after the fiasco with the screw. My buddy still has it and I still threaten to toss it if I ever get my hands on it!
Just wondering Since i have no real XP with alcohol. Would a small burr cause a Hotspot/detonation like a gasoline engine?
Butterfly screws in the engine are way more common than they should be. Sorry to hear about that damage, but I'm glad it didn't sideline you.
Well it could if I had 15:1 compression. But I don't. Mine is a low compression 414" so I seriously doubt it will cause any problems. Thats the nice thing about literally throwing together a motor like this...it doesn't cost a whole lot (relatively speaking) and being low compression, you can get away with a lot more tuning mistakes. Sure, it may be down about 50 HP, but it's a bracket engine...I really don't care as long as it runs a number.
sorry to hear the bad news.. congrats on the good news.. i hope the engine doesnt develop cracks from the nicks
Was hoping that would be the reaction to the words. Never want to sound like a braggerd, just want to make interesting reading and such, for all to enjoy. Maybe get some info passed on and keep the art of drag racing going for a long long time. Been involved with some type of racing/hor rods, since about 12yrs old, 56 yrs later still love to hang around any type of motorsports and mechanical stuff. Wife say's when I bleed, come's out as 10w40 Valvoline.
Dave, you do not come off as a "bragger" although I think to a point there is nothing wrong with a little "pat on the back" You should be proud of what you and Todd are doing....and the fact that you guys are doing it together makes it even better
Glad an Sad, Throttle plate screws,,, gotta recheck mine, good reminder sorry to get it this way. Keep them FoMoCo's shining out there, with your good stories following!
