I promised an update on the engine, and you’ll get one. On Tuesday we’re taking it to the dyno, and you’ll get a full report and pictures after that. But I’ve been working hard on the car, and Em’s all over me for a blog update in the mean time, so here you go.
Perhaps the most fun part about winter with a race car is the chance to take a look at what you have, and imagine how it could be better. So this winter, as I started getting things out of the car, I began looking at improving things. And I got a bad case of the “while we’re at it”s.
The current case of it started with a simple little problem. As we started working on the engine, Bob pointed out that we really should fix the fuel pressure gauge. You see, the engine was out and the fuel lines were on the floor, but it was still reading pressure. Probably should fix that. And it would be great if it was in the dash, so Em could know if there was a problem. OK, maybe we can work that out, I thought.
Old Dash Now Empty
Then, we realized that with the new vacuum system we should probably have a gauge for that too. And that created a problem, a really crowded dash. Or what could be called a “10 pounds of stuff, but only a 5 pound bag”.
In addition, we wanted to have the Racepak record those pieces of data. This isn’t a big deal, as it can record all kinds of things. But the dash was a real problem. Fortunately, Racepak makes a neat electronic dash (the IQ3) that easily connects to our existing data recorder. So, the answer was simple: replace the tach, water temp gauge, and oil pressure gauge with the IQ3. And we’d get all the other data there too.
This means rearranging the whole dash, and building a new one. I’m up for that, I thought, no problem. Of course, that caused another problem: the Dedenbear CC3 delay box wouldn’t fit on the dash in the new configuration. That’s OK, they make a smaller box (the Lightning) that has all the features we need and will fit. Then the next problem, all the switches wouldn’t fit. Tried a new Painless panel, but it wouldn’t fit either (gotta love the narrow chassis…). So I ended up returning it, getting all new switches from Painless and committing to redoing the existing switch panel as well.
All in all, I ended up gutting the dash, and starting over. A project I was looking forward to. Until I got into it. The more I tore things out, the more I found that needed to be fixed. Wires that were patched, some were undersized, and some that were completely unnecessary now that the Racepak was going to handle it all. So, another case of “while we’re at it” came, and a complete rewire of the car was added to the to-do list.
Gutted Car
And if that’s not biting off enough, as I got into the rewire job, I found more and more that needed to be done. Several circuits that should probably be on relays were not. So in came a Dedenbear Multiple Relay Center, a neat solution to the problem.
The back panel behind the seat would need to be organized, with the new vacuum system, and much of the wiring was connected to it. It would also be nice to move the radiator overflow catch can up there (from back by the read end). And it would be a neat place to put the relay center. So a new back panel had to be crafted.
When I stared laying all of this out, I realized the MSD ignition box was a) old and out of date, and b) bigger than ideal for the space. And if I got a new MSD 7AL-3 box, I’d have the latest box, and would have an even better place to put the relay center.
So, a serious case of “while we’re at it” has resulted in a car that is completely gutted. I’ve spent so much time tearing it apart, I’m not sure if it will ever go back together. But I’m sure it will… with time.
Unfortunately, I only have a month. We’ve decided to do our first test session on April 10-11. That gives me very little time to stop tearing things apart and starting to get them back together. It will all start with the engine and a trip to the dyno on Tuesday. Stay tuned.
