Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinballer
Looks like the 'baby' is only to the crawling stages so far.
I did get a chance to test last Friday night, or at least showed up at the track anyway. Got through tech at opening bell, and being the newest thing not seen yet in these parts, drew a little attention from some other participants before the racing started. Received several nice comments about the car which was pleasing to hear. Other comments were more of total surprise when they saw the 6 cylinder sitting in the engine bay. Lots of explaining to do...many answers to questions.
Now-- the first run was simply supposed to be taking an easy lap and see if everything worked. Before I could get onto the track surface, a guy on the sidelines came running up and said there was something leaking. Had a fuel fitting underneath that was dripping some, so we aborted that run. Took a little while to repair, but got things back to good again.
By now daylight was fading pretty fast, but got one run in where I could see what I was doing. The easy 8th mile pass leaving at 1000 rpm with a bogging carb, an .080 shallow staged light (need to practice!) and lazy and way too early unassisted shifts, netted me an 11.42 at a lofty 59 mph with a 2.42 60'. Now that your laughter has subsided, it wasn't exactly what was hoped for either, I had dreamed of something in the high 10s on the initial try, but I guess it wasn't time to set the world on fire yet. It was too dark out after this run to try anything without making a couple adjustments to the the carb and kickdown linkage, and I realized I had left the flashlight in the other truck back home, so packed it up and will hope for more next Friday night.
I will say that even on the one and only shakedown pass so far, the car surprised me in one aspect: with the additional rear gearing from stock, it sure pulls decently when it gets into high gear, so maybe there's a ray of hope to build on for the next session.
Gotta chip away on that low end now.
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Been a long time since I had anything to report, but finally the weather and my work schedule cooperated and I got a Sunday test session in.
As you can see in the above quote, the initial shakedown pass from late last year in cool weather, leaving the car in drive, absolutely blistered the 1/8th mile asphalt with an 11.42 . Sorry to report I didn't better that by an extreme amount this time in testing, but I did learn a whole bunch of things while making a total of 6 runs.
Conditions were way less than ideal. It was sunny and ranged from 65 to 75 degrees over the course of the afternoon, which was the great part, but we were running straight into gusting headwinds of 25-35 mph all day long. I haven't done the math to see what factor that would lower the ET's yet, but at this point it isn't that vital. Keep in mind, the engine and trans are still bone stock, the whole idea here is to line out everything else before putting the expensive stuff in place.
RUN 1: 12 noon, OT= 65 degrees. Water temp-150. Left car in Drive for a shakedown pass. Noticed it still shifted very early into 2nd gear even with the kick down linkage left alone and as removed from other Spirit.
ET-11.65 at 58.67 mph. 60' was 2.59. Line loc has decided to not work for some reason, so not a decent burn out on this run. Hmmm...worked last fall. Checked over for any fluid leaks back in pits, everything good. I can hear the line-loc solenoid clicking when button is pushed in, but isn't holding anything. Oh well, I guess I'll foot brake it some on the burn-outs.
RUN 2: 12:45 OT= 69 degrees. Water temp 165. Manually shifted the car into 2nd this time at 4500 rpm. Same for 3rd. Still getting used to pulling on those levers, but I like it! I feel like Butch Leal with a Lenco in hand. Shifts are a little lazy acting, not surprising since this trans has 100,000 miles on it.
ET-11.55 at 58.36 . 60' was 2.48.
RUN 3: 1:45 OT= 71 degrees. Water temp 185, I wanted to get a run in at a normal road use/long-idle-period operating temp which is how I used to run the blue '80 Spirit long ago. Noticed the bite at the line was better, maybe the "green" track is coming around now, or I'm getting the hang of foot-braking a mild burn-out. Shifted the car at 4000 this time, couldn't tell much difference because the kickdown linkage overrides a too-early shift under full throttle and it winds up into the mid 4's regardless.
ET-11.34 at 60.24 .60' was 2.46.
I guess the stock engine likes it hot.
RUN 4: 2:30 OT=75 degrees. Water temp at 185 again. Decided to play with shift points 200 rpm at a time, so moved up to 4200. This run felt very positive all the way thru compared to the others. Results bear that out.
ET-11.24 at 61.48 . 60' was 2.46 .Next run we'll see if things stabilize any.
RUN 5: 4:00, OT= 73. Long clean-up session caused delay between runs. I let the water get up to the 180+ area again and made shifts at 4500 as I did in Run 2. (If that seems like a low shift point, it's because a stock engine doesn't make any power after that anyway.) Took my factory ram-air ducting off and ran it without the air cleaner assembly.
ET-11.36 at 60.40 . 60' was 2.50 . Allowing for the -.04 difference in 60', I'd have to say that running without the air cleaner and ducting certainly isn't helping my cause. Re-installed for last run.
RUN 6: 4:30, OT=72 . Plenty of headwind out there still. Shifting at 4500. Water temp still at 180, trying not to put too many variables in now.
ET-11.28 at 60.48 mph. 60' 2.50 .
So what did I learn? I need a line-loc that works. The last year's only T.T. session showed a 2.42 on a seasoned track, so there's more to be had there. The ram-air system works. If I factor the 60' about the same, the car tends to run about the same ET's accordingly.
Now all I need to bracket this thing some is seat time, my lights were terrible. I was never a shallow stage-er in the past, so I'm learning a new rhythm method for my light countdown. Can't just leave off the bottom bulb with this car, that gets you about a .750 light. With such a slow leave, I'm trying to leave inbetween the 2nd and 3rd bulbs now.
I also need to start spending some money. I'm only 2.4 seconds away from the index.
But the drivetrain is holding up and I've got the shifter rod pulls adjusted right where I like them.