Off season maintenance

[Travis Miller]

As the off season in upon us, how about we have a discussion as to what you do for maintenance on your racecar, tow vehicle, trailer, etc. Sure the engine/transmission probably gets freshened but what about the other things that get wear and tear throughout a racing season. Do you just put everything away and wait for next season or do you actually disassemble and check for wear? Now is a good time to do maintenance you have been meaning to do all summer.

Share some ideas that others maybe overlooking. It might just help keep a poorly maintained racecar from being in the lane beside you next season.


Travis

(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

[vic guilmino]

race cars
engine, tran
ball joints
brakes
rear end
shocks
msd box
wiring
shifter

trailer
wheel breaings
clean inside
brakes

mh
wheel bearings
u jionts
change oil engine, gen., and trans
check batterys,wipes, etc.

[SS Engine Guy]

Remove and check all heim/rod ends for binding (meaning bent or stressed) Does the inner rotate freely in a 360 degree arc? If they haven't been replaced in more than 2 years I replace them as regular maintenance. Don't buy the cheapest. If they check good and are fairly new. Put them in the parts washer, dry and back on the race car. If you must use lubricant use something like tefflon spray that is a dry lube and not something that stays wet and attracts dust, etc.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Travis, you bring up a very good topic, most of the racers a know think the winter maint. is backing off the valves. Most racers make statements like OH well I'll look @ that in the spring or I just looked @ that and so on. What most of them fail to realize is the average "bracket car" is fairly fast in comparison to just 10-15 years ago the added speed increases risk. One of my first trips to the drags ( late 70's) it was very unusual to see a car running in the 9 sec. range, now it's common place, I see many street cars, and I mean street ( no cage no safety harness ect.) running very quick times and I just know these guys do 0 maint. I guess if these guys want to go out and hurt themselves I can't stop them but I sure don't want them in the lane next to me. We all need to look our cars over thourghly they recieve a lot of abuse at the track as well as in the trailer towing, I spent the best part of a Sat. going over my car frt. to back looking for leaks, loose bolts and nuts or anytrhing in need of attention, now I know in the spring she"s ready to Rock. Doing these things in the winter months is really the best that way if you see something you have some time to address it. Maybe someone could make up a check list and post it so guys could print it out and use it on their cars, sometimes our memory escapes us. Joe

[Mickey Whaley]

put in shop, drink JIM BEAM!

[Michael Beard]

"Off Season"? I just call it Christmas break.

If it's broke, freshen/replace it. If the cords are hanging out, it might be time to think about getting new tires.


(In all seriousness, good thread, Travis. I will pay attention, promise!)