Last Work Weekend Before Arse-Freeze

Work continued on the car this last weekend with the Punch List looking a lot greener. Claus aka Lug Nut came in the morning and we worked on the various odds and end. From this work some good and bad news can be reported. On the bad news the Nissan Consult seems to be having trouble connecting. With two computer and at least five different software systems connection into the ECU was not made. Not a huge problem, but without it the Tablet display is dead (some won't cry to hard over that) and a simpler tach will be used. The real negative is we can't look into the ECU to determine what it thinks is going on. Sparky will look at this track side to see if we blew the channels out with the last race and we will have to go from there.

On the good side we tested the fuel delivery system for the first time. It is a 15 gallon conical tank that we have placed onto cart.

We filled it with 10 gallons, inserted the hose to the car, and opened the valve. In 42 seconds all 10 gallons of fuel where dumped into the tank. In the end very successful. Not only is this new system faster, but it appears we will also spilled less than the old gas cans.

Then, in the evening Rod come by. He was able to weld in the K support to roll bar, so now that it done. Then just before he left we tried the to start the car. No go. It was getting cold and we noticed that the battery charge was low. So we put a charge for 20 minutes and again nothing. So we left that evening thinking the battery just needed charging and closed up for the evening.

However, I was very troubled, so today I went back in to test the problem. I did spend a lot of time the day before zip tying wires and now wondered if I had been too zealous. After several tests, it was clear that the fuel pump was not working. After an hour of chasing wires and testing voltages I found that power was not going through the relay switch. So, I replaced the relay turned on the ignition switch, and one throw of the starter switch we roared to life. After checking with Sparky (and being rightfully chastised for messing with ECU board) the trouble is most likely in the connectors to the Fuel relay. On end most likely got loose as a result of my efforts and we will look on Thursday to make sure all those are seated correctly. Sorry Sparky.

In the end we are in business again with a working car and few small action items left for the race this weekend.

Muddy

Buttonwillow Weather Report

as of November 26.

Tuesday Nov 30 Mostly Sunny High 59°F Low 33°F Precip 0 %

Wednesday Dec 01 Mostly Sunny High 62°F Low 37°F Precip 0 %

Thursday Dec 02 Partly Cloudy High 61°F Low 38°F Precip 20 %

Friday Dec 03 Partly Cloudy High 56°F Low 34°F Precip 20 %

Saturday Dec 04 Rain / Snow Showers High 49°F Low 37°F Precip 30 % Airport Conditions

All you practicing on Gran Turismo might want to do a few laps in the snow.

Arse-Freeze Hotel Reservations

I have reserved seven, two bed per room "suites" for the race. Added your name in the comments, so can make sure we have enough for the group.

1. Doug, Cindy, Meghan, and Kearin
2. Grandma and Grandpa
3. Claus, Tony
4. Xo, Steve
5. Mark, Bernt
6. Branden, Rod, Kirsten
7. Open

The hotel is one exit North for the Buttonwillow Racetrack ( 24551 Lerdo Highway, Buttonwillow, California 93206). Which turns out to be 11 miles north.

Your Receipt Email this page Printer-friendly view Days Inn Lost Hills 14684 Aloma Street I-5 Exit Hwy 46 Lost Hills, CA 93249 US Phone: 661-797-2371 Fax:661-797-2021 Reservation Confirmed All reservations made at the "Book 14 Days Out, Save 20 Percent Rate" require a valid credit card to pre-pay for the reservation and any applicable local and state taxes. There will be no credit or refund for early departures,cancellations, no shows, or changes in your reservation for any reason.Guests will not receive any refund or credit. Guest must present credit card used to pay for this reservation at check in. Confirmation Number 51937517 51917989 Payment Method We require a valid credit card to confirm your reservation and guarantee your room. Any required deposit or pre-payment will be charged to this card immediately. Otherwise, your card will not be charged until you check-out. Wyndham Rewards points and airline miles are awarded for qualified stays in over 20 countries worldwide. Travelodge properties outside the United States are not participating in Wyndham Rewards. Guest Information Room Information Name: Douglas Van Lare Address: 11435 Rampart Drive Dublin, CA 94568 Home Phone: 925 4136978 Email: dougvanlare@yahoo.com Confirmation #: 51917989 Comments: Number of Rooms: 7 Book 14 Days Out, Save 20 Percent Rate Description: Book 14 Days Out, Save 20 Percent - Prepayment Required Cancellation Policy: There will be no credit or refund for early departures, cancellations, no shows, or changes in your reservation for any reason. Guests will not receive any refund or credit. 2 Double Beds Room Book 14 Days Out, Save 20 Percent Rate Convenient Room Has 2 Double Beds/ Standard Amenities/Nsmk/Excellent Combination Of Excellence And Value Occupancy: 4 people max

Plead for Residue Value for Arse-Freeze 2010

Jay,

My team, Flat Tire Racing, is scheduled to run in the Arse-Freeze Race. The last race we ran was Goin’ for Broken (as Clunker Refuge Racing) with our 300ZR.

During the practice day we started to develop problems (Well there’s a surprise). By the end of practice the problem was clear that we had lost a cylinder.

Not daunted, we disconnected the injector, removed the coil and ran the race on five cylinders expecting an exciting massive crowed pleasing failure. Unfortunately it survived and in the end we came in a respectable 38^th. If anyone would consider this kind of racing respectable.

We then packed our things, got home and threw it all in the garage. I was then placed on sabbatical until I made up five months of pent-up honey do projects that where calling. This included a new gas range oven to be placed in a spot where no gas was, so it could be up and running in time for the family to come over for Thanksgiving with the kids that took me four years of physiological counseling and three years of legal wrangling in divorce court to get. That now isn’t happing because the girlfriend says we never spend Thanksgiving with her family and god knows what other issues that will cause me years of additional physiological counseling to address the mental, tortured and self pitting shame. (i.e. Add it to the long list of things that makes beer so damn easy to drink).

Once we got around to working on the car we pulled the engine.

Then pulled the head and the problem was clear.

A burned up exhaust valve.

Going through the rest of the motor it does not appear to be terminal damage. To get the beast running again we would like to replace the two exhaust valves. Below is the estimate for replacement parts to repair the troubled exhaust valves and valve guide.

Item	Qty.	Cost	Total
Dokuro Exhaust Value	2	$ 5.96	$ 11.92
Beck Arnley Valve Guide	2	$ 5.81	$ 11.62
			$ 23.54

Since this is not a whole lot of money I would also like to see if you would asses the value low enough to play around a with the suspension. And when I say suspension I am not talking the easy way out of simply replacing the springs, struts, or bushing sets. We are talking stuff in the normally banned-F1-technology category. Below is a quick pictorial design of a proposed driver adjustable sway bar system.

Yes, I know, and my teammates have been laughing at me too. I realize the likelihood that this could make any difference in our performance is remote. In fact it is more likely to cause problems, but it has turned into a good therapeutic challenge. To get this driver adjustable sway bar system to work here is the list and cost of parts I need.

Item	Qty.	Cost	Total
Top Shaft	1	$3.29	$3.29
Bottom Shaft	1	$3.59	$3.59
Ball Bearing	1	$3.19	$3.19
Spring	1	$1.69	$1.69
Retaining Spring Clevis Pin	1	$1.99	$1.99
Cotter Pin	1	$0.29	$0.29
Compression Clevis Pin	1	$1.39	$1.39
Cotter Pin	1	$0.19	$0.19
Shaft Retaining Bolt	1	$0.59	$0.59
Shaft Guide Bolt	1	$0.59	$0.59
Shaft Bolt	1	$5.24	$5.24
Shaft	2	$5.64	$11.28
Turnbuckles	1	$9.21	$9.21
Shaft Bolt	1	$5.24	$5.24
Arc Guide (Sheet metal)	1
Arc Bolt	2	$0.74	$1.48
Arc Bracket	1	$1.24	$1.24
Standoff	2
Clamp Mounting	1	$1.24	$1.24
Sway Bar Clamp	1	$12.35	$12.35
Linear Bearings	2	$5.04	$10.08
Sway Bar	1
Sway Sheaths	2	$12.06	$24.12
Retaining Pins	4	$0.29	$1.16
Linear Beerings	2	$10.36	$20.72
Retaining Ring	4	$0.96	$3.84
Bearing Bracket	2	$2.99	$5.98
U Bolts	2	12.99	$25.89
Vibration-Damping Clamp	12	$1.98	$23.76
Tube Clamps	2	$10.77	$21.54
Tube Clamps (10 pack)	1	$7.38	$7.38
Front Sway Bar (Goddies donor car purchase four races ago)	1		$
			$208.55

Because I know you will read this in the late hours, the total for both valve parts and adjustable sway bar parts is $232.09. So, I am asking you for a residual value for the car to be $267.91.

Thank you

Muddy