Prep Work For Sears Pointless 2019 (Continued)

Last weekend I work all weekend on the new fuel system.  As I took it apart , it became clear why we had several failures.  This included:

• The transfer line on top of the tank was empty (no a go sign)
• The right Fuel tank was full of fuel which the gas tank meter showed.
• The left lobe was empty, so no fuel transferring was happening
• The Fuel pressure was just below 40 psi.  We need to be near 50 psi.
• The fuel pump connect on the top of the pump was almost off.

So, after all that, it might be good that we are going in the surge tank direction.  Last night Sparky came by and added his parts.  Things like the Z's Data system was upgraded, the D's fire suppression system electrical wiring, and the new fuel pump system.

Thanks Sparky!

The final evenings activity was the test of this system.  We had mixed results.  The lift pumps work and fill the surge tank. So that is good.  However, the high pressure pump is not getting to pressure into the rail.  After some trouble shooting (confirming things like the pump in the correct direct, surge tank has fuel, fuel regulator set, and a quick running of the engine) I think the trouble is the pre-fuel filter.  This filter may not flow as advertised.  My next set is to exchange it for one that is known to flow at the elevated rate.

8 days left.  Plenty of time.....?

Prep Work For SearsPointless 2019

Sorry, we have been quiet on the blog but not quite working on the cars.  We are steadily getting ready for the March 9-10 Lemons race.

We ran the Z in the at the Lucky Dog Racing League at Laguna Seca.  As noted when running the car did well.  However, the fix on the fuel system did not work, and we struggled all weekend with it.  At the end of the race, we still were having problems, and could only run for about 30 minutes.  I was in the car for its last stint and after 8 laps the car power dropped off and I could only chug up the hill.  That was far from racing, and with 30 minutes left we though tit was terminal, so we parked it.

Post race we have done our engine compression testing.  Here are the results:

Z	Cylinder
	1	2	3	4	5	6
preRace	170	175	180	180	180	190
Post Race	180	170	180	195	190	190

D	Cylinder
	1	2	3	4
Pre Race	170	190	190	205
Post Race	180	210	195	205

Nothing wrong there, so we feel with some punch list work each cars' engines are good to run.

As for the major repairs the D after the Sonoma Race needed a new transmission.   I happen to have one laying around (it is amazing the things one has after 10 years of racing), so that was installed on a fine December day.  The second big item for the D was for it to come in compliance with the new Lemon's rules for 2019.  The particular issues is a Fire suppression system, which equipment has been installed.  To finish that project we need to finish the wiring, control placement, and labeling.  After that we are on to the punch list.

For the Z, it is clear that the fuel system needs to be addressed.  There are several spots where the trouble could be, but without the luxury of road testing and time, figuring out which system is causing the problem has proven hard.  So, that leaves us with the option I have been trying to avoid, scrape the internal working and go to a surge tank system.  Here is our basic design:

I have ordered the parts, now we are awaiting there arrival, so they can be installed, and move to punch list items for the Z as well.