2019 Sears Pointless Menu

Z-Chef has made her choices.  On Friday night we will enjoying Asian flavors with Teriyaki Chicken.  On Saturday dinner will be Greek flavors with Lamp,   

Here is the rest of the fun:

	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Breakfast	Banana Bread (on the road)	Egg, ham and cheese croissant sandwiches Fresh Fruit	Egg and sausage sandwiches on English muffins Fruit
Lunch	Deli Sandwiches Chips Fresh Fruit	Chicken Jalapeno Quesadillas Black Bean Soup	Meatball Sandwiches Greek Salad
Appetizer	Edamame with garlic and chili Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce	Whipped Feta and Dill Dip Muhammara Dip Pita Chips and Veggie dippers	Off track
Dinner	Green Salad with Miso Dressing Teriyaki Chicken Grilled Bok Choy Fried Rice	Green Salad with Caramelized Balsamic Vinaigrette Herb marinated lamb chops Couscous with Feta, Cucumber, and Mint Grilled Asparagus (or Broccolini)	Off track
Dessert	Ginger-Orange Carrot Cake	Torta Caprese (Chocolate Almond Cake) with Fresh Berries	Off track
Beverages	Coffee Hot chocolate
Snack	Chocolate chip cookies Chocolate crackle cookies Peanut butter cookies (Note: Driver cookies are only for non black flag runs!)

Sears Pointless Prep (Last Weekend)

Prep work for Sears Pointless continued over this weekend. Queen, Torch, and I work through many of the final identified project task and on the punch list. As for the D, it will need a light once over for paint, but essentially it is ready for the track. On the Z we had a bit of a battle for the fuel system. From Wednesday work, we were able to get the high pressure system to work, but only saw just above 30psi. I thought it was the prefilter, so on Saturday that was changed out. When the system was then tested on Saturday we had no pressure. A quick test told use the pump had expired. A new one was acquired and put on line today, and yes, we now have fuel pressure to the rail:

We now have two cars running, Phew!!!!

Now to get them track ready here is the final punch list items:

Electrical Systems

Status

Items

300z

Type D

Comments

1

Racecapture /Traqmate

DONE

Secure wires for network phone.

2

Battery charged

DONE

Z- Charge

Engine and Drivetrain

Items

300z

Type D

Comments

3

Check new fuel system for leaks.

DONE

4

Finish Cover Fuel System

DONE

Install insolation Install Cover Paint - White

Suspension and Brakes

Items

300z

Type D

Comments

5

Tires and rims

D- Needs 1 Tire Z- four spares

6

Springs and Perch Inspection

DONE

Z- Set locking ring to rear struts

Safety Systems

Items

300z

Type D

Comments

7

Check tow hitch

Make sure they are labeled

Pit and Logistics Systems

Items

300z

Type D

Comments

8

Hotel room confirmation and number of rooms confirmed

5 Room at Courtyard Inn

9

Reserve tow truck

Z - Daws D – Torch/Picasso

10

Reserve trailer

Z FMJ D-

11

Residual value memo to Marilee

12

7x5-gallon carboy

Check caps and tighten Value

13

Pack for the track

14

Binder

Décor

Items

300z

Type D

Comments

15

Paint

Tape and Touch Up

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.