Cascade Crew

[chevymad]

Well, I took the 2nd gen for a try at the track last night. Got 2 runs in before I gave up.

Been working on it most of the week to try and get it race worthy. My harmonic balancer evidently came apart on the dyno trip, so that had to be swapped. Installed a battery hold down, replaced the rear brake hose and springs because the brakes had been hanging up and smoking, installed the overflow bottle and fender brace, flushed the radiator and installed a 160 thermo to drop engine temps/help tranny/stop pinging, and installed a large transmision cooler.

I ran out of fuel on the dyno, so I made a pontiac 120gph pump out of a chevy one I have. Then installed it with hardlines instead of the 3ft!! yes.. 3ft of rubber the factory used. Took it out around here, still fell on its face.. So then I replaced all the rubber lines in the fuel system and dropped the tank to remove the sock. Tank was pretty clean but sock was awful. Figured I had it beat.. no go.. Next I remembered having trouble with my braided fuel lines on the 87. So I took it off.. sure enough the rubber was coming apart. So I replaced that with hard line as well. Since I inspected the fuel filter before dyno and it was new, I assumed it was ok. So now i'm out of time and just jumped in the car and headed for portland.

Line up for my first run.. spin.. feather catch.. run out of gas.. Look in my rear view mirror and that cummins diesel is way back there.. I'm pumpin the pedal like mad and it catches and goes like hell to the finish..
An outstanding race!! My 19.2 vs his 22.6!!!

Out to the pits, the whole fuel system as been looked at now basically. So I pull the fuel filter.. Guess its not so new now!! There are pieces of that braided line plugging up the check valve and all kinds of crap in the filter. Filter has plugged and fuel pressure has expanded it. So I remove the plugged check valve and try to knock some crap out of the filter.. reinstall. Thought about running without, but really don't want to plug something up in the carb.

Back for a 2nd run. spin, spin, spin , spin ,spin can't catch traction for crap.. going to need some sticky tires for sure.. Ya.. i'm still spinning.. back clear off.. step down.. still spinning.. and NOW i'm out of gas.. . Ricer is way ahead of me.. I just coast it down the rest of the quarter at an awesome 55mph.. Drive straight out of the track to Baxters.. which is closed.

So home I went.

Anyway, I hope its just the filter now. When the car has fuel its a beast spinning at all speeds. On a positive note, this is only its 2nd long trip. It made it there and back without puking tranny fluid this time or having smoking brakes. And my list of repairs is getting shorter.

[blue89]

Sounds like you lucked out! At least nothing broke, could have been an even worst night. Do you have an inline fuel gauge?

[chevymad]

If the filter doesnt pan out, then i'll i've got the old vac/fuel pump tester I'll need to hook up. There's nothing on it now.

[izcain]

Sounds like you would have a pretty good time once that fuel system gets fixed and you get traction. I know that no traction can just blow the time right into the wind.

[iansane]

I love when the checklist of things to do gets smaller.

At least you didn't break anything!