Helmet completed

With the exception of a couple of JB decals that go in between the stars, the helmet is done.

I still have my eye on tomorrow for a test day at the drags. It seems the closer I get in completing the car, the more work their is. All those small details that have been left until last. I guess this evening I will know if it's a go.

Catch cans

Back to the catch cans. Found a couple of containers that fit. The clear plastic one on the left is a perfect fit, the yellow one the right will have to do for now.

Clutch push rod

Received the new clutch push rod. Installed it and finished the hydraulic lines and all seems to work well. The true test will happen on the track.

Accomplished a little more work on the helmet. Next are the stars, a little sanding, then the clear coat.

3 weeks to go

Hard to believe only 3 weeks before we leave to our first event. Found a fuel dealer about a hour from the house. Picked up 15 gallons of race fuel at $7.50 per gallon. And I thought aviation fuel was expensive.

Did a little more paint on the helmet and working on some odd and ends.

In order to get even paint lines I use a surface plate(a very flat piece of granite) and a height indicator. I tape a pencil to the height indicator and scribe a line around the helmet.

Then use very narrow painters tape to follow my pencil line. Works real nice.

Seat belts installed

The belts are installed and adjusted. I'm using the ones that are designed for the Hans device. The shoulder belts are 2"s wide and fits better over the Hans.

Started on the paint for the helmet. That should be done in a couple of days.

Getting close to the finish line.

The seat belts came yesterday along with some hardware to complete the mounting of the rear wing. Also the push rod for the clutch should be here next Monday.
Spending sometime on the truck now, transporting the car in the back and eliminating the trailer is a plus. The first event is a track that I never raced on. Roebling Roads is a private track in GA. I've down loaded some in car videos from youtube onto my ipod and watch them while I'm on the treadmill.

Back to the helmet

Like to get the helmet painted before my first event. It's basically red, white and blue stripes with the stars, wrapped around the helmet. To get a idea of placement I cut strips of leftover decal and placed them on the helmet.

With the car just about done, I should have time to complete this.

Last order

What I hope will be the last parts order for awhile should arrive this Wednesday. The seat belts that had been back ordered are on the way with some other small items I needed.

Starting to work on the suspension setup, brake bias and all that fun stuff.

More mufflers

Well, it's sure something that I would not like to use all the time, but I guess for one event it's OK. Started the engine with the mufflers, it is a lot more quite, but they sure are ugly. No problem with the size after all.

Auger muffler insert

Auger mufflers, they slip into the exhaust pipes. Not much to them, I do have to reduce the dia. from 3" to 2 1/2" to fit. It would be nice if they work, I also have mufflers coming this Friday. Between using one or both, I hope this resolves my noise problem.

I've been looking at the idea of taking the car to the local drag strip. There's one about 20 min. from here and they have a test and tune day on Sunday's. This will be my only opportunity to test the engine, gearbox and brakes before my first event in April.

Tachometer

The car came with a Smith Mechanical tachometer. But I replaced it with a electronic Stack with the retro look. My magneto distributor did not have a tach drive. I believe this can be modified to accept a drive, but I can save this project for the off season.

Wiring done

With the arrival of the battery yesterday, I could now complete the wiring.

Also I needed the push rod on the transmission. This rod is connected to a hydraulic cylinder that works the clutch. Terry at Taylor Race Engineering found one in England. So I should have that item by the end of next week.

No UPS

Had a few more items including the race battery on order. Schedule for a Friday delivery. With the adverse weather their where no delivery's. I'm sure it will be here Monday.

Snow...Snow...Snow

More snow, 18-24 inch's. Getting tired of the snow. On a more positive note, retrieved the parts that Brian had fabricated from the platers the other day. Paul's Chrome(Bill) did a very nice job on the nickel plating(as always).

With these parts back I could now measure and shorten the 8 stacks that mount on top of the carburetors. The stacks are 1 inch too high and I could not mount the air intake box on top.

Had to shorten all the stacks 1 inch.

Now it fits perfect.

Mufflers...Oh No!

The first scheduled event I'm attending has a noise limit of 104 db's. That means mufflers for me. I would skip it because it's the only race this year requiring mufflers, but it's a low key event that makes for a good first race and test session.

The mufflers I need are 5 inch's round

and 18 inch's long. I'm using oatmeal containers as a template,

their the same diameter, but shorter.

As you can see they touch each other.

Won't know the final result until I

get the mufflers and see them installed.