Winch goes kaput!

 I guess I was anticipating for something to break on this trip.  I had just started to winch the car in the truck and the winch motor broke.  I quick trip to the 4 wheel drive shop, picked up a new one and 2 hours later back in business.   Lost a little time but were still OK.   Still plan on being at the track early this evening. 

Hope this winch last longer.

New winch works nice.

The final push

All the spares have been packed and today I'll load car in and add the tool box.  Looking forward to this event.  Last race was a year ago, this will be a good place to knock the rust off and get ready for Lime Rock.  

 I scratched the poster idea, running out of time and space.  But this idea will be added to Lime Rock.  We'll be taking two vehicles there and the Suburban will be able to take the suit cases, coolers, race gear etc.

That's it, we'll ready for Pittsburgh.

 

Just a couple of days now

We'll be leaving Thursday morning for Wampum, Pa.  Home of the Pittsburgh International Race Complex.  Setting up Thursday evening and practice is Friday. 
Just mainly packing parts and tools now.  Loading the car in to the truck tomorrow.

Just an idea?

Not racing with the F5000 group means I need to bring my own canopy.  Haven't used it since our first event back in 2010.  Figured I better set it up just to make sure all the pieces are there.  I had been thinking about bringing some F5000 track poster from my collection   I can use a couple of walls at the end, then display the poster under the canopy.  If I have any space left in the truck, maybe I'll bring some items with us.

 

We did this setup at Watkins Glen in 2008.



Just about ready, still need to polish the tire rims.



Web site for Pittsburgh event

Web site for photos
http://www.pvgp.org/photography/

Pittsburgh race event site.
http://www.pvgp.org/

PVGP Historic Race Schedule, our race group is 1.
http://www.pvgp.org/vrschedule/

Race entry list at PVGP Historics at Pitt-Race Complex.
http://www.pvgp.org/2012-race-entries-pirc/

Here's a link to the PVGP facebook page, you don't have to be a facebook member to view.  Updated quite often.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pittsburgh-Vintage-Grand-Prix/51754364431

To-do list shrinking

The list is shrinking everyday.  Cleaned, waxed and installed the rear wing.  Also did a little more tub & suspension cleaning.

Truck completed

I always think this conversion back to a race hauler will take a couple of hours, but it takes a better part of a day.  It's done, and now back to the racer.

I have to raise the sleeper bed to accommodate the radiator
on the car.  Plus it provides a little more storage.

Ready for Pittsburgh

Unload the truck

After installing the shock I decided to unload the truck.  Took about a 1/2 day to remove all the boxes and miscellaneous items and store them away.  Now I can focus on converting the truck back to a race hauler.

On Schedule

Still on schedule.  Started the engine yesterday, sounded good and no leaks.  Also re-riveted the carburetor intake stacks.  They had started to come loose.  Today I'll replace the left rear shock.  Eric had removed his Armstrong shocks for a more updated version.   So he gave me his old ones.  1960's technology, but original.  These shocks had been rebuilt by the same guy who rebuilt mine.  

 2 small rivets at the base of each stack needed replacement.



Ready for the season.



Starter motor shaft.  The round piece on the right slides on the shaft to the left.  This gets loaded up with dirt and prevents it from engaging the flywheel to start the engine.

Gearbox completed

Gearbox is finished, engine oil and filter installed.  The battery is charged and ready for installation. Today I'll pull the starter motor and clean that up.  Do a little more cleaning, start her up and check for leaks.

Back to the race car

With the last antique show of the summer behind us, time to get back to the car.  Today I'll install  the gearset, change the oil and place the battery back in the car.
  I just heard from Eric, he was racing at a local event this past weekend and blew the engine up.  He is having his spare engine rebuilt, but it's nowhere near done.  Road America is next week.  If he can push the engine guy, there is always a chance he could make it.

Gear set

Received the gear set from Chuck Haines.  Looks good, really needed this one.  If I get time I'll finish up the gearbox this week, otherwise next Monday will be race car week.

Radiator installed

Picked up the radiator yesterday.  With a little plumbing and a few small modifications, it's installed, tested and ready to go. 
We have another antique show next week, one of those 4 day affairs.  I'll convert the truck to racing after the show.



Third gear on the way

Chuck Haines has a replacement for my third gear.  Used, but in very good condition.   Should arrive sometime next week.  Then I can reassemble the gearbox and get that out of the way.

Radiator at the shop

I needed to replace a fitting on the radiator.  The fitting on there now is a British size fitting, hard to match.  Much easier to replace with an AN fitting.  Dropped it off at the repair yesterday.  Should be ready Monday.

The one on the left is an AN fitting, like the one I had on the original radiator.