Brake Calipers and more.

Nothing like a rainy weekend to focus on the car. The parts for the brake calipers have been waiting for me, but are now assembled and finished. Also installed the clutch and brake pedals. Mounted the rebuilt master brake and clutch cylinders. Started on the brake line replacement and would like to have this done by weeks end.

Brakes & Decals

Finishing the final preparation of the master cylinder parts and pedal assemble. A lot of time goes into cleaning. Hope to have the master cylinders mounted by weeks end. Then I can start to run the new lines.

Just got back the decals, the shop did a fantastic job.

Looks just like the originals.

Reproduction Decals

I need two decals reproduced. One I had taken to a graphics shop "AUTOMOTIVE CHEMICALS" a while back, but they did a lousy job. The other is the 10" wide red, white, blue, yellow stripe. I'm trying a different shop. There taking a different approach and guarantee they will come out prefect. Find out next week.

Master Cylinders

Received the rebuilding kits for the master cylinders and clutch cylinder today. They didn't look to good coming off the car, but they cleaned up real nice and the bores look good. Hooked up the rest of the gear shift linkage, goes a lot faster when you know the procedure ahead of time.

Shift Linkage

Finally, starting to install parts on the tub. What looked like a 15 min. job turned into 2 hrs. The parts where all nickel plated and as you can see the shift linkage has to slide through spherical bearings. So anywhere there is a tight fit, it had to be lightly sanded and polished, and that also included where the linkage connects. This is definitely an area you don't want binding.

I had weighted a radius rod before and after plating, and it had gain 12 grams, so I guess the nickel plating it just slightly thicker then the original.

Watkins Glen F5000 Race

It was a great race weekend at the Glen. This year the rain was no where in site for the F5000 events. Graham McRae was in attendance to see one of his McRae GM1 race machines win overall. The autograph sessions where packed, the fans really enjoyed this part of the F5000 celebration. I have more videos and photos on the myf5000.com site.

Seb Coppola who runs the F5000 Drivers Association, says he has more plans for next year. Can't wait to get the car on the track and enjoy the festivity's from the drivers seat.

Progress on hold.

Work has kept me out of the shop this week and next weekend is the Vintage races at Watkins Glen. So I really don't expect to get back to the car until Mid-September. Boy, the summer just flew by.
There's two Lola T192's on the entry list for WG next week. One is Seb's T192 HU29, I have a many photos of this one. Number two is Mead's T192 HU22, this one I have never seen. Really looking forward to next weekend. I'll report when I return.

Gearbox is back!

Good old "Hewland DG300-59" is back. Rolled in about 5am this morning from the Mid-West and set the alarm for 7am, can't miss the F1 race. Picked it up just west of Indy, it sure looks nice. Mark did a great job.

All the parts in the photo where replaced. He said the case was in excellent condition, it almost looked like it was only used once or twice, but needed updating. However, many parts had surface rust. I guess that 's what happens, sitting in a warehouse for 30+ years.

Paint's done.

I had hoped to complete the painting by the end of the summer. It's done. As for retaining history, most decals where removed and sanding had already started at the end of the race season in 1975. But I was able to save one thing, the #13 on the air intake scoop(as seen in Long Beach in 1975), it's painted and not a decal. In a week or so it's back to the tub, fuel cells, brake hardware.

Nose completed

Worked on the car a little over the weekend. Polished the nose, that's done. Polishing the body now, that will be done today. Also will shoot the clear today on the misc. parts, air intake etc.

At last, the paint is amost done.

The main body has been clear coated as well as the nose. A little lite sanding with 1500, then some buffing and it will be all done. The final color coats are completed on the wings, air box and gas tank doors. If the weather stays dry, I'll clear coat them today.

Fuel cell modifications

The Lola T192 came with 3 fuel cells holding 30 gallons total, 2 on either side of the driver and one in the right rear. Back in the day these races would last over and hour with no pit stops. Today in vintage racing maybe around 20 minutes. I replaced the 2 cells in the front and eliminated the rear one. However the newer designed required the fuel nipple to be placed 1" off the corner. So the tub cavity holding the fuel cell and to be opened up where the nipple exited and moved rearward for the new placement.

Body panels painted.

All the side panels are painted and polished. As with everything else, it took much longer then I anticipated. Hung them on the car just to see how they look. I'll remove them, cover them up and place them in storage till next year.

Nose decals

Just laying some decals on to see how they look. Ed Justice Jr. provided the NOS JB decal and I'm working on the reproduction of the "AUTOMOTIVE CHEMICALS" decals. The nose still needs clear coat and buffing and the outer wings a couple of more coats of yellow.

Road America 2008 Formula 5000 Reunion

Road America was great. Lots of F5000 cars and a dozen or so drivers from the original series.Looking forward to Watkins Glen in September. Things haven't changed much, still painting and plating. Must get all the paint work done including the spares before winter comes. Did get some good news, the gearbox is done. Now the last big expense is the engine