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Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:27 pm
by spencerforhire
I figured I had better start a new thread for this season as there's lots of changes underway. A second Powerglide is under construction with a large pile of TCI internal parts; basically an exact copy of what's in the Vega now. Nothing really wrong with the old trans, but after 180 passes it would need to be freshened anyway, so when that happens it will become a spare. There's a bunch of back-to-back weekends with points races, so a spare trans is pretty well a necessity.
Another motor is in the works as well; a well seasoned but never touched 3970010 GM 4-bolt block is at the machine shop being bored and a rotating assembly is on order. Again, nothing really wrong with the old motor, just time to step up. The old 385 was not much more than a street motor; 11:1 flat top hyperutectic pistons, stock rods and a flat tappet cam. Again, the old mill will be freshened and wait it's turn to go back in if there's a catastrophic failure. The new 383 will have 12.5:1 Mahle light weight forged pistons, 6" H-beam Scat rods and internally balanced forged crank. Also going with a pretty serious Crane roller cam and a second pair of AFR 227 heads. All topped off with a new Holley 950 HP carb. And to join the new powertrain is a Hughes 8" converter; 5000rpm stall up from 4300. Desktop Dyno predicts an increase of 125+ HP, from 520 to almost 650. That might be a bit optimistic, but even if it only makes 100 more HP, that will put the car into the low 9-sec range at 150+mph.
To deal with the newfound power is a couple of other improvements; wheelie bars and a parachute. Looks like I'll need a throttle stop as well to run the 9.90 index Super Rod heads-up class I like so much; still weighing my options there.
I have gathered the pieces to replace the fugly fiberglass front end; not sure if there will be time for fancy paint after all the mechanicals are done.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:12 am
by chevyart
what are we going to be doing to upgrade the driver. you are gonna be flying spence. cant wait to see some video. hope it warms up soon. ill be rooting for you art

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 5:23 pm
by spencerforhire
Art is right; the driver could use a few upgrades, too. Been hitting the practice tree regularly In order to improve my reaction times and losing a few pounds as well. The Vega is so light that losing 20 lbs is just like making 5 more horsepower.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:36 pm
by spencerforhire
Gotta like a machine shop that tags you in Facebook pics of your block after it was bored. Now awaiting the arrival of the rotating assembly so deck height can be checked before it gets "a little off the top". I went for the "rod bolt upgrade" from Eagle; internals will be capable of supporting 1100 HP. Lots of headroom there.
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 6119_n.jpg

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:03 pm
by chevyart
after all the hard work you had to do to get you car running in the beginning, these upgrades should be a walk in the park for you. hopefully all the hard work is done. now for all the fun . good luck art

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:24 am
by spencerforhire
Considering I made something like 180 passes in two seasons, I really haven't had a lot of breakage or problems. The list is fairly short- a timing chain failure took out a set of valves and pushrods, a harmonic balancer came apart and I've worn out a set of slicks and a set of valvesprings. In that two year period I did do a few upgrades as well; hood scoop, carb spacers, bigger fuel pump, crank trigger and a beefier MSD box.
In my 2012 "rookie" season, I won 9/18 competition rounds at 7 events and had a runner up finish in Super Pro. In 2013, I traveled extensively to 12 events and won 21/41 rounds winning two races(a 9.90 Super Rod and a gambler's) along the way to the Atlantic Pro Tree Super Rod series championship.
I have nothing to prove to myself or the other racers; going to have some fun this year with the new HP and probably will not chase points in two different series or travel as often.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:34 pm
by spencerforhire
New motor is starting to come together; rotating assembly has arrived, block has been fitted with a set of ARP main studs and align-honed, it's rough bored and will be finish honed with the torque plates and decked in the next couple of days. I will put the short block together next week and move on to heads and valve train.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:42 pm
by spencerforhire
Gotta like it when the machine shop posts video on your facebook page of your motor being decked; also shows major clearancing required for the Eagle H-beam rods and ARP bolts. I should be able to put the short block together this week.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10 ... =2&theater

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 6:53 pm
by RamIt
"The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page."

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 5:47 am
by spencerforhire
Must be a Facebook permission thing; I'll see if I can do anything to free it up.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Sun May 04, 2014 9:11 pm
by spencerforhire
Things are frustratingly slow getting my new motor together; many little setbacks are adding up to endanger my readiness for the first race at the local track on May 24/25. Nothing really bad, just issues with some of my collection of "previously enjoyed" parts and unforseen things that needed to be dealt with. Had to order in a set of roller lifters, 9 new valves, special valve stem locks, pushrods, etc. Plus we had a tough time degreeing the cam; couldn't get the numbers to match what was on the cam card by trying all three keyways in the bottom gear. Had to use an offset key in the crank to get even close to what we wanted. Thinks were a little tight in the piston to valve clearance department, so I may have to downgrade to 1.5:1 rockers to keep things safe. May also use a thicker head gasket to get some breathing room; don't really want to have to start cutting into the piston to make things safe. Should at least have the short block together and maybe even the heads on this week.
Some things are going well; I had my badly corroded Super Victor intake powder coated and it looks awesome; way cleaner and shinier than a natural finish, but not as gaudy as the "Edelbrock Endurashine". Also had to port match it to the new heads. I'm almost finished modifying my headers(switching from a standard exhaust port head to a Brodix-flange spread port flange) Picked up my new 'Glide today, as well as a whole 55 gal. barrel of AvGas. There probably won't be time for any dyno testing before the Vega hits the track; hope the neighbors don't mind a few launches out on the street. lol.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2014 8:58 pm
by spencerforhire
IT'S ALIVE! New motor and trans installed yesterday, everything is good to go. I had video of the motor running on the test stand from last week but can't get it off my phone and into the laptop in any kind of a format that will let me hear it. Pics tomorrow, or maybe even video if I can track down "tech support"(22 year old computer technician son). I did find a still from the test stand.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Sun May 25, 2014 6:11 am
by spencerforhire
Boy, does it wail! Still in the tuning phase(both engine and chassis), but the numbers so far are encouraging. ET is still falling as the motor gets worked in and I figure out what I need to do to get it to hook with the newfound power and RPM. Big MPH numbers(117 at the 1/8 and 146+ in the traps) show me it is making power. ET's still off a few tenths from what I expected(9.45) as the 60' times are not great(1.39), but both will drop with tuning. I'm off for the track in a few minutes. Wish me luck.

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 8:30 am
by spencerforhire
Got home late last night from the first Pro Tree(Super Rod) race of the season; managed to get the Vega de-tuned to run the 9.90 index(qualified 4th out of 12 and never went under except for the first time trial). Car is pretty driveable with the restrictor plate closed almost all the way(equivalent to about 525cfm), but this early in the season the traction is iffy. Had some decent lights and the car never skipped a beat but got sent home after the first round by the 2012 champion. I got him on the tree but he drove around me with his 9.903 to my 9.965(I spun a bit off the line).
So back to full power for the next two regular events; I need to do both chassis tuning and play with the 3-step settings to take advantage of the extra power. .Also a video has surfaced of my best pass from the previous weekend; 9.457 @ 146.19 with a so-so 1.390 60ft. If it looks cold in the video, it was indeed; 5c(41f), but the density altitude was below sea level(track is something like 225 ft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1fSWSFOdTs

Re: Lots of changes for the 2014 season

PostPosted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:26 am
by zeke
Dam! The new motor sounds badass and the car launches nice man! :th: