[General] Gearhead makers might be interested in the 24 Hours of Lemons

Fri Jan 31 10:08:18 CST 2014

Well, when you bore out oil galleries you need to be careful that you don't
take the hole too close to the edge of a cylinder, it can be very easy to
create a weak spot that can then cause you to blow that cylinder and crack
the block.

Ya, there is a mix of science and art in getting the top of the engine just
right, especially when trying to get that last little bit of performance
out of it. That kind of stuff is waaaayyyyy over my head, but as long as
the block and heads are solid a little elbow grease can go a long way.

On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 11:13 PM, Rick Nelson <geezer.nelson at gmail.com>wrote:

> That is good news, Stephan.  This Midget has the 1500 engine that is also
> found in late model Triumph Spitfires.  It replaced the 1275 A-series
> engine when all of the safety features created so much weight that extra
> low end torque was needed for adequate acceleration.  It gives more low end
> torque, but won't rev as high as the A-series.
> MG guru Hap Waldrop at Acme Speed Shop told me to drill out the upper oil
> passages to provide more oil to the heads, and drill out the lower oil
> passages and the feed holes in the center bearings to improve lubrication
> to the center bearing.  If the supercharger is used there should be a metal
> head gasket with a ring around the cylinder openings.  Otherwise, even a
> small supercharger like mine will blow a gasket.  The only other advice he
> had was to use a stock cam, and don't let the engine cool down too quickly.
> The machine work isn't complicated, but will require a more powerful drill
> than I can get.
>  On Jan 30, 2014 10:21 PM, "Stephan Henning" <shenning at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> So, depending on how much speed this picks up (pun intended), I am
>> closely acquainted with a gentlemen (he's an inlaw actually) that owns his
>> own engine shop, builds race engines for short track, truck pulls, mud
>> runs, rock crawlers, and restores cars for himself on the side. If and when
>> I have free time again, I'm sure I can weasel some input out of him on
>> things we could do to get/keep the engine running as strong as possible.
>>
>> I also have some machining skills I could lend to the project.
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 9:25 PM, David <ainut at knology.net> wrote:
>>
>>>  I used to be in Twickenham, but when they stopped doing the autocross,
>>> I lost interest.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Rick Nelson wrote:
>>>
>>> If it happens and the engine seems solid after I give it a hard test
>>> drive, someone may find an overlooked supercharger and intercooler in the
>>> parts bin.  I can't risk wasting such a jewel if it isn't useful, though.
>>> The groups that do autocrossing are the Tennessee Valley Region of the
>>> Sports Car Club of America and the Twickenham Auto Club.  I'm in both.
>>> Www.teamtac.org.
>>>
>>> Rick
>>> On Jan 30, 2014 8:03 PM, "David" <ainut at knology.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>  You wanna get it turbocharged, Rick?  if we can find a turbo cheap
>>>> enough?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Rick Nelson wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I have been on the email list for years, but don't post often.  I also
>>>> don't spend time at the shop, even though I live only a few blocks away.  I
>>>> apologize in advance if I'm out of line with this post.
>>>> I have been to a Lemons race at Sebring.  There are fun cars that don't
>>>> take themselves seriously, and there are race cars with serious drivers
>>>> that take advantage of the rules to drive fast, expensive cars.  There are
>>>> loopholes in the $500 limit that allow drivers to race BMWs and Porsches
>>>> that look like they should be in a professional event.  However, if a team
>>>> is racing for fun and not upset by winners in $10,000 cars, it could be a
>>>> total blast.
>>>> If some of you are seriously interested in entering the 24 Hours of
>>>> Lemons, or the Chump Car Series, I can provide a car that will qualify
>>>> after a rebuild.  I bought it with this in mind,.  It is a 1977 MG Midget
>>>> 1500.
>>>> If any of you are serious enough about a Maker Racing Team to put some
>>>> work into it, we could race next season, and maybe even get some autocross
>>>> runs in it this season.  Lemons requires a minimum of four drivers, and a
>>>> pit crew would be needed.  I'll be one driver, so we need at least three
>>>> more.  I believe six drivers is the max.
>>>>
>>>> Rick Nelson
>>>>  On Jan 29, 2014 7:34 PM, "Tycho Clendenny" <tmclendenny at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> This Saturday and Sunday is the first time The 24 Hours of Lemons (not
>>>>> LeMans) is coming to Alabama. What is the 24 Hours of Lemons? See
>>>>> http://24hoursoflemons.com/ for details, but, in short, it's racing
>>>>> crap cars on a real race track to see who can make the most laps.
>>>>>
>>>>>  More than 50 teams will race $500 junkers around the Barber track in
>>>>> Birmingham. I'm going to watch the folks try and hold their rustbuckets
>>>>> together against all odds. Some teams have ideas so crazy they just might
>>>>> work, like using an airplane wing as a spoiler.
>>>>>
>>>>>  It should be fun.
>>>>> Saturday, Feb 1 & Sunday, Feb 2
>>>>> Barber Motorsports Park
>>>>> Leeds, AL
>>>>> All-access pass $20 / day or $30 / weekend
>>>>>
>>>>>  --
>>>>> Tycho Clendenny
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> General at lists.makerslocal.org
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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