Holley Red Fuel Pump put in time out for bad behaviour

After a half tank of gas the fuel pump was getting VERY hot, causing the fuel pressure to bounce around, and ultimately may have contributed to our coughing surging and conking out on the track. So we put it in time out, in the MG old battery box (one of them anyway - the MG had two 6 volt batteries under the torture device known as the "back seat"), nice and low. Turns out the DPO (Dreaded Previous Owner) mounted the Holley Red Fuel Pump above the fuel tank - a definite no-no, as Holley does not suck and needs to be gravity fed for proper operation. File that one under DUH.

Timing - Vacuum Advance System

Still in the works: Spent some time getting the proper size vacuum tubing and researching the aftermarket carburetor presently on the MG (it’s a Weber DGV). Hooked up the Vacuum Advance system on the distributor to the carb and it felt a bit worse, and was hard to start after stopping for gas at Exxon during test drive (probably an air leak). I used the handy-dandy MiteyVac (brake bleed system) that has a vacuum gauge on it to measure the vacuum on the carb – it is giving about 3 to 5 psi at the carb pip… but the distributor advance needed about 20 to 25 psi before it started ‘sounding like’ it was having an effect on the timing. So, more research needed; there is some contention on the web weather you hook the vacuum line to the manifold or to the carb for that model. I couldn’t find the right manifold adapter so there some hope of improvement yet.

 

Suspension - we should get some

And now the big news. I am still waiting for the return of the broken-at-Summit-Point front anti-sway bar from Moss. 

While waiting, I took off the wheels to check brake pads (still very thick) and check out the front shock oil level, figuring it was low and maybe contributing to the demolished sway bar at Summit Point race. Below is a photo of the inside valving of the front shocks: on the left is the valve new from Moss, on the right is the valve that was in our MGB. 

Notice any difference? 

LIKE THE ACTUAL FARKING VALVE SPRING AND ALL THE FARKING VALVE O-RINGS?!?!?! 

That’s right ladies and gentlemen – you’ve been racing in a car that had ZERO FRONT SHOCK dampening (as if you need me to tell you that!). My guess: the DPO (dreadful previous owner) had completely removed the valves - probably had installed the tube shock kit and then removed it (and the sway bar) before selling the car off, and then didn’t bother to put the valves back in. I just happened to have 2 ‘competition up-rated’ valves I had ordered 6 months ago but never installed. Sweet. I installed them Monday but as it was raining I haven’t test driven yet – but results from the ‘fender bounce’ test states very much improved. Like, actually damped. Party. 

Safety Wired the Wheels

Got one wheel safety wired before my CheapAss™ drill jig lamed out and f’ed up. Most auto racers do not safety wire lug nuts (it takes longer to change tires during pit stops (like we care)), however I decided it’s a really good idea because:

1) we do it in bike-race land, 

2) the BMW race team actually took off on a test day one time with the lug nuts loose and the guy went two laps before coming in complaining the steering was all screwed up (!!! Uh yeah, the wheel was falling off)), and

3) the bus has had some drama with loose lugs. 

Notice the wire is wrapped so that it ‘pulls’ the lug in the ‘tighten’ direction. Perhaps the most important role of the wire: if you see it on the lugs, you KNOW the nuts were torqued on correctly – if you don’t see the wire – you better check if the lugs are tightened at all… it’s a good simple visual cue…

Fuel System - not so much with the gagging on junk please

We lost many hours in the last race to junk in the fuel system.

Here's what we did to improve this.

1) Clean out the fuel filter between the fuel regulator and the carburetor (left) and the fuel filter inside the fuel pump (right):

2) Install an In-Tank fuel filter. This one is from Yamaha for jet-ski's and 4 wheelers, but it seemed large enough to not restrict fuel flow (did I just say "it seemed like a good idea at the time"? uh oh)

3) Throw away the old and probably methanol-dissolved fuel cell foam and install new anti-slosh-anti-explosion methanol resistant fuel cell foam. 6 blocks seemed to do the trick. I cut holes in the area under the fill cap so we can see the level as well fill...

MGB Wheel Cross Reference

For reference, the MGB wheel has a 4 X 4.5 bolt pattern.   This is equivalent to 4 X 114.3 mm. The MG offset is 15mm negative (not verified). List of cars (from somewhere on the web - I'll find it and update this post with link) with wheels somewhat similar:

Acura Legend 86-91, CL, Vigor

Buick - Special '61-'63

Chevy II all  4-bolt

Chevy Corvair all 4 bolt

Chevy Sprint '85-'87

Chevy Nova ('61-'70)

Chevy Corvair all 4-bolt

Datsun/Nissan - most models to '89

Datsun roadster -early

Datsun 240SX 89 - 94, 95-up 4 cyl

Datsun 200SX - early

Dodge Colt, Plymouth Arrow RWD 79 - 92

Dodge/Chrysler/Eagle - most 4 lug 83 - 92

Eagle Summit 86 - 92

Ford Capri 91 - 91

Ford Festiva

Ford Mustang all 65 - 68 all 4-bolt

Ford Mustang II

Ford Falcon all 4-bolt

Ford Maverick all 4-bolt

Ford Granada all 4-bolt

Geo Metro

Honda Accord 90 up except V6 Accord

Honda Prelude 92-up

Hyundai all

Infinity G20 91 - 94

Infinity M30 90 - 92

Mazda 323 86 - 89

Mazda 626 88 - 91

Mazda GLC 81 - 85

Mazda RX-7 GSL 84 - 85

Mazda RX-7 SE 86 - 88

MGA, MGB all 4 bolt (14")

Mitsubishi/Eagle

Mitsubishi Gallant 83 - 97

Mitsubishi Mirage 88 - 92

Mitsubishi Precis 87 - 94

Nissan/Datsun - most models to 89

Nissan 200SX 80 - 88*

Nissan Altima, Stanza 93 - 98

Nissan 240Z*, 260Z, 280Z /ZX*, turbo 70 - 85

Nissan 510

Nissan B210

Oldsmobile - F-85 61 - 63

Plymouth - Arrow 79 - 88

Plymouth - Sapporo 79 - 88

Plymouth-Mitsubishi Conquest (15")

SAAB - 900  79 to '87 come in 5.5 x 14, 5.5 x 15, or 6 x 15 *

Suzuki Swift 89 - 98

Toyota - most exc. MR2 and P.U. to 89

Toyota Celica RWD

Toyota Corolla RWD

Toyota Supra 4 lug

Triumph TR 2-6

Volvo P1800 68 - 70

Race Report: 24 Hours of LeMons Capitol Offense 2011 at Summit Point WV

We survived the 24 Hours of LeMons Capitol Offense 2011 at Summit Point WV. Just barely. We placed 79th out of 102. Spent about 5 hours off track, repeatedly rebuilding the fuel system and cleaning out the gunk (once we figured out were told what it was). More on that later. By the way, did you know a Union Jack may be flown upside down, indicating you are in distress?!?! We didn't, but it saved our asses!!!

Drivers Ray, Dave, Max, Carl; pitcrew Larry, Cassie, and few judges and several tens of random strangers that used to own MGBs.

This post is a place holder for now... more later...
 
 

The theme for Capitol Offense 2011: "Goldbrick Racing" - 24 karets of slacking at your service. Son Ian selected the color.Purple bumpers by daughter Kira.

Cool Shirt is Cool

For 24 Hours of LeMons Capitol Offense 2011 at Summit Point WV, we knew it was going to be hot. So, we added a homemade Cool Shirt system.

Will update later with links to full plans etc.

Here is a pic of the cooler holder in the cabin; it traps the cooler with a strap over top, and doubles as a water catcher if any spills out on hard turns (it does).

Gauges - Now with AssCam(TM)

 

Since we are overheating at every 15 minute interval, we decided to add an actual temperature gauge. Not fix the problem, mind you, just report on it. AssCam(TM) powers on the rear-view video camera so the driver can see who is about to run them over pass them.