LocostUSA.com

Why, Marcus! I'm hurt... I said And then you start in with:

Geeze, and I thought we wuz friends...

Hey Buddy... Just kiddin'... Good to hear from you! Yes, we had a pretty successful test day at the Pony Wars event. The next SCCA Solo2 event is at the end of the month, and I'm going to start with the same settings I used at Pony Wars, and maybe try one "notch" stiffer on the sway bar after lunch break, just to see what happens. James and I looked at the front end the other night, discussing modifications to the coil-over mounts to reduce the angle of the front coilovers and maybe using stiffer springs up there. We'll see how April 27th goes...

Other'n that, how the heck are ya? Give my regards to your "better half" and the little Horizens runnin' around.
Come see us!

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Hey Al! I might not win that contest, but I'd damn sure like to try! Sign me up...

JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

On that subject, I just wanted to show a preview of the new educational program here directed at children for the benefit of their health, here is an example ...

Ohhh, CR, that is just wrong... Bad... Totally non-PC...
And funny as hell!

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

*Lyndon Johnson voice*
Mah fellow Slotus Fans... Ah come to yew tonight with a heavy heart...
*Enough o' that, back to what passes for normal around here*

So here we go with a half a race report! It was a great half of a race. Right up to the point where the engine blew, things were wonderful...
Last time we talked, I had come from the Steeda event with some muchly improved handling thanks to the front sway bar. James and I had a plan in mind where at the Solo2 I would start off with the settings from Steeda and then try one setting stiffer on the sway bar, just to see if we'd get any "push" at that point. We were thinking it might guide us in going stiffer on the front springs, or how much to modify the mounts for the coilovers to give a stiffer wheel rate.

That plan was working fine as I made my three runs in the morning session. Car was handling good, turn in was great, no "lift throttle oversteer" at all and maybe just a touch of understeer on high speed corners. Perfect!

Then it was The HamDip's turn to drive. She made one run and the car seemed to be doing good, tires were coming up to temp and then the upper radiator hose sprung a leak. She came off course and we pushed the car off to the side. Repaired the hose in a few minutes, cranked it up and added coolant while it idled. Temp gauge was reading 190 when we started, dropped to 180, then a bit lower. HamDip went back to grid and made her second run. When she got back to grid, the guy running grid called me over. He'd had her shut it down because the engine was knocking. I asked her to fire it up, and sure 'nuff, knock-knock-knock. We pushed it back to the trailer. She was totally bummed out, felt like it was her fault, and was actually teary-eyed about it. Tried to explain it was "one of those things" but she didn't buy it. That bummed me out more than the engine, honestly...

So, the next adventure for our intrepid band o'crazies: Team Slotus builds an engine!!! Hang around, this oughta be EPIC!!!
(Background voice, Bubba saying, "What's epic mean, any ways???")

See y'all soon...

JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

If it's any more EPIC than the build maybe we all ought to move out of the country till you're through. Boy I sure hope there's something left to move back to!

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

To quote Roseanne Roseannadanna, "It just goes to show you, it's always something! If it's not one thing, it's another!"

Sorry to hear about your loss. Tell Hamdip she is not responsible. I can't wait to see the build! At some point you're gonna have to start a new re-build log. You have rebuit a lot. It is soon approaching a 2nd car

_________________
Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

Yo Chuck!
Start a re-build log? WHAT? Stop posting in here... And give up show business???

Don't be too sorry for my loss, Bro. That was an old, tired engine out of a $500 Craigs List car with 200k on the odometer. We cleaned it up, put some new gaskets and seals in it, painted the valve covers and intake and called it a day. Iffen you remember, there was a problem with low oil pressure at a hot idle some time back. James and I had already talked about building an engine for it soon. We hadn't really planned to do it quite this soon, but it's as good a time as any, I reckon.

The plan was/is to use that engine as a development motor while we dialed in the chassis and trained the shaved ape behind the wheel. I think it has pretty well done that, almost... The ape could use more lessons, but Oh Well... We can build a new 5-0 with a tad bit more HP but with an eye to further hot-rod modifications down the road. As we continue to tweak and change the setup, and I get more accustomed to driving the beast, we can add more horsies. The road goes ever on and on...

Carguy: Try not to get caught sneaking into Mexico... Could be bad... Or when you said "out of the country" did you mean more like going to New Jersey or North Dakota or something??? Either way, be careful, Bro!

Peace, Love and "Extended Vacations"

JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

D*m Just when you're getting the set-up to work.
I always love how this $hit happens at the front of the race reason.
That rebuild check list might need a gated and baffled oil pan.
Dave W

Hi Dave!
If what they say about like minds following the same channel is true, you should be worried... James talked to me Sunday about doing just that. He's concerned that the oil is "climbing" the sides of the sump whilst I'm cornering and that's what led to the failure.

OK, the 'straight' answer... Yep, that's a very good suggestion. 'Preciate you lookin' in on us!

JDK

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Gonzo, please, just overfill it by a quart

_________________
The B-3 build log: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=13941 unfortunately, all the pictures were lost in the massive server crash

The beginnings of the Jag Special,
https://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19012
Again, all pictures were lost.

The Slotus, or James? Or me? Or DaveW? Possibilities are endless...

_________________
JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

NOBODY goes to Jersey on purpose!!!!!!!!! No I was thinking more along the lines of Australia or somewhere far enough away so that we wouldn't get caught in the blast. There's no one in North Dakota to get hurt.

I'd vote for another junkyard engine. It's fast & easy and it's not like you really need lots more power than you had.

I've been caught up with building a 5.0 "right". I missed a whole season of racing and then got tired of the car soon after and sold it. I lost a lot of fun time.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

Sorry to hear about the engine. Now that you have the hard stuff done like building the car, maybe you can find a nice little engine out of a parted-out Mustang to get you through the season without a lot of work? Doing the baffled oil pan sounds like pretty cheap prevention at this point. But, hey, with 200K miles and then being pounded at the Solo events, it was probably just tired.

Cheers,

_________________
Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

Slotus green con rods and purple push rods!

_________________
My car viewtopic.php?f=37&t=16434
1930s Style Sports Car viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16888