So here's how this race went for us (short version).
After the incredibly stressful last event, we were prepared to the max this time around. We sorted the car out, and picked up a spare drivetrain. Friday went smoothly. I had a lot of time on my hands, so I replaced a cam seal that had a slow drip. Installed the seal using the cam sensor to push it into place.
Saturday's session went well until the end of the Keith's stint when he complained of smoke in the cockpit. The seal was leaking again badly. It was collecting under the cam sensor, then sloshing out onto the CV boot, shooting it all over the muffler. We rigged up an "oil gutter" from a battery hold down and a Monster can to channel the oil away from hot stuff in an effort to quickly send him back out. When we tried to restart it, the battery was dead. We attempted to push start it, the engine banged back and forth violently, then we heard coolant spraying out. :shakehead We use the repurposed power steering cooler as an extra radiator under the car, and it had burst. It was clear we would be wrenching for awhile. I also realized that constructively leaking oil onto the track was a terrible idea anyway, so we sent a guy for a new seal, grease, and new radiator cap which was now leaking. I changed the seal, ensuring the lip was intact this time. We replaced the cooler with the stock U-hose from the extra engine, did a quick bleed of the system, charged the battery, tightened up a coilover, and sent Dave out.
Dave gets a black flag for spinning in short order. After getting told by the judge to "Do something....different" we leave the penalty box with a push start. Ten minutes later, he comes back, running on 3 cylinders. The coolant gauge and the engine compartment air temp gauge were now showing 250*F. The plug wires couldn't handle it and spit out of the rear head. You could cook an egg on the engine cover. We pushed the wires back on, added some water, and sent him back out. Battery dead again, WTF. He comes right back with the same problem. Push the wires back on and it takes a long time to fire back up. I take a test drive through the pits and barely make it back to our spot before the oil pressure light comes on and the engine promptly locks up from overheating. We are done for the day, and thinking we may be done for the weekend since the motor won't even turn over. It's too hot to even look at.
At the end of the day we try to figure it out. The water was still 230* after sitting for 3 hours. I wire the thermostat full open and reinstall. After the 1st cooling system problem, we must not have fully bled the system. When this happens in the Metsho, the water surges back and forth in the piping and doesn't move anywhere, hence overheating. We tilted the nose of the car up and did a full bleed and fill. Our charging and running issue was caused by a voltage drop in the extension-cord alternator wire running all the way to the **** switch. Once cooled off, the engine fires right up and runs smoother than I have ever seen it. Things are looking up. That night at the bar, I tell the team that the Chevette Diesel (the slowest car on the track by far, and even had to do a tranny swap) now has a commanding lead on us. Goal for day#2 is beating the Chevette Diesel.
In the morning we replace the alternator wire, and our fried engine oil. Mike goes out and only lasts 10minutes before stupid plug wire problem happens again. Wires are salvaged from the spare engine, another is repaired. He leaves and comes right back with a cracked wire. Now we do some wire shuffling, running low on supply of long wires. Leaves, comes right back again WTF! Now the wire is off #3 only and I hear compression leaking. WTF, where is the plug? It has exploded, the porcelain pushed out of the metal body like a push-pop. I realize we forgot to bring extra plugs. I pull one from the rear head of the spare engine and IT IS THE MOST WORN PLUG I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY 15 YEARS OF BEING A MECHANIC. These plugs have 130k miles on them. Then I get to thinking, "Maybe some shady-ass mechanic only replaced the plugs in the front head". Sure enough, I pull a nice plug from the front LOL. Mike goes back out, and says the car is awesome. After wasting an hour, we have no issues for the rest of the day.
Our fastest driver, Eric gets in the car next and does some truly incredible things with the car. Cornering is a little hairy for us, as we always use a controlled slide in the turns. Correcting your line is near impossible, so we are always very careful and slow from approach to apex. But...there was not one car here who can out pull us on the straights. This lead to constant back and forth battles with the top cars during Eric's stint. I can't wait for their video. With an hour of racing left, I checked the standings, then informed the team that we were now 2 laps ahead of the Chevette! Cheering erupted.
At the end of the day:
Metsho 38th (out of 63)
Chevette Diesel 39th
