DIY Radiator Ducting - LeMons Special
#21
It made it through 14:15 minutes of 4 guys beating on it
I topped off the oil before we started each day, but did not check it during.
Usually if a bearing gets spun first, it will make a racket.
I am not saying that the only answer is low oil, I'm just throwing it out there, caus I don't know of much else that would cause an otherwise stock-ish looking motor to just destroy itself.
What were the gauges saying shortly before/after the engine died? If you had gauges for them, what were the water/oil gauges reading, and was that higher than they had been running?
#22
Lemons/Chumpcar Miata handling tip..
Kyb GR2's + BMW 5 series bumpstops stacked in the front. No springs & no fsb. (effective spring rate of ~7-800 lbs.
Kyb GR2's + "front" H&R race springs on the rear. No rsb. ~300 lb rear rate.
We placed placed 10th in October's Chumpcar 18 hour enduro at PIR out of ~90 cars. Would have podiumed had it not been for some electrical gremlins. Car handled, dare I say, amazingly for what it was?
Kyb GR2's + BMW 5 series bumpstops stacked in the front. No springs & no fsb. (effective spring rate of ~7-800 lbs.
Kyb GR2's + "front" H&R race springs on the rear. No rsb. ~300 lb rear rate.
We placed placed 10th in October's Chumpcar 18 hour enduro at PIR out of ~90 cars. Would have podiumed had it not been for some electrical gremlins. Car handled, dare I say, amazingly for what it was?
#23
I think I have witnessed the solution to engine cooling woes.
An 8 valve 2.0l VW engine
Ran for us at Chump Car Laguna Seca for 7 hours after one of our drivers stuffed it in a tire wall and cracked the end tank on the radiator. we had no spare but No pressure and half full of coolant didn't seem to make a difference in our 85 Golf GTI.
We lost ~30 minutes swapping a motor mount that broke loose on impact as well and finished 8th loosing 7th on the last lap when the fuel pump came loose in the tank and it stopped going up the Rayhaul straight on the very last lap.
Same car finished 8th at PIR but I wasnt driving it there.
Bob
An 8 valve 2.0l VW engine
Ran for us at Chump Car Laguna Seca for 7 hours after one of our drivers stuffed it in a tire wall and cracked the end tank on the radiator. we had no spare but No pressure and half full of coolant didn't seem to make a difference in our 85 Golf GTI.
We lost ~30 minutes swapping a motor mount that broke loose on impact as well and finished 8th loosing 7th on the last lap when the fuel pump came loose in the tank and it stopped going up the Rayhaul straight on the very last lap.
Same car finished 8th at PIR but I wasnt driving it there.
Bob
#24
Assuming that I am correct in that, I will say the following.
14 hours is a long time to not check the oil. I know that Enzo the 949 winning car normally uses almost zero oil, and we still checked it every 5-6 stints, and it used about 3 quarts for the 25hr. The other car was known to use a little oil, and proved that it did.
14 hours is a long time to not check the oil. I know that Enzo the 949 winning car normally uses almost zero oil, and we still checked it every 5-6 stints, and it used about 3 quarts for the 25hr. The other car was known to use a little oil, and proved that it did.
I checked the oil after Friday practice, and Sunday morning (added 2 quarts).
I am not saying that the only answer is low oil, I'm just throwing it out there, caus I don't know of much else that would cause an otherwise stock-ish looking motor to just destroy itself.
What were the gauges saying shortly before/after the engine died? If you had gauges for them, what were the water/oil gauges reading, and was that higher than they had been running?
What were the gauges saying shortly before/after the engine died? If you had gauges for them, what were the water/oil gauges reading, and was that higher than they had been running?
Seriously, only gauges we had were the stock instrument cluster...and you know how useful that is.
#26
Yes, Todd, you did.
I even cut out a frame to hold them, it just needed to be welded in and then wire the gauges.
We just didn't make time to get those in.
I doubt they would have given the driver at the time any indication of potential failure. I think he was just trying to not get run over. :P
I even cut out a frame to hold them, it just needed to be welded in and then wire the gauges.
We just didn't make time to get those in.
I doubt they would have given the driver at the time any indication of potential failure. I think he was just trying to not get run over. :P
#30
We ran 7 hours on Saturday and 7:30 hours on Sunday.
I checked the oil after Friday practice, and Sunday morning (added 2 quarts).
I checked the oil after Friday practice, and Sunday morning (added 2 quarts).
Endurance racing really is fun. I'll have to do one from the driver seat some time. It looks like you guy had as blast, and only needed just that little bit extra, and it would have been a really, really fun weekend.
#31
It already was a really fun weekend. We were taking bets on whether the engine would last the weekend. It was an abused car when we got it, so this was a timely demise.
Already found a replacement engine, so that will go in before the next LeMons race in February.
It may or may not be a Mazda powerplant. :P
Already found a replacement engine, so that will go in before the next LeMons race in February.
It may or may not be a Mazda powerplant. :P
#34
Any of you down for a good time, we will probably have an extra seat or two for the race in College Station, Feb 11-12 >
http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/yeehaw12.aspx
PM me for details and availability.
Note - I will probably not be driving this weekend, but will most likely be down to crew for the team.
http://www.24hoursoflemons.com/yeehaw12.aspx
PM me for details and availability.
Note - I will probably not be driving this weekend, but will most likely be down to crew for the team.
#35
Depends on how crappy they are or the track record they have in LeMons.
The Miata and BMW E30 are said to be made of cheat, and are almost always thrown in the top class with BS laps.
There are 3 classes A, B, C and an "experimental" X class.
The organizers of LeMons have stated they'd love to see an Iron Duke (GM 3800 V6) or old flathead out running...
I'd imagine either of those engines in a Miata would place the car in either the B or C classes.
The Miata and BMW E30 are said to be made of cheat, and are almost always thrown in the top class with BS laps.
There are 3 classes A, B, C and an "experimental" X class.
The organizers of LeMons have stated they'd love to see an Iron Duke (GM 3800 V6) or old flathead out running...
I'd imagine either of those engines in a Miata would place the car in either the B or C classes.
#39
I trust there were no cooling issues to speak of at the race since it decided to drop down into the low 30's. It was good racing with you guys out there and I love the writing on the dash bar.
How much drag did that flag make the second day? I was amazed at how fast that 35 datsun was with Troy in the car running his fastest lap of 2:02.
How much drag did that flag make the second day? I was amazed at how fast that 35 datsun was with Troy in the car running his fastest lap of 2:02.
#40
Well...Day 1 we were getting into 5th just after the start/finish line.
Day 2 with the flag posted high, I was able to carry out 4th until I needed to brake for turn 2.
I'd say the flag cost us 5-10mph on the straight, and the video is the first stint of day two, so I had the flag "handicap". The 240Z was still quite a bit faster in the straights...even without the flag. That is a nice car for a LeMon!
...and no cooling issues at all. It was actually working too well. Notice in the video it never got about 1/4 up the gauge.
Day 2 with the flag posted high, I was able to carry out 4th until I needed to brake for turn 2.
I'd say the flag cost us 5-10mph on the straight, and the video is the first stint of day two, so I had the flag "handicap". The 240Z was still quite a bit faster in the straights...even without the flag. That is a nice car for a LeMon!
...and no cooling issues at all. It was actually working too well. Notice in the video it never got about 1/4 up the gauge.