Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => World of Speed-specific stuff => Topic started by: RayTheRat on August 09, 2011, 09:01:53 AM
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I finally got my 85 Monte Carlo SS running and moving under its own power. It's only been outta action for 10 years. Nothing serious...yeahrightsure.
All the details (rather lengthy build diary) are here:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/85monte/Welcome.html (http://www.chevyasylum.com/85monte/Welcome.html) but the basics include suspension set up more for Pro-Touring than anything else, a 406 smallblock with AFR heads, Comp Cams XR282 roller cam, AED 950 cfm carb, MSD ignition (6AL box, Pro Billet distributor, Blaster coil), Wade Austin TH200-4R trasmission, 3500 rpm torque converter and a buncha other stuff.
It still has a relatively stock interior...but if we're successful in the 130 Club attempt, the interior will get stripped, a cage, racing seats and 5-point harnesses installed to run in the 150 Club in 2012. But right now I'm just concentrating on this year. Ohh...the black paint will be stripped off due to terminal lacquer crack (damned GM water-based paint) and the car will change from black to red...but that's a long way off.
I'm very grateful to Chris Lindh, owner of https://www.partsforspeed.com/ (https://www.partsforspeed.com/) who stepped up and offered his support as a sponsor and supplied the carb and the rest of the fuel delivery system. Without his help, I never would have made it. I suggest checking out his website if ya need speed parts.
There's still a lotta work to be done, but getting it running was the peak of the curve...I'm hoping that I'll be on the downward slope and that I have the biggest chunk behind me. I'll tell ya, just being able to fire it up and back it out into the driveway was a HUGE milestone.
I'll have to intersperse the remainder of the work into the time between SW, BUB and then WoS, of course. But if ya come up to Jack Rabbit Flats above the Bend in the Road, you'll see one very "happy camper." :)
Well, it's time to go do some fluid level checks before the pre-Speed Week preparation thrash.
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Attaboy Ray!
The black Patina looks good for a race car. Perhaps you could give lessons on "how to get free raceparts"???
what's up w/ that red thing in the background????
cheers, and good luck!
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The red thing in the background is my beater/grocery getter/parts runner 88 Camaro (2.8L V6 & 5-speed) that's been a whore's nightmare to get into a functional state...but it runs pretty nicely now...much better than when I got it a few months ago.
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Ray the car looks FAST ! good luck on the 130 club. Gary
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Thanks, Gary. I hope it goes as fast as it looks. ;)
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Ray, I just wanted to wish you good luck at the world of speed. The Monte carlo looks great and I hope that someone can get some pictures of it on the salt. I have been a huge Monte Carlo SS fan for years and and to see yours prpped for Bonneville is great! Good luck to you and be safe! Thanks again for all the work you do to bring us all great pictures and info!
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Ray, I'm a huge fan of your photo work, but I'm so glad that you're making some wheel time for yourself - you've earned it.
Go get 'em, chief! :cheers:
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Same here Ray, have fun!!!
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Ray, you probably don't remember, as you were very busy. I briefly chatted with you at one of the starting lines- I believe I was with Stan Back at the time.
Anyway, good luck- I hope you make the 130 club! :cheers:
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Ray,
The Salt Cat team says: Go for it!. [Beer at 11:00].
Doug :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Ray,
My guess is you are running the 130 club with a 150 club motor.
Pay close attention to the GPS lag, they get a little testy with 150+ runs on the 130 course.
Don't ask how I know. :wink:
Don
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Ray, call your Mother.
FREUD
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Ray,
My guess is you are running the 130 club with a 150 club motor.
Pay close attention to the GPS lag, they get a little testy with 150+ runs on the 130 course.
Don't ask how I know. :wink:
Don
Pretty darned close. If it had a cage, seats and harnesses, it'd be a 150 Club car. It actually has a working speedometer in addition to the GPS, so I think we'll be ok. At least that's the plan.
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Next year the 150 club ? See ya on the salt... Gary
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As clarvoient as Ray and I have become must be what rang my fone as I was reaching to call him.
Jims truck is loaded, I should say OVERLOADED, Ray is ready to load his race car and this will assure that they will
drive into the blinding brightness of the setting sun.
It's apparent to me that Ray is up against the rev limiter. I wonder how long he can maintain that.
FREUD
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Freud was right. I've been bouncing off the rev limiter for the last week or so, but we actually made it to Wendover and will hit the salt in the ayem.
Here's a shot of the car as it sat in my driveway before we loaded it on the trailer (and discovered the valve cover oil leak) and one of the car in the motel parking lot. We'll do the entry/tech thing on the morrow (after I install new valve cover gaskets)....and race on Wednesday...if the racing gods are smiling on us.
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If you need help, ask Dickie and Korey. No doubt that they would help.
They are experienced.
FREUD
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Wow Ray, looks good. Don't forget to hop out and take a picture of your car when you are headed down the track. Good luck. We are rooting for you.
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Ray, will see you at the drivers meet this morning! 2 of us got in last night - the students and chaperones later today; Marlo and crew around noon with our car.
Michael
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Ray made a run today.When he has time I imagine he will tell us about it.
FREUD
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And maybe post a photo of his souvenir from WoS.
Oh, I see it's on the other thread. Ray brought his "sculpture" to Salt Talks and I, for one, was darned impressed.
I think we'll see him back for more.
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He's on his way home but will return tomorrow with just a camera.
FREUD
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Ray,
sorry to hear about your driveshaft in the Monte Carlo I am sure you will have it back together again and be back for next year, I loved the pictures that I saw of your car out on the salt hopefully next time I will see it in person. Thanks again for all your posts and pictures!
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Ray, in reference to reply 141 in the Cook Shootout thread. It shows a drive train yoke, a part that is subject to heavy cyclic loads. Fatigue can be a problem with parts under race conditions. One way to make them fatigue resistant is to radius and polish the sharp edges. This reduces the stress concentrations at the edges. Usually I do not polish the entire part, just the edges after I give them a 1/16 inch radius. I also round and smooth any inside corners where stress could concentrate. This is something you could discuss with your drive train expert.
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While I'm here (I just posted the Target 550 update) I'll mention one little thing we found out about the Monte Carlo last week. The little "moment" with the driveshaft took the transmission, too. D*mn!
I've got a spare TH200-4R, but this one was pretty seriously built...the spare is stock except for a street shift kit. I haven't gotten into the broken one yet, but I'll at least pull the pan and see what I find.
I considered a Ford 9" and a T-56 transmission (I have reasons for wanting an OD tranny) and found that it'd only cost me about $2500 for the rear end and $4000 for the trans, clutch, etc. Now I'm considering other alternatives.
Referring to what wheelrdealer posted about "critical RPM" on a driveshaft (in the WoS thread) and seeing that his let go at 4100, well, I had one eye on the GPS and the other on the tach and I'd just shifted into 4th when it broke...right about 4000 RPM. Something I need to consider seriously. I think I may end up working with a local guy to see if we can put something together (with or without a new driveshaft from Denny's) that will handle the load.
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Ray, when I talked to my drive shaft guy I was impressed that one of the first things he asked was what was the approx max rpm the driveshaft would see and the car or leagth needed. We are buiding a '91 camaro and he came up with a nascar style shaft. He recommended a thin wall 5" dia drive shaft but the drive shaft safety loop limited it to 3.75" and he worked with the tubing wall thickness to tolorate 6500 rpm.
Balanced with HD u- joints for $225.00. :-D
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What you're suggesting, Capt, is sorta what I'm considering, along with a rear driveshaft loop (Tom Burkland suggested that it be mounted to the rear end or control arms, since I run a 4-link) and a heavier/off-road type pinion yoke. I think that the rear end I'm using might be ok since it has the pillow block supports on the cover. As least it otta be stronger than a stock one.
Anyway, people have suggested that an aluminum driveshaft might be in order. Looking at things, it seems that an F-body (Camaro/Firebird) uses a 41 3/4" shaft. The G-body shaft (except for El Caminos like Bill Ward broke) is 52 1/2." Further research is needed.
I'm not sure what to do about the transmission, tho...but I know a good tranny guy (no, not that kind of tranny)...years ago he told me that he'd built transmissions for the Nish cars...maybe if he'd built the motors, too.....well, I ain't sayin, I'm just...sayin.
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Ray , definitely on the beefier pinion support. The "drive shaft guy" is a company called Fleet Pride. they are nation wide and will useally make what ever you want and if there is a one local to you and they are worth their salt 8-) they can make recommendations. They specialize in BIG stuff but should be able to handle anything you need.
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If I was running a sedan or other vehicle like these I would have a front and rear drive shaht loop built to handle the failure fron either end. I have seen a few over the years at the lakes and on the salt. The front can drop and pogo stick into the ground or swing around and under a tire causing lift and spinning. The rear just flops around and beats the crap out of everything until it departs the vehicle. One could consider a tube long enough to support the shaft if it failed and and prevent the whipping they go into. Just a thought.
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Glen, the rules call for a front loop in the class I'll be running, and after seeing the carnage to Ray's stuff I think I will add a rear one as well. Better safer than sorrier. :-)
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The thing is all rules are the minimum requirements. Other safety improvements are up to the builder. This where I think it's something each one should look at over and above the rules. There are probably a lot of things that each vehicle can better if they feel it's needed. Walking through inspection at speed week one sees many things that the inspectors ask for fixes on or additional supports etc.
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Agreed Glen, That is why I cruise this site and all of the forums on it looking for ideas such as the rear drive shaft loop. Being a safety, health, and enviro. manager by trade, the rule or requirement is only the starting point. Maybe the statement "The rules are only a starting point" should be at the top of all of the pages for the different speed associations rule books. Now, Back to Ray.... :cheers:
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Do you mean something like the first paragraph on page 6?
DW
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Well, Ray's definitely gonna have a rear loop when the thing goes back together. I spose I otta take a half-day next SW and just hang out around the tech inspectors. I like that idea, Glen. I'm not sure the inspectors will enjoy havin my camera goin "click, click, click" all the time, but we'll work something out. :)
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DW, I mean on every page as some folk seem to forget after a paragraph or two. Ray, I found that as long as your not in thier ear when you go click, click, click they don't mind too much. P.S since I have a torque arm on the camaro. I think I'll mount the safety loop to that. man this stuff gets the brain out of first gear. :-)
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A day in the tech tent should be a must! One might learn something (I know I learned more than I could absorb) and its IS highly entertaining!
"The thing is all rules are the minimum requirements. Other safety improvements are up to the builder. This where I think it's something each one should look at over and above the rules. There are probably a lot of things that each vehicle can better if they feel it's needed. Walking through inspection at speed week one sees many things that the inspectors ask for fixes on or additional supports etc. "
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Well, Ray's definitely gonna have a rear loop when the thing goes back together. I spose I otta take a half-day next SW and just hang out around the tech inspectors. I like that idea, Glen. I'm not sure the inspectors will enjoy havin my camera goin "click, click, click" all the time, but we'll work something out. :)
I hung over Nathans shoulder for a while on Friday this year, at his request. I learned a ton watching a handfull cars go through tech, should have done more.
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Looks like I got my "marching orders" for inspection day at SW. :)