I wasn't able to go to Bonneville last year and won't be there this year because of family medical problems and commitments that I've made.
So, I haven't finished my car and I told my engine builder (a good friend) that there was no rush in completing the engine.
Anyway, Sunday afternoon, my friend and fellow 4 Barrels clubmember, Pete Richardson (#1931, V4/VGC record holder - Bonneville) called to ask if I had an engine available. His well-engineered V4F engine (no record in V4F/VGC!) ate some lifters and then galled the cam while on the dyno. Well, sez I, my race engine isn't ready (and I checked, it couldn't be finished in 2 days), but if he really wanted, I'd be willing to pull my hot street 4-banger for his B'ville attempt. After some thinking and discussion, on Monday the decision was made to do it.
So Tuesday morning, I began my first last minute thrash to get ready for Bonneville!!!
Stripped my lakes modified down:
Changed flywheel & clutch, pan, and bellhousing.
Slipped it into his coupe. That was the easy part. Lots of little things to make it all match up...
Ended up looking like this before it went back onto his trailer for some final thrashing and loading the trailer, etc.
Would you believe that the Truckstopped thing sounds like a race engine in that coupe?
He won't be as fast as he intended; it's pretty much my street engine with his mag & electric water pump and a borrowed header (mine ended up against his ballistic blanket). He's going to start with my little carbs and then try his several years old larger carbs.
His intent was, and still is, to make a couple of runs, then let his daughter and her s.o., who have been crewing for him, make a couple of passes each.
I'm more excited that I expected to be about this year and am trying to figure out how to keep my commitment and race at Bonneville in 2009.
Good luck and safe racing to all!
Mike
