Well, since nobody asked, here is how things went for the "Old Stud" 53 Studebaker.
My engine guy, Virgil Hanson got the motor assembled with our new Jesel shaft rockers last Wednesday. Unfortunately, we only had two days to get pushrods, and found that we could not install the 7/16th ones we need without grinding the heads. Nor could we get the one piece heat treated ones in time. We went ahead and ordered press in end 3/8th pushrods and I picked up the engine on Friday night.
The resulting thrash resulted in firing the engine Tuesday night around six, loading until 10:30, sleeping until three, driving for sixteen hours (including repairs) by myself, and hoping my crew made it out of the snow in Montana. Arrived in Wendover around 8pm Wednesday night (I think).
Thursday we started putting the tin back in, the fire bottles back in, packing the parachutes, etc.
When we reinstalled the floor bracket for the throttle cable, I asked Mike Wesche to hit the pedal and found out we ran Speedweek with only 2/3rds throttle, as the pedal hit the tinwork over the scatter shield. No wonder I took out 5 pistons.............. We discovered that the valve covers were touching the intake rockers and had to grind reliefs. Don't ever try to find a grinding burr in Wendover............
At that point, I said screw it, we are going to fix every little nut and bolt before we run.
We finally went thru tech Friday morning, sat in line all afternoon and were 5 cars back when the wind shut the course down for the day.
We opted to leave it in line and warmed it up during the record runs on Saturday morning. Then we topped her off with 25% and were ready to go.
At about the 1/2 I nailed it pretty good, went sideways, got her straight, and sashayed to the 2 1/4, dropped a cylinder, and shut it off. Ran 217 at the quarter.
We removed the valve covers, and had eaten the upper ends off of eight exhaust push rods..... nutz.
Thus ended another saga for One Run.
On the bright side, we found out our throttle/barrel valve issues, discovered our fuel tank isn't large enough (nine gallons) to go 5 miles, realized we are not oiling the rockers/pushrods, and recieve great help and encouragement from Tom Burkland and Wayne Jesel. We met many people, gave away around a hundred picures of the yellow Stude, signed (ulp!) many autographs.......without making a full pass.......... and left feeling great about the whole enchelada.
My thanks again to Tom and Wayne, and to my crew from Montana, Squd Gilman, Tony "the saw" Mascaro, and Mike Wesche (who I believe was run out of SoCal................)
Thanx again, and If VISA continues its sponsorship I will see you all at Speedweek 2010.
One Run Bob
