Back to work

I have returned from Brazilian lands afar and have I have dived back into the Gremlin.  Since the engineers who designed the newer versions of the 258 engine decided to move the location of the timing marks to where the alternator used to be and thought it was better to make a happy trail of belts leading to the new alternator location, I spent most of the day fabricating and modifying things to fit the alternator back where it was on the old engine and return to a one belt system.  Phew... long sentence.  I'm happy to say that the alternator slots right in to where it used to be courtesy of a new water pump, lots of dremeling, and a slightly smaller belt.  Tomorrow I replace the head and hopefully start her back up!  Followed by wiring, followed by exhaust, followed by other crap that will probably break along the ay.

Work Begins Anew

The Gremlin has a working engine in it right now (I know, right?), so what's the first thing we're doing?  Tear it apart!

 

Yup, that engine is missing a water pump....and some various other things.  The engine transplanted from the Eagle is relatively the same engine we tore out, but is somewhat more complicatedly assembled.  Brackets and belts and compressors...Oh my!  We're devolving the engine to mid 70's tech by taking off the myrad of belts, emission control, and "computer controlled" carb.  There is some modification needed to bolt on the old, simple alternator bracket versus the huge complicated hunk of aluminum I removed.  Seriously, the alternator was run off of the A/C compressor.  Screw that. 

New Year, New Plans

Welcome to 2011 and a new 24 Hours of LeMons season!  We've had some problems, some false starts, but 2011 is going to be our year!  We're going to hit the Gulf Series and hit it hard!  Well, not that hard.  We're missing the first Houston race.  The team has forbid me from entering a race without the car running.  Seems fair since we went to No Problem Raceway with a car that I thought was inches from running and we ended up with our 36 hour, award winning slog.  Then over Christmas, he HOA sent a letter informing me of the need to move the two Jensen Healeys from the driveway currently awaiting Lemonization.  They're covered at least, but I guess that's not enough.  So that's what I'm working on right now, getting the car squared away and appeasing the home owners association.   The goal is to make the Gremlin fully operational and combine the Jensens into one running car.  Make plans for the upcoming races to cheer us on and enjoy the spectacle that is LeMons.

Here's the 2011 Gulf Coast schedule:

February 26-27: Gator-O-Rama - MSR Houston, Angleton TX

April 23-24: North Dallas Hooptie - Eagle's Canyon Raceway, Decatur TX

June 4-5: Garrapatas Peligrosas GP - MSR Houston, Angleton TX

August 13-14: Cain't Get Bayou - Circuit Grand Bayou, Belle Rose LA

October 1-2: Yee Haw It's LeMons Texas! - MSR Houston, Angleton TX

December 17-18: Heaps in the Heart of Texas - Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth TX