Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Brent, nice to talk to you at MUNCIE a few weeks back. I'm hoping everything works out this time. Posted pics of your 62 on the HAMB. Tom.

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

You too, Tom... Hope to see you out there more... tryin' to finish Bird up... maybe have it out in a week or 2!

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Well, finished her up last night... settin it in over the weekend... all primed and ready to go. Hope to see a decent # out of it... I believe, if not too hot out, she will see a 11.30, with some traction.


https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...92437810_n.jpg

Just got done setting engine in,,, Trans, converter and motor mounts all snug!

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...70904262_n.jpg

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Gee, hope it didn't give you a "Hard -Time going together. If you did all of that work by yourself you must be a Tru-man!:D Sorry, couldn't resist.

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I did it all myself... Good one, Tom! hehe

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Got it running today...all seems well, so far... Broke it in, timing set at 33*, and will check it over, retorque, and go over my tune this week. Will take to track this coming weekend... Hopefully the weather will be good...

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I know you are ready for some good results buddy...pulling for you!

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You got that right! hehe... thanks, and you too! Get that qjet back on there, and make some runs...:D

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I hope you realize theres a bunch of us out here pulling for you guys to turn things around and have some success. You've definitely paid your dues,, I'm thinkin'.
Good luck the rest of the way to BOTH of you.
Danny Durham

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Thanks Danny and everyone else... So far, I think Rich has had way more to deal with, up to this point... Hoping both or our woes are about to cease...
We would probably be a good race... We need to do a match race down in BG, before the season ends...

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Just let me know when you are coming. Be great to meet you face to face and look at the car. :)

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It'd be fun to get down there for the BG points meet, right before indy... Dont know if i can do it, yet, but that would be a great race to attend. Ive raced at BG once, in 2005 , at an NMCA event, and also, been there with my brothers' car a couple times... its about 4 1/2 hrs for me...

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Well... I ran 4 passes, here are my last two pass slips.. 11.63 worst 11.62, 11,63, 11.59(figured out better shift point, won that round), and 11.617( major rain front came in, didnt dial up, lost a .005 race to the points champ...
shifting at 5700, trapping at 5800-5900... leaving at 2500( was comfortable). All in all, good day...didnt set records, but im 100# heavy for E, so, i will add 40 or so, and run F... need to get to 3635, im about 3575 right now. Gonna change to my high pressure springs and put some gear in it! :D

https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/...59196876_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...02114043_n.jpg

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Good deal Brent...glad to see it going down the track once again. :)

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Thanks...me too...didnt set the world on fire, but, i think i can get some ET out of it, pretty quick, with Gear swap, and my high pressure valve springs..i have the lower pressure break in springs on it, now...it hit traps right at 5800-5900,,,

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Nice job! :) -Al

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Brent,

Was that at Muncie? Haven't been up there since the 80's. They still run the 1/4? I remember one lane had a "dip" at the end, don't remember which one. If I may ask, what time do they typically start practice and eliminations?

Only car I have ready to run right now is the Achieva. I have the urge to get some track time again.

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Robert, yea it's Muncie... Sportsman(footbrake only) is 1/4 mile...pro and super pro are 1/8. Time trials usually start around 2:30...but Sportsman is lucky to see a run , by 4pm or so... I think the dip has been repaired, but, i noticed a weird spot in one of the lanes, i cant remember which one... i didnt notice it last year...maybe its because when i was running 10.80s, i sailed right over it...hehe

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THanks Al! Now, its time to work on it, again...hehe

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Glad to see the 'Bird flying again, Brent. Any chance of coming to Columbus next month?
Bob M.

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thanks Bob...yeah, im planning on it, at this point... Finishing up the 4.88s tonight...and just got to put weight in( about 50#) and get headrest in,..also, put the new belts in,and it should pass tech, just fine... testing next Wed, supposed to rain this weekend

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4.88's ??

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Why not? It should hit the traps about 6500-6600... it was only trapping at 5900 on a 11.59/115 pass with 4.30 ... i have 94'' radials and am at 3635 lbs in 'F' ... Im running a 251/256* Comp cam, in @ 105*, ground on 106 with 108LSA... if its way too much , i will drop back to 4.56s. The ATi converter flashed 4800 with the 4.30 .. it may tighten up slightly with the 4.88...

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Sounds like it will be fine...looking forward to the results!

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yea, me too...but my shifter broke... was gettin ready to seat the gears in, and the lever fell off in my hand...

hurst 1/4 stick...gotta get it fixed , so i can test on Wednesday...hoping to go to Columbus 3rd week of July...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...09174896_n.jpg

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That's the best place to break something. [in the garage] The dust and rocks aren't too friendly to lay on at Muncie.;)

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@ 6600 , you'll lose a MPH..which is what's going to happen, along with no 60' or 1/4 mi. et reduction.

Converter's too loose...Tighten converter, put good springs on it, keep the 4.33's

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well...i guess i will find out Wednesday...hehe I figured it would pick up, as i felt like the 4.30's were a little tall , for the converter... Im used to 455's, they like 5700-5800 trap rpm , with 4200 flash... i have a hard time believing that this deal willl nose over at 6200-6400... I figured 6500 or so, would be ok... I have a 4200 ATi, which i thought would be too tight, behind this engine....i thought 4.56 gears wouldnt be much of a jump... all i can say, is , i hope you're wrong... Will update Wed night, if weather is good for racing...

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Sometimes you have to go out and try different things. Nothing wrong with what Brent is doing. Flog that thing and figure out what it likes. At F weight in that bad summer Midwest air, it may not be as bad as you think.
This is what building and racing a class car is all about. Testing and finding your way. Good luck Brent.

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Todd, is dead-on about the Car telling you what it likes ? Keep testing & keep good notes , every- car is different... Watch the spring pressure , that's the key secret ? Good Luck & keep us updated ..

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Good news is, i have some 4.56s to throw in, if it just rpms way too much, for the combo.... should have plenty of spring pressure @ 160/350 ... If i dont gear it, it will never 60ft... 1.54 is a long way from 1.45 .. I know the air was bad, running 30wt oil, 4.30 gear, didnt fiddle with jetting on the 1st outing... There may have been .02-.03 in 60' , with some improvements in air , tuning, etc... but i was about 60# light , for 'F', so gonna throw the needed weight in it, and some gear, and see what she'll do...i also had low pressure springs on, for break in...

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

The guys are right about testing your own combo.
One thing though...You want to only make one change at a time..In this case, the valve springs.
Thinking about it, the converter might be only a few hundred loose.
It might have had a problem pulling in the lights because of the valve springs.
That's still not a lot of valve spring pressure.

Often, lowering the gear ratio does not give you a better 60' / ET.
Gear it for a reasonable trap RPM so it'll run the MPH like the fast guys in your class.
Set the converter right at peak torque, and keep working on the motor for more power, and a harder leave.
These are my opinions only..Just trying to same you some time and effort.

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Mark, it seemed to pull all the way through the lights...being 11.59/115, the mph was good , for the ET, and at only 5800-5900. I figured the valvesprings would give me the ability to shift 1-2 at 6k, instead of 5800, if engine likes it, and also 2-3 shift as well, and would let engine pull to 6500 quickly. THe springs i had on it, for the 1st outing, were about 135 or so on the seat, and around 300 open, and they were really for a solid cam , that we used to run( .588 lift ). Im adding 80# to the car, to make 'F' weight...may not need all 80#, but i know im needing around 60#. Figuring on scale inaccuracy... The weather is supposed to be fair, this Wednesday...so we will see what it does. The converter flashes to 4800 in high gear, and i would imagine if im shifting much less than 6k, im not keeping it locked up...

Re: Update E-F/SA Bird Build...
 

Well, the gear was way too much... hehe... 11.566/114.30 with 1.523 60' and 7.29/92.xx 1/8 mile. All were gains, but car was running 6700 thru the traps... felt dead all the way down the track. The engine is strongest around 5800-6000, so decided to go with the 4.56s, hoping to keep trap rpm around 6300 and make more use of the torque on the 1-2-3 shifts. I will have to start playing around with little things... The runs i made , were all with 80# added weight...The runs with the 4.30 gears, were not. Air was real good, but couldnt take advantage of it, with the 4.88s. Got home last night at 8:30 and ripped it down... Got it all finished tonight, and in the trailer, for some 1/8 mile July 4th Pro action . I will run it out the 1/4 mile to see what it traps at...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...02686115_n.jpg

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I don't know Brent...you did add 80 pounds. Were you shifting at the same rpm as before or did you up the shift points as well?

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Glad it is on the track and making some passes. Keep tweaking and taking notes.
Good luck, and hope it is a good 4th.

Ken

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Hey, take it easy on that Dillman kid in the black Camaro this weekend!:D

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Well, i made 5 nice runs yesterday... in order .. 7.29/7.27/7.27/7.29/7.29... I had a quick miss on 1st pass...turns out i had a loose connection on coil wire terminal... the 2 7.29s were in the heat of the day... 4.56s worked perfectly... 6300 at 1/4 mile and 1.526 best 60'. they were all around there ... 1.535 , i believe was the slowest... shifts were made at 5700-5800 ... Now, time to start tweaking... i had headache yesterday, so i wasnt good on the tree....

here was my 1st pass of the day..

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...99176acc08816c

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...31167279_n.jpg

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Tom, he needn't worry... i was totally useless on Friday... car was good, though...

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The engine liked 5700-5800 on the upshifts and pulled through nicely at 6300, but since they were only running 1/8 mile, i didnt get times for the 1/4... goin
up on Wednesday to do some tweaking...