tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21830237926617827152023-11-16T04:54:56.089-08:00Mysteries Inc. Racingastridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-12322587342691776892011-10-03T22:22:00.000-07:002011-10-03T22:22:36.557-07:00It's Loko time!Since last winter, the mystery fleet has been sitting quietly, parked in archival storage, waiting for a new day. (Okay, I lie: they've been parked while we raced with the <a href="http://pandamonium.blogspot.com/">Pandamonium crew</a>.) But now it's time. It's Shadow time!
Here's the fleet, not dead but sleeping:
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The Shadow is getting ready for the next 24 Hours of Lemons race, The Skankaway Anti-Toe-Fungal 500 at Infineon in a few weeks. Since it's basically perfect as-is, we just had a couple of things to do-- mostly, fix the overheating problems which plagued us last year at Buttonwillow.<br />
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Initial to-do list:
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<li>Replace radiator cap</li>
<li>Pull the thermostat (that sucker was just holding us back)</li>
<li>Pull the A/C</li>
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It had been a while since I'd driven the Shadow, so I'd forgotten the special brand of ultimate driving experience that it represents. During the short drive from storage to Jinnah's house, the driver's side window fell out.</div>
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(Not out, out - just kind of slipped forward in place, lodged sideways in a half-open position like the little triangular wing windows in the corners of old pickup trucks. Even the lady in the 80's LeBaron beside me was giving me the evil eye.)</div>
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As soon as we opened it up, Jinnah pointed out kindly that the radiator was leaking like a little sieve.</div>
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New to-do list:</div>
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<li>New radiator</li>
<li>All that other stuff</li>
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Now a radiator swap is not rocket science, but then again, we are not rocket scientists. (Never mind the highly skilled, highly technical jobs; those are clearly a front.) I demonstrated this by throwing out all the stuff we'd pulled on Saturday before we drove home on Saturday night. </div>
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I have made many tactical errors in my time, but this one was particularly rapidly repaid the next day, when, while fitting the new radiator, I noticed that it was kind of... jiggly.</div>
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We rapidly came to terms with the fact that there were a number of parts attached to the old radiator which we might actually need, among them some little rubber feet which seat the bottom posts into the holes on the frame.</div>
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At this point we probably should have just made some new mounts out of high-tech duct tape, but being true perfectionists, we decided that only the real thing would do. So, I did what any sensible person would do, and went back to the dumpster to recover the parts.</div>
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.... this goes about as well as you might expect. Forty-five minutes and a lot of half-empty fast food containers later, I recovered the last errant radiator mount from the bottom of a huge pile of shredded paper.</div>
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Dumpster:</div>
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Comically small object:</div>
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I think we all learned a valuable lesson from this. (I learned that I should not throw away any parts before the job is done. Rob and Jinnah learned that letting my situational guilt play out usually leads to the funniest possible conclusion.)</div>
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Stray part recovered, the new radiator is in. It's all shiny and new, and between the radiator and the hoses, approximately doubles the value of the car. Now it will never overheat, so the engine is free to explode as God and Lee Iacocca intended.</div>
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Now that that new radiator is in, and all that other stuff is done as well, check out a selection of photographs:</div>
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Sexy race car interior:</div>
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Driver's side window:</div>
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Now that everything's all back together, we've quit while we're ahead. Just need to get some new tires, and grab a crapload of spare parts (this time that one is definitely going to happen), and we're ready to race. Hooray!</div>
astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-71985283471199239792010-12-07T15:18:00.000-08:002010-12-07T18:04:41.483-08:00Arse-Freeze-A-Palooza, ButtonwillowWe... totally didn't win! But then, we weren't trying to. If, as my fridge magnets inform me, life is all about the journey, then a LeMons weekend is mostly about the drive... to and from Bakersfield, in a desperate, inevitable quest for spare parts. <br /><br />The Shadow ran well(ish) and finished under its own power, which in LeMons terms is a stunning victory. (It sure feels like one when the checkered flag flies and the car's still turning laps.) It ran hot as hell through most of the race, mostly 1 tick mark below "oh my god I'm about to explode" on the temp gauge, but it never actually overheated, and any damage incurred from two days of hurtling around a track at glowing hot temps hasn't surfaced yet. <br /><br />We finished in 113th place, of a field of 173 - having lost 1 hour of saturday morning due to transponder failure (the alternator belt ate the transponder cable), and most of saturday afternoon due to having melted a brake caliper while hurtling down the back straight at 95mph. (Jinnah was driving; he kept it on the track despite having lost 90% of braking power. When he brought it in, the brake pad was hanging in pieces from the caliper, and the rotor was gouged and bent, and the caliper was all melty.) Lucky for us, the Autozone in lovely Lamont, CA had new calipers, rotors, pads, lines and caliper pins all in stock, and we were back on the track for all of Sunday. (Which did include some "Oh shit it's overheating" troubleshooting... among other issues, we have a busted radiator cap.)<br /><br />The Shadow crossed the line under its own power having done 143 (recorded) laps - 169 short of the race winner. No sweeter feeling than the checkered flag flying on the last day, while your car's still running. My favorite part of a lemons race is the end, when the cars parade slowly back in, and the pits are lined with people clapping and cheering. The judges came down to high-5 all the drivers as we filed off the track. Awesome community feeling right then.<br /><br />What are we going to do next race? Same thing we do every race: drive as fast as we can and try to stay out of trouble! Maybe in the minivan. I won't lie, though -- it's exciting and different to actually have a chance to pass other cars. Go shadow!astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-1441094810962364842010-11-27T14:16:00.000-08:002010-11-27T14:54:38.267-08:00The Loko shadow!Not long after the last race, we came across a craigslist ad for a 1987 Dodge Shadow. What with the Mystery Machine having blown yet another engine (and another pick-n-pull replacement in storage, waiting to be swapped in) and us pining for a 5-speed, we thought, what the hell?<br /><br />The Shadow was for sale from a nonprofit, the Clean and Sober Homes of Santa Cruz. That makes the purchase price like a donation, right? It's practically altruism. So of course we bought it, stiff clutch and suspected broken motor mount and all, for $200. <br /><br />(The fact that it came from a nonprofit came in really handy when we got pulled over while transporting it with expired tags. That, and the cop had friends who were LeMons racers. He was very nice about the whole thing.)<br /><br />Here she is, the Shadow herself:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3ymdTV_gsDgQjsyj6ETcVA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjNlpc7KRZA3MIhIHW1lDcCPSdASSjBYOtOJcKNdvVOBwagqZ_enIPkbFAE1aeF2T1wtRE4EeSzNi3T-c21j5l5iDG-abAs01u6Uz4eGGoZwiGJ2NZFzL-JFL21JGkwJKnc1Gf7B7GDsW/s400/IMG_20101106_165747.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/astrid/LemonsDec2010?feat=embedwebsite">Lemons dec 2010</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Note the "turbo" on the hood and that stylish hood bump (almost like the turbo is really big and takes up all that extra space! Which it isn't, and doesn't.):<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oykbNREc7Nmp0T0alQFLjg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKI-zYkCn6WcuzRZDFJwZOV-Hm3ZrFIeFTSrnh8arn47ITsVk0Iw3MwvY6ECQb7lGvAliNJ8GSguEEVwtcSGntGmYzg_0AfPfRtsoOkuVbTGSShX-s0X6BcSXsmkciq8JnQwPYo1WvE-E/s400/IMG_20101002_162122.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/astrid/LemonsDec2010?feat=embedwebsite">Lemons dec 2010</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />This is a 2.2L Turbo I, the earliest version of the K-style Chrysler turbo engine. This engine line is the finest of mid-80's American economy engineering. It's not actually a great engine (after all, we've blown up 2 in a row) but what it is, is familiar. We've spent a lot of hours scouring the internet for minor technical details, we have a really complete service manual for a slightly newer version, and we know where all the bits are. Hard to walk away from that. <br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H48SLA4Sp6D0D7u1gbEKIA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx6neoCCwZzFKkmCmmscImZwep94R0T8MypP6yuGf39CUYlb7Xhdvufzc0k3konQi9Axu6deoj9Cy2iPXItFDjc0SzwDW7XuaHCR0z4yNTU25oPJNl4EFfzJw9wTfuFeEZUZMTGnuV4SL/s400/IMG_20101106_164821.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/astrid/LemonsDec2010?feat=embedwebsite">Lemons dec 2010</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />The Shadow is quite a bit lighter than the van, and a 5-speed (the van is automatic), and it has a boost gauge (and hidden hatchback versatility!) so though it's not what you'd call a <i>fast</i> car (though it was the "sporty" version of the model line, that's not saying much), it's a whole hell of a lot faster than the van. <br /><br />We were so excited we took it to an autocross for shakedown. Lined up beside subarus and mitsubishis and lotuses, it got about five times the tech scrutiny of any of the other cars, and I was about 10sec slower across the course than Rob in his Infiniti G37, but goddamn, it was fun to drive! I only lament the lack of photos.<br /><br />A general worklist for the shadow:<br />- suspension. when we got it, pressing gently on the corner would make it rock like a boat on the ocean for about half a minute. Fortunately, stock shock replacements were $16 each from kragen. A whole $16! We did spring for the nice springs, but even those weren't exactly pricy.<br />- replace all fluids<br />- bleed horrible black chunky stuff out of brake lines<br />- cage, seat, kill switch - we sent it out to TC design to take care of all of this. A roll cage is something I'm pretty comfortable paying a professional for, since I want to live to get very old.<br />- new wheels & tires<br />- strip interior (it was nasty, and anyway, race cars don't have interiors)<br />- remove sunroof, replace with metal plate<br />- apply theme<br /><br />Still to do:<br />- plugs & wires<br />- replace turbo oil line. Leaks like a rubber hose with a really big hole in it. That isn't really a metaphor.<br />- replace busted motor mount. For reasons known only to some chrysler engineer in 1985, the back mount was a weird little shock (a bobble strut!) which isn't considered a "wear part", but which no longer provided support or resistance of any kind<br />- replace valve cover seal (also very leaky)<br />- new brake pads (and optionally, rotors) in front. The backs are drums; if they give us any trouble we'll probably just disable them<br />- fix third brakelight<br />- fit the harness, fire extinguisher, transponder & wink mirror (from the minivan)<br /><br />Yesterday, we painted it. We went back and forth on theme, but finally settled on a general and timely favorite theme... 4Loko! <br /><br />The plan:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9o5yaMdeJqkGBA3hgvTepQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s_XKsrc-tR-KUBjNdhahGkqIkCKma7b3H5TmmhvFlnvRQoMsj6ubz-ipLjHjmk1-JaMDaQzDl1_Yf-xMX9A8GwgBqvaUldFz_tp8RzNTLIxZnUjFny62d281yQXPaS2fVq6vQwAeKXlN/s400/IMG_20101123_183547.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/astrid/LemonsDec2010?feat=embedwebsite">Lemons dec 2010</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />The car, in progress:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MWUEYrznecSUAy6RXf6n-g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtttdg2-u0XplAHIwFkNDC7tHGT24VNvHE0CbkZ-2fyc_KNN9kkuVJZjPoUfzkGeY2N0LupDFoA9dd0s0XiJQ400HakDjVXap6IprgDNH9uH_7sx0NRBXGdE4N9ldjZtadgvNmhhwHrSOc/s400/IMG_20101126_160643.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/astrid/LemonsDec2010?feat=embedwebsite">Lemons dec 2010</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />I won't lie, I'm pretty excited. Get some numbers on her, she'll be a real race car.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-55557754608492520582010-05-15T15:57:00.001-07:002010-05-15T16:05:46.705-07:00Photographic evidenceJalopnik has a really nice photo of the mystery machine, pre-bunnied, in their <a href="http://jalopnik.com/5536894/the-top-108-lemons-of-the-goin-for-broken-24-hours-of-lemons/gallery/">108 top cars of Thunderhill</a> post:<br /><br /><a href="http://jalopnik.com/5536894/the-top-108-lemons-of-the-goin-for-broken-24-hours-of-lemons/gallery/"><img src="http://cache-02.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/05/lgfb10-toplemons-1280px.jpg" width="400"></a>astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-40675282484920981332010-05-15T15:38:00.000-07:002010-05-15T16:06:41.210-07:00Racing!The Mystery Machine, in all its lumbering blue and green glory, isn't the race car of the century, but it's fun as hell to drive. What with all the engine work, it was running so much better than last time that it was only a matter of time until we blew it up. And blow it up we did. <br /><br />This is Goin' For Broken 2010, Thunderhill.<br /><br /><b>Friday</b><br /><br />We towed up on Thursday night, and Friday got off to a pretty slow start, which is probably quickest explained with a picture:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMlPCM13BU37Xb5kVobukwLOQTqvGsYZUFahv98oYMF8Yih0-hzD86QpbypOW9KYvE22cBj3LwpSyEBh4MeZtGo82hzN2ssuUGUAjtsUMGknsBOFwfMIDAi56xbVoABqNahMYEE5mWSyi/s1600/4loco"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 98px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMlPCM13BU37Xb5kVobukwLOQTqvGsYZUFahv98oYMF8Yih0-hzD86QpbypOW9KYvE22cBj3LwpSyEBh4MeZtGo82hzN2ssuUGUAjtsUMGknsBOFwfMIDAi56xbVoABqNahMYEE5mWSyi/s320/4loco" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471598657310565154" /></a><br /><br />But the Mystery Machine went through tech and BS inspection, and - apart from a couple of minor fixes, including securing the battery down a bit more firmly - we had no problems at all. The Mystery Machine's gigantic epically powerful 4-banger evokes mostly pity from the BS judges, who sent us away with 3 bonus laps and a cookie.<br /><br /><b>Saturday</b><br /><br />Saturday dawned bright and early, and the Mystery Machine rolled out onto the track - followed promptly by a long string of black flag penalties. There's a new rule that teams with more than 3 black flags on Saturday get sent home, and we... well, we tested it.<br /><br />Flag #1 was JDH putting two wheels off in turn 11, three times in a row. (As it gets hotter, it gets harder and harder to stay focused. The pandamonium guys were having the same problem.)<br /><br />Flag #2 was Josh. It was his first time on the track, except for a few laps on the practice day, and he blew past the track worker while entering the track. This earned us a lengthy parade lap of the pits, behind the adorable judges' microbus, with Josh saran-wrapped to the roof of the van. :-o<br /><br />Josh getting in:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9vTu_BgYPLWu2o1ki2iaUw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DndPKRxUUR_sxPwwPx6U1cx88kMmeByeGGrjTaHy6n0_gHBTqb8gkFzB5bUmi9FSHO3JAD1x0dqyr1LyAql3fzOBEZ4DuFT6NhqCZsLbEvw2579AQLCH2gCNlvMmFn81zeZS4IxJpdSs/s400/DSC_4100.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/LemonsGoinForBroken10?feat=embedwebsite">lemons - goin for broken 10</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />After that we put Rob out, and begged him to drive carefully. He did - it helped that he overheated the van almost right away and lost most of its power - but an encounter with another car in turn 5 got him flagged too. A faster car tried to take an inside pass (it's not a good passing zone, even on the van), thought better of it, and clipped the Mystery Machine's back bumper while trying to disengage, causing both of us to get flagged for contact.<br /><br />Black flag #3 required us to wire a Cone of Shame onto the roof (this is a regular traffic cone, spray-painted) to identify us as miscreants on the edge of expulsion. And after that was done, I went back out. There were about three and a half hours of racing left, and I did the best I could to keep it on the track, driving clean.<br /><br />Two o'clock passes... three o'clock... four... as the sun gets lower I start to relax, and at 4:45, with fifteen minutes of racing left, I'm feeling like a superhero. Three and a half hours in the car, without a problem!<br /><br />And then I passed another car under a yellow flag. SADNESS.<br /><br />Long story short, we weren't ejected, though under the rules we should have been. <br /><br />But then we ate some steaks of delicious peppery "hooray we made it, more or less!" goodness, and after all, that's racing.<br /><br /><b>Sunday</b><br /><br />Sunday wasn't so hot, which was a huge improvement. JDH turned a pile of blinding laps - relatively speaking. His 2:46, while not fast in <i>any other car</i> is pretty good for a minivan - or at least, for our minivan. (There was another minivan on the track, a Gen2 Dodge, very similar to ours, but much more nicely set up - for a start, they'd lowered the back as well as the front, and handled beautifully in the turns. It was also a 5-speed, and seemed able to lay down power a bit more easily - the Mystery Machine is a 3-speed auto, and you can shift it, but kicking down into 2 isn't quite like dropping into 2nd, and they were a solid 15sec faster than us.)<br /><br />After JDH started, I went out next, and had a roaring good time - it was cooler than saturday, we weren't under penalty pressure any more, and the day 2 racetrack is always cleaner, more serious and less crowded than day 1. I'm always struck by the difference between the Lemons-of-the-paddock, which has a carnival atmosphere (what with the feats of strength, hot dogs and beer, and vast number of people in costumes) and the Lemons-of-the-track, which is a lot like real racing.<br /><br />Josh went out after me. He remembered to stop for the track workers this time, but he didn't get in more than a couple of laps before coming in too hot to turn 5, and driving off track, earning our first (and only) black flag of the day. (Timing data later proved that the couple of laps he did drive, were damn fast. Josh, we're looking forward to getting you back out on the track next time!)<br /><br />As a reward for this unfortunate event, we got the best punishment ever - a pair of humping bunnies welded to our roof!! <br /><br />(I dearly wish I had a photo.)<br /><br />So JDH went back out in the newly-bunnied van, and turned laps ever more scorching, until at last he managed to get the Mystery Machine up to its best speed ever through the whole back section - a steady 80mph through all of 6, 7, 8, coming in to 9. And then, in true K-car style, the engine blew.<br /><br />With only an hour left in the race, the Mystery Machine came back in with the saddest goddamn knock you've ever heard. We're pretty sure we threw a rod.<br /><br />RIP, engine #3. <br /><br />Maybe next time we'll race a Shadow.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dl4ND0Z8dqvuqGyUvXw5ow?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPfDNbB6faxrRXKx2yBwCXeAbHoiSsLDO8WPmbTHwanhV-OoN__W6oloE8o2nJ55mnuIILBYgEozGDSbom4ZXmVT5m6IaW_Wr_SZZDt9aFFM2kFP_VVsnnxqCeNyuKVMDxMBJqXknpgBN/s400/DSC_4109.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/LemonsGoinForBroken10?feat=embedwebsite">lemons - goin for broken 10</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />My favorite part of a Lemons race is the end. After the checkered flag goes out, all the cars file in off the track, driving slow through the pits, and everyone who isn't hastily packing up all their stuff comes out to watch and clap for the cars as they come past. It's an amazing community feeling - the cars might be junk and the racing erratic, but everyone present put in a huge amount of time and energy to make it happen, and - winning or just driving (or nursing a crushed front end or a broken engine) - the end of the race is an achievement.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-30149925752827365622010-05-05T17:45:00.000-07:002010-05-05T17:59:14.549-07:00how low is too low?The race is this weekend. We leave tomorrow, to spend an exciting night in the RV line in front of the gates at Thunderhill, along with our Pandamonium comrades. (We're going to have to draw straws on who has to wear the panda suit.)<br /><br />Since we got everything running well in advance of the race, we took advantage of having a whole leisurely weekend of van time to do a few extra things (which will almost certainly make it worse): added a "boost gauge" (a vacuum gauge plumbed through the firewall and jb-welded to a bracket on the roll cage), fixed the engine mount bolt that we stripped the previous weekend, etc. We also cut a couple of coils off the front springs.<br /><br />Here's Rob, in state-of-the-art protective gear (it doubles as a welding helmet! so long as you keep your eyes closed.):<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3_yLYu9j-DhRfSFj8EdXEQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBsCVAvOqFVlPwhmmKa_Yxro2iEgxdwRzaKzb36Xyx-NiIEjomwd450jbNcbo88aPQsmG5Tz3xi614132OZIxQz4A-UeWD0YW0ExTzNQgLwS68iMbXzEfklrGFgh954tcDAwucDTF7-Sb/s400/2010-05-01%2016.38.48.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Now it's shorter:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j-DLzsEaMomQ5J2L81RwQw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lAneXEoj0ENDHvO6ZMiEG7JgbbNsoO4ZBUhCEeJOpwRGOonSrOv0vNClq3vnoFazQLlvHCetr6ECK3cnF3ufGG4TuOfCQWMEi3kcwVshPrS77yNv_RIoz2SyU4dhaXzrKYAI3z8WpCKm/s400/2010-05-01%2016.39.00.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Now the front is *really* low:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xSzIbMAJdpsp5x9j0t1n-g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76nzoUGrjIT9CX6iUFDwl-HPfte38oZBE8BP2_QMZkuKBtAucxgX8GvxycknV6D0znZnDDKkCC3TDQaFjTBjNs3Hv59d9f71YSfAXJOHhbTNEkhknQgLdqZhnitl7TV4N3UarjFOFnsDE/s400/2010-05-01%2017.40.44.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />So low that when we lowered it off the jack stands, the oil pan bottomed out on the jack. Think that's too low? Never! We'll just have to be careful around speed bumps.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-69504289738993469582010-04-30T10:13:00.000-07:002010-04-30T10:59:14.681-07:00timing is criticalArse-Freeze-a-Palooza back in November was pretty great, but the Mystery Machine wasn't exactly running at top form - timed all to hell, it couldn't be made to top about 4500-4800rpm. We tried a few different things - cpu troubleshooting, vacuum (we kind of eyeballed the vacuum lines when we put the new engine in, and Laz swore up and down he plugged everything in to the right place), distributor timing. None of it made much difference, and we limped our way through the race. <br /><br />So then we parked the van for the winter and conveniently ignored it for a while. But now that Goin for Broken is right around the corner, we thought it would be nice to regain the use of our many missing horses (and our turbo, which wasn't really working either). <br /><br />After some more fruitless poking around, we eventually discovered (via some googling and much experimentation) that our problem was, as we initially suspected, related to timing. We'd already marked the flywheel and reset the ignition timing to spec, but doing so had given the van a disturbing smoker's cough. <br /><br />Once we lined up the cam pulley at TDC, and were putting things back together, we consulted the manual, eyeballed everything, and...<br /><br />JDH: And the lines on the crank pulley line up with the arrows on the block, right?<br />Rob: ...those are supposed to line up?<br /><br />HA!<br /><br />Since we had it mostly apart anyway, we also replaced the timing belt.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BuLUfQWFhUfUEFQxaJ4IJw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq9VAk6OFbM0hpD56ldN6r7foCpfPSOIcTCBQR5kMkztwPaPMoqYWP6mVaaYvBINVAlgsOwCfRc9jvGBLx6RaHbqNb86cbWi7n48eglndJnE2P6fA31TpxEHdQPaRSdjAnwnEVH8BAKBn/s400/mm-timing-belt.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />When we put it all back together - magic! It totally works! <br /><br />As soon as it was running well again, we noticed a lot of hissing, and found an uncapped vacuum line (which used to go to the A/C) which we'd never noticed, due to not having actually generated any boost. The super-high-tech vacuum gauge threaded through the firewall confirmed, while hooning up and down an unsuspecting quiet residential street, that we're getting up to 7psi now.<br /><br />Now, if you ever need to re-time a gen-2 dodge turbo, you should check out the instructions on turbominivan.net, here: <a href="http://www.turbovan.net/timing.htm">"Cam timing on 2.2/2.5 Chryslers"</a>. But in general this was easier than I expected - once the belt was off and we'd given up on the pre-existing timing entirely, we lined up the holes in the camshaft pulley with markers on the block, lined up the markers on the crankshaft pulley, and then, once the belt was back on, re-timed the ignition timing to spec. (The crankshaft pulley ended up being 2-3 notches off from the camshaft, depending on how you count.)<br /><br />There, we fixed it!<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hNmJD36pq9O_F-O8ChhwtQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9FfEJrG5054tx6aakEn0y_KHUy_jdGEf_nMlf8LIFvWcyG6Crr_YR79uDNYW9oWnbFQKN7M-E6aWlWMASVDjCXKGDP9CtQ7kinGHozU5heOiaBuChaX9QeVAL7qeLPYvI8wAZaNhq_CG/s400/2010-04-25%2018.24.47.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />(I am not in the picture. I am holding the camera, poorly.)astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-56480558795563452412009-11-23T21:26:00.000-08:002009-11-23T22:39:26.837-08:00Slow but predictableLast things first, the win this weekend went to... <a href="http://pandamoniumracing.blogspot.com">Pandamonium</a>! Our Siamese twin sister team finished Saturday in first and held on to the lead - despite enthustiastic competition from several teams, including the Eyesore Racing Batmobile Miata - finishing in first place. <br /><br />But more importantly, the Mystery Machine FINISHED THE RACE! In 62nd place, out of a field of 150 or so.<br /><br />When we took her out on the track on Friday, fresh from the engine swap, we discovered right away that all was not quite right - she's okay at idle, and okay up to about 4200rpm, but after that--nothing. Couldn't top 55. <br /><br />After some contemplation, we hand-adjusted the timing. Having forgotten to line up the timing mark when we replaced the flywheel, we were reduced to: rotate the distributor cap a little bit, rev the engine, see how it sounds. (Scientific!) But it kinda worked: we still couldn't really top 4200rpm, but at least there was power lower down, and when the race started on Saturday morning we were slow, but functional. <br /><br />Here she is, on Friday night, getting all ready to race:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Hy4U-z7hyayvRsd6kQtFKw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnGOzoYcQqb5yInFAgCFq3rDR99PUZLiL3Gfv06_wm68gkAJg4AGWCSL1dZ00H3b9_jfh1YDTXGlAnwrfVtBTMUOjUYePzPOsEwLh_ZwgnKHoEAqTXHfQHRoYsK-sM9kp1bWPG4HWG8GJ/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20042.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Despite the lack of top end power, the Mystery Machine hummed around the track, doing her best impression of a rolling chicane. And our fourth driver this time around was a ringer: Rob, also driving for Pandamonium, who promptly put all our complaints about lack of power to shame by turning in lap times only 24sec slower than in Ling Ling - 2:47 in the Mystery Machine, to 2:23 in Ling Ling. <br /><br />Here she is, out on the track:<br /><img src="http://adam.lazur.org/gallery/d/4483-2/5N1B0941.JPG"><br />(from <a href="http://adam.lazur.org/gallery/v/lemons/arse-freezing-2009/mystery-machine/">Laz's gallery</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://adam.lazur.org/gallery/v/lemons/arse-freezing-2009/mystery-machine/5N1B1609.JPG.html"><img src="http://adam.lazur.org/gallery/d/4519-2/5N1B1609.JPG"></a><br /><br />Driving the Mystery Machine gives a great view of the race, especially at less-than-full power - you can't go very fast, particularly on the straights, so you have a lot of time to check out the other cars. It's largely an exercise in being passed gracefully. <br /><br />We turned in a fair amount of damage on the first day - a hard hit each to the driver and passenger side doors, and some assorted whacks on other body panels. Here's the Mystery Machine experiencing a slightly less-than-graceful pass, which knocked out the right front headlight:<br /><br /><a href="http://adam.lazur.org/gallery/v/lemons/arse-freezing-2009/mystery-machine/5N1B4621.JPG.html"><img src="http://adam.lazur.org/gallery/d/4607-2/5N1B4621.JPG"></a><br /><br />At the end of the day's racing there were a few retirees, like the Killer Bee MG, which landed on its roof:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JlVURBiXK_PgM9X-jo68cA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSvUzG9e09tYUimVW5kX2RDyk1ehynt_6qECwDlzC7160EL0eVWV_fucDdUCxza2E-Dr5KFlfobpCsSQhRJQsd51cihf4WNwz-AyObZvZszj3lF6oMpQ5jLOOfuUfEuQawk8iJV7OWcUW/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20107.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Pandamonium drivers changing brakes for the morning:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FuCWJuKD3iCLnyGSa7t_0g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf2P5UaclGd6PBQ9cO_5y6hCybh0CSfw1N-TLHmAt9ne7-lYTCvva7Y0cKAQcs7MFv-m9SAhXj3HwjjMMLwc27vKtIxjfXcQNOpg6YeNcO3-XonXdajb2hseU7TgE_H-LX1rCqDLvZogY/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20091.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />On Sunday we settled into the super serious business of not melting an engine in the last hour of the race, which was a huge downer at Reno Fernley - just staying predictable, out of the way, and out on the track. Fortunately our engine's persistent refusal to top 75mph kept us from getting anywhere near overheating.<br /><br />Two more cars flipped on Sunday: the v8olvo (formerly the Black Metal Volvo) flipped right before I arrived on the scene in the van in turn 10, and this BMW apparently lost a wheel: <br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ni5TabY0CqFU3QCz7eoCGw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuWXuNBZv0D_6xEJ8gB5RSnNIcug0ULWu_sBaurzmmxcuPinnOZ5YrMrLnZ-DEJSz0yiYETij8fWgEzmwvF5cJFfp46MEXY6QsLW4Ffkw_7mwaUxmHEB2gr5OEgxtXExGC5PP8JSpL0gO/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20114.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Meanwhile, things were heating up for Pandamonium, who was still in the lead.<br /><br />("We're gonna need a yellow to fuel," Laz suggested. "Maybe we could get Jinnah to roll the van." I nixed this plan on the grounds of being really, really fond of that van.)<br /><br />Ling Ling on the track:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rCPloejHSwPu02PAOMoPpA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER7IVbr8r4WxgzB-lxYoaX7aTNKNB_RienCve2xZ-OvSf-BQgyAStxe-Zzo_bHUDd2KEa1-KqcPNBbYCoAKb_u1OATFP3-DOR81MxbSyIA_jtijfHLwu_VjpjqrT1Clhq4dNTGnLpCJPM/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20125.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MJBQtvsMsolVj2RRDyur3Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB9kRmmrqsLUv0LQX1vjEuLeOlBjzm8l5vZA8sgu1Kc0TB0fzKZQXMU5c6CYfihGJ8vDxS3azYWCV2gwHDqBykO-RaA3YE2ESQ1f05wYeal4f6NuSG0_pUmBgvLpCr79v_mbKSfcQBLu-/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20128.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Pandamonium in the pits:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XHiO40K7E4gi-dY2Pt6VSQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniBMs5Gumz_NTZsT9EFtYNAss_W3ECmYGAkRhgHZAPqgh42WDX6At5l3JFYCsUJUv6U_GTfpm5hSvAoCiuCRF6FlhiljMfrynELH3fEJL9q_Hxegfz-1Y7twNWtsxsQ1A2Ijvgj-sFYVR/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20111.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />The rest of the field:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g-NeT6y-mxkmH4lHXPKDTQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO2x1ymBz5-xaARx3y-DFsHOiV-_ChtFl62uztga30wZu3AZ8NSl0F-fZUm5UXMAChO383WmdCDAXU53u8vU_KiHpg6RAMgysU5LjwpuoCOQKateaq51wdiIfLmJMTO6uQiFLaEZO6xM7/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20134.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/06SS3tJbfz3nhuAK9wCuJQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfOEMBw8CBBcWmuqhFxFlTYZYiBGOck4CHTxVSibB9cVRHRdbqqxOMwP4DSnz0854W1lwBIUp955ztlliyCflut9ERmYR94IOL2XGuMwFTdyIi1I1mXKQA1Yc5MyRecUPZ80xrzSftZ16/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20165.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />JDH driving:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oPb003SM6rNSToCQYUBxRQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyF5HpHNquRQF6nRqzhj6vtJq3tE2TuvJsVSFy2IuXuqtm0Nzq-e22rypBRYDna4WSn_v3O2D1986RfIogCIuNBAwHgI38ANZM4TNyDH9TEzxpPY1XSRfEsfNSWxAC9O-vSs9qqshlKq6/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20147.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />We started Sunday in 73rd place, stayed around there for most of the day, and started to steadily climb at the end of the day, as other cars dropped out, but we kept going. Last I saw, we were in 62nd place.<br /><br />They threw the checkered flag at 4:30, and I was fortunate to drive the Mystery Machine across the finish line -- bringing her back triumphantly accompanied by people shouting things like "Mystery Machine, you're slow as shit, but we love you anyway!"<br /><br />Aww, we love you too.<br /><br />Here we all are, while going through Tech inspection:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/N5oDT6r-GRrptJ7v_BrtnQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAovjWVrGPtiF2Q_7sP8rJjFOwlsrnLQgUfyXyZH-zyrfEhCA6f0gqBCdxcQTN4pU0AypspHcXejtR4AtvgNpEAo9nCXRUi1ToPEBXsXhevtHYsvIIuY6hLvKdvD1SOpxPHjA5nHaZV-qD/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20025.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br />Left to right, drivers: Rob, Astrid, Jinnah, and Jen.<br /><br />And here's Scooby, hanging out in Ling Ling during the award ceremony:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/APW_UydZTAl9d3qKdSZFTQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg567NU3g1ANAONsyHCpjCdK0FD9ACCuZxNe5eT9-ZDuE98VjWunpDeHZuZ1WbMpDeCaKPSQFwPA-6TqWO49xOtzAVipryDNL2b3j-YTmpySGfWXlC8xM43gcZGClRwHUtgeALtJi17v8dJ/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20190.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Lastly, huge thanks to Laz and Rob from <a href="http://pandamoniumracing.blogspot.com">Pandamonium</a>, who put in the past four weekends, along with JDH, on the Mystery Machine's engine swap. We couldn't have done it without you.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-31098472817368001092009-11-20T22:39:00.000-08:002009-11-23T22:34:04.866-08:00arse-freeze-a-paloozaDay 1 at Thunderhill (north of sacramento, outside the lovely town of Willows) dawned with a text message from Laz asking for a helicoil, to rethread a stripped oil pan bolt on Ling Ling. It also dawned rainy.<br /><br />But laz sorted out the oil pan bolt issue, and we straightened out the truly awful positive camber in the mystery machine's front wheels (via some crack last-minute internet purchasing of camber bolts) and we figured out how to assemble the sidewalls of the EZ-Up, and eventually the clouds even cleared up. Ling Ling and the Mystery Machine both passed tech with no more than minor issues. Pandamonium team passed inspection with less trouble than last time, probably because Laz wasn't wearing a t-shirt which reminded everyone that he's an E30 racer. <br /><br />I think everyone would agree, though, that the real highlight of tech inspection was Jinnah's awesome Fred hair.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_V-kWWTPH9UWtvLSoZjW9A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQ8EvRZoJcwJw_Yy1lqTB-yYviPc8Kz_RN6gyZWW2RuITdOoSF9sLk7zT6Cfzr5OfAbOC0AA9cSptIucb9yzqMgkN5NAtGtfF-LSfZQ6fdr1sbX6ItnK-TfD4uDifilZVrAJ8ZT6lpwpn/s400/thill%20lemons%2009%20003.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/THillLemons09?feat=embedwebsite">THill Lemons 09</a></td></tr></table>astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-27147177633315221612009-11-15T15:01:00.000-08:002009-11-16T22:03:26.552-08:00The Mystery Machine LIVESAt the end of the last race, the Mystery Machine came off the track at Reno Fernley in a huge cloud of white smoke. We guessed it was the rear main seal that blew, but honestly, there was oil everywhere so it was really hard to tell. And it sounded terrible. <br /><br />How terrible, you ask? THIS terrible:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4cm3hduBTk0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4cm3hduBTk0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />So in August we picked up a potential replacement from the Milpitas Pull Your Part (since closed, alas), and then we... kind of sat around for a while. We didn't really have anywhere to work.<br /><br />By october it occurred to us that we should really put the engine in if we were planning to race. In this process we have learned valuable lessons:<br /><br />1. If you're going to pull a junkyard engine, it's a really good idea to do a few simple tests first - a compression check (even a basic one, hand crank it and stick a finger over the spark plug hole and see if it pushes). You should also probably pull off the valve cover and make sure the head is full of nice shiny oil, and not foamy oil-and-coolant milkshake, and rust. Otherwise you get to go back to Pick N Pull and do the whole thing over again, which is exactly what we did.<br /><br />Empty engine bay:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IOZyIF4bzh7FSCKnwh4x8A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizt9z_d2zxEYfCcdU-_lAAdITCE1_jAjElAYa6iI-0-ayJcBTkHvf5s5lZ6GHJNkA-YdHj_N1vyJQHmShAoKlDfnAYHR2wLAllubgnML_R6fbQzqEGqPqcG7Zg9gIwSHhg6p3oYcwzasr7/s400/mm%20new%20engine%20011.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Work in progress:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6Ox-ktWXx7eTfwxNRMhipw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf33w-CDhaSkdXQ6BZwxTGrCZkRkhCaEIOOCasBh5S3VvZLV6AeObC43HhSboIksGP7kbkB1cbP14gYz3mKHikulM9yJiFc53zPQQgw8LBe-KU0KpYrG7oDMMgBo0eYyBj-6Im51CxZW0t/s400/mm%20new%20engine%20009.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />2. While a 2-ton folding shop crane sounds excessive - even if it was really cheap from Harbor Freight - it is not. It is AWESOME, especially if you need to winch multiple junkyard engines in and out of trucks and vans.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2lwviTv--P0M7u9BT0T92w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZOmS3pLMdMHjH79DPIViY7euWuSKXIp2JkviWthSB8OWvI-LFGdnN9nfNUoj_FrhyTjqe_GFMwpubzeHS1Kqnrxy-QCdowVX5Dr1d4hAhZzH7gTIkbOlO613e4wUuhGlwwft9N3-7nv8/s400/P1000301.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sFUoamNHxjZrnVWGmgiUQQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UCpbMA-C9TTwCMj6nb64yQuXjjJBnL0bdfbV7X2zt1OKZP4h-HiWnpI8B2dMGZLQ7DYujUjCSZUUrhZueN-9WHZYDH9qZPUxAXQPMU_WBJoCn5lAt-IT9-VLBDKCl-MUKU5gvB-CPh1e/s400/IMG00005-20091108-1642.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />3. There's no better time to rebuild an engine than when it's out of the vehicle, on a stand or on a crane. We thought about that. But it really seemed like a lot of work. So we just installed it. <br /><br />The new engine came with a shattered flywheel, which was an encouraging piece of evidence in trying to determine why the donor van (a 1990 dodge caravan) was junked in the first place. On the flywheel there were pick-n-pull part numbers, and hand-written lettering that said "89 Le Baron". <br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D_cqQ6-4YdPTWPcIjIh10Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSe99VYppZAhPMmg8SAtHUzJmqqRqIARWNqLu_cpSyX_exwE95YVmrcOIvUAAnfDSxJtFsij3OXADCrCeu_sFZyrR2L5LxNo2tZOO87M4u5APpLYmTOcvrlJFNesWXLhm9RGEFZEOlPq-/s400/mm%20new%20engine%20013.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Despite having done a solid preflight check on our second replacement, after a day of pulling and a day of installation, we still didn't know if it would run. But we finally drew some good automotive fortune, because the new engine purrs like a kitten. (Persistence helps. If you don't have time to do it right, you can always do it over.)<br /><br />Meanwhile, JDH also fulfilled his dream of converting our 14" rims to a 15" setup. This is way harder than it needs to be, due to the really-similar-but-not-the-same universality of K-car parts. The basic unit to replace is the steering knuckle, the whole bracket with hub plate, lower suspension mount, and caliper bracket. We already had calipers, rotors and pads from having tried this before, but this time, after pulling four different sets of steering knuckles and three attempts at replacement calipers, we were successful -- mostly. The front wheels have some disquieting positive camber.<br /><br />The back was just new drums with the different lug pattern, and that was all. Our new 15" pick n pull steel rims are super pimp.<br /><br />Between the pick n pull engine, the frequently-wrecked chassis, and the full selection of drivetrain parts (we also swapped halfshafts, which was easier than replacing our ripped cv boot), the entire vehicle is pretty much a junkyard special. <br /><br />Now, I'm looking forward to spending some quality time at pick-n-pull this week, sorting receipts to reclaim a truckload of core charges.<br /><br />Leftovers:<br />- 2 busted engines<br />- 1 transmission (actually, we're keeping that, along with one of the spare turbos)<br />- 2 halfshafts, 4 steering knuckles, 2 calipers, and 2 rear drums<br />- 1 battery<br />- 6 steel wheels<br /><br />Now here's a picture from the last race:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P5uBnLNpmpBP-clPoqK2VA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiXaCEWJBF6aXaFt_TkmIObU6NqAMG1E9NuYt1I0GPWweFIGrZB5GweZ_0Ta9rVdVBselRmE8RyMyGKbgI76-ZEDCCBvwAm0s6_KuPLbdL2MGeg-zphAkaU6-NIcONI773PwiNGpOD2LC/s400/lemons%20reno%20094.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/RenoFernleyLemons?feat=embedwebsite">reno fernley lemons</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Thunderhill is going to be AWESOME.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-572576201855966032009-08-24T20:24:00.000-07:002009-08-24T20:47:38.213-07:00anyone looking to rent industrial space for less than 75c/sq ft?As some of you may remember, when we last left the Mystery Machine, she was making a horrible hammering noise and blowing out magic black smoke, having retired from Reno Fernley with less than an hour left in the race. So we towed her home, in all of her family-appeal majesty, parked her in one of the back lots at work, and took a couple of months off.<br /><br />The engine does still run, but with the noise it's making, its lifespan is probably measured in minutes of runtime rather than days, especially since I'm pretty sure there's no oil left inside it. (Lots of it on the outside, though.)<br /><br />With August rapidly coming to a close we went on the hunt for possible replacement engines. The 4-cyl 2.5L turbo is moderately rare, having appeared in only a small subset of the k-car line, so we were thinking we might have to settle for something naturally aspirated, or maybe the more common straight-6, and graft on one or two of JH's spare turbos after the fact.<br /><br />But I guess maybe Cash for Clunkers put a run on turbo minivans, because a local junkyard scouting run turned up not one but <i>five</i> possible candidate replacements. Sure they're from pick n pull, but surely between five of them we'll get enough good bits for one or two working engines, right?<br /><br />We turned up bright and early Sunday afternoon and pulled the best-looking one. (Best-looking by virtue of still having the oil cap on. Though it <i>also</i> has 200k+ miles on.)<br /><br />Here it is, getting winched out and carried away, following a couple of hours of high-precision cutting and prying loose:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/riDODzCoXS_lLi508NHQiw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqRAc_b51PzfsE0TTvbcZYR_IYGwOeWlSqGXISkb6QNDoA151UTyHLYQIEoMgxqfHsiALbyDEsA67wuw27nPpSkk8oagZBgV8Wvhv6rgb6QDw9JoSs1wJv_puv3m4sP1GS7VliV4g33mI/s400/mm_engine_extraction-36.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/v7ddC18smZDFZGwwYixYCQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPZwb9YnnQm2243pGgpZKZ3NPA1IrxdC4Z-2SHavKIiZ0y4GN8A_kXdNwprtX4V7VYVhQoUw4QnlMzAfuPO9bgUUlIO2M_gMySpVVfkr6DWaVvn7UAFmMN5svq9pHFbJ7XUk5T7DYGjFl/s400/mm_engine_extraction-40.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Since according to JH (a devoted viewer of <i>How it's Made</i>), these minivans are assembled with the body being dropped onto the whole pre-assembled front end, engine to running gear, we pulled the entire extremely long block as a unit -- engine, transmission, turbo, etc. It even still has the power steering pump attached. I also picked up the matching computer, just in case. We basically used every part of the animal, on the theory that everything comes in handy eventually.<br /><br />The extremely empty carcass of the donor van:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zZdKscY7E3Hbi4-uDBvCaw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUi54lLB869f7OXsiOlomBBbgHmPtQwPzy70dW-EYbwCQEmbX6YHXBow4NnAkIcyEW_LjX0u5i-wkuOFtiW1QQQWccnPTwdqfBqYfCOTmTBDlhKAv01IZSwDgAhjI5P5XFl5adDLBQYU8/s400/mm_engine_extraction-41.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachineRebuild?feat=embedwebsite">Mystery machine rebuild</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Now if only we had a garage.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-88821933804955579892009-05-30T12:48:00.000-07:002009-05-30T13:10:18.829-07:00good morning america?Bizarrely, Good Morning America was filming at Reno-Fernley. They have an article posted here:<br /><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/Story?id=7711114&page=1">24 hours of lemons: The best of the worst</a><br /><br />There's a video link from there, too.<br /><br />Despite the mystery machine theme on the crush-ee in ABC's People's Curse footage, it's not actually us. :-) That's older footage from a previous event.<br /><br />Here's the real People's Curse from Reno - Jay Lamm's VW bus.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkDL1BNhg98&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkDL1BNhg98&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I also gave what I suspect was an unusable interview for channel 8 news in Reno. (Made so by the prevalence of cursewords - oops.)astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-9613094629966567642009-05-26T22:37:00.000-07:002009-05-28T01:12:10.357-07:00the longer storySo now we do the longer race post. <br /><br /><b>Friday</b><br /><br />We towed up to Fernley on Thursday night, with the racing seat zip-tied into the van and a few remaining to-do items: cv boot, harness, roll cage padding, fix that broken wheel stud...<br /><br />We went up in convoy, with Laz's ambulance towing Ling Ling, the mystery machine behind Jinnah's RV, and our ambulance bringing up the rear. We left pretty late, and rolled in outside the closed gates at Reno-Fernley at 4:30 in the morning.<br /><br />CHP takes an interest in our convoy (and our 70mph towing speed):<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VEK_qofgasTEyKpJY76cCg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGT2Hq3IS6OVGNhsxBkKLSkst6tZVUE0ZGlqfWmTthbMcxiHlYBI_1cnzNoPzWj20sFA1vb0ouHZuttEyUTx4AINlvFys0F4VdXTUTICTmx1yu1bwtG0fqprp0Iq-L19Ekxcev6UQWQUkQ/s400/DSC_2417.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Stopping for gas in Nevada:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sA7jtJT17MCjiCSiNwrOtg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xVxB2sjuUGmiW175_lVKeIPfE1oTSksB6Zk_SUwxwvRreosnNyxoYpX9hRaNzxHBAORJNezG9wuVuB9Z1zY6cGvau3AXxKrMyxWtHPCVwIgGj3t0fqDntUeXNXaJIHXXThu3iyqgcOlZ/s400/DSC_2435.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><b>Friday</b><br /><br />Friday dawned bright and painfully early. Gates opened at 6:30am and by 7:30, we were prepping the van. After a bunch of frantic work we got it out on the track and discovered that it did, in fact, run.<br /><br />Sadly, between getting thing finished and prepping for Tech inspection, we got about six total warmup laps on the track - one each for Jen and Jinnah, and maybe four for me. This increased Jinnah's total track experience prior to starting the race on Saturday morning to a total of one lap.<br /><br />Ling Ling with her Teddy Bear ronal wheels:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cOkVIHl6IIOidH0zd1d3fw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVGkkuC4E_Mv0IYubwwKToP9qi2pYbFpL2Toy5qyIGlCGr8O0bZT0iiokKDi87VwFMMuoyizYUXL7KagT0bBOx5I5sAc94P6f4BYFHBQIv6s0u3pE5aS2YeXKkq4wOOdSaER6anK3KlZF/s400/DSC_2453.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xKU6l0i1fZrI3sgwBRyk6w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAMwnDSJy9hXgufQP-kvEcvEipHOOIiIFwypyX2MDqGTVcjBYZ3B0i0K41q5kjg4eqLnSOhl0EVctYWqsK73oVq7GtYT4GIv1YqQRyfnfkZuqRzQGHChUd_21mUGD-YwiVY8c_BFUhTM6/s400/DSC_2460.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Biting Monkey car:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7oHBflu3spE19-Rc6V8Tag?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_hGvq9Q25ScmBzTXTPixqwAfkOrkmeGET_7t5mhkS5tDqMTD5v3lRPG3kRLX_8-dOAV3TDvmfJujWgNj_a18NknbSluuVsRQzLq7dqViKVSymCi15KkaVS6lgNIZnIQKjThrcqqb8C0c/s400/DSC_2470.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mOy02NGht7BY-3U8euYLWw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXzDIknIgrJE-8PKyi5jXkfsn3Qm0TrETkB2ocNaRrvMdWcb_2SXma3BQeJBFzEZfGuF1DBWqunD0IQpt7y3-rxeSB-GmskfP3nDRPcpofBm1u1sNvOPP01wVA1qPPpvmzRuR7VQPLzzl/s400/DSC_2474.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Jen in Velma costume:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-Ytdexz7jUX-qlG2dDGQmg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo4hm9St1W6BKP5lOqdUBg1Fa2NE2KtoCBFAagKnWqPOloCM79nv1na8JMiiPyIZLpmK292ftEoAFOdNyPz6e3HpltN3nkBy1WQlB8dFo-wLeci-X0XBCs5Qmt-HdG7GMCKqx4uyT0cM3/s400/DSC_2488.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7QzRGB2I-87z1nQhsHYDpQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUP4Bqd6TEhU3ntYBSALXkZPf41MtG18WsSvpJVzxybzgntBS0GF0aBbc796AgMqC3NIcno6TAipOlECJfp6PcOxoxFdCYhe_61nVX3Mw0wmf45tuUhS_6JQ340JTycivOPJqe6Vnx1Se/s400/DSC_2493.JPG" /></a><br /><br />When Tech inspection rolled around, the inspectors were (in retrospect, justifiably) aggrieved at our broken driver's front wheel stud. It was broken because it was hard to change (it's a pound-out stud, but you have to get the hub off to pound it out, which requires removing the steering knuckle and using a special MOPAR tool to push the hub off the knuckle). The far easier fix is to replace the whole knuckle, so JDH and Laz went to pick n pull, and that's exactly what, amid a raging dust storm, we did.<br /><br />(Jinnah got his little girl to help out with the ratchet wrench on the caliper bracket bolts, which is approximately the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life.)<br /><br />Our four and a half year old Scooby:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AfWWaT3RwBazdDM7ZZRUhQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28z0MJp7CDEhY-C86WKiZ7RJKao8UQSvmxQOCEdL-bYVGOD70m4C6f2Lq1y86xf4Bv0NabjJr9M0-c7bXqZUY_WQJqUhAiAZmQGuOyRilgTzPbaogfkAJMquubnPpoNTogoBcrDAP0HQJ/s400/DSC_2501.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Scrappy loves to drive!<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HZx4OKaQbhj5bmgGHtGIvQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwfdth9A0J4H6qC3_t6h8iJ5LPNDSbbzNXZ-5lp4c6Ns4pPbncgc0HUtTvPVjNfe4wG6y5fTVYAM035nuwdsr8_3wOAdgKpxA0TT4csU-bhayfj3ltBvq3X6BhERE0dnaf9ayu2O9FWTi6/s400/lemons%20reno%20005.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><b>Saturday</b><br /><br />Saturday morning, we re-Teched, and went through bullshit inspection (in which our receipts are checked to make sure we've stayed within the $500 budget) with very little trouble, since the van is quite demonstrably an <i>actual</i> piece of shit. (It's listed in the carfax report as having been crushed <i>twice</i>, and honestly, we'd never driven for more than burnouts in the parking lot before we took it to Lemons, for fear the engine would explode the moment we tried to drive it.)<br /><br />During inspection, all cars manufactured by formerly Chrysler-owned companies were given obligatory Fiat decals, to celebrate Chrysler's recent purchase. As the most prestigious member of the former Chrysler field, we were granted an enormous Italian flag, mounted on a plumbing pipe scaffolding, to fly from the roof of the Mystery Machine. (Another team had previously refused it, but we thought it was kind of jaunty. Their loss.)<br /><br />Lining up to start the race:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rd3gBVSAOX0C-jjxCudRMg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9jJcaB3K5csm3L5QzQguLSQ44RI7NvFdAsv7tHrMNsGMG_cjPiNU8NYfWJa3I1cOoZGX_dWs8nhyphenhyphenLC6BNalFGvZe54SfEjakVnWJWEYzrUcx1l1VE-wes2sh6E0BroTvTiD3EdfYEz4r/s400/lemons%20reno%20023.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Extra mirrors to improve the visibility problems:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/F0eFwyeDfvCb8MxZ1-K2fQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5-Ek_fswdCh9PHvw3jRMJZvBuYCU-da1RstB7fuoj0VtwpJEvtWyFLifIxCvyCHETBOelETbRiM4pMqQQT6buQma0JZEZyoXxvvui6J4HA1l4QjtdGIa2cDdrYQsaQ6T9BxGJgDBufIg/s400/lemons%20reno%20009.jpg" /></a><br /><br />(We'd replaced the windows with aluminium plates, mostly so we could paint over them, which reduced the normal visibility to laughable. We also added a truck mirror on the driver's side, which helped a lot.)<br /><br />Jinnah getting ready to drive the first stint:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/80F_Xmgf0N81RI5NJd4mRg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwpnlli2y0mh4OjCrWgZTYitFsuKIMgGWWlhmsy0rpxuUKa7N-E9suPM0cSeIi9tj_PUS_y_0AoRgxgsPc8AG_0joCPyTjPcXn7v68OgxqKGd4EtZZM5PmnXBLtNPGBK3ZQ-KvnS3aTNu/s400/lemons%20reno%20013.jpg" /></a><br /><br />He promptly laid down our fastest lap of the day. Because the organizers loved our van, they decided to start timing the race when we crossed the checkered flag after the warmup laps, so for about two seconds, until the rest of the track started to whip past, Jinnah and the Mystery Machine were in first place.<br /><br />I went out second, and eventually brought her back in early with a flat rear tire. I could feel it starting to vibrate suspiciously right before we had to stop for a red flag. Since I was sitting on the back side of the hill my radio wasn't working. I tried to contact the camp:<br /><br />Me: (yelling to trigger the radio's vox mode) CAN YOU HEAR ME?<br />Radio: (silence)<br />Driver in the car behind me: YES! YES I CAN!<br />Me: HEY THERE!<br />Driver behind me: HI! DO YOU KNOW YOUR TIRE IS FLAT?<br />Me: HEY, THANKS!<br /><br />When we took it off it wasn't visibly punctured - we later decided that we might have popped a bead from cornering pressure and let the magic air escape. <br /><br />Later that evening, pretty much everyone we talked to was like, "Wow, every time I saw it go around a corner, that van was up on three wheels." I mostly credit Jinnah and Jen with this. Still, despite our fully expecting the van to end up on its roof, it never did.<br /><br />The Mystery Machine itself was a huge hit. We got a lot of visitors, most of them thanking us for being predictable and easy to pass (my grandmother would be so proud.) <br /><br />The Unsafe At Any Speed team:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wHLpFkw6p5_zseNDuMNZEQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXm6UsfViU04OY6ADlq2KnVXuvv2oYHyNiY6LRBOzwccM6bope7H6J8AuKDETAj2hWXMbxIhAW2OhySLMMqjZs7XIXgbo87-lc_U_z5m1-xjmQPiGFh8tmUlJde76IATwQ3mB_flJZP_T/s400/lemons%20reno%20051.jpg" /></a><br /><br />They blew their engine shortly after starting the race, and despite desperate attempts to find another, could not replace it in time. Sadness.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iL32QEkSBY8KgJcxwUpOqw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20ycxSX5s_h0rfkp2QKEbxOr-awIZkiBMaBGTdmW6V9pIGsHbQoQDaAql8ltU-gDbosUgWpKVOnGpfVOXnLDwhUgKXgHzA71-Iij_zWpx5IBGaKDR_Bx1IIMi-uXsIM5XYzRJ8Irr56nm/s400/lemons%20reno%20032.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EQieTu7qlHSc37aUtZNpBw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYepFjIC8Z3ejtOoaV3oJ536e1-iccOQKCeAUOPx0-pWN2OU9JAV1hoQ6QdcRA-ySaZ_eoRXHNI3qS_-bF0gxnBYyKFSPxh6v2uuvpd2N9vrjpuPpTc0MebSiRoSRT8GaUE6hY_Lvzflfi/s400/lemons%20reno%20041.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We hung out with the sharks later that evening:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RdOCXgxsohv1JNM9R5j0Uw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z5DKDCap8ZH27dj3DnEc0aiJzZkk_i02KgPprEzhI4KDLr6QI7G_x9LqhNtjJ2Yk1p00vx4mw9ij-PAKeBBNfAVnTNYbNHN1dm8CH8vjNWBfZYRbfPvirmk3UnyMasfsY17gMEk6oXq5/s400/lemons%20reno%20052.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Knights of the Round Track team, pitted across from us, unfortunately spun a bearing on the warmup day, and were out of the race for good:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kl_n5zPt9keeYmF8B55wrQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJAGJhRAF19fNmYLgVuvcETgko5g19Wdu93ZZvT6SFPHCsIGmoEVzg9ONYpGm0yW0bpEAqlLv8Z0_VfqzKRegEe4fc-KudG1cs4-dKG2qQ8TY-fY_t400Xci1IDK1sde4TrdrWdXFCTLG/s400/lemons%20reno%20059.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yIL59Oeo9pAfYRIBtcI9_g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDJM4FNjwdoqYaqlgTT9aiuhiMRGsCGcPwI4adBQ5XePerAF9C543z5zBYqZS-YM8TMAMfMavOuheslRiOzY-lsrVLqEaNlM3R3IE1y25LAB4TDTUsdaS87hbZcA2BWhjI0ov4GKGDFmz/s400/lemons%20reno%20063.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Knights of the Round Track team across from us spun a bearing (just like Ling Ling, only they couldn't find a replacement in time), Huey Newis and the Lose to our right blew both head gaskets on their 80's mustang, and the 280ZX team to our left blew a clutch. <br /><br />Our Siamese twin team Pandamonium shocked everyone involved by finishing the day in tenth, after spending the entire Thunderhill race dogged by miserable electrical problems.<br /><br />Walking around the pits we passed a half dozen teams pulling engine, clutch or transmission swaps late into the evening. The Unsafe At Any Speed team tried desperately to source a replacement engine, without luck, while the Squirrels of Fury swapped their Saab's 2.4L engine for an ancient 1.6L Audi donor. <br /><br /><b>Sunday</b><br /><br />When we rolled up to the driver's meeting on sunday morning in the mystery machine, spilling out of it like a clown car, we found this rather nice pic of the MM staring back at us from the rack outside the official photographers' van:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MhNlPT52DikZX-FKpyIlFA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fRcBAX5WHNYG-qIVhcEzEVFOw2NWW5zIRq_MCHO4os4QWn1frp86kR3NhoST4RnNHpcEAt2sLBlk24mGTg2DC_6V1jKuNJwksF56HlO0t_c76oo35olW1I8O859QNm6ig3BeyyXZSbnf/s400/lemons%20reno%20075.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Mystery Machine out on the track, flying her flag proudly:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P5uBnLNpmpBP-clPoqK2VA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiXaCEWJBF6aXaFt_TkmIObU6NqAMG1E9NuYt1I0GPWweFIGrZB5GweZ_0Ta9rVdVBselRmE8RyMyGKbgI76-ZEDCCBvwAm0s6_KuPLbdL2MGeg-zphAkaU6-NIcONI773PwiNGpOD2LC/s400/lemons%20reno%20094.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Huey Newis and the Lose guys wrenched through the night to replace both head gaskets on their 6-cyl mustang. They got her running again by Sunday afternoon, and managed a triumphant return to the track with about an hour left in the race. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZtRjKMVwuCY3_wXMivHfig?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VgzcqDjplGB5dU4Ty-ETpgYd1NCF846CgWF2TvrSHU4NRztyiN6hCIiWRG1Q0fu73UmtdEx8opGDNxVce8u_5qyM8nsElE7FsTDhf7_Sa7vMk3IPhkifuH_xV4Aa6407V_xpD-AAkG86/s400/lemons%20reno%20100.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Punishment:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WnY6AiaJT28vrlfLLOnJVw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhS5g_085f2NFEfTOLvrefUJQo1ErXvfoRvIuDJ0LCHpcoUFroIJPa-GT71ZCSCDal1ufy_WRpt9PCIF93ix9wIHUB9DJWZc90G3I8wQOuBujszwhgE6B7pK20eIESkAGd4WqaMAbO9Uy/s400/lemons%20reno%20116.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The voted victim for People's Curse was the pink Swine Flew car, rebadged after solid showings at the Thunderhill lemons and the earlier 25 hours of Thunderhill NASA endurance race. But there was a lot of good will floating around all weekend, and apparently there were enough write-in votes asking for nobody to get crushed, that Jay volunteered his own VW bus for sacrificial crushing in place of the Swine Flew car.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VYsKbKJ60EBMjhT1FEDy-g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW92SUzetNeWcNGRY8oQ8_HfjO8n9D-OA9vzRSwgikpvi7c2EPdBFJ1i7kaZFNMFLMW3r-uvlUyyeM5qr91psMNgeAOPjII40jqqS6HRCiY9Ef2Dt1WrFcV_Wh0I3_NuQmVFOW35nVC9Zp/s400/lemons%20reno%20125.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Around 2pm, the Mystery Machine - which up until then had been running stunningly well - called in reports of smoke in the cabin. We checked her out, refilled the oil, and sent her back out on the track. But soon enough Jen brought her back in again, this time massively overheating, in a cloud of evil black oil smoke.<br /><br />(Jen reports her life flashing before her eyes when she saw multiple teams running toward her with fire extinguishers.)<br /><br />When we popped the hood the second time, there was oil splattered everywhere - hood, firewall, motor, grill - and black smoke everywhere. (Laz helpfully popped by to suggest pouring ice water on it to cool it down.)<br /><br />We tried to identify the source, which appeared to be <i>everywhere</i>, and finally narrowed it down to the rear main seal, between the engine and the transmission. With an hour left in the race it was pretty clear we were not going to make it back on the track. (I'll admit: I sniffled like a little girl.)<br /><br />Shortly after that the checkered flag came out, and all the cars came pouring back in. Ling Ling finished seventh overall, fifth in class.<br /><br />The Mystery Machine drivers:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D1a54PKFt34pNmH1yZY2AQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sRfuEB_TsTzpkMBO1YkTZ9hQf_PhdLGL9N2Ajz4KJQj57w2PBEZBsjIQu8Qcjmc8o1IvXukxeBbj5VRUz13RidOewInaPGwBoBZI4uadiqqzusqLhPCFgRFi5qUKXZZk7S7qnETYB2Vf/s400/lemons%20reno%20129.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Pandamonium drivers:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j3wFpOkT0jQ64F6M0Xcapg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC5v-EpF1BUUMU_0gbPEzi4vWYc0TRIsl8Xdms5HvOHeEA-EXjRF8lJCab0eX8Cz0Khh5yv2dUvdr7k61WvhuDIkmQkv7bHI-IbULAazjdXG8_l9JuGoQxxxvs9eTTfJQAZCj1nSDpPEJ/s400/lemons%20reno%20137.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And a departing message from one of our neighboring teams, written in chalk on the asphalt:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YxtnAimDuFGPS6-xXs7Mzw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpXKZWCDIILE1rexRT5pol_8_iLPQcyWe-iHLn08EZc-JIoXeL8w3-hskQhZXq1qFUs9JwX9jRZVDs9_7JyQkHgFSyazBvKXFBE4FetCUTmoH4Dd1Xwmmi6MZB8xZqcjKZF9SThBXsgg9/s400/lemons%20reno%20143.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Couldn't agree more.<br /><br />Going home:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/54T-hxAIX1zhR8uZtrWd2A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLszGxDnUQVCiiHkWQ-scWHOIQaJPMtTeeMrO7SpavZIHrOgL0sCiOhtfkE6SggdOXnP_cws134FpgR-hEC2-ofq9aQVqLMomHvK2pxiVHXbLrIgXw2Rizq0CUgNXYJDQbBaLQUVELFp4/s400/lemons%20reno%20152.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bHCPqRq5z0BrOx81xv0dOg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWwyww-A7VMFF5TZQy-JKSsRptNnvmA7N651DeC_uePRf-49RofNw6i3igHXV0OVswu8ADTL30oGkawd2r-yNW1A8Wk9Xtdc1bhX9X2tA2Miflitp4gl_Hk-PXMPZ69bM1E3JIxjX4S2k/s400/lemons%20reno%20155.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Coming home, we kept score:<br /># cars slowing to take pictures of the Mystery machine on Hwy 80: 17<br /># cars nearly crashing while taking pictures of the mystery machine: 2<br /># trailer tires damaged during the trip: 2<br /># ambulances which blew an alternator on the way home and drove home on battery power: 1<br /><br />And lastly...<br /># race cars now parked in the storage lot at work, awaiting the next race: 2astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-67380414769668494252009-05-25T08:47:00.000-07:002009-05-25T09:50:35.750-07:00Most from the leastSo, I spoke too soon - with about an hour left in the day, we blew a rear main seal and sprayed oil all over the place, leaving the Mystery Machine up on jacks at the end of the race. Much sadness.<br /><br />However! There's more than one kind of winning, and we took home the "Most from the least" award, which if you'd ever glanced at the engine on the mystery machine, is a wholly appropriate prize. (The oil spray everywhere from the blown rear main blends right in with the existing crust of dried oil and coolant. I'm not kidding when I say it's a miracle it made it onto the track at all.) Mostly, getting the van on the track feels like winning. We're incredibly proud to have been part of such an awesome racing event.<br /><br />The Mystery Machine drivers, plus Scooby and Scrappy, our mascots:<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y6GD-XAX3NZujKMv9rSStQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybmP0gH0Ll6OzmshPyoZK-Ofi5o4G8EjQr2n1Vz_40BTmwMuIaPPjg5bH2aUThBaI9UTX_UgWt81LsOh50U7zfeN4zqP02Mp-Zn4m89X5AVMlg6uQY9DOX2q49L4e2a2le0PCbho_b3BD/s400/DSC_2669.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachine?feat=embedwebsite">mystery machine</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Drivers, Left to right: Jinnah, Jared, Jen, and Astrid. (The perfect two guys/two women split was accidental but fortunate. If it had worked out otherwise the guys would have been terrifying in skirts. Jared's got a lot of leg to show.)<br /><br />We finished in 59th place overall. (We got as high as 42nd before the car blew.)<br /><br />Thanks, guys. And to everyone who showed up and made the race awesome: you all rock. It was a blast.<br /><br />(And to Rob and Laz, who put in a lot of late nights helping out on our van when they still had plenty of prep to do on their own car - no thanks are enough. I love you guys.)<br /><br />PS - for anyone who was wondering, we took off the back gate while racing mostly for visibility. The van has pretty much zero side and rear visibility otherwise, and we wanted a good view of all the cars that were passing us. It was also a serious weight loss - the door is heavy.<br /><br />Also, the Italian flag was a special Fiat prize awarded just to us, as a model member of the former Chrysler empire.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-34607384024592033952009-05-24T13:14:00.001-07:002009-05-24T13:14:11.897-07:00a few photos, real quick. x-posted to both blogs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7vNM0vtE85avShJ0NSl_AciudWnFQFln1dArRMjfSpHf_9r37SmI1wiUtudDH4zV95lsYgVnkI0WBhKT8yikcNfVnLuyCqSBkHU-rI8z-ZSEVl7kHz3GYvIWotNPAwIGCNcHdWn1EZs8/s1600-h/DSC_2617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7vNM0vtE85avShJ0NSl_AciudWnFQFln1dArRMjfSpHf_9r37SmI1wiUtudDH4zV95lsYgVnkI0WBhKT8yikcNfVnLuyCqSBkHU-rI8z-ZSEVl7kHz3GYvIWotNPAwIGCNcHdWn1EZs8/s320/DSC_2617.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339485779888964610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVydDuCH_VEFa9Rx5U3XkdqmcpuM5T6t92TecHIVwSwSpZpdg8q5K7gSUiI9m5HPPgLIpiXCzqXZJ1y-wH0fYEFPP_93r9vjfeaNds8s3mAmYymYSfy66CyumSIXFeMdlLZfasx4necjLH/s1600-h/DSC_2561.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVydDuCH_VEFa9Rx5U3XkdqmcpuM5T6t92TecHIVwSwSpZpdg8q5K7gSUiI9m5HPPgLIpiXCzqXZJ1y-wH0fYEFPP_93r9vjfeaNds8s3mAmYymYSfy66CyumSIXFeMdlLZfasx4necjLH/s320/DSC_2561.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339485774731985346" /></a>astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-28669090090915497592009-05-24T12:34:00.000-07:002009-05-24T12:53:54.588-07:00race day<div>(x-posting to panda and mystery machine blogs)</div><div><br /></div>Hello from Reno-Fernley. We're on the second day of racing at Goin for Broken, and shockingly, both the Mystery Machine and the Panda car have been running well so far. We had some excitement getting the minivan through tech inspection on Friday - suprisingly enough, the tech inspectors were less than thrilled with the broken wheel stud on the driver's side front wheel. The lug bolt is insanely difficult to replace, so Laz and Jinnah did a hero run to pick n pull in Sparks to get a whole new steering knuckle, which we fitted in gathering dark and howling dust.<div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Laz successfully bribed his way through a very special bullshit inspection - he unwisely laid down some very fast laps in the practice session before going through inspection, so they pulled Ling Ling aside for special inspection as a "real race car". (The special judge they called in is a cheating expert; he took a quick look underneath and proclaimed her an *actual* piece of shit.) Laz smoothed things over with a super smooth bribe:</div><div><br /></div><div>Judges: What, you aren't even going to try to bribe us?</div><div>Laz: We hadn't gotten to the hard sell yet. (Whips out the whiskey from the trunk) </div><div>Judges: Oh, well then. This is good stuff. You guys are good to go, no penalties.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Mystery Machine is a HUGE hit, which is a relief, because we're also the slowest thing on the track (surprisingly, there are actually a couple of cars slower, but we still hold the record for the slowest fastest lap of any team). For a while, Ling Ling and the Mystery Machine held the single fastest best lap and slowest best lap in the race.</div><div><br /></div><div>They started timing the race when the Mystery Machine crossed the starting line, so for a full two seconds, Jinnah was leading the race. (Subsequent, we fell into our role as mobile chicane and had the whole race lap us repeatedly. Driving the minivan is like driving through a swarm of bees, with other cars whipping past constantly. We've taken the tack of being very polite about it, holding a steady outside line, which has garnered us a lot of good will. (Another team came up to thank us for being predictable while being passed, and gave us a hat as a token of gratitude. :-) )</div><div><br /></div><div>Pandamonium has not yet seen a revisit of the electrical issues from last time, and is currently running around tenth overall. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Mystery Machine has done pretty well through simple consistency, and is currently around 46th place, much to our surprise. After the last-minute scramble to get her race prepped, just seeing her running around the track feels a lot like winning.</div>astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-31573592849661795972009-05-21T17:09:00.000-07:002009-05-25T09:37:38.520-07:00guess the fluidThis was extracted from the minivan:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FZFVYbGoL0WTn3qzhZuiYQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFYAgBelJ_zdQbcRFG1-V1e_zrXjEmh1kUltne9qk786IAxJNS_o5cJKLc-qIzsjjrSmBDMEtvsTGTK5Y-iPaohK41tdYEKmftei6LIzN-2uwRb7JJBUualNkwHAt6DfNMUP8_kn3a2Tv/s400/DSC_2364.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I particularly enjoy its light-absorbent qualities:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C5kaeOKNWPXNGqpm4Ti9SA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov6WGvfZeYQWM6rdLTXsMmsnFWId-bXl5rU_6sZUPDsvwOGmgvkJu_u7uwWdQwtCF35Z8Np8eOCrbyk_kiv1eHICuUN5veE7QUorgvbFywMwaFItmyHKx5t6qxAqjsS_6raVbR8WSjmnE/s400/DSC_2366.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />I bet it's about as chemically delicious as coke zero, too.<br /><br />(It's brake fluid. Good thing we got around to bleeding them.)astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-18616703929411609892009-05-21T14:15:00.000-07:002009-05-21T15:10:03.702-07:00towing outCamping ambulance is loaded, hair is red, and the transmission fluid filter has ALL its gaskets now. We're getting ready to tow out tonight.<br /><br />We should probably remember to put the wheels back on the van before we leave.<br /><br />Shockingly, we're mostly done with prep - new belts are on, brakes are bled, and Rob spent most of last night welding a box bracket to mount the racing seat (while we drank beer and tried not to stare at the bright light - important work). Once the bracket's in we're pretty much ready to race (except for the blown cv boot and the broken wheel stud... details.)<br /><br />We should be unmissable on the track. Look for the giant rolling blue chicane.<br /><br />Tape remaining on ambulance:<br />- roll cage padding<br />- paint wheels<br />- seat<br />- harness<br />- load on trailerastridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-64167194233701677412009-05-20T01:16:00.000-07:002009-05-20T02:05:44.754-07:00countdownLast few days of countdown towards the race. We've been working pretty much flat out for the past week, getting the van ready.<br /><br />To keep track of work items, we've been using the Laz Method of writing things on blue tape on the windshield. After a solid week of work, here was the list as of Sunday night:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsZZVkJ-ivNrvs9syXhU5mp2i-RdqNH6aZb_wOajStL23KG1zQvRXvYU6bH6VyPiBBCfTW8DgWYTB7MU8ghJ38WQ4iM41Pkg9htY_kCazhGEbLZtjtpj0K26gXIVfsyv9W7yKicmYMcwe/s1600-h/2009-05-18+11.20.30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsZZVkJ-ivNrvs9syXhU5mp2i-RdqNH6aZb_wOajStL23KG1zQvRXvYU6bH6VyPiBBCfTW8DgWYTB7MU8ghJ38WQ4iM41Pkg9htY_kCazhGEbLZtjtpj0K26gXIVfsyv9W7yKicmYMcwe/s320/2009-05-18+11.20.30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337819313721192802" border="0" /></a><br />Last week we fitted new front shocks, fixed some leaks, and... honestly, I don't remember. Stuff. We did stuff. The new shocks made the van not heave like a boat on heavy swell when you jump on the bumper, so that's a plus. We re-replaced a leaking hose, stripped some bolts, mostly wired in a new radiator fan, and tried to make the temp gauge work and generally finish some stuff up before Jdh left town on Thursday.<br /><br />Over the weekend, it went kind of like this (from my email, Sunday night):<br /><br />--------------<br />Things we actually got done are:<br />- transponder<br />- 3rd brake light<br />- tried and failed to get the bracket needed to mount all the brake<br />parts we have; ordered new brake pads instead. Rotors come off the<br />list.<br />- tied up all the dash wiring<br />- promptly shorted out the headlight switch<br />- wrapped the headlight switch in electrical tape, replaced several<br />fuses, and re-zip-tied it (headlights work again)<br />- installed a front grill (pick n pull consolation prize)<br />- put a solid dent in the oil pan which you will never notice because<br />I am going to plaster it up with jb weld when we also seal the<br />dipstick tube<br /><br />We now have parts for:<br />- wheel stud & cv boot (if we get time)<br />- brake pads<br /><br />When we were tying up the dash wires we noticed that the coolant temp<br />gauge goes straight to hot when you turn on the headlights. I haven't<br />checked its behavior again since fixing the short.<br /><br />...<br /><br />-----------------------------<br /><br />...etc. Monday night:<br /><br />-----------------------------<br /><br />Okay! Today was nearly an improvement. :-)<br /><br />Taped tasks removed:<br />- oil change (my first! alas, the drain plug still seems to leak a<br />bit. also, I don't think those guys really changed the oil, it was kind<br />of cruddy.)<br />- coil<br />- jb weld filler tube and plate on the oil pan (I lied; you'll totally<br />notice. But laz spackled it with jb weld and hopefully made it a lot<br />stronger)<br />- tires (tires and wheels now piled in front of van, falken ziex 912)<br />- spare wheels (jen got 2 spares from pick n pull for $5 each)<br />- brake pads (extra quiet! you would not want the pads on a racing<br />minivan to be noisy.)<br />- transmission fluid & filter<br /><br />While we were cleaning up, laz was all like, "Hey Astrid, did you see<br />this?" and when I turned around he was waving a bit of rubber at me...<br />which was the inner gasket for the trans filter. Which I had not<br />realized existed until that moment. After I had already reassembled<br />and refilled the whole transmission pan with five quarts of shiny new<br />fluid and approximately one hundred small bolts.<br /><br />Pieces of tape added:<br />- power steering belt (needs doing at the same time as the alternator<br />belt, something damaged the belt cover which has in turn chewed the<br />belts up good)<br />- coolant flush (optional but would also let us fix the leak in the<br />lower coolant line)<br />- transmission fluid & filter. D'oh.<br /><br />----------------------------<br /><br />This is a high-precision operation.<br /><br />Score card currently stands at:<br /># times transmission fluid was changed: 2<br /># types of fluid dumped in Astrid's eyes: 2 (coolant and atf, for anyone who's counting)<br /># front brake pad changes: 4<br /># sets of pads accidentally or intentionally acquired for van: 5<br /># important bolts stripped: 2<br /># times we've replaced that hose that inexplicably sends coolant to the turbo: 2<br /># hours at pick n pull over the past four days: 8<br /><br />We tow out on Thursday night. I should probably add a piece of tape for "put wheels back on van".astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-6157410646794384562009-05-14T18:07:00.000-07:002009-05-14T18:39:47.042-07:00the most important part of a race car is obviously its paint jobThe turbo minivan's transformation from junkyard reject to Probably Quite Stoppable Racing Mystery Machine is now, mostly*, complete.<br /><br />Here she is, in all her exterior high-gloss enamelled glory:<br /><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YLmpz8sBpgep2aG3QtiU0w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyAWfYDiycaAPCB1_6CxM3SeND8ysghOebuIgUV_M74IMIVXuRFwz4aLpInksh4goo1tBMiUu63We8Eyal_oQEtM8P8V0NVuCMyQpalix6dZY8wRbCFkOpuDzi2IGCY5gLHhhIsmMm8qG/s400/DSC_2274.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachine?feat=embedwebsite">mystery machine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />*except for the seat. We'll probably need a seat.<br /><br />Also we'll eventually need to attach the newly-created exhaust system with something other than zip ties.<br /><br />It took all weekend to finish the paint job - green on saturday, orange on sunday. (It took me about five hours per side to lay down the initial coat on the lettering.) We originally had fancy plans of using a projector to get the initial shape, but I was too impatient to wait until it got dark, so I ended up free-handing most of it.<br /><br />Rob doing the final outlining:<br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rDovH83nZYuPLDnrfHT0ww?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNazVvQErImlMNGdpdQjzEhiYq6Awk4Pc8a3L-tEIIAGMUbMiRSvzmPhRLZN7tbwM34CDW7ruKGkdgzujmyv4_9v3vp7CTG-LemAljYpE6ul-Xi0kVUUVkJnotIeyv-KE_W6_1Wqw-93Lq/s400/DSC_2263.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachine?feat=embedwebsite">mystery machine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Laz rollering a second coat with a sawed-off 1-inch roller:<br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M66SvoLAiORJ52dT8FLA8g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WA3Eo7OX1Da4EQcHUA7YN03iIvjbTy4MnlrhnSmXMgMZou9vJ6zPMPMl34sM3PWuLFPv-aVRN1wV4Y58QKOIVhTWoUk_FmJBwe2fZqp44D0tPkru7NlC2nO6q5uTdqrLOEw7RMsxbSz-/s400/DSC_2255.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachine?feat=embedwebsite">mystery machine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p1gWw54evOZao-AZIbd08w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirX9wiCoGDezPtJK0WhIP7swb8qJ9t3ofjK-ej3WZtbB44TpOXYIrdznaP0gB5Jd6gYrj0xSbvDD74SYOLTj-l36s4BhDGzNnAVuXC7gXqTJgnbJCtv-hEBl07drtA8qM5vPtjnzDJhjUZ/s400/DSC_2268.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachine?feat=embedwebsite">mystery machine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4ArfitwwiOMefdAqFiutsQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrzzw2m_TWO5_UOTLOezGcvs-iRZJE_xgvRpgohOHSjdgLdDz-6uJ4o6DXmuJyU2bDACCYGMKGhZUL8_bnQoq5x_s2wnKzx44XB_6nqQS9AdNOw_DnnJsFtNf0J9yLmE4v1V7vHDGOkxW/s400/DSC_2246.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachine?feat=embedwebsite">mystery machine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Q6IiOKPpGL54Ipw3Jm-e8g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PX_szlIQzSVlfLb_8XI3V0jepA2ebU6uiVFtSDC-tC1o7u6jjELpXVgfDDHTNlymaIXNkh40Bt1jm6f6aSmR8_b0JxIOIyRRT-97iX0nrLGr2n2SSVFdoVCj2aXLgKZlffygnsznIlCm/s400/DSC_2291.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ascian3/MysteryMachine?feat=embedwebsite">mystery machine</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Meanwhile, Rob worked on fabricating an exhaust system, the vehicle's original sawzalled-off-at-the-header exhaust system not really passing muster under the new Rule 3.24:<br /><ul><li><strong class="changes">3.24: Exhaust System: A professional-quality exhaust system is required. Exhaust outlets and tubing must be designed, routed, and maintained to avoid heating the fuel tank(s) and/or fuel-system components. Fuel heating is extremely dangerous and must be avoided at all times. </strong></li><ul><li><strong class="changes">3.24.1: Exhaust system may not dump ahead of the driver, and must not allow undue levels of exhaust to reach the driver's compartment.</strong></li></ul></ul>After we installed a real exhaust with a muffler and everything, it no longer sounds nearly as bad-assed. However, it now LOOKS AWESOME, which is not something I ever thought I'd say.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-54205253794374061562009-04-26T21:40:00.000-07:002009-04-26T21:48:32.068-07:00relative meritQuick shot of the finished base coat from jdh's camera phone. A satisfying cartoony blue - the camera phone hides all ills.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DDwsLIG2XblCmrH3q-mxLg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuh5rRYyux2jznlq_FrddsiT0jdgrqTHX_QoNRsNin8hT7Kfk-JVOHysA31flcBMj5t8Qo24IZmHgEB60dMESOR2PFhyW7EoG5lMexTc8LfT6Zt0u17qwVtXvrV-iFVMuhsNgVqAlldhG/s400/minivan_finished.jpg" /></a><br /><br />House paint was the best idea ever.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-71366497146994858322009-04-25T23:40:00.000-07:002009-04-26T00:38:40.335-07:00the lulz live on in spiritToday was painting day for the minivan. No more EPIC LULZ, no more perversely charming smiley and frowny faces eying you from the rear.<br /><br />We begin with sanding:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SO94r46Vg-fy2UA48F0ELw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzo0EGNUKxSDnR5-N7oiPyB0bVSBukE1AbLb7Cm4Kd2gs7iZpF622jn3tsW-Zv_rpyyJAABjVHIsmJJphXfeAH2qXnC8ePD2UON09Rs3yZXkrAyaQqNGOCdIwrRnwgXXVyzRhgK6D30ZQ/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-49.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile, JDH worked on stripping the dash. Later on I discovered, by pouring it all over myself, that the heater hoses from this removed A/C unit are actually still full of coolant.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-9AXWK0tfaetuyzI_1M8-Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGErjscVUDE-hvv4m0DktBJSkoIBZKGIWRYsnKeT77hWPnJtBDZVowmxV5IqCgQZPQMO0afv0m2p78Eg30b6tYuqhIfIpE-kX4eTJH49qUfAHfNs7_YuZ1O5twIHvoOm9E1hwWdAIEsWIC/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-51.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UQHMbz9dX7174fM4gWbTKQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguC9TiwDx8fW5YCiOtrfOFRG36jxFNibQ97Vv3poAad7aywLCUdbAlKov2e1z0I-zXGDGXLLjPIEGL3A0zFvD4yija-zOHhcKDKGigmyF_R9TxeX_0jw0rfDpgKNl92LP8GTD6anp77RV/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-54.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I honestly wouldn't have thought it possible, but the partially-sanded minivan hit such new lows of disreputability that we scratched our plans of driving it to a nearby spray-n-wash (especially since we could actually hear cops driving all around our semi-industrial suburban neighborhood, occasionally hitting a siren and laying on the megaphone.) There was no hose in the parking lot we were using, so we had to rig something up:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uyEcVA3b8x02RoIOwsTgaQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCidykpQdY3YYrxSI-dURePMXp8FgpZTPxs13ukwctBaAyEKupilE7ZeVGxxxbeVZccqNefl5Ea6CqST6H0yFEm2glEC-qeO4TremuqS3Y8lUC8XaCQ4EHlKCnv4id0AkN7rN5mShvJRCw/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-61.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Somewhere around the time when we were scoping the parking lot to try to figure out the hose situation, I remembered the freshwater pump still sitting in its box in the ambulance. I bought it months ago, intending to rig up a sink for the ambulance, but never got around to using it. It takes 12v dc and I also already had the water bladder and some basic fittings. Jdh took one look, ran out to Orchard, and came back with all the necessary parts to hook up two bladder tanks in parallel, with a real hose attached. Go team!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h4byLrGFu7wxLhSlsV3ukg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHReRi9DaIvSC6oWk-ZQigxUisGnRUa7FHttGDxCt_1vKs1UCoUyZIlS-QPDrEA1s69VKLfEPWpFGyxJlEt2rgiwLDE2V6JkijNyzs_eBH2Ca5qtrD-Gr6_uoeGuxorMm-ZD-X56XGG5sP/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-60.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This came in handy, since being able to rig a hose meant that we could work in the nice spacious parking lot, rather than invading Laz's driveway (especially classy with him being away for the weekend at a NASA race) and imposing on his long-suffering wife.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Rob rigged an awesome fix to our how-are-we-going-to-paint-the-windows? problem, with sheet aluminum and pop rivets. Instant minivan-to-panel-van conversion.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X1Uu4nkWvzwf_ttxW9x-Ig?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V9synzgX0huXn4wd_3BN36sHqOrPE6MObdoO-fNNx4madvNkM2wn3GhiqzNaME5U05F5Vcr7l5reQp-YDtPZYr6iEm_dMYoMkRrEirKVSOYd71rfVXjgYA9KWEEGQ7l2LfZoQ387tP2O/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-63.JPG" /></a><br /><br />When we planned out how to handle the painting, we contemplated a lot of options. Last time around we had pretty good luck with Sears appliance enamel, but they don't really make appliance enamel in Mystery Machine Blue. We thought about Rustoleum, which comes in lots of colors, but it lacked a certain visceral appeal. Eventually, we collectively worked our way around to realizing how <span style="font-style: italic;">awesome</span> it would be to paint our van with house paint.<br /><br />House paint on a car works both better and worse than you might suppose. For example, the orange peel sponge texture that you get from roller sponges works better on walls than it does on cars. On the other hand, it went on nicely, and after a few beers or about thirty feet of distance, it actually looks a whole lot better than the original battered burgundy.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xyAWHNT2mZfNJos3ALJTFw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1np6b5GHrly1SSSFjT8nC2AkHAtcPrIC68FWPEejjQfWniuvNxx-PbZlndOzAEXEdsQY58jsk9C9Br1M_5swNipajBtOq7SnNJHUsGwwGv0wyLiOtOvZoZoIJUXQAUPRd86m-PrigO2A/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-75.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And here she is, with the blue base coat nearly finished:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/V6Y-hRDHITGvWOMB4kEqhw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJVtbuKi_C9sqIbrYi5AXiR7c837ecze_z1ND2brEVY245-LOi6HB6pLSgSXFnIdgcXGYLo414jiwjRSXergOBGMQAuXyvMLQfIW21thVwc8jWWX_wj3eijzAQMf_yRls7E8zEh_sgIti/s400/minivan_brakes_and_paint-76.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Still remaining:<br />- cage (happens this week)<br />- fit a seat (requires fabricating a base)<br />- front brakes, etc<br />- wheels and tires<br />- harness, cutoff switch, fire extinguisher<br />- find and tape up that one loose wire<br />- add the temp sensor to go with the nice new(ish) temp gauge (or "gage", as Plymouth spelled it)<br />- paint the green and orange bitsastridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-49857774358922090022009-04-22T22:34:00.000-07:002009-04-22T22:53:23.676-07:00mystery machine picsA photographic tour of the Mystery Machine, in all her current glory:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/S5nA9eI5BklIESz2QFZwFQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0UEEDwLA-nwG8SyktT8xuF5GPJetaeJWzeMxQqG_LXakKlXuXVGWdxwJjlMEcjT1dmXwD3OnoQ2XOLbZOej1eXylGgYccR9nQkX0hA50QdJjIax7EpS95g4WCGPgNcvTdbaaNJhk_gPd/s400/DSC_0779.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The lulz are, in fact, epic:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/s3JChgwkO1VyhSg_ZDXJfg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jc451Wu9nr6SCGqbXhnTetE5vhVKr9NCaGY1WaBrhusf3AW0mWYfvLdcS1spkHopcHbkhGlRVgwYVnFX9GCdtRYKiFryDm-CMUFmjwx4-wRu5vpWr8-n4UGHthpvOV7LTPvX1A2RWzNF/s400/DSC_0780.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nQMq-65bXn8zFqWFHFpfvQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBG27o3PZk_57StF42kR37TsoDUbhoEL1icfrdiaDXY029B67fT-Ijz-o-f06eOwgMvPrIFSMCuXWth16A5qJumeK4yiP24ctWNjwVKe-sMu9fwhT8g54VXROrxTNsNekLt5bBT3t7YnQ/s400/DSC_0783.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We swapped on some cheap KYB-2 rear shocks and some ridiculous helper springs for the saggy rear leaf springs, and swapped out the rear brake shoes.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4wCf_Sh19PFnz7JVLYNf1Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw800hV7_Ubed7lseaB7DlkAqAw0ceKCifH0OcLknJII5s2-CmwtJSPSTIJciJOZZ4fHWP0br8yZgQ3RU6v2R_GQsQS4D3Z4Rneo6JepbehkX2VBMZT6lYrd1nFHTEYfnL0SQaQP18GsFh/s400/DSC_0800.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I learn why working on drum brakes is awesome:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/A87vyALnUBdm5kg3hcVOww?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kDMkfC2RckD1zITLrFMZo465SObMWTlsio50lA1vc07v3vLdXp78FcMaELZP6RDIzb6UrXf4iBswxDkny9RKLyj6QKcml4VZaAbHOC1YVJEo0FyhW4FMscwGyyVA_yOaUf8If9-8bwkT/s400/DSC_0789.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Engine compartment, with some additions and subtractions:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/k5slmDQGVlT-nncUnu9rCA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoENw7GSYIlB2AMTvXZ_1N-bWiAuCsOVRBesfo2ToBxESAVdrSv5LIkIRebqHO9n_XzU_VryFzkujseK1_kuQkJPiwGXpLfLrkH5GeJIv2UKbr9dDMmbg1nNE1cYgySdodCG47cK_9bre/s400/DSC_0802.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Interior, as we strip the remainder of what was left:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G3NFTx4c2pSMUesiZZoKSg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSMjgFHna-2GS2oovrCcjKlMv5xmo0Ls4zq3XL7UJbSsZ8SzlSxwERGeu8zQi7Nnwz95bMYaeVDd1mD3WkpDrtsuocmUlh4LE2OFHhS-z1anuuEbiaWfz5aejJv1QU_qGOiiRHnDBpswK/s400/DSC_0809.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4JvtejZ6vVGNwwHPa6hWBA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uUYwTnJ4rExrtf9Dzoh2wbBTn1HcpVocwp_LBdJzAfq1y6fnFFGr5q2wfqnL-S_di9oNPAlkTxCGm7NVDQpdgmHjlSwT9Bw6dTMRkKcT0XgMp0TuD68OIpiCLM8mc6-I7hhsjFeRjgsc/s400/DSC_0810.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The suspension work raised the rear a tiny bit:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/71pY1X3VO61lLUfM7B5cyw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgI5cuUTJn4GkYd9upmOwQCvBVowI_AOxo4dtv6hQC07fGL4jn0qexYIVX213SdYuUJnzEQqxkSPTw7hXof0fZVU4b2ksIZROhK4q5Ht_kBj6SLlLf2kqFG8iqf8kLZVEYCrCt5trOIHx/s400/DSC_0812.JPG" /></a>astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-68177293476634588912009-04-19T00:05:00.000-07:002009-04-19T21:39:17.759-07:00spark testPlan for today was to paint. Minivan had other plans - it was once again doing a solid impression of a heavily-graffitied rock, and we discovered that the ignition problems really are a lot more serious than a dead battery. (First bad sign: JDH put the suspect battery into the other junker minivan, his Town & Country which sounds like there is an angry man inside the engine with a baseball bat, and it fired right up.)<br /><br />So we went back around with the usual round of troubleshooting: battery is sending voltage? Check. Coil is <span style="font-style: italic;">getting</span> voltage? Nope. Spark plugs are sparking? Nope.<br /><br />Excellent, replace coil. Reassemble.<br /><br />No spark. This is a massive sad.<br /><br />For the historical record, and mostly as a note-to-self, here's the rough order of things tried:<br /><ol><li>Car does not start. Massive sad. Starter cranks, slowly.</li><li>Jump battery. Starter cranks much faster. Car does not start. Last time we waited a while and tried again, and it worked, so we were like OMG YAY!!!!11!! and burned rubber around the parking lot and celebrated victory and then called it a night.</li><li>Test current to positive side of ignition coil. Intermittent before, now zero.</li><li>Look up wiring. Discover that current in to coil is controlled by a relay, the Automatic Shutdown Relay, or ASD. It shuts off current to the ignition coil, the fuel pump, and the injectors when the key is on but the engine isn't running.</li><li>Look up ASD on internet. Discover that it basically connects red wire (J2) coming from battery, to green-and-black wire (Z1) which powers the rest of the motor. </li><li>Hard-wire red wire to green-and-black wire. Fuel pump now audibly runs whenever the key is on! We now get 12V to the coil while cranking the starter! Car still does not start.</li><li>Grrr.</li><li>Test spark plugs (again) to see if they are making sparks. They are not making sparks.</li><li>Pull ECU, which in this car is amusingly called the SMEC. Stare at it dubiously. </li><li>Try all of those previous things again, in lots of different orders. Halfheartedly price replacement SMEC.<br /></li><li>Go back to reading about computer, and start testing wires. The negative side of the coil connects back to the SMEC as well. The computer provides ground to the circuit, and sometimes suddenly removes the ground, which causes the coil to dump all of its accumulated charge onward, thus powering the distributor. The moral to this story is that even without the ASD, the SMEC needs to be happy in order for the whole thing to work.</li><li>Figure out how to make the check engine light blink out the numeric codes which indicate why it's firing. Look these up. Discover it's complaining about several things, including the ASD relay. Yeah yeah, we know.</li><li>Following instructions from the internet, we hard-wire pin 10 on the SMEC to the output of the ASD, which happens to be the positive wire to the coil, thus bypassing the ignition part of the ASD cutoff entirely. Heh heh. 12V to the coil all the time now, bitches. How you like me now?<br />(Secondarily: JDH notices that the ASD is clicking on at startup, then immediately off again. This seems suspicious, like the cpu is seeing something it hates, and getting angry.)</li><li>Car does not start.<br /></li><li>After some research, discover that there's another sensor, a really important sensor, called a Hall Effect sensor, which lives inside the distributor. Its job is to detect the distributor firing off spark plugs, and send this back to the SMEC, which uses it to get timing information. (Newer vehicles just use crank or cam position sensors.) If this sensor is not working, the cpu will stop the engine from firing. Remove sensor, clean it, try to test. Perfect continuity on the wires to the sensor. The sensor itself starts to fragment during cleaning. Bad sign? Maybe. It's just a little plastic UFO with lots of fragile wires in it. </li><li>Discover that the guy at Kragen has never heard of a "hall effect sensor", nor of an ignition reference sensor or distributor sensor (its pseudonyms), nor can he look one up, or order one. Same for Autozone, and, disturbingly, the same is apparently true for parts stores on the internets. Pick-n-pull it is, then.</li><li>Sad!<br /></li><li>Clean up. Try to start the van a few more times, just for the hell of it. Sadly this does not work. How cool would it have been if it did, though?<br /></li><li>Beer and tacos.</li></ol>Some links which turned out to be incredibly useful in this process (the heavily-tabbed Haynes manual that we inherited from the previous owners being largely useless):<br /><ul><li><a href="http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/ecu/index.html">Understanding the Chrysler ECU</a></li><li><a href="http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/ecu/smec-1988-t1.html">1988-89 Turbo I SMEC</a> (same site)<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.turbododge.com/forums/f4/f21/232526-how-wire-89-tbi-l-body.html">How to wire an 89 tbi body for turbo smec</a></li><li><a href="http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl860g.htm">ASD troubleshooting</a></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> Yep, totally the HEP sensor. Jdh installed a pick n pull special, and she fired right up. :-Dastridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2183023792661782715.post-49525787335617855202009-04-17T21:35:00.000-07:002009-04-17T22:11:46.040-07:00chequered pastThe minivan came to us with what we assumed to be a rich and varied history. For example, between the graffiti tagging and the stripped interior, it kind of looks like it might have been abandoned in Oakland. (I'm pretty sure this contributed to the amount of unhappiness displayed by the local security force when, in a temporary lapse of judgement, we left it up on blocks in a public area overnight.)<br /><br />Most of this is explainable by its recent ownership history, which is probably better linked to than described: <a href="http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=622433">forum post by previous owners</a><br><br />Ooh, plus: <a href="http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=622435">If you're bored on weekends, you can help us out... it can be a community project!</a><br /><br />All of which makes me super glad we only paid $100 for it.<br /><br />When we got it, the van's previous owners had managed to render it completely inoperable, apparently through systematic application of cheap kragen performance parts. After some investigation, and a small but surprisingly effective quantity of caffienated malt liquor, this turned out to be caused by an extremely dead battery, which was vampirically sucking the life not only from the poor mystery machine, but also from the car we were trying to jump it from.<br /><br />The thread has some speculation on the van's legal status, so I ran a carfax report. Let's see:<br /><ul><br /><li>1992 - passed smog. Exciting!<br /><li>04/09/1997 - SALVAGE TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED<br>JUNK TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED. (No surprise: its salvage status is clearly marked on the title.)<br /><li>05/10/1997 - Passed emissions inspection. Phew.<br /><li>06/28/1997 - JUNK TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED. Again?<br /><li>07/08/1999 - New owner reported. JUNK TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED<br /><li> ...etc...<br /><li>08/23/2007 - Automotive Recycler. Vehicle at automotive recycler facility.<br>VEHICLE SCRAPPED. Vehicle reported as crushed and should not be on the road. (Awesome!)<br /><li>09/11/2007 - New owner reported. JUNK TITLE/CERTIFICATE ISSUED<br /></ul><br />I have to say, 25 entries is the most I've ever seen on a carfax report. But nice to see it's not stolen.<br /><br />Now that Reno's getting closer, we've been shopping for parts. All this week, assorted brake parts have been showing up in the mail. Pads, rotors ($10 on closeout), rear shocks (KYB-2, bitches!), shoes for the rear drums, etc. This weekend we get with the installation.astridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14255877441875149905noreply@blogger.com0