I finally got the car back on the 14th, and started breaking in the new engine. It sounds different, much tighter, smooth, no rattles and clicks. It runs well.
I had gotten some "pretty cool" gas hoses covered with stainless steel mesh and Red/Blue Anodized aluminum clamps to look good, but they didn't fare too well, and we may have to go back to plain rubber hoses to stop the gas leaks. Then the old aluminum oil pan rubbed a little bit going very slowly over a speed bump in a parking lot and caused pin holes dripping oil. It must have become paper thin at the weld over years of rubbing, and that last one was just the last straw:
The original pan was modified and that protrusion added to the right in order to fit the oil pump (turned sideways) for counterclockwise ring racing. The pump is mounted in the center now, so there is no real need for it, and I am trying to find a plain stock oil pan, heavy duty steel if possible.
That will diminish the oil capacity some, but I don't see it being a big problem. We could always add an oil cooler I suppose...
I also realized that the shocks were shot, and that we needed both to repair/ replace the oil pan, and find longer shocks to raise the car at least one inch. So the car went back in the shop last Thursday. I went by the shop this morning to take a look at the pan and the shocks:
The front shock(bottom) is about 12 5/8" with a 9" spring that seems too stiff for such a light car.
The rear shock(top) is 14" with an 11" spring.
I figure we could use a 14" shock up front.
I did some research on the Internet and found a couple of options, but the advice of the guy at O'Reilly's turned out best. He suggested GazShocks, which are made in England, and happen to be distributed in the USA by Brunton, the manufacturer of a Super Seven copy. I just emailed them asking for their recommendation.
I had gotten some "pretty cool" gas hoses covered with stainless steel mesh and Red/Blue Anodized aluminum clamps to look good, but they didn't fare too well, and we may have to go back to plain rubber hoses to stop the gas leaks. Then the old aluminum oil pan rubbed a little bit going very slowly over a speed bump in a parking lot and caused pin holes dripping oil. It must have become paper thin at the weld over years of rubbing, and that last one was just the last straw:
The original pan was modified and that protrusion added to the right in order to fit the oil pump (turned sideways) for counterclockwise ring racing. The pump is mounted in the center now, so there is no real need for it, and I am trying to find a plain stock oil pan, heavy duty steel if possible.
That will diminish the oil capacity some, but I don't see it being a big problem. We could always add an oil cooler I suppose...
I also realized that the shocks were shot, and that we needed both to repair/ replace the oil pan, and find longer shocks to raise the car at least one inch. So the car went back in the shop last Thursday. I went by the shop this morning to take a look at the pan and the shocks:
The rear shock(top) is 14" with an 11" spring.
I figure we could use a 14" shock up front.
I did some research on the Internet and found a couple of options, but the advice of the guy at O'Reilly's turned out best. He suggested GazShocks, which are made in England, and happen to be distributed in the USA by Brunton, the manufacturer of a Super Seven copy. I just emailed them asking for their recommendation.
