The Silver Buick's well Silver Buick!

[Scott Liggett]

I was wondering if you still had the little camp trailer.

[TheSilverBuick]

I do, and it's due for another through cleaning if I were to use it again. It has a permanent California trailer plate on it so it doesn't cost me anything to let it sit out back.

Washed the car up today for it's voyage east. I switched the oil pressure and crank case vacuum/pressure gauges so the oil pressure gauge is on the A-pillar and easier to see. I decided to wire up the 2-step and flat shift in the Megasquirt, but without spending some real time with it I don't particularly care for all the noise it makes on the two-step. When I had an MSD 6-AL2 on there with a 2-step, I got it to purr really nicely with the gas pedal to the floor and sitting at 3,000rpm, but with two minutes of playing with the MegaSquirt's settings it still made a racket so I'll just leave it off for now.

Also decided to throw together a two stage shift light using a yellow/orange and red LED. Cut apart a piece of PVC pipe, painted it black, drilled a couple holes and wired up the two lights to the MegaSquirt. For testing and the video I set the first light to come on at 1,200rpm and the second one at 1,800rpm, but currently have them set at 5,400rpm and 5,800rpm. I'll adjust them as necessary based on my actual reaction time on the track. But I think with the yellow/orange light coming on it'll get me ready for the actual shift. This will also be handy if my digital dash screen has a hiccup for some reason, I can still run watching the oil pressure gauge and using the shift lights.

And the engine is hosed off and ready to rock

[TheSilverBuick]

In classic Drag Week prep style, apparently hosing my engine off for this picture toasted my throttle position sensor. It started acting a bit buggy after hosing the engine off, which it has done for years but usually when it drys out it goes back to normal, however this time it completely shorted out registering no voltage output change with throttle movement when tested with the voltmeter.

NAPA has ones that will for but have to order for $32, but of course they have one on the shelf for $55. I ordered the same Edelbrock one off Amazon for $32 and it should be here Wednesday, the day I leave.... I disabled the TPS stuff and did a quick tune for accel enrichment based on the MAP signal, but as expected it is quite laggy with really fast throttle changes, but for normal and minorly spirited driving it works fine. If the sensor doesn't show up on time, I'll find a parts store along the way that hopefully will have the $32 variant on the shelf, but I'm crossing my fingers that its not a repeat of the rear main seal fiasco....

I measured out the volume of my trailer and got 78 cubic feet (4.5x8x2 +6cf box on the tongue) , far below the max 142 cubic feet specified in the rules. Basically less than 2ft tall as opposed to 4ft tall on the u-haul trailer. So good to go there

I bolted down a box I had sitting in the barn for additional small things storage. I have steel cable strap running through the tires to lock them to the trailer, plus the straps to keep them from moving. I'm going to throw an ice chest back there too for lunch supplies, etc. The trunk is mighty empty looking with only two tool boxes and a few quarts of oil. I'm bringing an extra drag radial just in case of a flat or such. Since the rule change requiring a racing tire, it'll be good insurance. The 5x5 rims make it a bit difficult to borrow a pair of wheels for a pass.


I need to put the center caps back on from having the wheels re-balanced on Friday, otherwise, just need to pack some clothes, an ice chest, install a TPS and good to go.

[mopar57]

Good luck, still one of my favorite projects over the years!

[RideTech_Ryan]

If you find yourself closer to southern Indiana you should stop by and Ill give you a tour. Jasper, Indiana might be a little out of your way though. If you do however just let me know!

[74NovaMan]

I need to put the center caps back on from having the wheels re-balanced on Friday, otherwise, just need to pack some clothes, an ice chest, install a TPS and good to go.

Looking good. Did you check the wheel bearings on the trailer?

[STINEY]

Did someone tag your shed door?

[Deaf Bob]

Outside privvy without a lock, perhaps?
"Knock before entry"
Looks like?

[TheSilverBuick]

Its the well house that has some nice shelving and benches in it. I assume it was the previous owner that etched in "Knock Befure Entery". Makes me think WTF every time I read it but apparently have been too lazy to paint over it....

[TheSilverBuick]

Had a dream last night that Amazon was going to shaft me on the delivery of the TPS sensor and sure enough when I woke up and checked the tracking UPS (instead of FedEx this time) had a "Delay" warning. The sensor was over an 8 hour drive from Ely and we only get one UPS truck a day to town, and it arrives at 6:00am. So much for paying the extra money for two day shipping. I've already sent the refund request in since I'll have a replacement on the car before I get back.

So plan B has gone into effect. I will spend five to ten minutes to do a bit more refinement to the MAP based accel enrichment and then drive to Evanston Wyoming that way where I have reserved a TPS at an O'reilly's there, for $31 (down from NAPA's $55, it was verified on the shelf and my name tied to it). I tried to get NAPA to price match theirs to $38's, which was the part/price that came up when I directly plugged their sensor number into Autozone's website, but they said they couldn't match it that far. Evanston is a 5 hour drive from here, the store closes at 9pm, one hour time zone loss, if I can get out of here by 2:30pm, I should be in good shape to get it tonight, otherwise first thing tomorrow morning.

[squirrel]

Bon voyage!

[Deaf Bob]

Many times I wonder if 2 day shipping is actually a myth..
We have used it and the part shows up the day after the derby...

I wonder if the holiday weekend screwed you up?

Have a great trip.. Exceed expectations, show your bride our wonderful beautiful country!

[RideTech_Ryan]

We were notified here that there would be delays from both fedex and ups because of the holiday. We always try to pass that information along to the customer if they need an expedited shipment. That is what I would say happened unfortunately.

[Scott Liggett]

I got paperwork sent from Cali two day air. After sitting Oakland for three days, it was put on a truck that took another four. My mother sends me a card a regular mail and it took three days. Mostly I find two day worthless.

Have a great trip and race Randal.

[squirrel]

I bought some parts for the little british car last week, from somwhere in california, two different orders shipped out here in two days, priority mail. You never know.