What Are You Doing To/With Your Car Today?

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Today was alignment check/verify day. The avatar has over 2 years now with the Bergman SPC 1.0 adjustable UCA's. Plenty of street driving and probably 80-100 hits at the track. It seemed like the last time out I got a small wander at the big end of the track - certainly more than the car's usual dead straight run. Could it have just been the track? Maybe. Car also does a little wheelie at the track so that also made me want to have a look.

Found things hadn't changed much but enough that I went ahead and adjusted it. These UCA's make alignment adjustments VERY easy so I got my tools out and had at it.
Only had 2.2 deg caster on the LH (was 3.0 deg when i originally set it) and still had 3.0 deg on the RH. So I added some to both and set them to 3.6 deg at ride height. That degrades to about 3.2 deg at 1" of body lift and 2.2 deg at 2" body lift (measured at front tire fender opening). I don't know what the lift is at the big end of the track where caster matters the most so I just assume 1". (It has 4" or so lift on the hit.) Camber was set at about -0.4 deg with sides. I set toe to 1/8" also.

So we'll see how this plays out the next track day, currently planned for early September. (Thought some would get a chuckle out of my "tools. Yep, Mr BFH is always nearby but doesn't get used for this job. But my setup works and gets what I need!!)
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I have to relocate 3 holes in my steering wheel adapter. Everything is lining up, except the steering wheel is clocked a bit off.
Install fuel cell gasket, get hardware for installing the seat harnesses. My friend Bob, believes we have all the electrical bugs worked out, now.
Get a real front-end alignment, and a chassis cert. Krusty should make some passes very soon. I hate the racegas, but LOVE the power/torque.

Edit: Relocated the holes on the mill, steering wheel clocked properly. Gasket installed...need longer bolts. SERIOUSLY!
Tomorrow is bolt day, for harnesses and fuel cell.
 
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I bought Karrin an older BMW 500 series because her daughter totaled our Mopar Caravan. It was mechanic owned and had a very fair sticker of 3K. I did it because I work with the guy and he is a good mechanic and works for beer. I don't want to work on daily drivers after being in this hot fab center all day so I hoped this would be a hint. I don't work on BMW's! When I am coming home from work, I see it at the local Casey's gas station so I stopped. It's a very small town and when the clerk saw me walk in she told me the car stalled, and she had given Karrin a ride home. I go home to get my gas can and jumper cables. I forgot to get the key, so I had to go back home...OOPS. I went to try a quick start and the damn steering column automatically lowered to a comfortable position. (I hope that **** never breaks) It cranked good but no start...low fuel level light on. It took me a while to figure out how to get the fuel door open. (The manual was in German) LOL. I put the gas in and it fired right up. Now when the fuel light is on and you are pulling into the only gas station within 8 miles from home why do you pull up to the front door instead of the pump? get a ride home from the nice clerk rather than put gas in the car? and go back home in the air conditioning? What should I do next? LOL
 
jeff alder said:
I bought Karrin an older BMW 500 series because her daughter totaled our Mopar Caravan. It was mechanic owned and had a very fair sticker of 3K. I did it because I work with the guy and he is a good mechanic and works for beer. I don't want to work on daily drivers after being in this hot fab center all day so I hoped this would be a hint. I don't work on BMW's! When I am coming home from work, I see it at the local Casey's gas station so I stopped. It's a very small town and when the clerk saw me walk in she told me the car stalled, and she had given Karrin a ride home. I go home to get my gas can and jumper cables. I forgot to get the key, so I had to go back home...OOPS. I went to try a quick start and the damn steering column automatically lowered to a comfortable position. (I hope that **** never breaks) It cranked good but no start...low fuel level light on. It took me a while to figure out how to get the fuel door open. (The manual was in German) LOL. I put the gas in and it fired right up. Now when the fuel light is on and you are pulling into the only gas station within 8 miles from home why do you pull up to the front door instead of the pump? get a ride home from the nice clerk rather than put gas in the car? and go back home in the air conditioning? What should I do next? LOL
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What year 5..
Had a few i work on with 300k
Do you self a favor run premium
Your cats with that you
 
Demonx2 said:
Today was alignment check/verify day. The avatar has over 2 years now with the Bergman SPC 1.0 adjustable UCA's. Plenty of street driving and probably 80-100 hits at the track. It seemed like the last time out I got a small wander at the big end of the track - certainly more than the car's usual dead straight run. Could it have just been the track? Maybe. Car also does a little wheelie at the track so that also made me want to have a look.

Found things hadn't changed much but enough that I went ahead and adjusted it. These UCA's make alignment adjustments VERY easy so I got my tools out and had at it.
Only had 2.2 deg caster on the LH (was 3.0 deg when i originally set it) and still had 3.0 deg on the RH. So I added some to both and set them to 3.6 deg at ride height. That degrades to about 3.2 deg at 1" of body lift and 2.2 deg at 2" body lift (measured at front tire fender opening). I don't know what the lift is at the big end of the track where caster matters the most so I just assume 1". (It has 4" or so lift on the hit.) Camber was set at about -0.4 deg with sides. I set toe to 1/8" also.

So we'll see how this plays out the next track day, currently planned for early September. (Thought some would get a chuckle out of my "tools. Yep, Mr BFH is always nearby but doesn't get used for this job. But my setup works and gets what I need!!)
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Very good. I've never got around to learning how to align my own front ends.
 
65 Cuda 340 said:
Very good. I've never got around to learning how to align my own front ends.
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Well I'm no expert but I am able to get it done. And if I can, anyone can!!

Those SPC fully adjustable UCA's on the avatar make setting caster and camber a breeze. And it doesn't take long to get a feel for how many turns of each leg does what for caster or camber. Doing the alignment with the standard UCA's (like on my other cars) can be challenging/frustrating since you have generally have to trade caster and camber and sometimes one side won't allow the same result as the other side.
 
After the alignment, I just had to take the avatar for a spin. A 408 is intoxicating!!

Brought it back to the garage about dusk. Pic before I shut it off. For reference, those are LED dash bulbs from superbrightled.com. (They are dimmable but not dimmed in this car.)

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Demonx2 said:
After the alignment, I just had to take the avatar for a spin. A 408 is intoxicating!!

Brought it back to the garage about dusk. Pic before I shut it off. For reference, those are LED dash bulbs from superbrightled.com. (They are dimmable but not dimmed in this car.)

View attachment 1716444830
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Hell yeah! Looks like a damn space ship cockpit.
 
Finally finished my air shifter setup. Now 90% of my racing controls are in 1 place and I rewired everything so each component is easily removable and serviceable. Turned out pretty good.

I cannot wait to use the air shifter. Going to enjoy the consistency.


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Is that black cherry
Looks cool in the pics
Just not sure if its the lighting
 
That is cool....what the van got in it
I guess he could have a cherry clear sprayed over the black and make it better.......
 
Mr. Sinister helped me get the new belts installed and adjusted in Krusty. That was a few days ago. Hoping to
make the Romeo, Lion's Club/Peach Festival show on Sunday. Gonna make a bit of noise. Hoping Frank can come along for the day.
 
My electrical guy is coming over to change a couple parts. I'm also going to have him wire-in a dome-light for the overhead switch panel.
The chassis is supposed to get it's cert tag, this week. The weather is becoming perfect for some testing at the track.
 
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Swapperoo from street trim to race trim. Dropped the exhaust system off and put the slicks on. Gotta load it up in the trailer in the next 2 days to go racing on Saturday. Summer is about over and racing season starts back up. Only supposed to be 92 on Saturday lol!!
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