Cars, Computers, Society in General
All things automotive
Fair warning, this will be longer than a typical post. Way back in February, I did something crazy. I entered the Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car event schedule for the NCM Motorsports Park the weekend of June 10th. At the same time, I ordered my big Weld RT-S71B forged 18×9.5″ wheels. I was …
Read More “The Road to (and from) the Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car”
So, there have been more than a few posts on here regarding my foolish endeavors prepping my Grand National for SCCA autocross competition. Some regard it as silliness, most others think it’s pretty badass. I’m having fun with it, though, and that’s all that really matters. That, and results. Is what I’m doing working? How …
My Cadillac CTS-V sprang a really bad power steering leak the other day. Big leak. Giant puddle on the floor. Turns out it was the pinion seal on the rack and pinion assembly. Changing in the car would be a bit insane, so I had to pull the rack. Now, there’s no procedure for removing …
Well, really not part two, because I’m not changing anything, just reporting back. I am happy to report that after this past Sunday’s KYSCCA Event at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, my PCV solution works. The car did’t puke any oil out of the breathers. Victory!
The 1984-1987 (and 1989 Turbo Trans Am) engines had something that was relatively new to GM in the 1980s: A serpentine belt with a tensioner to drive the accessories. All the other G-Body powerplants (305 V8, 231 non-turbo V6, and the 4.3L V6) used multiple V-belts, with the tension set by feel. The Grand National, …
Turbocharged Buick V6 engines are famous for many things. One of them is puking oil out of every possible spot when the engine is under boost. They blow the dipstick tubes out. They force oil past the rear main seal. They spray oil out the valve cover breathers. Mine even was forcing oil out of …
So let’s talk about seats for a bit. Seats are important. Seats keep you in front of the steering wheel while you’re driving. When you turn, seats, combined with the seat belts, keep you from shifting around inside the car. In a crash, seats and seat belts keep you from getting crushed, either by slamming …
Enjoy!
I had the honor of participating in the first Speedway Motors CAM Challenge East, hosted by the SCCA at Grissom Air Base in Peru, Indiana, this past weekend. To say it was a blast is an understatement. The course was fast, the cars were incredible, and the people were fantastic. The contrast between this event …
So, there was an autocross yesterday. The day started quite rainy, resulting in a low turnout, but things cleared and we had a fantastic afternoon for an event. Seven runs, done by 3. Perfect. Except on my second run, somebody came running up to my car to tell me I’d let loose of a large …