Mid engine Notch Speedster getting more updates...

[Bobnotch]

[vwfye]

So, a bunch of the changes I made (non-engine/drivetrain) do not work as laid out. So, have to do a bunch of moving and resorting. No $, just time.
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[vwfye]

Man, this stuff is humbling. I have been dealing with a dead cylinder. Weeks of frustration... I checked for intake leaks when this appeared with carb cleaner and couldn't find any sign at the dead whole. So today, I rebuilt a different carb that I had, put it in place, tighten everything down and fired off the engine, only to have the exact same problem. Augh!!!

So I decided to use a propane torch to see if I had missed something, and as soon as it got near cylinder number 2, at the base of the intake manifold, the cylinder came to life. After 3 carb rebuilds on the 1st carb, rebuilding an entirely different carb and putting it in, it comes down to what I and others had thought it was in the 1st place. A freaking intake air leak.
I am not sure why the carb cleaner didn't find it, but I am using propane for now on!
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[Tram]

[vwfye]

After tearing 2 gaskets trying to open them for the heads, the 3rd is on and all 4 cylinders live! I can race Saturday!
Now, to change the slave cylinder and bleed it so I have a clutch, put the seats back in, find the old engine cover, fix the access cover so it stays closed, put the tonneau cover studs back in so it is rain resistant, torque the lugs, adjust the fuel pressure, tighten the linkage, add the breather, and... whew, that's still a list!

Oh, and this time, the STF engine has great oil pressure!
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[Bobnotch]

[vwfye]

The initial reward for the thrash.

A clean, no broken parts, pass is all I want.
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[Bobnotch]

So, how'd you do?
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[vwfye]

Lots of tire spin... I was going to run high tire pressure to protect the transmission, but after sitting in the lanes for an hour, they tire pressure climbed way too high.
Second run, dropped the pressure down to where I wanted the 1st pass, but still too much and spun bad again.

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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[Bobnotch]

[vwfye]

[vwfye]

My second pass was funny. I dropped the tire pressure and launched at the same rpm. I missed 2nd gear, found 4th and just puttered through. 13.49 @ 43 mph. Here is the funny. Last year, the bone stock squareback, with perfect shifts ran a best of 14.22 @ 42 mph. So, I was still faster than last year!
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[Bobnotch]

[vwfye]

I know. 75lbs. The ladder system and roll bar seem to have made up for the roof and glass.
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[vwfye]

I have decided, after missing a gear again with the cable shifter, I am done with trying to race his car.

The midengine is great for much, but for quick fixes at the track and servicing it between events just doesn't work.

Going to make it a cruiser again...
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[Bobnotch]

That might be a good plan. But then it'd been over a year (maybe 2) since you last drove it, which means it sounds like you're out of practice with it. Rob has that issue when he goes back and forth between his Civics, as 1 is a 5 speed car, and the other is a 6 speed manual car.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[vwfye]

The shifter is so vague, that even when driving it without speed shifting, it can be a pain in the butt.
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[vwfye]

This Saturday/Sunday (weather) is it. If the rain comes, it is still it. The last race for the car. After that, back to a street only car. I'm sad, and happy. I'm looking forward to the next version of the car though...
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[vwfye]

Loading in a couple hours, after the showers pass...
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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"

[vwfye]

Loaded for the last hurrah...

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64 No'back Speedster "Pearl"
1980s Sand Dragster "The Plunger"
LME "Little Giant Killer 3"