Roxanne - budget milano/75 track car

[AR4me]

I'm no fuel line expert, but I'm surprised that fuel lines like this are acceptable in a mass produced car. But then again, I guess history has proved it works. On the 3.7 we put solid fuel lines under the car. Though, I always thought that putting them under the car also carries some risk if you go farming in rocks... I wonder if it is better to have them inside the cabin... perhaps we should look into rule books from race orgs for pointers...

To make matters worse, on the platinum both fuel lines were pinched under the edge of the tray that holds the ECU Though, that could be from someone messing with it at some point. I haven't yet decided what to do about the fuel lines on Roxanne.
Jes

[gday]

Hey Jes. In the spitfire, they routed the fuel line through the center of the cabin with steel-braided line. It makes me a little nervous with it sitting so close to me, but its the farthest away from any point of impact in the car, and like you said, it does keep it safe from the occasional trips across the croquet lawn. The SCCA are cool with it being routed that wayif that means anything to you.

Graham

[PSk]

Gee you Americans are such safety pansies , I'm surprised you can ever muster up enough courage to even take your car on the track .

As for fuel lines, or anything on any 'to be tracked car', do it by the rule book or don't do it at all. Nothing more upsetting than turning up for your first race and being told your car does not meet the necessary safety, etc. requirements.

If you run your sold fuel lines under the car but up next to chassis members they are pretty damn safe and that is why manufacturers usually put them there. A rock is not going to hurt a fuel line by bouncing off ... but a car bottoming might, but that is why they are routed next to chassis rails ... as the chassis rail will take the hit. In the end nothing is ever perfectly safe, that is impossible.

If you do end up routing through the car then I like the flexible hose idea, thus in a major crash hopefully the line will just flex and not burst and spray fuel on the driver (wouldn't matter as much if outside the car).

I hope you also have vented your hopefully sealed battery box ... now that it is the same 'space' that the driver is as if you roll that car you will now have acid rolling around the passenger area UNLESS you 100% seal the rear bulkhead (often a rule requirement, especially if you have fuel tank above the floor, etc.). I ran my club car with the battery in the passenger foot well, with a foam sponge on top of the battery to soak up any acid ... if I ever flipped it.

Now please go and get that rule book and stop guessing .
Pete

[AR4me]

Quote:

Gee you Americans are such safety pansies

[PSk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AR4me Of the 3 people speaking about the fuel lines no one is American We are all aliens in America Well, some of us permanent residents by now.

[AR4me]

Quote:

you could hold up the Sydney Harbour bridge with the rollcage!

[AR4me]

Just minor progress to report.

Replaced the timing belt. The old belt was outright scary - surprised it lasted a track event It is full of little cracks on the outside (see pic below), and as I mentioned earlier it was shedding like a cat. Anyway, got the new thermostat and new two short hoses between sensor housing and engine on. The water pump felt very good - no play whatsoever - new ones often have more (and it does spin freely), so it was left alone. Had the tensioner off and checked the springs, looked good, so it went back on for some more... Wire-brushed off the rust where the old battery shelf used to sit, and primed and painted - color not the best match, but it'll do.

See pics below for some details.

Got radiator and new hoses etc in boxes- everything is ready to go on

Jes

[Grant]

Wow Jess, you're brave. I'm afraid to drive a milano with an unknown timing belt, let alone track it! Glad everything worked out. Hope to see you guys at the track some time later this year.

[nizam]

Grant - there are two more track events with AROSC:

September - driving school
October - time trials and race

Which ones did you want to come to? We can caravan down from NorCal.

[PSk]

You need to hire a steam cleaner and clean the front of that engine (and engine bay) ... otherwise you are sacrificing your nice new belt. Oil and rubber timing belts do not like each other and while I understand this is a budget race car and maybe not the final engine ... well I'd turn the car away if I was the scrutineer due to oil leaks.

Race cars should start the day spotless. It's important for safety/performance so you can easily see things leaking or going wrong.

Best
Pete

[AR4me]

Quote:

well I'd turn the car away if I was the scrutineer due to oil leaks.

[Grant]

Depending on the price and location, I'd like to do the time trial. I'm a little iffy about driving down to Willow Springs...I once left my house at 11 pm to compete in a drift thingie at Willow Springs that started at 5PM and ended at 12 PM..then drove home to San Jose and arrived at 6 AM!! That was the most tired I have EVER been.

Also, which event gives you the most seat time? PM me if you want.

[Grant]

OK, all the upcoming events are at Willow Springs, and the Time Trial atleast is quite pricey ($250 minimum?).

[gday]

If you're looking for track time in california you have to look really really hard to get a better deal than AROSC. $250 is for a two day event. Most track events are between $170 and $250/day, and you don't get as much time on the track, are not as safe or well run, you don't get to "compete", and you don't get to hang around a bunch of realy cool alfas. You should come, if only for the chance to make fun of Jes's sun hat.