Old Alfa Racer Pics from So. West Div.

[Alfar7]

Here`s a pic of the car this weekend.

[Gordon Raymond]

I remember the skinny little guy. Can't be YOU!

[genericwood]

Richard, really sorry to hear about the mechanical problems. But it was great to see a picture of the car (and you) on the track again. Congratulations! I'm working to get Jack Beck's old GP Spider Junior back on the track again next year. But I don't work as fast as you!

[GTV4EVR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by genericwood Richard, really sorry to hear about the mechanical problems. But it was great to see a picture of the car (and you) on the track again. Congratulations! I'm working to get Jack Beck's old GP Spider Junior back on the track again next year. But I don't work as fast as you!

[Alfar7]

Here are more pics from Dave Anderson & Bill Levy
Cars are mine, Tom Turner (Super) Dave Anderson (GTV), and Caesar Cone (Yellow Duetto)

[Nader]

Your cage's main hoop is ridiculously low. It's an affront to safety.

[Alfar7]

Quote:

Your cage's main hoop is ridiculously low. It's an affront to safety.

[Alfar7]

I`ve was... getting the Duetto ready to Race this weekend at Roebling.
That entailed changing the intake cam to one design from a new master that
provides a bit less early duration than the RjR550 and both more open valve duration and a full 13mm lobe lift.

Set up the motor sounded terrific, and on the chassis dyno the numbers were fantastic (190+ at 6800 RPM at the wheels) until the 4th pull which started to deteriate at 7000 rpm and steam from the exhaust. On inspection #4 sleeve was cracked.

I built another sleeve to fit (.040 decked with sealing ring) and reassembled the motor. Back to the dyno. Had similar #s with with Tq & Hp at 172 at 5250RPM and HP over 190 (RW) from 6100 to rev limiter at 7000 (196hp)
Changed air correctors to lean it down and raised rev limiter to 7500 for the last run and poof same problem this time #2 liner. Lower RPM #s were better to the point of failure...

Too much combustion pressures on these cast bored .040 over iron liners with 14 to one CR and low overlap cams not bleeding it off...
No race for me this weekend... Will have the sleeves duplicated in steel. Enough of this crap.

Pics show old liner and 2 new spares built on Tuesday
Others show sleeve instal from the top. No need to pull pan etc......

[Gordon Raymond]

I have had a similar issue with 1600's bored to 80mm with liners cracks at the skirts at 12 to one. 79 mm work fine. The steel liners should be a good fix. How much to you have to add /delete to overall height with steel liners vs iron to compensate for longitudinal expansion? Same as iron? Less? More?

[AlfaVeloce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfar7 I suppose you think I should build something that is really tall and hidious appearing as yours?

[Gordon Raymond]

This is good Larry. These things passed with the driver years ago, we shrink (ONLY height wise) as we get older, and the younger tech inspectors want them taller now that we are shorter! Oh well, rules are rules.
I remember when we raced without bars in the spiders (not wet or dry, but roll) and everyone was happy as we tried real hard to avoid rolling our cars! Then when we first had them, we hated them so made them out of exhaust tubing to avoid weight. Inspectors did NOT like that, and required we drill a required inspection hole or two to see how thick the tube was. We used dull drills and PUSHED them through, leaving a metal collar on the inside about 1/8 inch thicker than the tube. We also kept them low for aerodynamics!
So RJ's car is PERFECT as it was when raced in it's former life. As is my car that once again has N O bar, (wet or dry).

[Alfar7]

[QUOTENow Nader's, on the other hand, I think is way too tall and would be given to structural failure in a rollover. You should have an engineer, someone good with structural dynamics, take a look at that.

][/QUOTE]

Actually Nader`s roll hoop is way outside technical specifications, and is very unsafe.
Far too tall relative to the support members.

Rather than moan defensively because it is not only ugly, but unsafe, he should invest in either a SCCA GCR or purchase the chassis design specifications manuals from SFI (SEMA Foundation Inc.) used by most organizers inc NHRA, IHRA, SCTC, (Bonneville) etc.

He won`t be happy to be excluded at an organizers event that actually "scrutinizes" the chassis build.

And, to prevent future debate all 3 of my cars, the Duetto, GTR, and the Montreal "Coupe" have inspector stamps from a SEMA inspector on the cages. (SEMA / 55) Foy Gilmore (go ahead Google him!)

For the less aware, don`t forget the distance below the roll hoop for the helmet top is 2 inches. And that is from the TOP of the hoop. I have about 3" when not farting.

[Curtis]

OK. I cant stand not being able to figure it out any longer. I gotta ask. How in the world do you compress the rings with the piston down in the block and change a sleeve without pulling the pan? That is quite a trick!

[Biscione]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis OK. I cant stand not being able to figure it out any longer. I gotta ask. How in the world do you compress the rings with the piston down in the block and change a sleeve without pulling the pan? That is quite a trick!

[Alfar7]

He is correct, I cut a large taper in the bottom of the sleeve. I`ll dig the new one out of the trash and take a pic of the cut. One that had a crack in the thin part, that was found on the magnaflux after machining last tuesday. It apparantly happened during boring/honeing early in the year when made.

It would likely have been usable if I epoxied the liners in, but that ends quick repair at the track.

I broke sections out so the profiles are evident. Old liner is dark where the crack developed under load. Taper is a bit hard to see ...