Another season winding down!

[cowbay]

Well just finished draining water out of my cooling system and replacing with antifreeze. Just got the motor dialed and broken in. Over 600 miles street driven, but unless a miracle happens this upcoming weekend I don't think I will make it to the track this year. Well, maybe it won't be to cold for the track to be closed and my wife will be feeling better from her chemo treatment from last week, that I can take this car out for a few passes.
If it does not happen this weekend the one thing I can guarantee is that I will be one of the first one's out in 09 to see what my science expert can do.:2215:

[mikelbeck]

I'm looking forward to the 2009 season... I'm hoping to have a set of heads that doesn't leak into the motor. That's really all I want. Oh, plus an 11 second timeslip. ;-)

[cowbay]

I had some problems with my heads leaking. I was lucky just re-torqued the heads and all is good so far. As for me if I can get into the high 12's I will be happy.

[mikelbeck]

I think there was a crack in one of my heads, I had the same thing happen twice and when I swapped the head from one side of the motor to the other, the same thing happened. The first time it hydraulic'd the motor, the second time I got lucky and there was no internal damage.

[cowbay]

So what are you going to do? Repair the head if possible or go with another set? Knock wood on no other damage.

[mikelbeck]

So what are you going to do? Repair the head if possible or go with another set? Knock wood on no other damage.

The guy who ported these heads for me sent me another set (915J's) that flowed pretty much the same as my X's. But they were damaged in shipped, so I filed a claim with UPS. After a few weeks they came to get them to "inspect" them. Part of that inspection seems to be shipping them back to the original shipper, cuz that's what they did. And they got lost along the way... So I filed a second claim. After going back and forth with UPS for a few months they finally paid on the original claim, plus the shipping cost for the original set.

Now, the head guy has done another head for me, another 915J. That one flows almost exactly the same as my X and has been milled to match. Today I just pulled the springs, valves and parts off my damaged head and will be sending them down to him so he can assemble the J and send it back to me - FedEx this time instead of UPS. Then I'll have one X head and one J head, but it really don't matter because the end result will be the same.

[cowbay]

So what did they get the heads to flow? Sounds like a real soap opera there with UPS

[Tmac]

I just started tearing down my Vega.What a mess.I figure I'll have it done by the first race here on Long Island.It will either be May b or nevurary.:confused:

[mikelbeck]

So what did they get the heads to flow? Sounds like a real soap opera there with UPS

Here's a side-by-side of the X and J head.

Lift....................Int.X..................... ...Int.J
.100...................82......................... 82
.200..................164.......................16 1
.300..................209.......................20 2
.400..................242.......................23 5
.450..................249.......................24 8
.500..................246.......................25 3
.600..................241.......................24 3

The J actually flows a little more at .500 lift and above, but my cam is a 513/533 so it really won't take advantage of that. Desktop Dyno says it should make 479 HP @ 6000 and 452 TQ @ 5000. That's with small tube headers & mufflers. Opening the headers adds about 40 HP.

You aint kidding about UPS. I was getting nowhere with them until I sent out an e-mail bomb to the board of directors... the next morning I had a bunch of voice mails from all sorts of executive assistants, secretarys, etc. Got that problem resolved much quicker.

[Pete_48anglia]

Or is it unibody with back half? Ladder bars? or 4link.
I built a frame and 4 link for mine, if you ever want to check it out for some ideas I think I am right around the corner from Mike you are welcome to come on over. Before I built this car I looked at as many vegas as I could find, there is lots of good engineering ideas out there.
Before the Anglia I went to the Indy NHRA nationals as a spectator and looked at every Anglia there took pictures and brought it all together. Then 2 years later I competed there with it.
To Mike... If you want to flow your heads I have a flow bench in the shop.
Pete

[mikelbeck]

Or is it unibody with back half? Ladder bars? or 4link.
I built a frame and 4 link for mine, if you ever want to check it out for some ideas I think I am right around the corner from Mike you are welcome to come on over. Before I built this car I looked at as many vegas as I could find, there is lots of good engineering ideas out there.
Before the Anglia I went to the Indy NHRA nationals as a spectator and looked at every Anglia there took pictures and brought it all together. Then 2 years later I competed there with it.
To Mike... If you want to flow your heads I have a flow bench in the shop.
Pete

Where's your shop?

[Pete_48anglia]

Behind sub station 3 of the CFD.

[mikelbeck]

Behind sub station 3 of the CFD.

Is that the one on Coram-Mt. Sinai or 112?

[Pete_48anglia]

Hey mike how about I pm or email you my cell# (Not sure how to do that here)

[cowbay]

I just started tearing down my Vega.What a mess.I figure I'll have it done by the first race here on Long Island.It will either be May b or nevurary.:confused:

Good deal on the Vega. One of my buddies is into the newer small Chevy's "a monza". Believe it or not there are some of the younger generation that loves those cars. When we are pinks all out there were three guys early 20's at most that were enthralled by that car and one of them was looking to build up a Vega or monza. That is going to some wild ride a light short wheel base car. How big of a build up are you going to do?

Ken's Monza at Pinks, car was off that day:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYyjVbN5q_4


Just some videos of some Vega's I found on you tube for inspiration (there are alot of them):



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kumjBp5p0GM

Here is one with an international feel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5BwW6VwIbo&feature=related

[Tmac]

Or is it unibody with back half? Ladder bars? or 4link.
I built a frame and 4 link for mine, if you ever want to check it out for some ideas I think I am right around the corner from Mike you are welcome to come on over. Before I built this car I looked at as many vegas as I could find, there is lots of good engineering ideas out there.
Before the Anglia I went to the Indy NHRA nationals as a spectator and looked at every Anglia there took pictures and brought it all together. Then 2 years later I competed there with it.
To Mike... If you want to flow your heads I have a flow bench in the shop.
Pete
Wouldn't mind taking a look.I've taken pictures of several cars to reference.I was going with an S&W backhalf kit with ladders,frame connectors a 12 point cage which I already have.I live in Patchogue work in Manhattan six days a week.I'm building on a budget and as time goes by will look to improve performance.I figure getting the body and chassis done first is most important.This car is rough but I've fixed worse.I was looking at other vegas but after many miles and disappointments I've figured I could have had this one done already.My son is into building the car he wants to learn I hope I remember it's been a while.
I looked at a 48 anglia a couple years ago an old gasser 3 grand what a mess though.

[Pete_48anglia]

Het,Tmac that sounds good. I know a guy with a Monza, big block with ladder bars and he runs 8.90's. Last year I was talking with a very notable chassis builder and his advice was to keep the Vega under 170 or lengthen the wheelbase. Not a problem here lol. I have a 355 small block in mine and it dynoed at 511 when I first ran it. Then it went 10.40's with a T400 transmission. Had great 60 ft times though 1.38 but top end was lacking. I thought it was time for a Powerglide so I changed. At first the 60 ft went to 1.40's , the et's were about .05 slower but it was more consistent lol. To me that was no fun though it just felt too slow. I went to work on the old Brodix heads and got it running better. Finally got over 130. I cant tell you how many times it went 129.9 but that was a big barrier.It runs a lot better with the head work. I recall that you have a vega wagon, is the wheelbase the same as the hatch back? Mine is 98 inches. Another thing that I found real helpful was to install rack and pinion steering. It's a lot quicker steering and with a short wheelbase it's a big help. The Vega steering does however get the job done but the rack is a big improvement. Later........Pete

[FANTASY FACTORY]

Mike, just get it over with and o-ring it, i had a pallet full of door stops before i learned ya never gonna get a good seal on those 4 bolt heads, cracks, burn thru's. always pushing gaskets, shim gaskets, stainless steel, perma's, marine gaskets. finnally got a full season without pulling the heads and what do i do? get married! OY!

[Tmac]

Thank's for the videos Cowboy.My build is going to be getting the car itself straightened out,make it safe than what ever is left of my budget I have a 350 motor 4 bolt block and by the numbers out of a truck.I was thinking about a stroker 383 time will tell.

[cowbay]

You don't anything more than a stroker for that car, a light weight car like that will fly. My buddy with his monza with a 355 has run in the high nines with his. I give you credit on going for such a big build up with the car. I work six days a week myself and to build another motor for the car was a year of getting the money together and a almost a year to build. I am waiting for that eighth day myself to put more time into the car.

[novadose454]

Wouldn't mind taking a look.I've taken pictures of several cars to reference.I was going with an S&W backhalf kit with ladders,frame connectors a 12 point cage which I already have.I live in Patchogue work in Manhattan six days a week.I'm building on a budget and as time goes by will look to improve performance.I figure getting the body and chassis done first is most important.This car is rough but I've fixed worse.I was looking at other vegas but after many miles and disappointments I've figured I could have had this one done already.My son is into building the car he wants to learn I hope I remember it's been a while.
I looked at a 48 anglia a couple years ago an old gasser 3 grand what a mess though.


try art....applied racing technology...in clearwater fla...thats where i got my back half...theyll do custom sizes too if you want....i wanted the frame rails at 40 inches they did it with no problem.....the other guys wanted extra money etc....you saw the pics on it in my build....and it was a dream getting it all together...ladder bars....and even had them build my custom rear housing....

[Tmac]

Thanks for the info dose unfortunatly I already have the S&W stuff but I do have A 9" rear I was looking to narrow if that's still possible or maybe find a new housing.Do you have a web site address for these guys?

[novadose454]

http://appliedracing.com/



check them out.....thier stuff is dead nuts 90 degree angles..e.tc........putting the nova back together was a dream....the rear was something to behold....everyone climbs under the car to look at it...shame its under the car .lol

[Art]

Thanks for the info dose unfortunatly I already have the S&W stuff but I do have A 9" rear I was looking to narrow if that's still possible or maybe find a new housing.Do you have a web site address for these guys?

I know a local guy who has a jig for doing rears. (of course I cannot find his number....) Sometimes it is cheaper to hunt for what you need then to make it. Moser does lots of 9 inch stuff. That way you get the axles at the same time.

[Tmac]

Thanks for the info guys I'm just checking my options.You know this is one of those positives of being a member here SHARING IDEAS AND INFO it show those that chose to look an option they my find helpful and make them want to join and shows those that monitor our activities that we work together to achieve our goals.

[spikeybabe22]

what wait where did that come from nova...what did I misss.

[RICHIESBLOWN34]

what wait where did that come from nova...what did i misss.

yea ...what happened.

[RICHIESBLOWN34]

I hope he wasnt talking about Fred

[Tmac]

I'll pass on that info seeing as I only use that for an exhaust port.

[novadose454]

lol....good answer .i like that tmac....lol....

[Supershafts]

I know a local guy who has a jig for doing rears.

See frame performance (louie) in patchogue or call Barry 516-780-5963 in brookhaven

You can tell them i sent you.

As for Moser, i am a dealer...

[cowbay]

See frame performance (louie) in patchogue or call Barry 516-780-5963 in brookhaven

You can tell them i sent you.

As for Moser, i am a dealer...

Marty,
Do you deal with Moser axles?

[Tmac]

Shafts do you have a # for Louie's shop I live in patchogue.Near your old shop.See you for axles and spool when ready.

[cowbay]

Well did not get the car to the track last weekend.:( To many things at home going on. But I did have it out on saturday to run around for work. I will take it out a few more times and into the garage it will go till spring. Now I have to go the whole winter and wait in anticipation to find out what the new motor can do. :3gears: Hoping for good weather in the first weekend of march so e-town will be open.:smile:

[novadose454]

i just got my motor broken in too....im ready when you are...well all go to etown or island...whicever..
who else is up for it...next season

[cowbay]

i just got my motor broken in too....im ready when you are...well all go to etown or island...whicever..
who else is up for it...next season

I am for that. The best times are at the track is with more people. Let's face it that is part of the great part of the sport is the social aspect of it.

[novadose454]

good...cause im looking to better my time with the new setup.....well see....