1 (edited by psychoboy 2013-04-29 10:33 AM)

Topic: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

I only get one day a week off work, and I spent it picking up a free race car.

It was dark when I collected my Big Effin' Van from my shop in south Oklahoma City. I had prepped BEV the night before for the 15 hour drive she was facing, mostly by cleaning the loose crap out of the back and hanging the trailer on her. Like many teams that thrive in The 24 Hours of Lemons, I operate on a very shoestring budget. My towpig of choice is a 2006 Dodge Sprinter long wheelbase hightop that had over a quarter of a million miles on it when I bought it. It offers reasonable fuel ecomony, good enough towing capacity, and enough inside space to function as an all weather workshop, camping facility, and a Paddock-In-A-Box (tm) when race duty calls.

After collecting BEV, I swung back by my humble abode to collect my lovely fiancee, since she'd decided to accompany me on this foolhardy quest. This required negotiating a 22 foot long van pulling a 22 foot long trailer through the narrow streets of a 1930s historic neighborhood on OKCs near north side. To add to the complication, OKC's Memorial Marathon runs down my street, the seventh mile marker lives in my yard. Though the race wasn't scheduled to start for another half hour, I had to try to attempt to not run over the eager beavers who had evidently started their running two hours early. They were randomly spaced across the entire 20 foot width of the street, and my 8 and a half foot wide trailer kinda caught a couple of them off guard even with the clatter of a diesel engine idling down the street behind them. So much for an official schedule of street closings. I finally wormed my way out of the Marathon by driving through the 21st mile to get to the interstate.

Once on the open road, BEV stretched out and ran a fairly solid 75 mph for 6 hours into a bit of a headwind averaging 15.5 miles per gallon, she even pulled most of the hills in southwest Missouri without dropping too much speed or getting hot. After covering 400 miles or so, we found ourselves in the Lowe's parking lot in Rolla, Missouri. We were scheduled to meet NMF racing at 1:00 after their successful K-Car showing at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Michigan. Since we had a couple minutes to spare, we stepped inside to collect some bits and pieces I'd need for the Eagles Canyon race. Of course, by leaving the van, we caused Albert to appear with the K-Car. Had we sat in the van waiting, I'm sure he would have had some sort of trouble that would have put him behind five hours or something.

We hastily made our purchases and ventured out to see my new car.

I might have the honor of being the first K-racer that's actually seen the car before taking possession of it. NSF racing debuted it at the 2012 season ender at ECR last December. It was fairly terrible then, and it's oddly differently terrible now. Albert unloaded it from his U-Haul trailer, and we parked it and got some pictures of the key handoff for posterity. I've signed titles, I've handwritten bills of sale on a fast food receipt in the rain, but I've never bought a car merely by accepting a single key living on a black zip tie.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8266/8692197951_104f53f9c2_c.jpg


We loaded the K up on my trailer, strapped it down, and set off for home.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8693203994_eae62f75b2_c.jpg

We stopped in Springfield, Missouri because the iPhone thinks there is a Dairy Queen downtown. Like DQs in Oklahoma, there used to be one there, but it's gone now. We did find a decent little pizza place, so we stopped there to eat. Only one problem, where to park this rolling circus? It took some doing, but I managed to find a couple street side parallel parking spaces i could cram over 40 feet of Lemons rig into, lengthwise, at least....

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8693205000_823babd39a_c.jpg

i'm sure the BMW owner was happy to see this about a foot and a half from their bumper when they attempted to leave.


With our bellies full (there is a new DQ further south), we once again hit the open road. Dragging a ton of American Majesty was a little more taxing on BEV, but she just raised her temps a bit, and dropped her mileage down to 15 mpg to show her disapproval. We did have one more photo stop to make, because you can't NOT take a picture here when the opportunity arises.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8115/8693206188_f5d264f23b_c.jpg

See the USA, in a Reliant K.



The drive home was uneventful. We stowed the rig at my shop, and got back to the house fourteen hours after we left.. Today after work, I'll unload it and figure what needs to be done (and what can be done) between now and friday morning when we load it all back up and head off to ECR.



Thanks again to NSF racing for making this whole thing possible, and the NMF racing for getting it this far. Hope to see you guys again somewhere down the road!

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

Awesome.  Look forward to seeing it in person this weekend.

30 Time Loser with Class C, Index of Effluency, I got Screwed and Heroic Fix Trophies who usually races, according to Car and Driver, The Greatest Road Racing Cherokee in History.

Check out our FB Page and follow our various exploits.

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

Prepare to be underwhelmed.

Speedycop/NSF Racing /Pinewood Dirtbags
'10 Summit, CMP3, Autobahn, '11 CMP1, NJMP, CMP2, Summit, G'man, Stafford, Charlotte, Autobahn, ECR '12 CMP1, NJMP, G'man, NHMS1, Summit, CMP2, NHMS2, ECR, '13 CMP1, ECR, Summit, NJMP, THill, CMP2, MSR, NHMS, Sears '14 Barber, Sears1, ECR, CMP1, NJMP1, BWillow, Sebring, CMP2, THill, Sears2, '15 Sears1, Barber, Ridge, THill, '16 Sears1

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

SUCKER!!!!!

Dangerous Banned Technology (NOLA 09), Judges Choice (Houston 2010), Organizers Choice (NOLA 2010), Most Heroic Fix (Dallas 2010), $100 from Jay's Pocket (Dallas 2010), Dangerous Homemade Technology (NOLA 2010), Ununhexium Legends of Lemons Status,  Index of Effluency (Dallas 2011), Most Heroic Fix - (Houston 2011), Index of Effluency (TWS - 2012), Organizers Choice (Dallas 2013)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

ap·pre·hen·sive 
/ˌapriˈhensiv/
Adjective

1.    Anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
2.    Of or relating to perception or understanding.

Synonyms
anxious - fearful - afraid

Example: individual on the left.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8266/8692197951_104f53f9c2_c.jpg

"He attacked everything in life with a mixture of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which."   -Adams, Douglas.   The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

14x loser @ Gingerman, Autobahn, Summit Point, New Jersey, Road 'Merica, and Barber

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

The K practically screams out for a "Fish Fear Me/Women Want Me" bumper sticker.

Pat Mulry, TARP Racing #67

Mandatory disclaimer: all opinions expressed are mine alone & not those of 24HOL, its mgmt, sponsors, etc.

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

psychoboy wrote:

Today after work, I'll unload it and figure what needs to be done (and what can be done) between now and friday morning when we load it all back up and head off to ECR.

I remember reading something in the other thread about an O2 sensor having been cut?

8 (edited by psychoboy 2013-04-30 09:03 PM)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

Day 2:

When last we spoke, my fiancee and I had just gotten home after a grueling 14 hour drive following the route of Historic Route 66. Or, we drove up I-44 for six hours, turned around, and came home. It kinda depends on which one of us you talk to.

Today, i see just what I've gotten into.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8694641913_8255bedeea_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8694642961_12e11fc04c_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8695764458_e7aa9a7042_c.jpg

yup...it's still a K-Car wearing American flag livery.

I backed the trailer into the nearest ditch to unload it (short trailer ramps, lowered car, questionable exhaust mounting), and it fired up and backed off without much complaint. It's loud, it smokes, it's exactly as nice as it looks. Once I got the van put away I did a little walk around.

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

As you can see from the video, it runs, some of the lights work, and it's imminently comfortable inside. The livery is hand painted with great care, and the signatures of the teammates of this adventure are Sharpie'd on the hood and sealed with clear spray paint. The car's original number is 20, though I think team sputnik added the 4 for the Monticello race. I crawled back into the car and decided to take it on a first...um....drive?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F72VrSYrrcA

It runs almost as well as it idles. Then again, it does run and drive, and I've paid more for less capable cars.

My mental list of plans is starting to form.

First up, make the Celica wheels I bought work on the car. The car came equipped with at least two sets of 14" wheels and a random assortment of tires; all seasons of varying size, quality, and life expectancy. The 2000 Celica uses 15" wheels which will allow for a better selection of race appropriate tires, however, Toyota and Chrysler didn't get together to sort out hub bores. When making this sort of move, you know there are two ways it can go; either the new bore is larger than the old bore, and you'll be set....or you'll be putting Celica wheels on a Reliant.

I first tried to hang the Celica wheels on the car, only to find the bore was too small. So I made a template out of masking tape of the Reliant bore:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8694641081_eafa9c3f97_c.jpg

Then I transferred that template to a Celica wheel:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8119/8695762598_708ca75ff1_c.jpg

Then i broke out my trusty plasma cutter and solved the problem:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8265/8694640723_119fb35436_c.jpg

Success!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8694640377_3e86b99bd3_c.jpg


While under the rear of the car, I noticed the Lemons Grade Anti-Roll suspension system:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8694640017_3e71c75c4d_c.jpg

If you are thinking...."is that a piece of chain welded to the chassis and the spring perch?" Yes. Yes it is. Before CAD drawings and 3-D printing, there was ingenuity. If you had a car that was too tall AND too willing to list when turning, you fashioned limiting straps out of chain.  Think of it as a sway bar that has a radical spring curve. If the body wants to roll now, it's going to have to take the inside end of the axle with it.

Of course, into every good plan, some failure must fall:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8694639251_48ba80124c_c.jpg

Failing to take the entire axle “with it”, the body is attempting to make off with a portion of the spring perch.

My mental To-Do list is getting longer.

Now that I’ve gotten the wheels on the car, it’s time to start making it a race car. To that end, I decided to remove everything that would not be racing with us. First and foremost, the spare motor and transmission that were living in the spare tire well and rear seat floor, respectively. The transmission is not light, and the motor is evidently made of lead, gold, and depleted uranium. All of that squat in the trailer pictures is due to the motor in the back. Once relieved of the cargo, the rear end of the car came up to a reasonable height, which also put tension on those chains. At the Gingerman race, the car became somewhat of a wishing well, and that resulted in the car collecting about ten or fifteen bucks in pennies, which can be seen in the bottom of my shop vac:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8266/8694638225_fba618be12_c.jpg

Those pennies made it into the pizza delivery roof topper that has been repurposed as a piggy bank for Alex’s Lemonaid Stand. The topper will be left with the car to collect money around the country, and upon the car’s demise, will be added to the scrap value of the chassis.

Now that the interior is approaching livable, it was time to tackle making the car drivable. I knew the oil pan was slightly bent, and it was covered in blue RTV, so I figured I would pound it out and reweld any cracks that delvoped.

Slightly bent:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8406/8695759134_54dd4234cf_c.jpg

Slightly less bent:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8125/8695758828_79f4245263_c.jpg

A new gasket and some RTV in the corners and I’ve added at least a quart and a half of capacity. The pickup is still where the crushed pan left it, but I’m thinking it’s been like that for a while now, so I’m leaving it. As it happens, the oil pan is seemingly more lead than anything else, so it beat out without cracking. Aspiring bodymen take note, if you have a solid backing (garage floor) and you can keep hitting the high spots squarely, you can push many folding bends out before they become creases.

The previous owners alerted me to a cut oxygen sensor wire, and indeed, it was cut. I scrounged around in the tubs of extras that came with the car and found a replacement wire in a random harness. I spliced in the new wire, and happened to run across an injector plug that wasn’t attached to anything. I reattached it and tried starting the car to see if it made any difference. It did. It still runs poorly, but it’s a different sort of poorly, and I’m calling that progress. At least now, I should be able to diagnose between things that aren’t working, and things that aren’t hooked up.

Your engine porn shot of the day:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8694637293_7b928faffe_c.jpg

If you’ll recall from the walk around, the exhaust exited on the driver’s side just in front of the rear wheel. The exhaust system was a collection of OE rust and crush-bent pipe with the world’s littlest glass pack living at the end…where it was getting crushed between the ground and the driver’s side trailing arm. I didn’t get a picture of its glory once I cut it off the car, but I did reuse most of it putting a slightly more reasonable system under the car. The little glass pack made a nice step up adaptor for a much bigger glass pack, and the under car pipe was rerouted to be the side exit. It’s still going to need some work, but it’s slightly less annoying and much better protected than the version I started with.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8694637505_b5605f362a_c.jpg


So, that’s where Day 1 ended. I took a little test drive to celebrate add to the To-Do list

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eblnDK2KxEw

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

I specifically got that little muffler so that I could fit it straight to the cut factory pipe without any extra work. It is, indeed, the smallest, cutest glass pack you can buy for money. I don't think it actually did anything useful, but at least now it does smile

K Car Stalker

10

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

It's nice to see a true $500 car documented in all its glory.  I just can't stop smiling.

This space for rent.

11 (edited by psychoboy 2013-04-30 09:36 AM)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

the little glass pack is so coated in coke that it's still not really doing anything.



meanwhile, my cyber stalker and Lemons teammate Mental beat Judge Phil to the TTAC article I'm sure he's crafting...

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/0 … ass-it-on/

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

I'm supposed to do all my Lemons writing for Car and Driver (it was part of the sponsorship deal Jay made with Eddie "Ruthless" Alterman), and my plan is to do the story of the K when its traveling run is over.

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

excellent....i'll be internet famous twice!

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

14 (edited by jiggermyster 2013-04-30 10:45 AM)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

hmmm... If every new "owner" of this car gives it the care and attention that you're giving it, it might just end up a legit contender.
Then again, K car. Maybe not. tongue

btw..., I'm guessing you are already aware but just in case, crossing those tiedown straps like that reduces their capacity by like 50%.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8695764458_e7aa9a7042_c.jpghttp://www.certifiedslings.com/images/stories/referenceguide/Load-Angle-Chart.gif

15 (edited by psychoboy 2013-04-30 11:00 AM)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

I knew it suffered some drop off, but that's why i'm using straps that are rated to twice the load.

also, this car has bupkis for tie down points, i'm using the bumper horns here. future owners might take that into consideration.

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

psychoboy wrote:

A new gasket and some RTV in the corners and I’ve added at least a quart and a half of capacity. The pickup is still where the crushed pan left it, but I’m thinking it’s been like that for a while now, so I’m leaving it.

That may have increase the overall capacity of the system, but unless you bend that pickup back down to the bottom, you might be worse off.

It's like having a straw that can only get halfway to the bottom of your beer can.  That beer is down there, but you can't drink it.  If it starts sloshing, you have a really good chance of sucking up the foam.

Wha???  You don't drink beer with a straw?

"He attacked everything in life with a mixture of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which."   -Adams, Douglas.   The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

14x loser @ Gingerman, Autobahn, Summit Point, New Jersey, Road 'Merica, and Barber

17

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

That assumes the K wants to get away.    It likes the trailer and Mary's pancakes.

This space for rent.

18 (edited by psychoboy 2013-04-30 11:05 AM)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

yukadas wrote:
psychoboy wrote:

A new gasket and some RTV in the corners and I’ve added at least a quart and a half of capacity. The pickup is still where the crushed pan left it, but I’m thinking it’s been like that for a while now, so I’m leaving it.

That may have increase the overall capacity of the system, but unless you bend that pickup back down to the bottom, you might be worse off.

It's like having a straw that can only get halfway to the bottom of your beer can.  That beer is down there, but you can't drink it.  If it starts sloshing, you have a really good chance of sucking up the foam.

Wha???  You don't drink beer with a straw?


buzzkill.....

sad

i wasn't thinking of it that way, i was just gonna run too much oil in it. now i gotta yank that pan off again.

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

The straps look to be plenty strong but they are only as strong as the weakest link.
The formula also applies to the attachment points. Those bumper horns would have to hold twice the actual load to restrain the car with the straps at that angle vs. the straps pulling nearly straight to the load.
A two G impact would be asking them to hold 10,000 lbs. Doesn't take much of a hit to get 2 G's of deceleration.

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

Sorry.

Oh, and by the way...if you find a 1944 wheat penny in the K, that would be my lucky penny.  I may have misplaced it at Gingerman.  Can I get that back?

"He attacked everything in life with a mixture of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which."   -Adams, Douglas.   The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

14x loser @ Gingerman, Autobahn, Summit Point, New Jersey, Road 'Merica, and Barber

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

jiggermyster wrote:

hmmm... If every new "owner" of this car gives it the care and attention that you're giving it, it might just end up a legit contender.
Then again, K car. Maybe not. tongue

btw..., I'm guessing you are already aware but just in case, crossing those tiedown straps like that reduces their capacity by like 50%.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8695764458_e7aa9a7042_c.jpghttp://www.certifiedslings.com/images/stories/referenceguide/Load-Angle-Chart.gif

I lift and tie down cargo for a living.  Things much, much heavier than cars although I do that too - I work at the Port of Houston as a Terminal Manager.

Crossing the tie down straps doesn't make a shit in this case.   Its actually preferred because you can get the angle down with a longer run.  Realize that when you are securing a car to a trailer, you probably want less than a 45 degree angle.   You will be diminishing the vertical capacity of the strap but increasing the horizontal capacity of the strap.  The car doesn't so much want to float off the trailer as it wants to roll forward and backward.

The diagram you posted is for lifting and how verticle capacity is diminished with angle.   For example, when using a spreader bar.

Dangerous Banned Technology (NOLA 09), Judges Choice (Houston 2010), Organizers Choice (NOLA 2010), Most Heroic Fix (Dallas 2010), $100 from Jay's Pocket (Dallas 2010), Dangerous Homemade Technology (NOLA 2010), Ununhexium Legends of Lemons Status,  Index of Effluency (Dallas 2011), Most Heroic Fix - (Houston 2011), Index of Effluency (TWS - 2012), Organizers Choice (Dallas 2013)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/ninechaos/IMG_2954_zpsacf5e4c0.jpg

^^^ This reel is secured for 70,000 lbs.   

I know how to secure with straps.  You'll be fine.... provided the attachment points on the car don't come un-attached.  hmm

Dangerous Banned Technology (NOLA 09), Judges Choice (Houston 2010), Organizers Choice (NOLA 2010), Most Heroic Fix (Dallas 2010), $100 from Jay's Pocket (Dallas 2010), Dangerous Homemade Technology (NOLA 2010), Ununhexium Legends of Lemons Status,  Index of Effluency (Dallas 2011), Most Heroic Fix - (Houston 2011), Index of Effluency (TWS - 2012), Organizers Choice (Dallas 2013)

23 (edited by Team Sensory Assault 2013-04-30 02:02 PM)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

^^^ AND notice the straps are crossed.   wink   The straps are applied in matching pairs on each side.  There aren't 9 straps that go over the top, there are 18 that cross each other.   The idea is not to hold the cargo DOWN, it is to keep it from moving.

Dangerous Banned Technology (NOLA 09), Judges Choice (Houston 2010), Organizers Choice (NOLA 2010), Most Heroic Fix (Dallas 2010), $100 from Jay's Pocket (Dallas 2010), Dangerous Homemade Technology (NOLA 2010), Ununhexium Legends of Lemons Status,  Index of Effluency (Dallas 2011), Most Heroic Fix - (Houston 2011), Index of Effluency (TWS - 2012), Organizers Choice (Dallas 2013)

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

if the attachment points come loose, i'm pretty well screwed anyway.

Team OK-Speed
Regularly losing in Class A
Soon to start losing in Class C

Re: K-It-Forward (v.ECR)

Too many experts here. I'm taking my silly ass opinions and going home...