THE K IS HERE AT THE RIDGE (Page 1 of 2)

We all think that maybe, just maybe, this will be the weekend...

What do you mean IF? It's the K-car. It won't break down! It didn't break down for us. Why should this race be any different?

I think it will be fine, send me a patch when you win.

I think this particular car is saving America, right now!

bs

Well, everyone is certainly something with the K-it Forward program.

I read about some of the issues y'all had on FB, but can someone write up what specifically went wrong and what work you did to fix it? Maybe we should have an ongoing "Technical Challenges Documentation" thread. It might help future K-car teams plan ahead.

Howdy! We were facing 3 big problems with the K this weekend:

1. Fuel. I wasn't paying close attention to what happened at Buttonwillow, but from what I understand it was essentially the same problem: the engine would occasionally be starved of fuel. Chris O and I actually experienced it prior to the race while driving the K around the SF Bay Area. The East Bay to be specific. Emeryville to be extra specific. The Lemons headquarters to be crystal clear (photo) -- somehow I think the K fears Lemons and starts acting up as soon as it's near anything LeMons-related.

   Anyway, Neil took out the K for the first stint on Saturday and got stranded at the side of the track after just a few laps. Eventually fuel could be convinced to make it all the way from the gas tank into the engine and he limped back to the pits under its own power. We then installed a secondary pusher fuel pump in the engine bay. This made the fuel problems largely go away. It still stuttered occasionally, though that may not have been fuel-related. So long as you kept your foot planted on the throttle, the engine was fairly happy. Because the fuel pump actually came out of another car (I think), Chris took it out again at the end of the race. So whoever is getting the K next might want to look into the fuel system again and at least consider putting in a secondary pump again.

2. Shifter. The shifter that was in the car when we got it looked like some sort of Klingon pleasuring device and was about as sharp as a ladle in bowl of Sloppy Joe's. The car was still drivable with a bit of guess work, except that you could engage 4th only about 10% of the time. So on Saturday we drove it in 3rd and 5th only. Saturday afternoon, Anton was about to take it out, the north-south shifter cable snapped. Chris O and I went to the mom & pop junkyard across the street where we found a bunch of K cars (photo), but sadly they were all autos. We found a manual Neon, though, and the shift linkage looked close enough, so we bought the shifter and shift cables out of that. Meanwhile our 4th teammate Paul drove 1.5h to a Napa Autoparts store in Kent, WA that claimed to have a shifter cable for our transmission. Sunday morning we ripped the old shifter out of the car, along with the center console, and mounted the Neon shifter and hooked up the new cable which did indeed fit. What a difference that made! We turned the old shifter into a hood ornament (photo).

3. Brake lights. Compared to the previous two issues, this one was really minor, but it did cost us a few laps. After I came in on Sunday we realized that the K had no functioning brake lights. We traced the problem to a blown fuse and went back out after 20 minutes or so.

I drove the car over to Tom Hergert's place who's taking care of the car at Rocket Restorations (photo) until the next idiot drives it cross country. Much thanks to Judge Phil's "Best" of 1987 mixed CD which brightened up the drive.

By the way, having a stereo in a race car is kind of GENIUS, especially in a class C car. I drove my entire Saturday stint listening to Wagner's Rides of the Valkyries. I think on Sunday it was Motörhead. Good times.

Thank you NSF Racing for the opportunity to race (and fix) what is without the shadow of a doubt the worst car I have ever driven. I had a blast.

That's how I feel. Chris and I were thinking of making "I got K'ed" patches/shirts/etc.

So fabricating a new clutch pedal might be on the list, as well as adding an additional fuel pump if that's not already done by the time we get the car.

Are those spotlights on the roof?

I am! I'm landing in SEA at 7:50pm this Thursday (25th). My co-driver is gonna arrive at 11:55PM - I'm picking him up and driving straight to Yellowstone, non-stop, flat-out.

Let me know if you find any marginal components so I can order/bring spares. I suppose a spare fuel pump is a good start, correct?

if that is the worst car you have ever driven, you are missing out.

Considering where it is now to where it was, car should probably be in B class.  Not sure why you couldn't find 4th gear, probably because YOU GOTTS NO SKILZ!!!!! Seriously, compared to what I picked up in ECR (I could barely get in the car and it was rod knocking then) to the fact it was driven to this race, essentially  from Texas, you guys need to buy Steven a beer.

BTW, I think the fuel system has a clog in it somewhere, I would blow out all the fuel lines.

True, I don't got no skilz. I wouldn't say the same of Anton .

Absolutely. Whoever did the engine swap and re-wiring did a great job. The work (and documentation thereof) is much appreciated!

P.S.: Even the skinniest of lads with the brightest of teeth still can only barely get in the car.

I think that's what Tom is going to do that the shop this week.