Topic: Our 1st Lemons attempt, MSR 18, and my cars failure to appear....
Asked in another thread...
The Engineer- -We demand more details. How did the car do? any major issues? Why did race monitor show you in class A with a daytona?
Here is my story, with pictures, might as well tell it all. Maybe some other idiot who wants to make bad financial decisions will learn something....
So after watching 2017 MSR race, I had a clue about what Lemons racing really was. I roped in a few friends and we went searching for the perfect Lemons car. I found a 1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo, terrible gold color, hiding in a garage about 6miles from me. After talking to the owner who had abandoned all hope and let the car sit for the last 5 years, I hauled this masterpiece of American engineering home for $300 dollars. Work began in earnest, full tear down and sell off of every non essential piece. Amazing, these cars have a following, just not in Texas, or really anywhere S of the rust belt. So, I paid to ship stuff to the great white north and other stoopid cold places where the people talk funny. A few months of part out and we had a free car and a full $500 budget to work with, plus 9month to get the car prepped for MSR 18. Easy, no problem...it will be fun....
The car...
Goodies that came with the car...Nice Eibach springs in that pile...
All laid out...
And shortly after that the suckiness started.....
Roll cage #1
-A local dirt track shop (I know, mistake) in mesquite had a guy who welded a cage up for me for $400.00. Took about 4months though....
I decided to cut the first cage out, it was hrew thin steel and not even fully welded at almost all the joints, just a train wreck.
So back to square one. Talked to the Lemons staff and Roll Cage Components was the answer. Cage kit built and shipped, then installed here in Sachse by a local hot rod shop. Cage # 2 is beautiful race car worthy cage. Sachse Rod Shop did excellent work fitting the cage to the car over a few weeks and even made constant suggestions and advice on improving the car. Very top notch, professional, hot rod fabricators and all around great guys.
The cars foundation is finnaly going in the right direction.... excitement grows.
Cage #2
Meanwhile in another team members garage....
So, back up here a min...the car ran prior to tear down, it just blew smoke out the dipstick tube like a freight train...so, time for rings right? likely problem with age/how long the car has sat. With the head off, we noticed the pistons looked funny....like NA pistons, not Turbo pistons...so further tear down required...
Head seems ok....
Nice looking bottom end...
More disassembly and we learn it has spindly little non turbo CR also...hmm, this wont do well...We havent spend any money yet, so time for the correct rotating assembly, new bearings and seals. Our engine builder happens to be the local Daytona Shelby owners club president and we start shopping. Found a set of used turbo correct pistons and turbo correct CRs and stayed in budget. I have a big ol parts washer at my shop, so after a bath...
New v. Old
Reassembly of the engine...
By this time it is nearing 4mo to race week. We have been working on the car in our days off/spare time from work/life/everything else. Plenty of time to finish the car, get it running, sort out the bugs, then have fun!
Or so I though....
(midnight, will add more tomorrow evening after work....)
1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo-currently being lemonized.
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