ONE LAST PROBLEM

One of the last late night problems we encountered was a brake system that just would not build pressure. After the third master cylinder, I decided to push it two blocks to a friend's auto shop. They spent a couple hours on it and found out the old Line-Lock solenoid was the problem. They would have line pressure, but then every time they released the pedal, the system got air in it (and I thought I was losing it when that kept happening). They traced the problem to the line-lock. It would hold pressure but when pressure was released, air came through a seal in the line-lock. Stumped them and me too. They removed the line-lock and BAM, now we have good brakes. Well, okay we have Vega drums front and rear but those aren't really "good brakes". We will fix that this Fall or over the winter.

ON THE TRACK

Now for the first few runs. I have to admit that I was really looking forward to getting back in a door car after three seasons in the dragster. On the first test run I just staged and drove the car about 60 mph and checked things out to get a feel for car. The next two runs I went a little farther down track each time with the best run being an 11.50 at only 107 mph. (I lifted at 1,000 feet because the shift light came on and I couldn't see anything!)

The engine was reaching 7000 too early, so we decided to slide the throttle cable back and run on just the primaries to slow the RPM down a little. The next day I made the first full run and I WAS AMAZED -- the "Back-2-Basics" Vega went 10.65 at 125 mph! I couldn't believe an engine using a hydraulic cam, part throttle and very basic iron small block would deliver that kind of power.

I entered the car in the foot-brake bracket and dialed a 10.64 after a final 10.65 time run. I had a pretty good light (.535) but my opponent was tough on me with a .505 and a .01-over pass. I did get there first after ripping the throttle about 10 times but broke out with a 10.63. Naturally I bought back to get some more runs. I lowered the dial to 10.59 because the 1,000-ft said that is what it was going to run the first round. I missed the tree (.585 light) but thought I did well at the stripe, getting there first by .014, pedaling it again. But I broke out again, this time by only .002. IT WAS A BLAST! I can hardly wait for the next event.

The performance of the car really surprised me. Jeff is writing his article on the engine he built and you will read where it is a very mild set up. With only .505-inch of lift from the Isky

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hydraulic cam I just didn't think it would run in the 10's. All the components we installed seemed to work together and I really feel the car will run 10.30s. The new Moroso billet water pump runs so smooth I can't even hear it with the car shut off. The Dart heads and intake must really work well to keep the alcohol mixture suspended, as it runs smooth as silk.

We are currently not using too many features of the MSD Programmable Digital 7 ignition, but the power is there. The car instantly starts and never loads up even though we know we are way rich. Two and a half gallons per run is just too much fuel in my opinion, so we will look at the main jets as well as leaning out the idle circuits to build heat a little faster.

The next article will dive a little more into where our budget stands and some actual race pics. We might even get Burk to make a pass (how long has it been Jeff?). We are racing it at the 50th Annual World Series of Drag Racing in Cordova, IL on August 22-23.

In the meantime, Barb and I are leaving for a "real vacation." We are going to spend a week on a lake in Minnesota before taking the dragster to the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. I even bought a new fishing pole! We need the break and it should be relaxing. No work, no customer calls, no set time to do anything. . .okay, when can I retire??

Race safe and enjoy!

Jok Nicholson (doorslammer guy again!)