I love the new “side-winder” shifter knob and button. Makes holding the line-lock a lot easier and more comfortable.

I also installed one Autometer electric oil temp gauge but added a twist. I bought an extra sending unit and put one in the engine oil pan as well as the transmission pan. I hooked up the sending unit wires to a double-throw toggle switch (3 position). With the switch in the middle position (off) the gauges are off. Flip it up and it reads trans temperature and down gives you an engine oil temp reading. Both temperatures are critical to being able to make consistent dial-ins in any bracket racing, but when you are running in two classes it is even more important. We like to see the engine oil at least 160 degrees and if it gets to 210 we start spraying water and running our vacuum cleaner/blower hose over the oil pan. In the trans we like to see about 160 to 200 degrees and when it gets to 210 or above we run the small fan. We put on the trans cooler and also blow fresh air over the converter from below with our converted small vacuum cleaner/blower.

This is the shifter after installation; all that is left is to snap the aluminum cover on it.

It is actually a lot of fun doing double duty. I come back from the No Box run and hop out and Andy climbs in with delay box in hand so it can be plugged and ready for the Box class. So far I haven’t screwed up and ran on the bottom with a delay box in there … I’m sure if I do I will hear about it! I was hoping it was OK if “old guys” got a little advantage … OK, I didn’t really think that. Between switching helmets, adding fuel and being in the right place at the right time, it keeps you hustling and that is the fun part. Not sure if we can keep up if we both go to the finals, but I hope we have that problem this weekend.

All of this would not be possible without the help of a lot of great sponsors on the “Back-2-Basics” project car. The latest to join our team is Ollie at Mr. Gasket/Hurst shifters and they are joined by these great companies: Stan at Ohio Crankshaft Co; Traci at J-W Performance, Rick at Moroso, Joe at MSD, Doug at Demon Carbs, Kyle at Aeromotive, Bruce at Hoosier, Stan at TCI, Ron at Autometer and of course Jeff at Dragracingonline.com for the reliable 383” small block Chevy.

When you choose products for you race car or street machine I hope you will consider products by our great sponsors.

Well I have to go get the “Back-2-Basics” Vega ready for a big race this weekend at Cedar Falls. Now if it will ever quit raining I can put all these “little tricks” to work on Saturday night.