db's Nats report

db · Post by db » Tue Jul 30, 13 4:38 pm

I had quite an eventful one!!
After weeks of frantic preparation involving multiple gearbox and carb rebuilds, I eventually got to packing a couple of days before. I thought I'd brought everything but unfortunately no spare pushrods...

Yes, my first breakdown was before we even got there!
There was a 'clang' on the M1 and sure enough, when we pulled over, I found a busted pushrod.
I wired this and the rocker off the cam and made the last 40 miles on 7 cylinders

With loads of help in my search from Ade, Pete, Ivor and others... Miles tracked down a set in the hands of Dave Bishop early Saturday afternoon.
I dropped the full set in and the car sounded sweet as anything!
I quickly signed and joined the queue.
Approaching my FIRST EVER RUN, I was pretty relaxed until I suddenly realised there were only about 3 cars ahead of me!

Luckily Pete appeared from nowhere and signalled me through the burnout box, etc. That took a lot of stress away, BIG thanks for that mate

Burnout went well, I rolled up to the line feeling confident, car sounding better than ever.

So... the tyres let go in 1st and 2nd, I couldn't get 3rd for a second, but floored it again when it went in and eventually crossed the line.
Thanks to my tell-tale tach recall, I found I'd hit 7500rpm (shift light was at 5800, what reactions!!)

The resulting valve float bust 5 inlet spring retainers. One had come out completely letting the valve drop into the piston, luckily only bending it.
GAME OVER

I started on the cider early...
Sunday morning was spent trying to get a tow out so I could ring the AA.
Ade kindly volunteered Guy

I actually watched an hours racing before we had to leave.
HUGE thanks to Guy for trailering the Belve out to Bozeat, right next to the pub!
I arrived home about 9 hours later

Was it worth it?
HELL YEAH!!!
I had a great weekend, it was such a buzz getting down the track even if only once and very slowly!
The mates I brought were welcomed by one and all and LOVED their first trip to a dragstrip. They've all said they're coming again next year!
Brilliant to finally meet all the guys I've got to know on here, I won't try to name you all cos my memory is Bananarama!-poor and I'd hate to leave anyone out.
I was amazed by all the help to get me going, then to get me home- freely given by almost everyone I asked. Love my Mopar mates!

Thanks too of course to the organisers and pit crew, sweating it out on the start line

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Jul 30, 13 5:04 pm

...And the moral of the story is...............

Really great to see you there - we have not had a decent hippy there since my dear old mate Alex.

I am sure you will bounce back and break even more parts in the future.
All the very best

Pete

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Tue Jul 30, 13 5:17 pm

Well Paul, you can't say you didn't go for it!

Martin's idea of setting up some parts next the MMA marquee and eventually ending up with an MMA members parts exchange going, Dave Bishop, the small block king turned up with a full set of pushrods.

I think some very careful setting up of the motor is the order of the day and a bloody BIG shift light set at about five grand!

Lovely to see you mate, I'm chuffed you got home in one piece and a big Hip Hip Hooray for Guy, what a top bloke!

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Tue Jul 30, 13 5:24 pm

Sorry to here of your bad luck Paul although word had got round you broke a pushrod on the way there, had no idea you had further bad luck.

I too bent 3 rods and damaged the rockers on my 1st and only run and had to be towed out, thanks again to Jon Connolly.

Still we will be up and running harder and stronger for next year

Adrian Worman · Post by **Adrian Worman** » Tue Jul 30, 13 5:48 pm

Jon and Guy have become heroes to a couple of members on here .......... too right and all, blokes who think nothin of helpin others without question

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Jul 30, 13 5:58 pm

Spot on, Ade

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Jul 30, 13 6:17 pm

Glad you had a good time mate, throughout it all you never stopped smiling or seemed put out, which is a great attitude to have. We've all been there so we know what it's like, we'll always help each other out, and so generally will most racers. Unlike David Cameron, we really are all in it together!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Jul 30, 13 6:19 pm

Very well put, Blue!

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Tue Jul 30, 13 6:53 pm

Well it looks like we both had pushroditis ,dam sorry to see that but youwill get it fixed and back on the road

db · Post by db » Tue Jul 30, 13 7:48 pm

I knew I was taking a gamble driving there, racing it AND hoping to drive it home aswell!
If you ain't willing to lose the gamble, you don't take the bet

I was lucky enough to have so many good people around me, how could I not be smiling?

So, who do I send me head to for a new valve guide?

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Jul 31, 13 9:11 am

Blue wrote: Unlike David Cameron, we really are all in it together!

he once sold me a clutch plate

right diameter
right spline

only fitted a ford sierra

rotter

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Jul 31, 13 9:22 am

any engineering shop should be able to do it

however i have heard great things about

Cylinder head shop (if he still does it)

http://cylinderheadshop.com/home/

I got mine done by
power for peanuts (dermott) http://www.power4peanuts.com/

becasue i am a cheapskate

dermott gets his guide a seat material from or from the same place as the top fella

however you are in wales

so try Ferriday

http://www.ferriday.co.uk/

Dave

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Wed Jul 31, 13 9:29 am

Paul! That's racing!

No better place to break down than the Nats, as you rightly found. Where's yer timing ticket? Just out of interest.....You have less than a year to get it sorted, good luck!

db · Post by db » Wed Jul 31, 13 11:29 am

You're right there Kev

I never got round to picking up my time ticket. I wasn't bothered at the time but I wish I had now

Would stiffer valve springs/ titanium retainers be a good idea or would that just create other problems?

Guy · Post by **Guy** » Wed Jul 31, 13 3:37 pm

db wrote:
Would stiffer valve springs/ titanium retainers be a good idea or would that just create other problems?

The valve springs need to be matched to the cam you are using so stiffer springs would only put unnecessary load on the rest of the valve train, ie pushrods, lifters, cam and the only result would be be a loss of horsepower and potentially cause rapid wear or failure of components, You would be better off with upgrading to 10 deg locks and retainers which hold in place a bit better. Titanium retainers are a good way of losing weight in the valve train in high rpm applications but I doubt you would see any benefit in your motor.
The best thing you could fit to your motor would be a decent rev limiter to stop you over revving it.