The first race outing for the Jensen Healey ended up badly, unfortunately. Jeff and I decided to head down to the Memorial Monster event at Carolina Motorsports Park for a lot of racing - two sprints, one mini enduro, and the Carolina Cup. Friday, the day before, was an open testing day so we signed up for that to shake the car down.
We'd previously had the Jensen out at Roebling Road and learned it had cooling issues, as well as oiling issues. Since then I'd spent a lot of time putting in a new NASCAR radiator, adding an Accusump, larger oil cooler, and dual remote oil filters. I was pretty sure we'd handled the cooling and oiling problems, that was we'd be allowed to concentrate on figuring out other problems with car. In fact, here are a couple of pictures of the compete system:
Well, out we go on the first practice session and on lap two, on the front straight, the remote oil filter adapter blows off the block and within about 5-7 seconds pumps the oil out of the sump, 3 qt Accusump, and runs the engine dry. And, naturally, the car oiled the track down and closed it for about 30 minutes for clean up. I felt horrible about that as I've been on the receiving end of it before. Really hate that happened and my sincere apologies for the group 1 folks that got cut short and for the delays. I wish it would have happened at home when we ran the motor in for 1/2 hour, but, I suppose vibration and revs helped out quite a bit.
Anyway, after a flat tow back in the paddock we were able to check it out. After much searching, looking around the pits at oil filters, and talking to folks, we found that the adapter was not the correct adapter for the motor. The adapter that blew off was for a Chevy with 3/4" threads, while I needed the Ford one with 13/16" threads. Normally the engine took Chevy threads, but, the new oil cooler block swapped it all around and exposed a Ford nipple for the remained of the system. You can put a Chevy adapter on a Ford nipple, and it will tighten up, although it goes on a bit lose. And, most oil fitler/cooler kits just come with Chevy adapters since they think everyone wants a Chevy motor. The adapter won't stay on and when you have thread locking sealant on the nipple it is extremely difficult to tell that the adapter is in fact the wrong size since it fits reasonabley well. I've always not liked Chevys and been a Ford man. It's my fault, yes I know.
At any rate, a 120 mile parts hunt in two counties around CMP Friday turned up the correct part (and another 80 mile hunt on Saturday turned up a shop that turns rotors, but that is a different story). After cleaning everything, carefully, and putting it back together the moment of truth arrived. We fired up the motor and she had pressure, great! Jeff was able to go out and run some laps in the car since I'd had enough for the day. But, after about 15 minutes of running a ticking noise slowly became louder and eventually became an identifiable rod knock. Pressure was still strong and good, but the knock was definitely there. I was definitely depressed on Friday, but deserved what I got.
I am hoping we only wiped a rod bearing and that the bearing is damaged while everything else is okay. That could be repaired relatively easily since the bearings for the motor are not expensive. Bearings are there to protect machined surfaces, right? Maybe I'll get lucky on this one. We're pulling the motor out now and will report back later this week.
Extremely disappointing day, but we'll be back. Jeff got in a few laps in the JH on Friday between repairs and before the rod knock set in and was extremely impressed with power and handling, we might be on to something. Cooling issues are gone for sure, we've got more water and cooling area than we know what to do with now, both oil and water.
At least there was one glimmer of hope - Jeff's TR8 placed 4th in ITS on Saturday's race, and led the ITS racing on Sunday for about four laps - before retiring with burned up calipers. We've got to do some ducting development for that car, and for the JH, before either get back out. Before I head to another race track with the JH we're going to try and rent a local circle like Ace Speedway. Hear you can get 4 hour of time, uninterupted, for like $200. Much better than SCCA test days I think and will allow us to sort big problems, like this one, off track and out of other people's way.
R
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