shots from the garage...

After a seemingly eternity the Duster finally hit the track with the new mill. Got five test hits in all with interesting problems. From blowing the tires off, and finding my T/A shifter suddenly became a true "automatic" by shifting itself into 2nd at the hit... I guess out of the five passes, two 1/8th mile hits, three 1/4 if I were to piece together one good time slip it would be: 1.28 60ft... was nice, non wheelstand.... car just "went". 6.100 to the 1/8 on that hit... new best. 113.45 @ the 1/8.... another new best. 9.644 1/4 @ 141.12. Guess that will be my baseline for things to come.... I just hope I maximise this one faster than I did with my 498 in my Mirada. That started out low 11's and was finally running 9.9's when I sold it over the course of many years.

On the passes.... I admit it.. I go full retard when it comes to driving with a new combo. I obviously don't like change and there was enough garbage going through my mind on a few of these hits to make about anyone laugh. Would it wheelstand? dart to the side? trans up to the task? wonder how this old converter is going to react? driving with full face and gloves sucks!!! (first time for that too). We left the launch at 3500 and just made a "point a-b" 1/8 mile hit. Nothing spectacular... 1.46 60 6.49/110. Next pass we figured another 1/8th. Noted it cutting out at higher rpm so we threw some jet at it. Moved the launch up to 4200, car stuck and gave us the 1.28, shift lite hit, 6.10/112.7. Great 60, not to much wheels up.... that would be cool! First 1/4 pass 9.98 @ 140.....but the shift light didn't come on trans sounded funny.... was pretty sure I hit second out of the gate. next pass was similar, and I just couldn't believe i fubbed up the shift again!!! Poor thing sounded like a tractor trying to pull down the quarter. 9.86/140. OK... this is getting old, like WTF!! Looked at the linkage, all appeared tight. Adjustment seemed to be ok, starts in P and N.... This pass I also had my wits about me enough to watch the oil psi. All good, but toward the end of the shutdown when I really had to get on the brakes oil psi dropped. Went up for one last pass. We added 1.5qt of oil to monitor the psi situation, that and JOB ONE was to see what the hell was going on with the shifter. I had the shift light at 6800 so I had room to let it go more, and was making damn sure my hand was off the shifter until that light hit. Launched and actually saw the shifter make the 1-2 shift....... damn.

So..... to do list: Figure out what to do with the oiling situation. Pan is equipped with trap doors baffles etc, but not that deep. If we have to remove it and maybe add more sump... so be it.

Shifter.... I'll look it over, but have always liked that PPP shifter. Maybe it's time. Kind of funny. I ran a Hurst Promatic 2 in my Mirada forever. Never missed a beat, worked like a champ. We bought the same shifter for the Duster and had nothing but problems with it. My dad threw it out and put the Turbo Action shifter in it. It's "ok" but required but it's had it's issues too. Yesterday was a new one, but we'll try and see whats wrong first.

Dream list..... new slicks and more gear. 4.30 just too low with the 29.5 tire.

It's going to be a fun ride though!