Does this ever happen to you? I think it's also called "biting off more than you can chew." I could go on all day long coming up with little stupid sayings about taking on too much. Between work, family, and racing, this is what my life is coming down to. At work we're going into show season. Now, you may think it's very cool to spend a week in Las Vegas on the company's dime. But if you ask anyone in the aftermarket what the SEMA show means to them, it's a long week at work.
As for racing, you all know we finished the '80 Malibu wagon and we had a great first outing. Well, fast-forward two months and we've made 60 runs on the car in 60 days! That doesn't count the 14 chassis-dyno pulls we did looking for a consistency problem that ended up being a dirty fuel pressure regulator. Of these 60 runs, I've only made eight of them. My son, Daniel, has really stepped up his game with one semi and a final loss, and last Wednesday night at Infineon Raceway, he busted through with the first win in the wagon in their top class. Through refinement, we've lowered its best e.t. to 11.65 at 113 mph. If I can calm the thing down in the first 60 feet, I think it will go even quicker! Also, it's really nice that all of you folks have come by to see us at the races. Many of you have read of the many steps getting the car to the track. Thank you, guys, for all the great comments.
Last night I was loading my Super Gas car on Korbel Champagne Cellars' 18-wheeler leaving for Fontana, California, for the NHRA Sports Nationals. I fly down Thursday night to race this weekend. Then next weekend is the Division 7 Summit Racing ET Finals at Las Vegas. My buddy Dean Hall from Korbel offered to haul my car around for me so I could bring the wagon to Vegas in our trailer. As soon as I get home from Fontana, we leave Tuesday afternoon for Las Vegas. After Vegas, it's back home for a short time, then I fly back to Vegas to race the AC Delco Nationals! Straight from there I stay in Vegas to work the week of SEMA.
Early on, when you look at these things on paper, they look great. Then comes the logistics of pulling it all off, and not losing your job or your family! Luckily, the family is involved in most of the racing. Daniel is the track champion in the High School class this year and will represent Infineon at the ET Finals. I barely made the team! I think we've focused on the wagon and Daniel's learning curve quite a bit this year. Hopefully, all those checks my mind wrote a while ago will pay off at these next races. Wish us luck.
LOCKED SPARK
Q:My '48 Chevy coupe has an '86 Monte Carlo 305 H.O. engine in it. As you know, the '86 came from the factory with an electronic ignition. I cut and spliced the distributor wires to use the original 305 distributor, which doesn't offer a vacuum advance. The car starts and runs excellent, but it seems to use too much fuel. Will I improve gas mileage with a vacuum advance installed, and can I use the same distributor? Thanks.
John Boucher
Casa Grande, AZ
A:The L69 305 H.O. you've installed in your early Chevy used the computer to control all aspects of the ignition timing. The distributor shaft is solid and has no mechanical advance mechanism. The electronic pick-up coil has a locking plate in place of the vacuum-advance can. Your engine is running quite well because the electronic ignition module in your distributor has a limp mode if the computer fails. When the engine goes above 1,500 rpm, it electronically advances the timing around 10 degrees. This will allow you to drive to a repair shop if the computer-controlled timing fails.