[twooldgoats]

One of the joys of racing is the never-ending variety of things that can go wrong. I broke a wheel bar rod end during the launch on my second pass at the Pontiac Heaven event Saturday. Fortunately, no other damage done, except the rod end on the other side is bent slightly.

I had to fight the car during the first 100' or so of both passes this weekend: 7.89 @ 174 on Friday and 8.50 (!) @ 171 on Saturday, when the rod end broke. On inspection, it appears the rod end had been cracked for some time (I'll post a picture in the next few days when I get unloaded).

The lesson for me is that I did what I thought was a pretty thorough visual inspection while I had the car up on jackstands, but I missed the bent rod end. It was on the front end of the wheelie bars where they mount to the four link bracket at the bottom. I suspect that the problem began when I forgot to raise the wheelie bars to the "UP" position before loading the car once or twice.

Other than the wheelie bar issue, the car ran well. The new tighter converter kept me at about 7050 rpm crossing the finish line at 174 mph, so there's room for more power without exceeding 8000 rpm. At first, I thought the tighter converter was causing the starting line control issues, but now I suspect it was the wheelie bars. I need to get out testing after the first of the year at Tucson Dragway.

Jim

[wreckmastr]

Glad it didn't harm anything else or cause a the car to turn. Great job this year Jim you got that thing flying!

[grnmnstr]

Originally Posted by twooldgoats

The new tighter converter kept me at about 7050 rpm crossing the finish line at 174 mph, so there's room for more power without exceeding 8000 rpm.

Jim

Dam, that's tight!.
What size converter?
What trans?
Peak torque RPM?
Launch RPM?
Shift RPM?

[LiL Jack]

Wheelie bars???


What are they?

[wreckmastr]

Originally Posted by LiL Jack

Wheelie bars???


What are they?

A thing of the past thank God.

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by grnmnstr

Dam, that's tight!.
What size converter?
What trans?
Peak torque RPM?
Launch RPM?
Shift RPM?

It slips at about 14% at the finish line now (old one was about 24%). I measure slip by the engine RPM/driveshaft RPM ratio from the Racepak. It's a GM101 (10") from Hughes. Powerglide with 1.80 first gear. I launched at 3500 and shifted at 7500 on those two passes--same as I've been doing for some time to eliminate variables. The only change was the converter. The rear end ratio is 3.50 to 1. No idea what the peak torque RPM is---never dynoed.


Jim

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by LiL Jack

Wheelie bars???


What are they?

[Kevspontiacs@aol.com]

Glad you found it before anything bad happened.

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by gene simmons

Thse are the ones I have! Is that why they broke?

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by twooldgoats

Thse are the ones I have! Is that why they broke?

IDK,did yours include instructions on "How to Pop A wheelie"?

[GTOGEORGE]

Originally Posted by twooldgoats

One of the joys of racing is the never-ending variety of things that can go wrong. I broke a wheel bar rod end during the launch on my second pass at the Pontiac Heaven event Saturday. Fortunately, no other damage done, except the rod end on the other side is bent slightly.

I had to fight the car during the first 100' or so of both passes this weekend: 7.89 @ 174 on Friday and 8.50 (!) @ 171 on Saturday, when the rod end broke. On inspection, it appears the rod end had been cracked for some time (I'll post a picture in the next few days when I get unloaded).

The lesson for me is that I did what I thought was a pretty thorough visual inspection while I had the car up on jackstands, but I missed the bent rod end. It was on the front end of the wheelie bars where they mount to the four link bracket at the bottom. I suspect that the problem began when I forgot to raise the wheelie bars to the "UP" position before loading the car once or twice.

Other than the wheelie bar issue, the car ran well. The new tighter converter kept me at about 7050 rpm crossing the finish line at 174 mph, so there's room for more power without exceeding 8000 rpm. At first, I thought the tighter converter was causing the starting line control issues, but now I suspect it was the wheelie bars. I need to get out testing after the first of the year at Tucson Dragway.

Jim

Yea I need to replace my 3/4" rod ends on my 4 link. Probably when i get the anti-roll bar installed and scale my car ill have them replaced.
My convertor after having Transmission Specialties redo it only slips around 5-7% top end.....before it was around 20%, I would defiantly recommend them to anyone looking for OR to upgrade their convertor!


GTO George

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by 535 tall deck

Glad you found it before anything bad happened.

For sure. Nobody hurt, drove the car back onto the trailer and a cheap fix. Can't ask for anything better than that.


Jim

[potentpontiac]

I just replaced all my rod ends. We tend to overlook the stress these things go through. Jim,Glad your car didn't point the car in the wrong direction,