Thinking about installing an BMW M6 engine in my Z

[grannyknot]

6 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

So if you throw a couple washers in there, are you going to take it back to the rack again before the track day and make sure we know what we're doing?  

No, I'll just take it for a high speed run and see how it feels,  Whitehead has a set of T3 T/C rods on the shelf that we will install next week while it is on the alignment rack

[Captain Obvious]

Here's to hoping it's smooth and stable sailing!

[Captain Obvious]

6 hours ago, Mark Maras said:

 Cap'n, should you want to give it a try, www.circletrack.com has a write up on the subject of alignment using strings. Looked quite interesting when I read it a few years ago.

Thanks Mark. I'll take a look. I've read a bunch of stuff on the subject, but I'm not sure that one made my radar.

[240260280]

not enough caster can make it a squirelly .... careful!

[grannyknot]

So here is .4" or 1 degree of washers on the T/C rod to move the left side strut out to about 3 degrees of caster, after installation the car handled well at high speed and felt predictable.

Just enough thread left,

Had to get creative to find enough room to get my fingers in there and start the nut down the threads, also had to get my biggest clamp out to squish the  bushings enough. Thread locker was squirted on after the nut was torqued.Also changed out the original rubber steering joint for a solid nylon one, I'm ready for the track.

[240260280]

Excellent!

[Captain Obvious]

Agreed! Excellent!

So was there a noticeable difference before and after the caster change? I know you have been hunting a couple gremlins. Did this take care of one of them?

[grannyknot]

7 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

Agreed! Excellent!

So was there a noticeable difference before and after the caster change? I know you have been hunting a couple gremlins. Did this take care of one of them?

There was a noticeable difference but I also did the nylon steering puck change at the same time as the caster change so when I did the next test drive all I could really perceive was "just a better feel."  While I'm at the track tomorrow I'll try to find one of the older racers and see if he will take my car out for a lap or two and give me some feedback.

Already have a few small scratches on the rockers from gravel being thrown up by the tires so applied some 3m protective film to the lower sections.

 

[240260280]

You changed the "Caster" of rocks angle.

[grannyknot]

Well my driving season is over for the year, I guess I was just having too much fun at the track, think I spun a bearing on the crank, really horrible sound.  Everything was great, car was performing perfectly, brakes were holding up and I even passed a Viper. Then that sound happened so limped off the track and called the flatbed.  Hopefully I will be able to save the crank, I'll let you know when I crack it open.

[240260280]

bummer.

[Captain Obvious]

Wow. That really stinks!

Here's to hoping it wasn't really something that serious.