Project Chaparral 2A - Making It Faster

[Florida_Slotter]

[dr fabio]

I thought the whole premise of CanAm was that there were no rules?? Stick that big block Reynolds in the car and bore it out to 509ci.

[Florida_Slotter]

dr Fabio,

That would be interesting, no rules racing. Also known as "Run What 'Cha Brung". However that is a very expensive form of racing in any scale!

We have our rules to hold down costs and have the ability to enjoy ourselves.

Thanks for your input.

[HomeRacingWorld]

Always welcome a good build thread. Sounds like you have it where you like it.

[Florida_Slotter]

Harry,

I am a gear head. I've been one since I've been about 15 years old and my Dad towed home a 1954 Ford for me to work on in the back yard. For some reason I have never been able to just 'leave it alone' and I always had to make it better and faster. That 239 2 bbl overhead valve motor (first year for Ford with overhead valves) got lost in favor of a 312 Thunderbird motor with 3 x 2 bbl carbs and a 3/4 race camshaft. If I could only keep a transmission in that car!

When Doc was down, he saw my Chaparral 2A run. As I put it on the track and commenced a run, about halfway around the track Doc simply said, "Can I look at that?" Of course I stopped and he picked it up and started to ask questions. Hey the Sebring chassis had SCC axle bushings in the rear, my front axle bushing in place (1/8 round brass tubing) and Slot.It axles, wheels and tires. I had to use an old slot racer trick on the gearing (that's because I'm an old slot racer). The gear mesh was absolutely terrible. It sounded like a meat grinder that hit a bone in the process of grinding the meat. So I put a piece of 1.5 mm to 2 mm motor shaft tubing on to the motor shaft, a Slot.It 9 tooth inline pinion on the tubing and left the tubing long enough to engage the Slot.It crown gear to provide proper gear alignment. I hooked this concoction up to my bench power supply and set the voltage to 4.0 volts. I got out my Radio Shack Micro Torch and fired it up, then I turned on my power supply and observed the current draw at almost .400 amps or 400 milliamps. I CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY APPLIED HEAT FROM THE TORCH TO THE PLASTIC OF THE CROWN GEAR as it was turning. All the time listening to the gear mesh sound and watching the Amp gauge on the power supply. I saw it starting to come down as the noise of the gear mesh started to subside. I heard the mesh noise go almost silent and removed the hear from the gear. I saw the current was at .08 amps or 8 milliamps of currents. A whole lot more efficient. Track testing showed much more speed and less sound. The chassis was not completely tuned.

However it was just not enough to be a true contender like Jim Hall and his Chaparral. I'm sure that Jim got many of the cajoling comments as he talked about the automatic transmission in his race car as Big Daddy Don Garlits hear when he showed up at Englishtown with his rear engine dragster. All of that stopped when the cars ran! :D

Now I am compliant with our rules and hopefully will be quick enough to run with the Big Dogs! :animals-dogrun:

[etxfisher49]

Waiting to hear and see more !!

[Florida_Slotter]

[Florida_Slotter]

Old Johnny,

At your request, the above was done for you.

Also for you as well etxfisher49.

Enjoy!