Tragic Accident

[Selo]

Someone in this thread said there was speculation that the accident was caused by mechanical failure. Given the fact that these cars are built by individuals, rather than a fully inspected and authorized factory, how much does build quality weigh on your mind? My car should arrive tomorrow - I'd like to think I did my homework, but if I ever drive it hard or take it to the track, you can be darn sure I'll be praying my builder didn't skip any bolts or washers.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Selo

...how much does build quality weigh on your mind? My car should arrive tomorrow - I'd like to think I did my homework, but if I ever drive it hard or take it to the track, you can be darn sure I'll be praying my builder didn't skip any bolts or washers.

Quality components, and adherence to just basic good-mechanics, is pretty important. You don't have to be tracking the car, or even running her hard, to get in to a serious accident if you have a mechanical failure. Fortunately, these cars are really easy to inspect and, if you know what you're looking for, you can almost guess what you're likely to find in places you can't inspect. For example, if your fasteners on the drive shaft, half-shafts, and the like, are not proper grade, then there's a pretty good chance that when you peek inside the fork hole at your pressure plate you're probably not going to find ARP shouldered PP bolts. And if you see regular bolts there, then there's a strong chance the flywheel bolts have them too. On the other hand, if you see beautiful AN bolts, Grade 8 fasteners, castellated nuts with cotter pins, and safety wire then you can start feeling a little easier. Also, these cars rarely give out on you without telegraphing the problem before hand. Now, that signal could be a vibration, a noise, a smell, or just something that "feels" different. And, of course, the first time you get on her "really hard" you should be out in the middle of a big paved lot where there is absolutely nothing to hit, even if you tried. Don't rush things, these cars have a steep learning curve and the curve stops when you hit the tree.

[Selo]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Quality components, and adherence to just basic good-mechanics, is pretty important. You don't have to be tracking the car, or even running her hard, to get in to a serious accident if you have a mechanical failure. Fortunately, these cars are really easy to inspect and, if you know what you're looking for, you can almost guess what you're likely to find in places you can't inspect. For example, if your fasteners on the drive shaft, half-shafts, and the like, are not proper grade, then there's a pretty good chance that when you peek inside the fork hole at your pressure plate you're probably not going to find ARP shouldered PP bolts. And if you see regular bolts there, then there's a strong chance the flywheel bolts have them too. On the other hand, if you see beautiful AN bolts, Grade 8 fasteners, castellated nuts with cotter pins, and safety wire then you can start feeling a little easier. Also, these cars rarely give out on you without telegraphing the problem before hand. Now, that signal could be a vibration, a noise, a smell, or just something that "feels" different. And, of course, the first time you get on her "really hard" you should be out in the middle of a big paved lot where there is absolutely nothing to hit, even if you tried. Don't rush things, these cars have a steep learning curve and the curve stops when you hit the tree.

This is great info, it's just waaaay over my head. I've changed some wheels in my day, oil once or twice, and done a fair amount of clean-up and detailing. But that's it! I've spent my adult life working on eyeballs, and I've done some performance driving schools, but I think I m going to be better off hiring a mechanic to make sure my car is sound.

[120mm]

Originally Posted by Selo

This is great info, it's just waaaay over my head. I've changed some wheels in my day, oil once or twice, and done a fair amount of clean-up and detailing. But that's it! I've spent my adult life working on eyeballs, and I've done some performance driving schools, but I think I m going to be better off hiring a mechanic to make sure my car is sound.

You have a great attitude, though.

Your humility will get you a long way, imo.

Having said that, you've obviously worked in a detail oriented profession, so I bet you catch on quickly. Just take the principles you've learned in your professional life and apply them to this.

[Selo]

Originally Posted by 120mm

You have a great attitude, though.

Your humility will get you a long way, imo.

Having said that, you've obviously worked in a detail oriented profession, so I bet you catch on quickly. Just take the principles you've learned in your professional life and apply them to this.

Thanks, I always wanted to learn to work on cars, thinking this is the start.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Selo

This is great info, it's just waaaay over my head. I've changed some wheels in my day, oil once or twice, and done a fair amount of clean-up and detailing. But that's it! I've spent my adult life working on eyeballs, and I've done some performance driving schools, but I think I m going to be better off hiring a mechanic to make sure my car is sound.

Alright, well, if you can laser back a detached retina then you can eventually learn every thing there is to learn about these cars. I would start by checking the forums for a local race shop that has decent reviews and then call them up and tell them you've bought a used race car and you'd like them to just put it up on a lift and give it the once over. They will be delighted to and will likely offer to have you stand there while they do it. That's the first step in learning what the parts are.

[Selo]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Alright, well, if you can laser back a detached retina then you can eventually learn every thing there is to learn about these cars. I would start by checking the forums for a local race shop that has decent reviews and then call them up and tell them you've bought a used race car and you'd like them to just put it up on a lift and give it the once over. They will be delighted to and will likely offer to have you stand there while they do it. That's the first step in learning what the parts are.

You could train a chimp to fix a retina. Now working on a motor, that takes mad skill!

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Selo

You could train a chimp to fix a retina. Now working on a motor, that takes mad skill!

My wife had a detached retina that took multiple surgeries to fix, between the retina and the complications. Even mentioning such a thing may cause loss of life - or at least a significant piece of my gluteus maximus.

[120mm]

Originally Posted by Selo

Someone in this thread said there was speculation that the accident was caused by mechanical failure. Given the fact that these cars are built by individuals, rather than a fully inspected and authorized factory, how much does build quality weigh on your mind? My car should arrive tomorrow - I'd like to think I did my homework, but if I ever drive it hard or take it to the track, you can be darn sure I'll be praying my builder didn't skip any bolts or washers.

Yeah, I am not big on trusting another mechanic's work, sight unseen. But I'm a aircraft mechanic and was brought up in the tradition of cross-check.

IMO, you need to select a good mechanic now, and arrange an initial condition inspection and a continuing maintenance plan, with a written out checklist.

[Selo]

Originally Posted by 120mm

Yeah, I am not big on trusting another mechanic's work, sight unseen. But I'm a aircraft mechanic and was brought up in the tradition of cross-check.

IMO, you need to select a good mechanic now, and arrange an initial condition inspection and a continuing maintenance plan, with a written out checklist.

Good plan.......in addition to head restraints.
lots of little, misc questions with new car: it needs better headlights. What are the options for headlight replacement? Are shift knobs interchangeable?
With no power steering is it normal for it to tramline a fair bit? Normal for a bit of chatter in the steering wheel when I go over a rough patch? Normal for a fair amount of gas smell in garage with 302/EZ Fast1 set-up? (Seems to be running well.)

[120mm]

Originally Posted by Selo

Good plan.......in addition to head restraints.
lots of little, misc questions with new car: it needs better headlights. What are the options for headlight replacement? Are shift knobs interchangeable?
With no power steering is it normal for it to tramline a fair bit? Normal for a bit of chatter in the steering wheel when I go over a rough patch? Normal for a fair amount of gas smell in garage with 302/EZ Fast1 set-up? (Seems to be running well.)

Better headlights should be easy; Halogen projectors, LEDs and HIDs are common.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wvpBZCot0s

Tramlining: Are you running bias ply tires? If so, yes. If not, have the alignment checked by a professional. Actually, have the alignment checked anyway. It's cheap insurance.

I don't think chatter in steering is normal. Again, professional.

On the subject of having a mechanic checking out your car, it needs to be the right guy, with experience working with modified/race cars, imo. Your local SCCA, Vintage Racing Association or whomever races cars in your area will know who to go to and who to avoid.

BTW, it is normal for a new anything to need a mechanic to check it out on acceptance and correct minor deficiencies.

[Selo]

Originally Posted by 120mm

Better headlights should be easy; Halogen projectors, LEDs and HIDs are common.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wvpBZCot0s

Tramlining: Are you running bias ply tires? If so, yes. If not, have the alignment checked by a professional. Actually, have the alignment checked anyway. It's cheap insurance.

I don't think chatter in steering is normal. Again, professional.

On the subject of having a mechanic checking out your car, it needs to be the right guy, with experience working with modified/race cars, imo. Your local SCCA, Vintage Racing Association or whomever races cars in your area will know who to go to and who to avoid.

BTW, it is normal for a new anything to need a mechanic to check it out on acceptance and correct minor deficiencies.

Once again, great info, thanks.