Well the '99 season is right around the corner. I'm setting some goals for this season, I always set then but not in writing. I want to get the car running in the low 12's in the quarter and in the mid 7's in the eight mile. I want to win at least 2 races (not rounds) and win over $1000 without breaking any major parts. Ok, now that I have set my goals, this is what I'm doing to accomplish them.

12-27-98
I've started rebuilding a new engine and plan to rebuild the 350 tranny from the ground up. The engine is a 350 with a four bolt main. Its' getting the Summit kit and Stage II rods with a reconditioned cast crank. I'm planning on getting a new set of Dart heads to finish off the long block. The rotating assembly has been balanced. Here is a break down of the engine:

1975 - 350 Chevy four bolt main truck block
Summit Engine Rebuild Kit - Hypereutectic 12.2:1
Summit Stage II Rods
Parts America Cast Crank
Pro Tech Engineering Silicone Fluid Damper
TCI SFI approved Flexplate
Comp Cam - Magnum .555 lift (249-12-225-4) :v)
Dart Iron Eagle Heads - 200cc Runners, 64cc Chambers - Straight Complete :v)
Moroso 7 qt. Oil Pan with integral scraper & windage tray (710-20191) :v)
All new engine bolts - Mains, Heads, Engine Kit :v)

The rest of the parts will come off of the engine that is in the car now.
Weiand X-Celerator Intake (925-7547)
Edelbrock 750 cfm Carburetor
Harland Sharp 1.5 Roller Rockers

B&M Overhaul Kit for TH-350 :v)
B&M Hole Shot 3000 stall Converter :v)

Note: * - Don't have yet. \ :v) - Have now (2/1/99)

I hope to have the engine done by the end of March. The bottom half will be together in the next couple of weeks. I'm also going to put on a new set of M/T 28.0 X 10.5 X 15 this year.

2-1-99
I got the rest of the parts to put the bottom half of the engine together, it's done. As for the rest of the car, I plan to put on 3 or 4 more coats of paint and some new 5 star wheels. If I can come up with the money this year, I will also try to get a fiberglass 4" cal hood and front bumper.

2-17-99
I got the heads put on and the roller rockers in place. I also purchased new 5 Star wheels for the front and back with some new M/T 28.0 x 10.5 x 15. Next I will get the B&M kit to do the trans when I pull out the engine to get the parts off it for the new motor (Need more money, what new). I will try to get some pictures soon...

2-20-99
Here they are...

4-3-99
I will be working on the car all week trying to get it ready for the first Test & Tune (April 10). I picked up a B&M Hole Shot 3000 Converter. I will let you know how this week goes and hope to have some new pics...

4-11-99
The Car is back home with the new Engine and Trans. It sounds good... I still need to adjust a couple of things. Here are some more pics.

	Start with an empty case and put it all together (350 THM). It's not that hard!
	It's now a B&M Trans. Adjusted the values and put it on the run-in stand to break it in.
	Breaking in the Cam on the run-in stand. And put it in the car. That's the old motor on the right getting ready to come out.
	And here's the new motor... Check out the new Alt. mounts.
	The car is back together. Also up graded to a B&M Pro Ratchet shifter.

Next, the new tires and wheels... (More pics to come)

4-22-99
Here's the new wheels and tires...

The fronts are M/T Drag 24" x 4" x 15" on 3.5" x 15" wheels.

The Backs are M/T 28" x 10.5" x 15" on 8" x 15" with 3 1/2" back space.

4-24-99
The first time out for the year. Well it's not so good, I made 5 passes and with each pass the car slowed down. I kept trying everything but nothing worked. So I put it on the trailer and took it home.

4-25-99
Test & Tune - this time, I made 4 passes and with each pass the car slowed down. Again I was trying everything, I think it the transmission.

4-26-99
Called and talked to a tech at B & M and they told me to pull the pan and see what it looked like inside. So I did and there were a lot of metal flakes in it.

4-30-99
I pulled the tranny and took it down to the case, it was the converter. I got a new one and cleaned everything up and had it all back together (7:00 p.m. 'til 3:30 a.m. and about 4 hours the next day) to get it ready to try it out.

5-1-99
At the track to try it out. Made one pass and the car is missing bad. Pull off the right value cover and #8 intake rocker is lose. The locknut was still tight. It looks like the cam is "wiped". Well, I'll let you know what's next...

5-23-99
I pulled the engine and after going through everything found out that I had the wrong springs (heads were complete). After replacing the cam, lifters, heads and springs the engine is back in the car and ready to go. I also updated the HEI to a new MSD Billet Distributor, new Blaster 3 and MSD wires. Here are a couple of pictures of the cam...

5-28-99
At Pacemakers for Test & Tune - made 7 passes and the car ran great...

Not to bad for the first time out!

5-29-99
At Pacemakers for my first race of the year. Now that the car is running well, I need to work on the driver (R/T)...

I lost on the tree, a little gun shy after the two red lights. I'll be back out there next week...

6-5-99
I decided to join in the points at Pacemakers this year, it's my first time in the points. I also signed up with NHRA and got my number (L394). Well, the car is running super and the R/Ts are looking good! It was very hot and the weather was not very good, but I made it into the 5th round and lost, but not by much! Won $30 and started out with 4 points.
Here are the numbers...

As you can see, I let up in the 2nd round, I caught the guy at about 100' and he let up. Rounds 4 and 5 the car ran on the dial but my .563 light was not good enough (the other guy had a .533 light and was only off by .019 on his dial, I lost by .023. I would say that almost 95% of the races are won or lost on the starting line. I'll be back for more next week...
Check out the track's web site at www.pacemakersraceway.com

6-12-99
Back again for another points meet. Well 1 point is all I could get this week, .550 lights aren't going to cut it at this track (Pacemakers). I put in a new Autometer tach today before coming to the track. I found out that I was shifting at 5500 rpm, not at 6500 rpm like I thought (I have an adjustable chip in my shift light, which I use the tach to set it). That's why my first 2 time trails were off, I put in a 6500 chip and than a 6300 chip and both times I hit the rev limiter (7000 chip) because of the delay in the trans from 2nd to 3rd. I put in a 6000 chip before the "Dash for Cash" run and looked at my 60 foot from last week and dialed a 7.85. Not to bad, ran a 7.852 (not good enough, two other guys ran there number with an 0)!

Something else I found out about is a way of tracking weather changes with one number. For more information follow these links;
NHRA News: Knowing the weather important to teams (5-24-99)

Psychrometric Calculator

An example of how I got my first number:
94° F (°F db), 29.71 Baromerric Press.(in. Hg), 40% Humidity (%RH)= 96.95 (gr/lb)
(I need to get a better weather gauges)

Total Points - 5

6-19-99
Well, I think I have the right combination now. The car is running the number every time, now I have to work on the driver. I think the problem with my lights is that I'm not staging the same every time. Next time out I'm going to set my staging RPM up to 2400 or 2500 (its now set at 2200). When I stage now I have to let up on the brake to much and can't control the car. As you may have read one of my tips from last year, I have a fast idle cable that sets my RPM to 2200. I first turn on the pre-stage light, pull it up to 2200 RPM and then bump it into the stage light. I'll let you know if it works!

Won $10.00 - YTD - $40.00
Next race for me is July 3rd.

I'm also looking for a Grand National 8.5" - 10-bolt rearend to put in my car (direct bolt in), my current 7.5" posi is starting to slip. If you know anyone that has one for sale, let me know.

7-2-99
Out for a test and tune to get a little better with the lights. Not to bad...

Round one of the gamblers race was a double break out. Round two, just couldn't run the number (what a waist of a .503 light).

7-5-99
Well, I found an 86 GN 8.5" rearend ($400 - good price, thanks Steve) and just in time. I went to the track on July 3rd for my third points meet and while I was warming the car up, I broke a bolt in the rearend that holds the center pin in. Both C-clips fell out (the center pin is notched out because it will not come out with the 4.56 ring gear on). Now I have to get the new rearend ready to go. I will be back out in a week or so. When I last checked, I was tided for 9th place in the points, I've got some work to do to stay in the top 10.

Here is the old and new rearends getting swaped out. Nice new paint, studs, etc.

This was my old 7.5" with homemade 2" spring extensions. I made new ones that I bolted to the top of the spring so that I can take them on and off.

7-16-99
Well, the new 8.5" is in and I'm doing a test and tune to see what it's going to do (also getting ready for the next points meet). My 60' aren't as good with the 3.42 gear but the car is still consistent. I had to make some new spring spacer to keep the car from hitting the tires when I launch.

Round one of the gamblers race was a bad light - my .605 to his .515, the car ran the number! I was trying to launch at different RPMs. With the 3.42 gear, I'm getting 3500 stall from the converter. The last pass I tried 3000 RPMs and it didn't like it as you can see. I ran faster launching it at 3500 RPMs but I couldn't get my fast idle to go any higher than 2500 RPMs (if you look at my 98 season you will know what I'm talking about). That's also what messed up my lights.

7-17-99
Points Meet - Not to bad a day, 3 points and $20.

As you can see the car is doing its job, now if I could just get the driver to do his! Rounds 2 and 3 the other guys red lighted. In round 4 the other guy had a .582 light and ran a 7.744 on a 7.73 dial (all I needed was a .590 or better to win).

7-24-99
Points Meet - Hot, No points, No money - Not a good day. I learned one thing - Run your own race! If you do, you can beat anyone!

I have some more pictures, I just have to get some time to post them, more to come...
Next race is August 7th.

8-1-99
I went out to get some practice for next weeks points meet but didn't do so good. No rounds, No money - Not a good day. The car was going up and down, I haven't adjusted the valves yet. I will adjust them before I race next week. I also took out the spring spaces I made, the car is not squatting like it was. It is either the gear or the new rearend, I'm not sure which one it is yet.

I was doing a dry hop after my burnout, I stoped doing it and the car is hooking up good. No more drop hops...

8-7-99
Points Meet - No points, No money - Not a good day. Need more seat time... (Hey does anyone know where I can buy some good lights?) I adjusted the valves and leaned out the carb. The car is BACK! Look at those numbers, now if I could only cut some lights or just be in the 500's. I also read something about how to run your M/T. Do a good burnout at the start of the day and than go easy the rest of the day (it worked). I made 5 passes and they were all within 0.031 of a second, with three of them being within 0.003 of a second. Not to bad... The crew chief is doing his job (that's me), now we just need to get the driver to do his (that's me too)!

Look anything like last week? It wasn't my day, again!

Hey, here are some new pictures...

These picture were taken on 8/1/99. You can see how low the rearend is sitting now (looks a lot better now).

8-11-99
Lets run the 1/4 mile - National Trails. Well, it not as fast as I wanted it to go, but not to bad. I'm still having problems cutting a good light with this 3.42 gear.

I purchased the Dick Miller Kit for the rear suspension and his rear springs. I'm going to put it on after the next points meet (August 21st). I will post some pictures of the kit later this week.

8-20-99
I went out to get some more practice. I tried launching at 3500 RPM and my lights improved.

8-21-99
This is the last points meet for the chance to go to Indy. Well, I didn't do very well! No points today. I only used two gears (1st -2nd) today and the car liked it.

8-28-99
I installed the new Dick Miller rear suspension kit but I used Art Morrison No-hop bars and new rear springs.

http://www.dickmillerracing.com

http://www.artmorrison.com

This shot is with the Dick Miller No-hop bars. I had a little trouble getting the no-hop bars to fit, so I returned them and purchased the Art Morrison ones.

8-28-99
Today, we are having a runoff to see who will go to Indy. I was tied for 14th place and PRP is taking the top 14 Drivers in the PRO points. We were in the staging lanes and getting ready to run when Mike Nitz came up and told us that someone droped out and that we were both in. He told us that if we wanted to run for braging rights that we could. You know we would! I was dialed in at 7.98 and the other guy was dailed in at 8.00, so I changed my dial to 8.00 and we ran heads up. And what a reace is was, two red lights! I had the better of the two lights and that put me in 13th place. I'm going to Indy for the Sears Craftsman's Division 3 ET Bracket Finials!

9-3-99
Test & Tune - Before going to Indy I have to pull the tranny and freshen it up. Fixed transmission, it was slipping from 2nd to 3rd gear, new clutchs and steels, had to change input shaft and drum.

9- 4 -99
PRP No-Box Race. I was trying to use a weather station to help with the dail-in, it wasn't working.

9-5 -99
PRP No-Box Race. The car, the weather, something was not working right!

9-6 -99
PRP No-Box Race. I double teched today (that 2 entries with one car). It goes real quick too. I didn't have time to take weather reading.

On this card I went home un-defeated because of a rain-out. I won $143.
YTD Winnings: $203

NOTE: On the first time trial on each card I tried a Holley 830, it didn't work for me.

Second Tech Card

9-15 -99
National Trails - Grudge Race - Big Dawgs Class. Getting ready for Indy, so I wanted to run 1/4 mile. I used a new computer program (Race Pro, I found it on the internet) and digital temperature and humidity gauge ($22 at Meijer) to get the corrected altitude. It's a small program, if you can't find it on the net, e-mail me and I'll e-mail you a copy, it's shareware.

9-17 -99
Indianapolis Raceway Park - Three great time trials and one bad first round. Indy was a great time even with going out in the first round. The car went sideways (big time) off the line, I got it straighten out and the other guy let up thinking that I wasn't coming and then I got back into it and at the finish line he got me by .016 (almost). I'm still working out this new rearend set-up.

9- 25 -99
PRP last race for season points. The car is not running consistent, it's up and down. Not sure what it is.

10-13-99
Well, I have been very busy, working, racing, spending time with the family, working. I haven't had a lot of time to update the site, but I wanted to keep you up-to-date. I upgraded to a Team-G intake but I haven't got to try it out yet (rain out last week). I plan on going out Friday (10/15/99). Here are a couple pictures:

As you can see, it's getting there! All it takes is time and money...

10-15 -99
I went out to get some more practice. The engine sounds different with the new intake. I getting about 4300 stall form the convertor now. I tried two different Holley 700 carbs, it didn't like them.

10-16 -99
PRP No-Box Race and Team Finials.

10- 17 - 99
National Trails - Well, I did it again, I went home un-defeated because of a rain-out. Down to six cars. I won $121.60.
Total Winnings for 1999: $324.60

1999 Season Summary

How many of my goals did I meet this year? Lets see, the car is running in the low 12's in the quarter and in the mid to high 7's in the eight mile. I want to win at least 2 races (not rounds) and win over $1000 without breaking any major parts. Well, I broke some major parts and only won $324, not to good on that part of the goals, but I did go home twice un-defeated. All in all not a bad year. I learned a lot, below are some of the stats.

How many ways are there to lose a race? I think I did most of them except break on the line or wreck going down the track and I didn't cross the center line.

Lets take a closer look at Break Outs.