Casual note on PIR..this past weekend.
Incredible weather and track-side ambiance.
However, the Full Mooon on Friday the 13th though appearing pleasing and
warm was full of gloom for Paul Smock and myself. I had a singularly
unique mechancial failure. The plug (3/4") on the middle of the head on the
manifold side corroded while at speed...ALL the water came out and into the
block... The Oil floated to the top and the pump pushed water to the
bearings instead of oil... The resultant mixture gushed everywhere and made
a substantial mess. We tore the engine down on Sat. night and were going to
replace the pistons and bearings..but the damage was more than repearable at
track side.
This "plug" is made from aluminum and just corroded through... BEWARE.
In my next motor I'm going to put in a Zn sacreficial anode. I think it is
obtainable via Marine shops.
Paul "Smokin Smock" had one hell of a weekend. Our race group was placed
with the next higher group (DP). Well he smoked all of them and had the
pole position for the race! He was flying. The motor had that good crisp
sharp tone---Music.
He unfortunately, over-reved and broke the motor on the front straight
during the last minutes of the race.... Oil spilled and slicked the
tires...The front-end came around and "touched'' the "k'' rail wall while at
speed.... As another driver so succinctly put it on a recent video...
"that sucks".
Mordy
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