So I went and bought a racecar... F500

New (used) firesuit acquired.  I now identify as a wealthy owner of a winery and porsche racing team...

go GRT!

https://jalopnik.com/the-unbelievable-parody-site-that-sparked-a-race-teams-1443533776

In reply to jmabarone :

HAH!  missed that in my initial "is the guy who's name is on this suit an shiny happy person?" sweep.  At least its pretty mild. 

And I did check, the mortgage company was one of the first to go bankrupt in the mortgage bubble. 

So, this coming weekend will be my first big track event with the car. There has been a good amount of prep work going into this.

New tire size. I put together a new set of front wheels so I can have two active sets. I also had to adjust the ride height. I wound up getting new pushrods for the suspension to get the height.  That's all buttoned up.

Usual beginning of year carb cleaning. It might not need it, but it's become a preventative checklist thing. 

Safety safety safety.  Harness, arm restraints, new suit, new gloves, new socks and headsock. New helmet too.

Trailer had a total interior overhaul recently to be useful for family camping as well as race support. Took today off work and reinstalled the winch and tiedowns. 

Annnnd, aside from final packing it should be good to go.

Wait, why is there brake fluid under the master cylinder...  Closer inspection reveals that the flare nut split. Great. I need to find a flare nut and a flare tool. Ok, parts records indicate it's AN-3. Soo, I need an an flare tool and a flare nut (or a 5/16 banjo fitting to whatever I can get). Spent the afternoon hitting up the auto parts stores because I want to be done with this today!

AutoZone - guy doesn't have any clue about brake lines. They don't carry a flare tool or any fittings?

Advance Auto - cool guy that geeked out because I drove the bugeye for the parts run. They have banjo bolts, but no banjo fittings. They do have a double flare tool. So, in theory if I can find metric flare nut and banjo... 

Napa, big pro store. Guy takes an eternity looking things up, they sell metric parts I could make work, but would need to order. Would take a few days...

So, off to Amazon racing I go. I tried to keep it local. Should have everything but the 37* flare tool tomorrow, with the flare tool coming Thursday. I also got some extra brake line in case the first try doesn't go well. 

Ah, racing. Good times. 

I have probably missed this boat a while ago but you can get Halon recharged at an airport/aircraft maintenance outfit because they all still use it.

Enjoying your story!

So, order from Amazon, flare tool promised for Thursday, now expected Saturday. Backup order to mcmaster in, expected by tomorrow night. Flare nuts ordered off Amazon, arrived today...

Then I remembered that my neighbor (who is cool and has an LS swapped FD he autocrosses and takes to track days) has a hydraulic flare tool. "Hey buddy, do you happen to have a 37* mandrel for that? You do!?!! Can I borrow it? You also have leftover nicopp line! Sweeeet"

New line made and installed. Now to get it blead.  At least I'll have my own tools for next time. 

In reply to Apexcarver :

Are you still running a 494??

In reply to Tom1200 :

Yup

Day one at the track. Will have more when I return to Wi-Fi after the weekend. 

Currently 17th out of 65 overall, which isn't bad because my goal is to get my feet wet, not set the world on fire.

Will have in-car later.

Do you have arm clearance issues? I'm wondering why you shuffle steer?

On a different note do you need any pipes for that 494? I still have a brand new Aaen pipe and I'd hate tho throw it out.

There are a few factors. I was running autocross spec caster, wide fronts, little elbow clearance, arms are pretty outstretched, and some recent tendonitis in my right elbow. I plan to work on arm strength and to dial the alignment a bit for next time. 

Yeah, a spare pipe wouldn't hurt! What would it take to get that in my possession?

In reply to Apexcarver :

I figured there was some issue with your arms or shoulder.

As for the pipe I just need to figure out a way to box it up; the shipping shouldn't be too much.

In reply to Tom1200 :

Awesome! Let me know 

I need to go back and read the whole thread soon! I do remember some of the first post, I stumbled across in the last year or so! (I'm blessed to have married well, also, so I remember!)

So one issue that I kept experiencing while I was at the Jefferson event was that the rear brakes had a lot of run out resulting in pad knockback. 

I looked into buying a new rear brake hub but discovered that the rotors are metric and the hubs are imperial so therefore I could only get a metric hub that would fit the brake rotor. 

Fixing this required me to make a purchase. Something that I've wanted to do for quite a while. 

So I bought a 1940s Atlas lathe with a quick change gearbox. I could have gotten a brand new Chinese lathe for about the same money, but I figured that it was better to get a bigger capacity machine that had already experienced a lifetime and if cared for could be passed down to my children. 

So I've been working on the lathe cleaning it up lubricating it using some evapo rust on the ways.

I was able to find the metric brake hubs online through a carting supply place. And I ordered two of them to be sure. 

I forget what the metric size was but an imperial terms. I've measured my axle at 1.25 in and the brake hub measured out to 1.181 in. 

So to the lathe we go...

And I also did face the area that the rotor mounts up to it to make sure everything's concentric.

Great find!

I'd rather have that, worn slap out, than a shiny new cheapo!

So, recent upload. I did have a mild code brown moment at the track event. Got caught out by a mid-corner bump.