FromaBuick6
When will it end?
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2003
Well, I probably blew a head gasket over this, but if so, I'll just rebuild stronger. Anyway, I was down at brandenton at the quarter mile for Thursday night test and tune. My first run I did a 12.70@106, (Zero boost launch, can't hold any boost on the line). So I figured I would bump the timing on the Extender up 2 degrees and turn up the alky as well. I was running around 24 Lbs. of boost, at the time. The track got worse (slick) real fast as the night progressed, and soon it was going to be my last run of the night. I was moving along in the staging lanes and noticed a "riced out" Acura next to me, it was a good looking car, lowered, nice wheels, etc. Well, as we are the next 2 up to run, I hear this commotion, over behind me, then the Acura jumps out of line and a Honda Civic pulls up next to me. It had slicks on the front that were sticking out about 2 inches from the fender wells, loud exhaust, God only knows what else. So I figured the ricers got together and figured they would try a "Bait and Switch". We both lined up and staged, I had a great reaction time, but spun all the way through first, (usually the track is good and sticky, but not tonight), the Honda looked to be having the same kind of traction problems. But as soon as I got into second I started hooking, and then started putting distance on him. Deep into 3rd gear, I was about 4 car legths out in front of him when I get red lights everywhere! My knock gauge has gone fully red and I can actually HEAR the knock, Oh great! For a split second I thought about lifting my foot, then I said Nah, I refuse to lose to a honda with slicks, I'll just get ready to pull the heads and pick out the pieces of blown gaskets. Kind of stuborn, but I could just imagine all the local ricers cheering the Honda on to victory, and I couldn't bear the thought. I ran a 13.00@107 and tried to get my foot out of it right before the traps, I think the Honda ran about a 13.30. After the run the car sounded awful! I thought, Oh well, here we go with a rebuild! I hobled back to the pits, and popped the hood. The 2 larger hoses on the side of the vacuum block had blown off, one of them feeds into the pressure switch for the alky. So, I not only had hoses blowing off, but I lost my alky in 3rd gear, Ouch! Well, miracle of miracles, there dosen't seem to be any permanent damage, (as of yet). I think if I hadn't been running about 20% racing gas in my tank, just for fun, it would have been much worse. But as far as the Honda boys know, it's just another loss to a TR! - FAB6
