I finally fired up the new 540 engine today. The muffled exhaust is so much easier on the ears now. I could rev up the engine and didn't need ear plugs. You can really hear the noisy gear drive too.

After running for a couple of minutes, I noticed a puddle of fuel under the car. The shaft seal on the fuel pump failed. I never took the pump apart over the winter and there must have been some alcohol still in it. The seal was completely deteriorated. Good thing new seals are available on Ebay. I ordered 2 sets. Should arrive sometimes next week. A belt driven pump and an injection system like a Toilet or Enderle system sure would be nice. Something that can survive alcohol better. That's the downside of methanol fuel. It's hard on seals and o-rings but the performance gains are worth the extra maintanence. While I'm waiting for the pump seals, I'll probably pull the needle and seats out of the float bowls and change the o-rings.

The engine runs. I'm almost ready for the race season. Fuel pump needs new seals. Timing wasn't checked. Float levels were not set. Alternator wasn't charging. Oil pressure was good.

First race of the season is May 14. It's just going to be a King of the Hill/T&T day.

 

good to hear it, hope to see new times from you in may. still thrashing on my car to get it ready for may track dates as well. Mufflers sure are nicer on the ears.

 

Good to here that it's running. Your not the only one with fuel pump problems, my holley blue gave up the ghost on sunday while tuning. Can't wait to see the new times!!!!!

 

hopefully this year will be alittle nicer on your wallet then last!

 

About the only thing different about the engine is the displacement. I went from 469 to 540. Same heads, carbs, camshaft etc. The heads would be considered small for this engine but they'll work fine for me. They're only 310cc. Some 345's or bigger would be better. They're also unported.

At a modest 1 HP per CID, I'll have 71 more horses to play with. I'm guessing the CID increase will be something closer to 100 more horses.

With the chassis adjustment I did and the extra horses, my goal is to get at least a 9.7 ET at altitude. Just enough to put me in the SuperGas/SuperRod range although I doubt I'd ever run in that class.

Everyone asks me why I didn't put a factory 572 under the hood. The factory 572 is a tall deck which creates more problems. 555 or 565 is my next jump up in displacement. I could go to a 572 with this bore but need an even bigger 4.500" stroke instead of my current 4.250". This Dart block can handle the big stroke although I don't know if the short deck can do it.

The ultimate is a tall deck block with 4.600" bore and 4.750" stroke building a 632. Just think. A modest pump gas engine making over 600 hp just with displacement.

 

Glad to see that you are getting closer to being ready to go. Are you planning on travelling at all now that you guys have some dates lined up?

 

Undecided yet. We now have 14 race dates scattered throughout the summer. I'd like to get to Edmonton at least once just to run at a lower elevation.

 

I'm ready with 4 weeks to spare this year!

Fuel pump has been repaired. Float levels and timing were adjusted. The car backed out of the garage under it's own power.

The "noisy" gear drive sounds weird. It almost sounds like the engine is too tight but I know it's the gear drive. Again, the mufflers sound great. I had the engine around 4000 rpm with no load and can still hear.

The CS alternator still isn't charging after some wiring repairs so I put on the old 37 amp 10SI just to keep the voltage up until I can pick up a higher amp 12SI version. I have another CS alternator but it's clocked wrong so I can't use it. With an electric water pump, fuel pump, rad fan, smog pump plus all the other normal electrics in a race car, 37 amps just barely cuts it this year.

About the only thing left to do now is small stuff. Clean out the interior, wash the car, recheck tire pressures etc. The right front tire has a very slow leak. In 2 weeks it lost about 10 psi.

Only one neighbor with some kids came over to see the noisy "race car". They liked it and didn't complain about the noise.