Formula Ford - Page 25 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #**361** 03-23-2021, 04:23 PM

Today we got the aluminum calipers installed, and a new clutch master cyl. Nearly ready to go on Saturday.

cmac2012 · #**362** 03-23-2021, 07:20 PM

Just looked at this thread for the first time. Does look like fun. Some of the cars look like the old F1 Brabhams. The F! cars these days seem almost too fast. I understand that with the wings and the hot engines, drivers are in danger of blacking out from G forces. Where's the fun in that?

As for the Pinto engine, I guess those things served a purpose after all, eh?

But wait, alu-minium calipers? Couldn't they maybe melt?

t walgamuth · #**363** 03-23-2021, 11:07 PM

If you look at a seventies F1 car from the drivers back to the tip of the nose they resemble a F1 car to a t. The brakes are bigger but the controls are all the same.

The older ones that still have the cigar shape from the sixties run in a historic class. Great fun, all of them.

cmac2012 · #**364** 03-24-2021, 03:18 AM

I thought Brabham's team was the coolest thing ever. He was often featured in Road and Track articles on FI in my youth. I guess you indentify with what you cut your teeth on.

I just did a search to reacquaint myself with all of it. I had no idea about this:

Quote:

Brabham is the common name for Motor Racing Developments Ltd., a British racing car manufacturer and Formula One racing team. Founded in 1960 by Australian driver Jack Brabham and British-Australian designer Ron Tauranac the team won four Drivers' and two Constructors' World Championships in its 30-year Formula One history. Jack Brabham's 1966 FIA Drivers' Championship remains the only such achievement using a car bearing the driver's own name.

In the 1960s, Brabham was the world's largest manufacturer of open-wheel racing cars for sale to customer teams; by 1970 it had built more than 500 cars. During this period, teams using Brabham cars won championships in Formula Two and Formula Three. Brabham cars also competed in the Indianapolis 500 and in Formula 5000 racing.

-Wikipedia

t walgamuth · #**365** 03-25-2021, 10:30 PM

Yeah Jack was very good....his sons too but none quite made his level. In 61 Dad had a pit pass. He was wandering around the garage area and spotted Jack putting a gearbox together. Dad saw him put some stp in. Dad said is that stuff any good. Jack smiled and said "It doesn't seem to hurt anything"

His cars were as pretty as the Loti too.

t walgamuth · #**366** 04-10-2021, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Today we got the aluminum calipers installed, and a new clutch master cyl. Nearly ready to go on Saturday.

I have run two events now. Both with brake issues due to being unable to get a good bleed on them.

The calipers have two bleed screws, an upper and a lower. Logic suggests only needing the top one but you have to bleed them both it seems. I have a good hard pedal with no excessive slack in it. I will take the shocks off and get them rebuilt hopefully now before the next autocross.

I had another mishap today.

My driveway slopes a bit downhill to my garage door. I have done this many times but today when I stepped into the car planning to drive it out of the trailer it jumped the chock I have built into the ramp and began to roll backward out of the trailer. I had my right foot inside the car, crouching ready to step inside.

I quickly decided I could not step inside quickly enough to get my foot to the brake, so there I was...the car rolling backward with me half in and half out. No steering wheel yet either. I was able to reach the left front tire so I put the palm of my left hand to the tire and dragged that. I also was dragging my left foot...hanging on for dear life.

Luckily the car rolled almost perfectly straight off the trailer without running over anything or hitting anything. My left leg felt a little strained, but nothing too serious. About a half hour later I went in the house and took an allieve.

I'll need to have a good look at my setup and add more chocks or something to avoid this happening again.

We went ahead and bled the brakes and washed and waxxed the car.

I feel very lucky not to have sustained any injuries to myself, my grandson or the car.

cmac2012 · #**367** 04-11-2021, 01:46 AM

OMG, the chit that can happen in this world. I know that feeling you describe.

t walgamuth · #**368** 04-11-2021, 07:33 AM

...along for the ride!

sloride · #**369** 04-11-2021, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I have run two events now. Both with brake issues due to being unable to get a good bleed on them.

The calipers have two bleed screws, an upper and a lower. Logic suggests only needing the top one but you have to bleed them both it seems. I have a good hard pedal with no excessive slack in it. I will take the shocks off and get them rebuilt hopefully now before the next autocross.

I had another mishap today.

My driveway slopes a bit downhill to my garage door. I have done this many times but today when I stepped into the car planning to drive it out of the trailer it jumped the chock I have built into the ramp and began to roll backward out of the trailer. I had my right foot inside the car, crouching ready to step inside.

I quickly decided I could not step inside quickly enough to get my foot to the brake, so there I was...the car rolling backward with me half in and half out. No steering wheel yet either. I was able to reach the left front tire so I put the palm of my left hand to the tire and dragged that. I also was dragging my left foot...hanging on for dear life.

Luckily the car rolled almost perfectly straight off the trailer without running over anything or hitting anything. My left leg felt a little strained, but nothing too serious. About a half hour later I went in the house and took an allieve.

I'll need to have a good look at my setup and add more chocks or something to avoid this happening again.

We went ahead and bled the brakes and washed and waxxed the car.

I feel very lucky not to have sustained any injuries to myself, my grandson or the car.

Does your trailer have a winch, and race car have a "winchable" tab? We used to load and unload using the winch. It was old school ratchet type hand crank.

t walgamuth · #**370** 04-11-2021, 02:36 PM

no and no. I like to drive on and off the trailer. I believe with a few more chocks I'll be fine.

sloride · #**371** 04-11-2021, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

no and no. I like to drive on and off the trailer. I believe with a few more chocks I'll be fine.

Be safe first, have fun second, win third.

t walgamuth · #**372** 04-11-2021, 09:20 PM

Indeed!

INSIDIOUS · #**373** 04-11-2021, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I have run two events now. Both with brake issues due to being unable to get a good bleed on them.

The calipers have two bleed screws, an upper and a lower. Logic suggests only needing the top one but you have to bleed them both it seems.

are they dual caliper?

Quote:

I have a good hard pedal with no excessive slack in it. I will take the shocks off and get them rebuilt hopefully now before the next autocross.

I had another mishap today.

My driveway slopes a bit downhill to my garage door. I have done this many times but today when I stepped into the car planning to drive it out of the trailer it jumped the chock I have built into the ramp and began to roll backward out of the trailer. I had my right foot inside the car, crouching ready to step inside.

I quickly decided I could not step inside quickly enough to get my foot to the brake, so there I was...the car rolling backward with me half in and half out. No steering wheel yet either. I was able to reach the left front tire so I put the palm of my left hand to the tire and dragged that. I also was dragging my left foot...hanging on for dear life.

Luckily the car rolled almost perfectly straight off the trailer without running over anything or hitting anything. My left leg felt a little strained, but nothing too serious. About a half hour later I went in the house and took an allieve.

I'll need to have a good look at my setup and add more chocks or something to avoid this happening again.

We went ahead and bled the brakes and washed and waxxed the car.

I feel very lucky not to have sustained any injuries to myself, my grandson or the car.

t walgamuth · #**374** 04-12-2021, 01:01 AM

One caliper per wheel, fixed.

INSIDIOUS · #**375** 04-12-2021, 10:07 PM

Then that lower bleeder valve must be for a place that a bubble can be trapped. Ever consider the geometry?