FORMULAVEE.ORG

Chris, Bolt on valve covers are already legal, unlike the front pulley (seals) were at the time I assume you are referring to. The question on the table is whether to *mandate* the use of bolt on valve covers under the assumption they would stay on more of the time, thus reducing the effect on the r...

I'll chime in too. I support what Steve has said as far as the committee's interpretation of the "intent" of the rules and their evolution. In our opinion, the intent of the rules was never to allow modifications of the carrier in the area of the king pin. If the exact wording of the rules...

Just a couple comments to add to the general discussion. 1. I've seen play in the trailing arms of old junk yard beams, but much of it was due to wear in the arm itself, accompanied by some wear in the bushing. I suspect this is due to a lack of maintenance on the beam (seldom or never greased) duri...

In my experience, an M2 Mysterian will like a spring that is softer than what many other cars might use. Same on the shock valving, etc. I believe the M2 has a higher spring to wheel motion ratio (more spring shock movement per wheel movement) than many other Vees. Running slicks here in the US, I h...

Jim, I realize we were discussing the front suspension bushings, but your comment was much more general. I HAVE heard many people say specifically that "in FV, bushings are free". I just wanted to make the point that this is not the case. In fact I've heard this said many times, often from...

2011 GCR page 218: 9.1.1.C.3.A.9 reads Caster, camber, and toe in/out settings are unrestricted. Clearancing of carrier or trailing arm to eliminate binding is permitted. Offset suspension bushings and alternate locating spacers are permitted. Steve, Before clearancing was specifically allowed, mayb...

Tiago, Another source for a snap ring pliers is McMaster Carr Either of these look like they should work: 5449A93 or 57805A361 They are a bit under $25 each. You'll be happiest with a good quality, straight tip, internal pliers for a 2" - 3 " snap ring. That's pretty big. I'm guessing 2-1/...

They wear differently side to side due to differences in shoe materials, drums materials and stiffness, fit to drum, fit to backing plate, friction to backing plate and adjusters, drum finish, etc., etc., not due to flipping primary shoe from top to bottom. Backing plate side, inside vs. outside of ...

The way I was taught to recognize the leading shoe is that the wheel cylinder, or activating force, is on the front end of the shoe relative to the rotation of the wheel. That means that on the left front the leading shoe is on the bottom and top on the right side. 8) Brian, I think you have it mos...

Greg, One last thought on your wheels. If they appear to roll true on concrete and you cannot "see" that they are bent, try to mount them (without tire) on a front drum. The center webbing may just be a bit "sprung" and they might end up pretty straight once they are torqued to t...

There appear to be a couple schools of thought on what should be used to control the front camber on a Vee. If you use worn bushings (or wear them out prematurely by relieving them) you can use the shims to set camber. However, if you use freshly reamed bushings (reamed with the std VW reamer), you ...

Absolutely Agree: Congratulations Ron.
His first Sprints win. He will be smiling from ear to ear.
Very Cool!

As Steve said, it looked like a real good race amongst the top three.

Steve, you are right about the split start. That will help (a lot) but the Vees will still catch some of the slow F500's. I believe it was last year they did NOT do a split start at the Sprints and it killed me. Maybe it was 2009, I can't recall. Anyway, they are splitting them this year which is go...

Yesterday' Vee times, (most went faster today) Varacins: 2:43.920 Ron Whitson: 2:45.115 Lisa Noble: 2:46.126 Andrew Whitson: 2:47.126 Charlie Rogers: 2:49.023 Mike Landon: 2:49.464 Joe Bertolucci: 2:49.792 Nick Maurus: 2:51.694 Hal Adkins: 2:52.774 Jim Dziewior: NT Chris Jennerjahn: NT I'm guessing ...

The Lybarger drums solve this problem by not having the hole at all. They work well, are a bit pricy, but to worth it to me. I haven't priced either a good German drum or Lybarger drum in a couple years. As Bruce stated above, you can (theoretically at least) reduce the likelihood of crack initiatio...

Personally, I would fuse everything except the ignition and possibly the oil pressure light. You can drive with everything else "off" and you can fix the problem later without having to replace half of the wiring harness. A pinched wire causing a dead short is a high current draw no matter...

Jean, If you have drums on the rear, you should be able to turn the engine over enough to open or close the points. Adjust one drum up tight and then put it into 4th and turn the other drum to rotate the engine (easier yet if you install a wheel/tire to get more leverage). Or with the ignition off y...

I've been using the spacers for over 10 years. Mike got the idea from me though I can't claim to have invented it: the Brits have been doing it for years... I do not use the aluminum adjuster nuts with the spacers and would recommend against it. The aluminum is not strong enough to allow the torque ...

John, I'm not sure I understand when the "wobble" occurs. You describe it as occurring "after braking". So it's happening at turn-in or in the corner? Some of the rest of your description sounds like it is "during" braking. Also, describe the "wobble" as best ...

Jean, Sorry if I appeared flippant. It's just that you will see a huge array of different set-ups, some close to or actually stock and others quite exotic and expensive. There isn't necessarily a good (inverse) correlation with the amount spent on shocks and the lap times achieved. You will definite...

Jean, At one time I weighed most of the front suspension stuff on my Vee. Using the general rules of thumb, I estimated the total unsprung weight of each front as approximately 50 lbs. It looks like your wheel/tire combo would add about 10 - 12 lbs to this, or 20+%. It would seem logical that this s...

I haven't read what Brian sent, but from observing this post, I think for just the "feel" of the car on the track, the tire still is critical. In my perception, a cold tire "feels" stiffer over bumps than a warmed up, softer tire even though the pressure has gone up a few pounds....

Jean, I assemble these and most chassis fasteners dry, especially when using Nylocks. You don't want to lube the interface between the nylon and the bolt. As your chart shows, dry assembly means that you need to go to a higher torque to put the same tension on the bolt (more torque used on overcomin...

Jean, My crib sheet for torques lists my "recommended" torque for the 1/2-20 bolts that retain the beam is 40+ ft-lb. (The Mysterian design is the same as the Lynx.) I seldom actually torque them anymore (that I can remember), but I'd estimate I'm torquing then to 40 - 50 ft. lb. I've neve...

Hal,

Is it the distance or just the fact that you have to go through/around Chicago to get there that makes Grattan "a track too far" for you?

Distance is relative. For me 5 hours has been the closest track for 8 years.
In some parts of the country, that would be close.