Nickel Fix

[MadBill]

Probably the wrong section, but oh well...:

Setting the scene, our SBF Merkur road racer has had a troubled season. Early on, a cracked rocker caused a pushrod to wear through a paper-thin intake port wall and blanket the track in smoke. After a lot of unrelated distractions, got the hole epoxied up and hit the track again. Two laps in the repair failed and it was bug-fogger time once more.

Fast forward to yesterday, with the offending port now securely sleeved and pressure checked. Six laps into qualifying, the dread vapours yet again start wisping out. The good news: it wasn't internal this time, just the vacuum check valve disassembling itself. Fortunately, the car has a full undertray, so most of the parts were recovered; all except the flapper disc itself. The crew chief's desperate search for a substitute ended with a bystander saying "Here, try this." and handing him a nickel (Canada's lowest value coin).

Perfect fit! Dialed in the desired 12" Hg. and upon shut down the engine held vacuum for more than a minute. Qualified third!

Ilio Reversal 005.JPG

[swampbuggy]

As Smokey Y. would say "it only takes country smarts to fix it/figure it out" Cool story Bill. Mark H.

[mag2555]

Was the broken rocker just a fluke,or are they on the edge?

[Schurkey]

There's a post on a Pontiac forum where some doofus riveted a pair of quarters over the press-in oil gallery plugs on the front of the block.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/for ... p?t=833796

[ProPower engines]

There's a post on a Pontiac forum where some doofus riveted a pair of quarters over the press-in oil gallery plugs on the front of the block.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/for ... p?t=833796

And pink taboot I guess they do not have any taps in that part of the country.
Its always the same deal if it works no one cares till the freshen up and every eye in the world can see it

[Kevin Johnson]

I seem to recall dimes being used in hydraulic lifters to convert them...?

[MadBill]

Was the broken rocker just a fluke,or are they on the edge?

Well, they had four seasons of 8,000 RPM shifts with 240# seat load on them but passed visual inspection shortly before the failure. Afterwards, the other 15 Zyglowed OK, but I'd have to say they are on borrowed time at this point.

[modok]

Local shop had me rebuild his black and decker BB stone holder, pilot "wore through" somehow.

When I got it apart, then it was clear to see, the hardened thrust shim part..... had been replaced with a silver dollar.

I replaced it with a OHC lifter shim