let's chat

[brad hibbard]

really lacking conversation here lately---probably facebook taking over

for some of us NON facebookers ---how about we discuss something
debate something

now I miss dyno man 14---at least we had conversation --LOL

somebody throw something out there and I promise to give my 2 cents--LOL
doesn't have to be engines---it could be shocks--fuel--football--even our wives--LOL
but lets talk about something

Brad

https://www.race-1.com

[dynotimeonly]

OK Brad,,,,,,

Why SO many ground cables all over the motors you sell ?

Thanks,,,,,,

[brad hibbard]

Perfect---I love telling the story

a few years back I was walking the streets of Indianapolis in December pushing a 604 display engine down the sidewalk

let me explain just a bit---we had spent 4 days in the convention center at PRI on display and I was ready to get in my own bed---so I had the bright idea to beat the teardown crowd and push my display unit out the front door and down the sidewalk----it would have been a great plan IF I hadn't become disoriented when I walked outside and turned the wrong way.

I ended up literally miles from my vehicle and miles from the convention center with a engine on wheels
I was very appreciative of those scooter ramps cut into the curbs at intersections--LOL

As you can imagine I was not in the best of moods---when
Along comes this older fella (older than me) who strikes up a conversation about aluminum heads
----at first I am only thinking --how I can get away from this guy and find my van----but then he mentions a couple of things that makes me realize I need to at least listen to what he has to say

----I will skip through the bulk of this as we ended up talking for over an hour but he shared with me some testing that had been done WAY back "in the day" when aluminum heads first started being used---and it was found that the aluminum headed engines made more power when grounds were added
and even more noticeable was that they started much easier

I really didn't do anything with the information for awhile but--I was taught to always listen to older people with grey hair --so I do

a year or so later I had a circumstance where our water riser block that we build was losing ground for the low water pressure switch and the light was not working correctly because of the lack of grounding.
at that time I realized that we just might have a conduction issue with some aluminum parts
we then began grounding the top of the engine to the block

since we have started doing this we have had several super engine builders contact us claiming to see RPM increases with extra grounds

We do our best to find all we can in the crate world and adding grounds may not do anything in some or even most cases but one thing is for sure ---It does not hurt!!!

Thanks for asking
Brad

https://www.race-1.com

[Sportmod21b]

In the IMCA modified world. You see some 604 crate failures from what I think is broken rods. What is the issue causing this? Bouncing off the limiter, running methanol?

[Sportmod21b]

In the IMCA modified world. You see some 604 crate failures from what I think is broken rods. What is the issue causing this? Bouncing off the limiter, running methanol?

[SRXSRULE]

GROUNDS!
Grounds are so important in the automotive world, and even more important in the performance/racing world. The simple reason is voltage drop due to poor connections. just think about this... if you ground your battery with a short cable from the battery to the chassis think about the path it has to take to get back to the engine and ignition system.
Lets HOPE that the chassis itself has perfect welds and perfectly notched tubes and you dont have any voltage drop through the chassis itslef. Now think about each connection from the engine mounts and brackets, to the block, cylinder heads, intake, distributor, starter. Your ignition system loves voltage and that includes spark plug that are properly grounded in the cylinder heads. The starter also works so much better when its properly grounded.

I run a 602 crate in a street stock and my engine has a braided ground strap from the frame to each cyl head, frame to distributor hold down bolt, frame to starter mounting bolt and I also run a mini alternator and have a ground from the frame to alternator housing. Voltage regulators in these mini alternators last MUCH longer with a direct ground.

[brad hibbard]

sportmod21b
best we can do here is speculate----
when you say "some"---is that 2 or 20?
you think the failure is " broken rods"----

If the failure you are witnessing is a rod failure---my guess is the piston failed first and that is why the rod is hanging out of the oil pan

the rods in these engines are pretty tough ---unlike the pistons that go off like a bomb when they fail
when there is no piston to keep the rod aligned it also will fail but it's not the fault of the rod.

you mentioned running up against the rev limiter as a possible cause---
although it would sure seam like damage is happening when against the chip--
-we have seen engines that run every lap on the chip for years without incident----
I feel the same as you when I hear it but truthfully we don't find any unusual wear or damage from customers that are constantly on the chip

you also mentioned the methanol fuel as a possible cause----
you might have something there---not directly because of the fuel but indirectly due to possible excessive timing ---bad fuel curves or sloppy maintenance procedures.

we do run a bit more timing on alky but not crazy more like some people do
fuel curves can be more sensitive with methanol (especially if not experienced with the fuel)
methanol requires more maintenance ---it's not a big deal but you have to realize it and DO IT!!!

again just speculation

Brad

https://www.race-1.com

[brad hibbard]

there has been over 200 views of this thread and 2 topics and 1 added comment
I really like conversation with people but have this fear/hate for facebook
200 views has got to be 150 different people----please log in and lets chat it up without facebook
we can easily make this the biggest comment on 4m ---or as the face book nation says "viral"
everyone ask and anyone comment---don't get your feelings hurt if your comment gets "trumped"---hope that was politically correct--LOL

Brad

https://www.race-1.com

[brad hibbard]

since what I call the "XR1 era" (when almost unlimited traction came to dirt latemodels)

what is the most common way to cover the air filter ---deflecting dirt and hot air ----with the aerodynamics of these cars are we seeing air cleaner wash from fuel coming out of the carb like we did prior????
just a question and spark for conversation...

Brad

https://www.race-1.com

[keeks]

I'm curious, what is air cleaner wash?

[JustAddDirt]

Could be fuel being sucked out of carb vents or Venturi, and washing down air cleaner media. Could be a big problem with a K&N, which could open up
Filter and allow dirt in carb and motor.
Late models bodies are like giant vacuum cleaners with the way they seal off to track.

Just my thought. I can be wrong, but I would never admit it. 😂

[brad hibbard]

exactly correct dirt----
I will expand with our experiences tonight when Monday calms down

have a great day!
Brad

https://www.race-1.com

[brad hibbard]

"air filter wash"---just so everyone knows----that is not an industry standard phrase---it's just how it works in my brain and the way that I describe the condition

Justaddirt was dead on with what the result is when air passes through the filter (both in and out)
the carburetor is only going to use a certain amount of air and when the air filter element is exposed to the open air it can be flooded with air-----this air will then pass through the air filter on the opposite side
nothing terrible or even noticeable happens until the air speed is high enough to create a vacuum effect on the vent tube and even venturi
this does not typically happen when the car is at WOT (wide open throttle) because the engine is using a good portion of the air that is entering the air cleaner
BUT when you shut the throttle down at the end of the straightaway---there is still substantial air speed going into the air cleaner which is no longer being consumed by the engine---this air will then pass through the air cleaner and virtually suck the fuel right out of the carburetor

years ago when the the second design of MD3 noses came out ---it was a common complaint for the drivers to have gas on their shields
obviously at first we were desperately looking for fuel leaks but never found a leak
then it was being noticed that the fuel had oil in it and the air filter had spots where the oil was washed out
it was clear that the fuel was coming out of the carburetor and through the filter
so then we are going crazy changing float levels and baffles in the carb --- but still getting fuel on the filter
a piece of duct tape on the right side of the filter element fixed the problem
at that time we became more conscious of air cleaner placement and how we deflect the moving air.

as the aerodynamics of noses and hoods change so does the need for evolution of our air filter assemblies
we used to think we were just deflecting the big dirt chunks ---but there is more to it than that

hope some of that helps
Brad

https://www.race-1.com

[TDR]

Srxsrule and Brad what size wire do you use/recommend for the grounds?

[TheJet-09]

Wouldn't the cylinder heads be grounded through the head studs/bolts? At least on a steel block (crate)...I could see extra grounds on an aluminum block, but just wondering...