|
Post by critter4 on Apr 12, 2013 7:00:03 GMT -5
double check lug nuts
|
|
skunk
Heat Winner
BASHMASTERS - Coming soon to an arena near you!
Posts: 849
|
Post by skunk on Apr 12, 2013 9:57:44 GMT -5
This is a good thread. Its usually the little things that take us out. Make sure you top off fuel before the feature. Make sure the tank is big enough (my last oops running 2nd ). Always keep gas and water seperate and clearly marked. Keep a tote with all of the necessities, oil, trans fluid, brake fluid, complete dist, belts, tie rods, ends, steering box, etc. If you dont need it, your friend will and then they owe you one . Always remember, safety first.
|
|
leadfoot455
Heat Winner
I drive this way on purpose!
Posts: 604
|
Post by leadfoot455 on Apr 12, 2013 10:25:23 GMT -5
The gas and water seperately marked is a good one, I did that to a guy a few years ago trying to help him out, he had water in a gas jug and I dumped it in his tank, good thing we realized it and drained it and filled it with gas!
|
|
|
Post by Plowboy23x on Apr 14, 2013 20:26:33 GMT -5
duct tape steering wheel so you dont get your hands caught up in the wheel.
|
|
leadfoot455
Heat Winner
I drive this way on purpose!
Posts: 604
|
Post by leadfoot455 on Apr 14, 2013 21:17:45 GMT -5
duct tape steering wheel so you dont get your hands caught up in the wheel. This confuse you or what?
|
|
leadfoot455
Heat Winner
I drive this way on purpose!
Posts: 604
|
Post by leadfoot455 on Apr 14, 2013 21:18:56 GMT -5
Or has it happened to you? Lol
|
|
boom61
Feature Winner
Posts: 1,666
|
Post by boom61 on Apr 14, 2013 22:40:23 GMT -5
set your idle high enough the car will drive without the throttle. this year i got down to me and 2 other cars. one of my chains holding the engine down tore off the frame and the engine shifted leaving me with no throttle. luckily my idle was high enough to still drive around and take the win.
|
|
k37
Future Icon
Posts: 108
|
Post by k37 on Apr 14, 2013 23:40:24 GMT -5
if u use an aftermarket steering shaft i always put a hose clamp on the shaft up against the heim to eliminate pulling the shaft off.
|
|
|
Post by roberts21 on Apr 16, 2013 20:00:29 GMT -5
When running your battery cables in through the fire wall make sure your cables do not touch your exhaust.
|
|
leadfoot455
Heat Winner
I drive this way on purpose!
Posts: 604
|
Post by leadfoot455 on Apr 16, 2013 21:35:50 GMT -5
I love this thread!
|
|
|
Post by cmartin777 on Apr 17, 2013 5:14:57 GMT -5
i learned never to trust even your closest buddies when theres 5 guys in the garage drinking cold ones and having a good time. theres always something that everyone thought someone else took care of but never got done. we have gone so far as to make a checklist of mandatory items,and other items that we would like to take care of if time permits.
in an all for 1 derby 24 cars i got to the top 5 and my car caught on fire. it stayed running and i stayed in, fire crew put it out and i lasted another 2-3 minutes before i caught fire again and was dq. my buddy hooked up the fuel lines on my fuel injected car but never tightened the clamp. the clamp was loose and dangling about 6 inches away.
|
|
|
Post by farmboy012 on Apr 17, 2013 6:56:57 GMT -5
Vise grips 9/16 and 1/2 wrenches and leatherman saved my butt many times over
|
|
|
Post by greg81788 on Apr 17, 2013 11:36:00 GMT -5
when building a car Try to antipate what your anchorage points will do as the body starts to cave in might not seem like a big deal but I have had my gas tanks and batterys get loose
|
|
dm440c
Feature Winner
derby drivers against drama- there's no crying in demo derby!
Posts: 2,824
|
Post by dm440c on Apr 17, 2013 12:03:33 GMT -5
- I like to use starter buttons but I always include a redundant hard wire backup within reach - when using ballast resistors, have a short length of wire with a male slide terminal on both ends zip tied close to where the ballast is mounted. This way if it fails you can connect both ends to your jumper to bypass it and continue - bring 9 wire, even if you don't use it as the primary method of holding down the hood. It works great for all kinds of quick repairs before the feature. - it was said already but I am a big believer in checklists. I have one for each car build and one for the derby day equipment and I save them on a computer to be modified and reprinted as needed. - I have a big plastic Contico brand free-floating truck box that I stock with all kinds of derby day things- oil, brake fluid, clamps, belts, rad/fuel hoses, duct tape, zip ties, rattle cans of paint, wire, battery terminals, funnels, zip screws, hand cleaner, screw-in rubber freeze plugs, etc etc etc and I just throw it in the truck on derby day then store it inside when I come home. This has saved a LOT of time over the years and has saved the day more than once. - seems obvious but don't forget a cooler with some cold drinks! It's a real bummer to have to wander into the fair and buy a fountain drink for 7 bucks when you could have brought it yourself for a fraction of the price. Of course, it's always interesting to check out the local mutants while on the drink mission... - another obvious one but don't forget to bring some cash! Had to bum a twenty last year to pay my entry fee. Also there is sometimes an opportunity to buy someone's car on the spot if you have cash on you. - bring a backup battery, starter, fuel pump, and carburetor among other things, even if the parts are brand new they can fail without warning at any time. I've had to change every one of those things in the pits at one time or another. - if you run 60's Mopar products, spray paint the left handed lug nuts red so that an enthusiastic pit crew member doesn't forget and twist off the stud while changing a tire. - padding inside the door and especially on the B pillar by your head is something I am occasionally tempted to skip when in a hurry but it makes a big difference for wear and tear on your body parts. - make the hole in the floor for your shifter bigger than you think it needs to be. Things can really change while your car bends and it's a bummer to miss the feature because your shifter is jammed in the floor.
|
|
|
Post by jstormer on Apr 17, 2013 19:00:02 GMT -5
i read through most of these so i hope they aren't repeat. 1) make sure torch has plenty of oxy, acetylene/propane 2) spare tire for the trailer 3) never hurts to have #9 wire hanging loose through the driveshaft tunnel so if your driveshaft breaks it doesn't gouge the ground and bend when they push you off the track 4) bring plenty of supplies (oil, water, wire, belts ect) your buddies will use them!!
and always bring plenty of buddies that will get sh!t done when you're trying to do 1000 things between heats!
|
|