Thread: Hello from an old member

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OH MY!!
The next phase of the MG's life may have just begun ?? Get ready for a bit of a read chaps. This one is a Doozy

Last weekend I set up another intervention with 4 friends and my Son to raid another friends workshop and finish the 5 link rear end on his TR8. He was a little surprised when we turned up as he was working on customers cars We got the whole rear end fabricated and finished in 12 hours and he was over the moon with joy. This was the second intervention for this friend of ours in the last 3 weeks. We are like Ninja car builders who turn up and do stuff to help our friends in need. I have arranged these interventions many times over the years to help friends who are lagging behind with their builds. Yesterday the tables were turned on me? I was supposed to be doing some minor works on the MG while waiting to find time to swap out the gearbox for racing in a couple of weeks. My Son had made arrangements behind my back with the guys and the wife. So yesterday morning the MG got hauled 12 miles to a friends workshop with me in tow so the guys could tear down my drive train for the repairs. I went along with it but reminded the guys that I was still saving for the new 800hp / 4500 stall converter from Coan Racing. My original plan was to swap out the tranny and use the old converter while I learnt how to drive a transbrake box with reverse shift pattern and to confirm that the gearbox worked ok. I got the box 5 years ago from a guy who had got it rebuilt with race clutches etc and the transbrake conversion. But his project went sour and I got the new tranny for £150 !
It had oil in it so over the last several years I have rolled the tranny on its back in the garage every few months to make sure some oil got into the moving parts. As the guys were taking charge of the project I did what I do best at times like this. I stopped at the market and bought some really nice lean steak burgers, onions, relish, pork and caramelised red onion sausages, rolls, butter, mayo, bacon and a lot of other stuff. I set up a cooking table in the workshop and made sure that everyone was fed and watered during the day. Then at 2pm my whole drivetrain was on the floor and the tranny was separated from the engine. This was when I got involved in doing the swap. As I prepared the new gearbox for fitting one of my chums told me to "hold up there" ??? When I asked why I got told to step away from the gearbox as it could not be fitted like that? So I asked again "why not" ? I was then told that the new gearbox needed a 4500 stall converter. So I told them again that I was saving for this item and it would be January before I could buy it. Holy crap if the boys then produced a large box and handed it to me saying "Happy Early Birthday Dude" ?? WHAT!! I opened the box and immediately burst into tears as I saw a brand new 4500 stall converter complete with anti burst plates etc?? I then asked WTF the guys were doing. This is when the speeches started and my heart melted somewhat. My Son came forward and said "Pops, without your help and your spare parts I could not have built my rod" Another friend came forward and said "Pel, without your help my Blown Capri would not be running right now" Then "Pel, my TR has been off track for 3 years now, without you it would not be ready to roll next year, you and the guys have saved me 2 years on the rebuild" Then "Pel, the Slingshot would still be a garage project if you had not been there for me over the last 3 years mate" I told them all quite strongly that I did not help friends for a reward of any sort. I do it because I like helping friends. And their joint reply was a long the lines of "We dont give a shit Dude, you have helped us and lots of others to get to where we are today and have given up so much of your time and efforts to help us along" So I asked for the bill for the converter as I wanted to pay for it. Now bear in mind that this is my Son and close friends!! Their reply to my comments about paying for the converter was "Go F**k yourself, you aint paying nothing Dude" By this Time I was was a quivering wreck and shaking a little as it all sank in. So I made us all cups of tea and we got on with the installation. 3 hours later the power plant was back in and I was adding fluids as my friends finished the transbrake button installtion. Then another hour later I was in the car park of my chums workshop and firing up the engine. The MG feels like a totally different car now. The high stall converter does not really make the car move in 1st gear, I have to add some revs to make it move now. I cant go backwards unless I select reverse and press the transbrake button. When I pull the shifter to D it is actually in 1st gear now. And when i hit the transbrake button in 1st gear I can rev the engine without the car moving. After going backwards and forwards a few times I decided to try the transbrake. I hit the button and brought the revs up to 1800 which is what I used to do on the foot brake. I let the button go and the MG lurched forward like a scalded cat

I feel honoured that my Son and my friends have helped me out in this way. I also feel a little guilty at the same time. But the guys dont see why I should feel like this as they see it as some sort of payback for my help over the last several years. But all I gave up was my time?

Between the 5 of them, they are adamant that I will NOT pay anything for the new converter. I have offered to pass on funds as I save them but they are not interested. It still does not feel right to me, but I will accept their gift for what it is.

SO!
I will be out on the 14th August to do some shakedowns with the new transmission, and hopefully I will get the hang of using it

Sorry for the long ramble guys. I'm just in awe of the kindness that the guys have shown me. The next race weekend will be a really note worthy occasion for me. My Grand Daughter Faith is 1 year old on Monday 15th August. We are having a party for her on Saturday 13th which will be fantastic and a real high for me. The day after this I will be rolling the MG out for the start of another years testing on the way to my 8 second goal

Regards to all of you folk over there from a very warm and sunny UK today.

Pel

Wow what good friends and family. The way it should be too/ I love reading stories likethis where people pull together to help one another. It's the way it should be! I'm also glad they were able to show thanks to you for all your selfless help to your friends! Now I want to see some burnt rubber videos! Congrats!

What a great story! It got a bit fuzzy in the middle as my eyes misted up, but I got through it! Looking forward to seeing some reports from the strip! Thanks for the ramble.

Well mate, you are a very humble man with a excellent loving Son but also some very good friends who love and treasure all you do for them, so you relax and enjoy the love and friendship of these people because what you have expenienced just can not be brought. I too enjoyed reading your story and have followed along with you since the start here and too look forward to the next reports with photo's and video of the MG as you tame the beast at the next outing.

I always thought it.. but now I know for certain... You ARE the richest man in town!

And it has nothing to do with finances.

Good for you, you are so deserving.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I always thought it.. but now I know for certain... You ARE the richest man in town!

And it has nothing to do with finances.

Good for you, you are so deserving.

What he said.
There's nothing more that could be said.

Great story, Pel, but here's a hint. You have to learn to take "no" for an answer.

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm still a little concerned that the boys shelled out cash on my converter. I went back to the shop with the guys and dished out man hugs to them all with words of thanks. After I had finished saying thanks they told me to get the kettle on and make the Tea!! And then they all got on with working on the TR8 rear end. So I got busy with the broom for an hour and then got to rebuilding the Rover V8 for the TR8.
I am now working out a way to stiffen up the rear end for the next test day? I have realised that the old setup saw me pre loading the rear end on the foot brake before I launched. But with the trans brake the rear end will be loose when i launch. I'm worried that (when I learn how to leave the line with the transbrake) the rear end will wind up and possibly cause a stability problem or break something. So I am going to alter the slapper bar setup. I think I will remove the snubber rubbers on the slapper bars and replace them with steel or ally blocks that are tall enough to touch the front of the springs with the car sat on its own weight. Then I will jack the slapper bars down by 1 inch and glue on some hard rubber sheet that is 1" thick. I hope that this will in some way pre load the rear springs ? I guess I will have to experiment with this while I gently use the transbrake ??
Whatever happens I'm sure it will be fun as well as interesting Regards Pel

Pel, that is awesome! You truly know you have a great son and trust worthy friends too. Too many times I see guys helping others and it is always the same. One guy helping a few and the few just take advantage of it. It's great to hear your friends know and realize what an asset you are to them. I wouldn't worry about the $$$ as I'm guessing they couldn't really help all too much with labor on the MG, but they could help in parts. Very cool. Enjoy your granddaughter's first birthday too.

On the transbrake, as far as I know, the brake is achieved by locking first and reverse I believe together. So there is some what a load on the drive line and it isn't totally unloaded. It isn't like foot braking and I can see what your concern is. I've had the same thoughts about if I could ever do a transbrake in my car.

I will sure find out about the transbrake in 10 days

I will have a few transbrake friends there for advice !!

OH My!! The weekend is now upon me. I have worked hard to make sure all will be fine for my Grand Daughters 1st Birthday event tomorrow. We will have lots of family and friends attending our open house day tomorrow. And to be honest the MG needs have gone on the back burner for now I have tidied the garden and got all the things I need done so my guests enjoy their day at our house for Faiths 1st Birthday. Luckily, 5 of the guys attending with their kids are race buddies. And the wife (Gillian) has agreed that around 4pm we can go and finish prepping the MG for Sundays racing and shakedowns which should only take an hour or so. Then we can come back in the house and play with the kids etc !!

I intend to capture Faiths 1st birthday event with my new camera. Its a Samsung Galaxy camera which does all sorts of good things. But by 9pm when Faith will be asleep me and the boys will be hauling the MG off the drive and onto the trailer while other (non race folk) sip wine in the garden. By 10pm the MG will be ready to roll with 2 fresh bottles of gas in the truck. I hope to be back here on Sunday night with some pics or at least a report on how Sundays shakedowns panned out ??

Enjoy your granddaughter's first birthday party, and good luck making some great passes sir!

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Enjoy your granddaughter's first birthday party, and good luck making some great passes sir!

Oh my goodness!!

Where do I start ?? I had one of the BEST weekends ever

Faiths 1st birthday Gig was so cool! Everything went well. We had invited friends with babies for a noon to 5pm session and then other family and adult friends to stop by either all day or from 5pm onwards. The weather was fine and warm, there was a constant stream of family and friends from noon to midnight We decided that a BBQ in the garden was not a good idea with children around, so I was busy on the wok for a good few hours during the day making piri piri chicken strips and assorted stir fries to order. The girls made up a huge spread of assorted bbq chicken and nibbles and dips etc... By 7pm the hardcore of family and friends were settled in and the folk with little ones had drifted away. But the food was running low, so my youngest Daughter hopped into the kitchen with me and we hashed up two huge lasagnes with chopped salad and my special shallow fried new potatoes. Just as well we did some big ones as we ended up with 18 folk wanting an evening meal It was off the scale and so much fun for me, Gill and the kids to be able to lay on a day out for do many folks
Faith had a good day !!
Here she is on the left with a friends little girl who is called Grace




Baby Faith stayed up until 1am when we had to all go to bed as we were racing the following morning. Faith and her mum came with us as did some other friends with their children as they seemed interested in seeing what I did. So at 7am on Sunday we were hauling ass to the track with another 10 bodies who had decided to crash with us so they could see some racing. The 10 bodies were 7 adults and 3 children who had spent the night spread around the spare rooms and the lounge in sleeping bags etc.
Long story slightly shorter (you guys know how I tend to ramble ) and we were at the track and the MG was off the trailer and ready in double quick time.

Nitrous was turned off. Sunday was all about making sure the tranny and converter was working. The only difference between Sunday and any other day with the MG running on boost only was that I had to pull the shifter BACKWARDS now instead of FORWARDS

And could I get to happen? Hell No!!

I did 5 passes and only on one pass did I actually shift from 1st to 2nd. the other 4 passes saw me launching and going from 1st to neutral. At least I can now confirm that my rev limiter works

Summary of the runs:

1st run was me holding on the T brake at 2000 rpm. Then launch and do the 1 to N trick before shifting back through 1st to 2nd and 3rd with pedal to the metal = 11.7 seconds

2nd run = T brake + 3000 rpm and the same 1 to N trick with an 11.4.

3rd run I actually get it together with a 3500 rpm launch on the T brake and I actually shifted 1st to 2nd. But the tyres let go and I was doing some drifting for a while before I hit 3rd and got straight to run 11.7.

Runs 4 and 5 were T brake + 4000 rpm. Both runs were launch in 1st, shift to N and then pull back through 1st to 2nd and then 3rd gears. I kept my foot in all the time even with the limiter popping. The shift light is set to 5700 rpm and the limiter is set at 6000. All of my mates were surprised as they could not hear a missed gear. It just sounds like a longer run in 1st gear from the outside. Both of these passes were 10.9 seconds. This is amazing news for me i think?

On the old tranny I could run 10.9 or 10.8 with a foot brake launch on the blower only. But on these old launches I would put the pedal to the metal as soon as the lights changed and be on it hard from the get go. But even with a missed gear i ran 10.9 on the new setup. 60 foot times on the two 10.9 passes were 1.4's On the old setup I would only run 1.5's on boost only and with nitrous I would hit 1.3's in the 60 foot ??

So I'm thinking that I may be on the right road to a new PB soon? But I dont want to run nitrous until I can be sure that I can actually change gears correctly. So next time out on the 27th I want to see if I can grow a pair and see what the engine revs to at full pedal on the T Brake?? When i have done this I will attempt a launch like this !
Enough rambling. Here is a vid of my last run of the day. See if you can hear the missed gear? From outside you cant. From inside there is a rev limiter complaining and a driver in a frenzy. When I heard the limiter popping from inside I quickly hit the shifter backwards and while doing so I hit the curly cable from the T brake button on the steering wheel which flicked the wiper arm which started my windshield wipers going Not a lot more could have gone wrong.
Enjoy the short video folks.
Regards from me and the family here in the UK

Perry

Perry Stephenson testing the transbrake - YouTube

Perry, congrats on the success of a big party! She and her friend lok like they're happy and having a great time.

Nice driving in the car. I couldn't really hear the gear miss just your rev limiter. It should really get it once you get used to the new set up and can spray it!

X's 2, you can certainly hear the rev limiter! But not the missed shift,

Good to hear the family day was so enjoyable too. Thanks for the video (as always.)