Jan 2014 I bought a ratty 1989 Sportroof 7MGE 5 speed on Ebay, stripped it, put in a cage, seat, harness, rebuilt the suspension and brakes (stock but with EBC Yellow Stuff pads, cut the stock springs, put on RE-11s in 225/50-16, added and oil cooler and 2 qt Accusump, changed the spark plugs, and by Nov 2014 I was ready to go racing, I thought. One buddy and I entered the Double 7 Hour at Atlanta Motorsports Park. Once we got on the track, we found that we had absolutely no grip in the rear end, and not enough power in our old, tired motor to accelerate out of the turns. Still, with beginners luck, we took the checkered flag on both days, finishing 31st of 64 on Saturday and 23rd on Sunday (after attrition). The hook was firmly set and we were all ready to be reeled into "cheap racing".
So, I spent the next 3 months trying to fix the cars problems while my buddy recruited more team-mates. He got us 5 more suckers, er, drivers, and I pulled the engine for a long-block rebuild by a big local builder, replaced the clutch, rebuilt the transmission, replaced the cut springs with H&R race springs, bought some wider rims and 245/45-16 RE-11s for the rear, fixed the broken battery box mount, and got another 30 pounds of un-needed stuff out of the car, mostly in the front.
The engine shop was 3 weeks late getting the motor back, so it was run, rush, hurry to get it put back together in time for Rd Atlanta 14 hour Feb 7 2015, this time with a team of 7, counting me. Finally, all the parts were sort of back on, I pressurized the oil system with Comp Cams break-in oil, the engine fired nicely, and we completed a static break-in for 20 minutes. The next day 3 of the drivers came in to town to help me do the road break-in (car is still mostly street legal). We did about 400 miles at varying speeds and the car seemed to have slightly more power than before, and ran well.
I spent the next week putting the finishing touches on the car, changed the oil to Brad Penn 20W50, and off we went to Rd Atlanta. Friday was registration and test day. We passed tech, were assessed 4 penalty laps for excessive modifications (my springs), and got all set up in our pit. Then we took turns taking the car out for 5-10 lap test sessions. Three of my drivers had never been in this car before, so we had to adjust the seat and belts for them and show them the controls. All are experienced Instructors so all went well, except the car seemed a little down on power and did not want to idle. I adjusted the idle speed up a bit.
Saturday morning was COLD. 22°F at grid start. I was glad I had put a quart of antifreeze in with the coolant water and Water Wetter. Car started fine, idled fine, and we took our place in the hot grid, ready for 3 yellow pace laps, and then the green flag. My most experienced driver was at the wheel.
After 1.5 hours it was time for our 1st pit stop and driver change. No fuel. This went smoothly, except my driver said the car was down on power a bit, and he was being passed by everybody. We are 79th of 94. Next driver went out and said the same thing. Second pit stop we changed drivers again and fueled. Car is now not wanting to idle; I check idle adjust screw and it has backed out, so I screw it back in and add a drop of Locktite. We are 68th of cars still running. Third driver goes out; we are slowly gaining on the field due to attrition, but are way down on speed. We are the 3rd slowest car out there. Our best lap is 2:00:84, while the leaders are averaging 1:45!!!!!
At this point, my goal is simply to get the 6 paying drivers all a stint behind the wheel, so we keep going. I expect the motor to blow any minute. Everytime the safety truck goes out, I expect to see my car being towed back in. I ask the guys if they want to keep going and they all say yes. Finally, all 6 have driven, and it's my turn. Now the car won't idle at all; you have to keep your foot on the accelerator pedal or it shuts off. I stall it 3 times trying to get it out of the pit, then i'm going down pit out as the maniacs are flying down towards T1 at 100+mph and I have to blend in. Uphill to T2, then downhill to T3 and the esses. This thing sounds like a logging truck, but it will still rev to redline......eventually. No power what so ever. :: angry ::
My stint felt like forever. I was constantly watching my mirrors trying to not get in anyones way. The race leaders were still flying. I keep seeing debris all through T7 where somebody effed up. Finally, full course yellows and a BLACK flag!!! For everybody. Oops. We all trundle into the grid and shut down (not hard to do for me). Time for a Come To Jesus meeting as the race director is not happy.
After a good a$$ chewing, the field is allowed to return to the track. We decide to pit for a driver change and a vote: continue or quit? Everybody wants to keep going. My 3 crazy guys who want to drive at night are grinning like idiots. None of us have ever driven on a race track at night before. I have replaced the stock sealed beams with 7200 lumens of best Chinese LEDS and we have another 800 lumens of LED "apex" lights. I have no idea if they are aimed properly because I never got the courage to run it in the dark. Sorry about that.
"Night Train" jumps in, fires it up, and heads off in the darkness. I would literally kill for a cigarette and I haven't smoked in 3 years. None of my drivers have a cigarette, the worthless *********s. I make do with Nicorette. By this time we are up to 54th, still due to attrition. Another 1.5 hours go by and it's time for a driver change and fuel. Car is still crap, but no worse. I check all the spark plug wires and some seem loose on the distributor cap. I put zipties on them but it doesn't help. Steve jumps in and is gone. Two hours to go. We are up to 48th. Somehow, in the dark, "Night Train" ran our fastest lap of the day, almost breaking 2:00, in a car running on 5 cylinders. I can hear the miss now.
With an hour to go, Steve is back in, and John gets in. John is even shorter then I am and we have to use cushions so he can push in the clutch. I don't think he uses the brake. He is our finisher.
Almost 10pm now and the temperature has dropped again. We are all freezing in the pits. Funny, I sweated like a pig when I was in the car. We take turns hauling our spare parts, tools, tires, and gas jugs the 1/4 mile back to my truck. Some Rd Atlanta employee has locked the man gate early, so we have to walk an extra 100 yards, uphill. When I get back, some racer has neatly taken the gate off it's hinges. Never underestimate the power of racers with tools.
The cars are still flying down the front straight. Almost everyone has gone to LED headlights now and it's blinding. The cars go by so fast, that most of us have put on colored LED strip lights just so we can find our car. Note to self, add more.
One lap to go, everyone is allowed to cross pit lane to the fence and cheer the drivers to the checkered flag. I see the #32 go by at full speed. We finish 42nd.
14 hours, 7 drivers, 10 driving stints with 3 at night, no wrecks, no breakdowns, 16 jugs of fuel, no tire changes, no individual black flags, 1 spin (mine), finished in top half of field.
I trailered the car home the next day and cranked it up just to see: it's missing constantly. Had to go back to work, so it will be the weekend before I have time to check it out. Hope it is something simple, as Daytona is in 3 months.
Anybody know a tuner for a 7M-GE in the SouthEast?
So, I spent the next 3 months trying to fix the cars problems while my buddy recruited more team-mates. He got us 5 more suckers, er, drivers, and I pulled the engine for a long-block rebuild by a big local builder, replaced the clutch, rebuilt the transmission, replaced the cut springs with H&R race springs, bought some wider rims and 245/45-16 RE-11s for the rear, fixed the broken battery box mount, and got another 30 pounds of un-needed stuff out of the car, mostly in the front.
The engine shop was 3 weeks late getting the motor back, so it was run, rush, hurry to get it put back together in time for Rd Atlanta 14 hour Feb 7 2015, this time with a team of 7, counting me. Finally, all the parts were sort of back on, I pressurized the oil system with Comp Cams break-in oil, the engine fired nicely, and we completed a static break-in for 20 minutes. The next day 3 of the drivers came in to town to help me do the road break-in (car is still mostly street legal). We did about 400 miles at varying speeds and the car seemed to have slightly more power than before, and ran well.
I spent the next week putting the finishing touches on the car, changed the oil to Brad Penn 20W50, and off we went to Rd Atlanta. Friday was registration and test day. We passed tech, were assessed 4 penalty laps for excessive modifications (my springs), and got all set up in our pit. Then we took turns taking the car out for 5-10 lap test sessions. Three of my drivers had never been in this car before, so we had to adjust the seat and belts for them and show them the controls. All are experienced Instructors so all went well, except the car seemed a little down on power and did not want to idle. I adjusted the idle speed up a bit.
Saturday morning was COLD. 22°F at grid start. I was glad I had put a quart of antifreeze in with the coolant water and Water Wetter. Car started fine, idled fine, and we took our place in the hot grid, ready for 3 yellow pace laps, and then the green flag. My most experienced driver was at the wheel.
After 1.5 hours it was time for our 1st pit stop and driver change. No fuel. This went smoothly, except my driver said the car was down on power a bit, and he was being passed by everybody. We are 79th of 94. Next driver went out and said the same thing. Second pit stop we changed drivers again and fueled. Car is now not wanting to idle; I check idle adjust screw and it has backed out, so I screw it back in and add a drop of Locktite. We are 68th of cars still running. Third driver goes out; we are slowly gaining on the field due to attrition, but are way down on speed. We are the 3rd slowest car out there. Our best lap is 2:00:84, while the leaders are averaging 1:45!!!!!
At this point, my goal is simply to get the 6 paying drivers all a stint behind the wheel, so we keep going. I expect the motor to blow any minute. Everytime the safety truck goes out, I expect to see my car being towed back in. I ask the guys if they want to keep going and they all say yes. Finally, all 6 have driven, and it's my turn. Now the car won't idle at all; you have to keep your foot on the accelerator pedal or it shuts off. I stall it 3 times trying to get it out of the pit, then i'm going down pit out as the maniacs are flying down towards T1 at 100+mph and I have to blend in. Uphill to T2, then downhill to T3 and the esses. This thing sounds like a logging truck, but it will still rev to redline......eventually. No power what so ever. :: angry ::
My stint felt like forever. I was constantly watching my mirrors trying to not get in anyones way. The race leaders were still flying. I keep seeing debris all through T7 where somebody effed up. Finally, full course yellows and a BLACK flag!!! For everybody. Oops. We all trundle into the grid and shut down (not hard to do for me). Time for a Come To Jesus meeting as the race director is not happy.
After a good a$$ chewing, the field is allowed to return to the track. We decide to pit for a driver change and a vote: continue or quit? Everybody wants to keep going. My 3 crazy guys who want to drive at night are grinning like idiots. None of us have ever driven on a race track at night before. I have replaced the stock sealed beams with 7200 lumens of best Chinese LEDS and we have another 800 lumens of LED "apex" lights. I have no idea if they are aimed properly because I never got the courage to run it in the dark. Sorry about that.
"Night Train" jumps in, fires it up, and heads off in the darkness. I would literally kill for a cigarette and I haven't smoked in 3 years. None of my drivers have a cigarette, the worthless *********s. I make do with Nicorette. By this time we are up to 54th, still due to attrition. Another 1.5 hours go by and it's time for a driver change and fuel. Car is still crap, but no worse. I check all the spark plug wires and some seem loose on the distributor cap. I put zipties on them but it doesn't help. Steve jumps in and is gone. Two hours to go. We are up to 48th. Somehow, in the dark, "Night Train" ran our fastest lap of the day, almost breaking 2:00, in a car running on 5 cylinders. I can hear the miss now.
With an hour to go, Steve is back in, and John gets in. John is even shorter then I am and we have to use cushions so he can push in the clutch. I don't think he uses the brake. He is our finisher.
Almost 10pm now and the temperature has dropped again. We are all freezing in the pits. Funny, I sweated like a pig when I was in the car. We take turns hauling our spare parts, tools, tires, and gas jugs the 1/4 mile back to my truck. Some Rd Atlanta employee has locked the man gate early, so we have to walk an extra 100 yards, uphill. When I get back, some racer has neatly taken the gate off it's hinges. Never underestimate the power of racers with tools.
The cars are still flying down the front straight. Almost everyone has gone to LED headlights now and it's blinding. The cars go by so fast, that most of us have put on colored LED strip lights just so we can find our car. Note to self, add more.
One lap to go, everyone is allowed to cross pit lane to the fence and cheer the drivers to the checkered flag. I see the #32 go by at full speed. We finish 42nd.
14 hours, 7 drivers, 10 driving stints with 3 at night, no wrecks, no breakdowns, 16 jugs of fuel, no tire changes, no individual black flags, 1 spin (mine), finished in top half of field.
I trailered the car home the next day and cranked it up just to see: it's missing constantly. Had to go back to work, so it will be the weekend before I have time to check it out. Hope it is something simple, as Daytona is in 3 months.
Anybody know a tuner for a 7M-GE in the SouthEast?
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I have added an oil cooler, Accusump, & H&R springs which puts me into 4 penalty laps right now. 
