Road race mechanical carnage

[Slow old poop]

It's always something, I guess. It wouldn't be road racing if some furshlugginer thing didn't break.

Now it's the shifter cables. We replaced them last year, and they are shot again. If we disconnect them from the tranny, you can feel and hear the cables binding. So it's not the tranny and it's not the linkage: it's the cables themselves. Mike, my tuner, thinks they are getting hot and melting--maybe from a hot tranny, maybe from a nearby water hose.

What say ye? Anybody come up against this problem? Is there a solution?

Perhaps related: My O2 sensor has gone berserk again. It seems to work OK at high rpm, but not below 2,000. We put a new one in last winter, but replaced it with the old sensor when the new one appeared to develop an internal short. The current (old) O2 appeared to work last time out, but the engine has been acting sluggish and unresponsive from idle. Once the rpm gets up, it seems OK.

We installed a Carbontrix (sp?) hood scoop this past weekend in hopes of getting the heat out. Hope that helps.

Lastly (until the next event), I broke off the gas pedal, and am using the stub. My driving style is brake hard, turn in, slam the throttle down. I did that one too many times, I guess, and broke the mutha plumb off. It was an aftermarket pedal, designed for heel-and-toe. I'll go back to a stock gas pedal unless somebody has a better idea. I don't heel and toe with my size 13s anyway.

Broken Down Rich

 

[Greg Collier]

I've never heard of the linkage getting hot and melting in that area (but what do I know)?
If you think this could be a future problem you could put heat shields on them...


The hood scoop will help a lot of that hot air escape!

I'm a 14 shoe. The way my pedals are set up (really close together), I'm able to just roll the ball of my foot rather then try and get my heal across the pedals. It's quit easy and comfortable for me...

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

Don't know what to say about the linkages.

You know what they say, if no one makes it the way you want, make it yourself. So that's what I did for the gas pedal. I kept cutting new templates out of some strong plastic to lay over the stock pedal, until I got the perfect height and shape for me. Then I layed some grippy rubber over it, then you have your own set of custom-fit pedals. I'm a size 14 too but I'm able to rock my foot over..I couldn't do it with the stock steering wheel though. This one's pretty small.

 

[silvah_gsx]

I did something similar with the pedals, but I'm a size 10 1/2.

I got the Sparco carbon fiber pedals, and then on top of the throttle I attached a large metal plate that closes the brake/throttle gap to about 3/4 inch. Then lots of duct tape over it to smooth it out, works great for anyone with small shoes

 

[Zero Bar]

I'm a size 14 shoe as well, I can even move my feet enough to try heel-toe, I drive about the same as you described Rich, I stomp on it!
Like Greg said, try a heat shield. I've had cable trouble before but I don't think it was caused from heat, mine appeared to of simply worn out.

 

[cait sith]

Solution: http://www.apracing.com/car/pedalbox/pboxp4.htm

Then you can run some real brake and clutch cylinders.

 

[Slow old poop]

Solution: http://www.apracing.com/car/pedalbox/pboxp4.htm

Then you can run some real brake and clutch cylinders.

We are thinking about gutting the instrument panel and dash this winter. This would be a good addition to the system at that time. Thanks!

Rich

 

[Ludachris]

Solution: http://www.apracing.com/car/pedalbox/pboxp4.htm

Then you can run some real brake and clutch cylinders.

That doesn't look very cheap. I wonder what the total cost would be to use that and go with different brake and clutch cylinders...