Engine work progress

Took the head and crankshaft from the backup engine to Midwest Engine Rebuilders in Duluth Tuesday for some service. The prognosis is good on both counts. Bobby says the crank may need a little cleanup but that should be all. The head will likely get by with shaving the surface rather than a complete valve job. Good news since that means less expense.

The progress on the race engine from last season? None. Mark is pessimistic about cleaning up the rust in the cylinders, and whether the crank may have acquired some rust as well. But he has not done any further disassembly to verify anything. He is many engine re-builds behind at the shop, and since the FHR engine is not a paying gig, it has low priority.

QUICK ENGINE UP-DATE (6/16/11) Mark decided he doesn't liKe the rust in the cylinders so wanted to re-bore with oversized pistons and rings. That's not in the budget so I brought him another B212 engine block. Cleaned it up and painted it blue before I dropped it off at his shop.

Since “The Good - The Bad - The Ugly 14 Hours of Brainerd” runs from 9am to 11pm, lighting will be required. I have been pondering whether to re-install the stock headlights, or to go with a pair of driving lights and a pair of fog lights. The front bumper we are using is just the stock, very heavy aluminum bar with the plastic cover and styrofoam guts removed. It should be easy to mount lights to the bar via the stock mounting holes in that bumper.

Another driver inquiry, this from a dirt track guy in Southern Minnesota. He has to clear it with his other half, but should have an answer in a few days.