Hicks Lawn Services truck racing

[hickslawns]

Tried to fire the truck today. Everything is buttoned up. Backfired thru exhaust. Nice flame thrower. Sounded like M80 going off under truck every time. Advanced timing. Same thing. Retarded timing. Same thing. I suspected it slipped one cog when I was putting the belt on. I'd say the cam is out of timing. Never timed an engine on a SOHC like this one. I could Google/YouTube and figure it out. One of the other guys with a Ranger offered to help. I'll learn better watching and helping him.

Previous owners had gaping holes in firewall. I'm not a fan. I'd rather not think about flames under the hood coming thru the firewall. Hope I never see them. "Just in case" I figured I better cover them. Sheet metal can be brutal when it slips. Bloodied up my old woodland camo BDU shorts. It'll wash. They'll make it another 20 years. Got a few more small holes I sprayed down with brake clean before I headed to the house. They are small enough the "fireproof" tape will cover them. Couple other areas I may cut out and start fresh. I'm really just enjoying the tinkering and fabricating. None of this will make it faster. Just a little safer and cleaner looking.

Lastly-Garrett and his buddy Johnny came in from prowling for girls earlier. I shouted at them. They walked into the shop. Told them I was about to fire her up. Garrett didn't care. Johnny was excited. They watched one of my first races. I told Johnny "you need to come watch again. I'm no all-star but I've improved since last time you watched me. Got third place in my last race." Garrett, a chip off the old block, never missed a beat in saying "if you ain't first. . . You're last! Shake and bake baby!"

 

[Redhunter1012]

Your legs look like a nurses pantyhose with hair growing through them

 

[hickslawns]

Your legs look like a nurses pantyhose with hair growing through them

Thanks for noticing. That was the look I was going for.

 

[hickslawns]

Not much to do outside of getting the cam timing right. Waiting on a buddy to help with that. So I've been cleaning more stuff up. Built a radiator shroud tonight. Last night I put in a working temp gauge. Cleaned up some more holes in firewall. Tidied up more wiring in the process. Just busy work. Safety stuff. Preventative maintenance stuff. No high temp warning light but we do have a low oil pressure warning light. Close enough for now. At least I can look at the water temp.

Then we had a couple trucks come up for sale. I have plans to build a "big motor" over the winter. I may be able to buy another truck with a fresh bottom end for about the same money. Comes with a head that needs gone thru although it had zero hours. Just something not right about it. Hmmm. . . Spare truck for the cost of a motor? Not sure how I'll mention this one to the wife in passing. I haven't gotten this truck on the track yet.

 

[5Cent]

Lol, focus on the stud in the stable! More studs = more shit to keep up on.

 

[Buckmaster]

I got a big motor for you Phil. I just put it on CL along with some 283s and a 400 small block.

 

[hickslawns]

Thanks Ben. Too bad we run a 4cyl class. Those won't work. Speaking of 4cyl, got her running. Timed pretty well. Timing tab had a bolt broken. Explains why it was missing. Oil pressure doesn't want to come higher than 20. Going to run it in the neighbor's field tomorrow and see if it builds any before I pull it again. I don't think it will build. At 20psi one would think that engine is so loose you would hear it clackering. I suspect the oil pump is bad. Already confirmed the oil pressure gauge is working. $30 gone but now I have a spare oil pressure gauge. lol So I will be pulling the motor, swapping the oil pump, and dropping her back in. All this for a couple races. Then build a good motor over the winter. ugh Oh well. Such is life. At least I will have a high volume oil pump already bought for the new motor this way. No chance i'll leave it in a backup motor.

 

[hickslawns]

Lol, focus on the stud in the stable! More studs = more shit to keep up on.

Agreed. I've asked around a bit. The locals know those trucks well. The seller's stories were contradicting himself. I wouldn't have asked around otherwise. Things weren't adding up. Tells me he bought the one off a guy in Michigan for $2000. I remember seeing it listed for $1100. Two different guys told me he paid $800. The other truck he said he paid $2500. Multiple confirmations he traded a crappy roller stock car worth $1000-1500 tops for it. If I make an offer on one of the trucks it will be for parts only.

Oh yeah, and I got the engine pulled tonight in under an hour. I'm getting faster.

 

[MoonLab]

Good shit, Phil

 

[CJD3]

Agreed. I've asked around a bit. The locals know those trucks well. The seller's stories were contradicting himself. I wouldn't have asked around otherwise. Things weren't adding up. Tells me he bought the one off a guy in Michigan for $2000. I remember seeing it listed for $1100. Two different guys told me he paid $800. The other truck he said he paid $2500. Multiple confirmations he traded a crappy roller stock car worth $1000-1500 tops for it. If I make an offer on one of the trucks it will be for parts only.

Oh yeah, and I got the engine pulled tonight in under an hour. I'm getting faster.

I miss doing that shit. I use to have to change my clutch out so often I had it timed too. Always tried to beat the last time. lol

I've enjoyed your thread.

 

[5Cent]

Nice Phil! She tbat tight that the oil plan couldn't be dropped to replace the pump with it in?

 

[hickslawns]

@CJD3 I have always enjoyed your T/A stories. This thread serves 2 purposes: sort of a journal I can look back on like a deer season journal. Also because there are a handful of you who seem to enjoy it and comment or like the posts. Maybe the guys considering getting into racing will follow along . . . And forego their dreams. Then they will die with some money left. Lol


@5Cent nope. Too tight. Still has the old twin I-beam style suspension. Engine mounts relocated blocking holes on oil pan. Just plain tight to get in there. Even with truck on jack stands and my skinny butt on the creeper.

 

[5Cent]

Its an addiction worse than any drink or drug, I have to stay away.

I think this thread is great and too love seeing/reading the stories of a young and rebel CJD.

Understood on having to yank it, sucks, but only sucks until ya get the yank and crank down to 10-15mins. Keep at er and keep posting. Looking forward to seeing it on the track banging sheet metal and burning oil!

 

[CJD3]

Its an addiction worse than any drink or drug, I have to stay away.

I think this thread is great and too love seeing/reading the stories of a young and rebel CJD.

Ya. Late 60's-70's motors were so basic and raw.
The addition gets into your blood and brain.
The kids still run when I come across the old photo album. lol


40 years ago.
120# lighter.
Day after a AC/DC concert.

 

[5Cent]

Fuckin Bert Reynolds has nothing on you!

 

[hickslawns]

Its an addiction worse than any drink or drug, I have to stay away.

I think this thread is great and too love seeing/reading the stories of a young and rebel CJD.

Understood on having to yank it, sucks, but only sucks until ya get the yank and crank down to 10-15mins. Keep at er and keep posting. Looking forward to seeing it on the track banging sheet metal and burning oil!

Hopefully not burning oil. Lol

Hopefully just a social racer and not a full blown addict. If I start talking modified and $25k motors I hope you guys have an intervention. Once this truck is built, sponsor money and winnings "should" keep my annual budget under a grand per year. I don't drink much. I don't golf. I don't hunt waterfowl. I should be able to cover a grand per year.

Jim- these 2.3L four cylinders are also pretty crude. Amazing how much you can do to them for a "small" amount of money. $3500 can take you from stock 90hp motor to a 200-250hp competitive motor. Springs on the front under $100 each. Shocks similar. Tires $135 each of $20-40 each used off one of the most drivers. Once engine is built and dialed in, it is set up and driver ability. My goal is to be competitive for under $4000. Given my horse trading, I am currently less than $500 out of pocket.

 

[Dustinb80]

Ya. Late 60's-70's motors were so basic and raw.
The addition gets into your blood and brain.
The kids still run when I come across the old photo album. lol


40 years ago.
120# lighter.
Day after a AC/DC concert.
View attachment 109796

I've seen pics of my dad in those same shoes

 

[hickslawns]

That pic is the epitome of late 70's bad ass. Well worth posting again!

I snagged 8 free tires from a mod driver today. 3-4 are pretty decent. A couple are shot. A couple in the middle. I took them all because they were. . . Free. It's not cool to look a gift horse in the mouth. If I have to pay $5/tire to dispose the bad ones I am still in them cheap.

 

[Hoytmania]

From here on out whenever I hear this song it shall be sung as Phillip instead of Jerry!!!!

 

[5Cent]

Lol, never heard that one before......thats different.