Best I can figure out how to share a video. Sorry if you don't have FB. I don't know how to save someone else's video to my phone to share here.
Hicks Lawn Services truck racing
- Thread starter hickslawns
- Start date
Best I can figure out how to share a video. Sorry if you don't have FB. I don't know how to save someone else's video to my phone to share here.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
So I picked up a fresh short block a month or so back. Still in need of a racing clutch (currently running stock clutch), and a good full roller head. Clutch $600. "Good" used head $1200-1500-1800 or have one built for around $4000. So I've located a truck that used to run our series. Guys bought two trucks, disassembled, and never got them back together. I spoke to them. The one truck has won before so I know it is a solid starting point. I'll be picking up the truck with engine on engine stand, a spare transmission (for my current truck), and a handful of rims/tires and whatever else I can snag. Basically for the price I would have in the parts I need to finish mine. Sounds crazy to have two trucks. Yet, it will offer me enough to have two complete trucks. Doubt they both get ran, but maybe we will throw a driver in the backup truck on occasion. If I had a way to get two trucks to the track I'd let my son try it. Only issue there is the need for another fire suit, helmet, etc. Pretty psyched right now. Looking forward to the builds.
Came home loaded. Unfortunately had to use the open trailer. Went to hook the enclosed trailer and it was gone. Stolen. Ugh! Fortunately it is insured. Guess we will see how good the policy is. Also fortunate I had another trailer to do the job. Would have been nice to have a little more room. I ended up with 7-8 spare tires/rims. An extra transmission and head. All the parts to complete this truck. Got another engine stand. With this purchase I have enough to build one seriously competitive truck and one very solid top half of the pack truck now.
Looked like hillbilly express rolling down the highway. Engine parts and transmission in back seat. 4 tires/rims in back seat. 4 more between cab and salt spreader. Pile of parts on floor board of truck and in racing seat. Lol
Looked like hillbilly express rolling down the highway. Engine parts and transmission in back seat. 4 tires/rims in back seat. 4 more between cab and salt spreader. Pile of parts on floor board of truck and in racing seat. Lol
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He he, early Christmas right there!
Hate to hear it on the trailer though. Was it at the home base or the new annex location?
Hate to hear it on the trailer though. Was it at the home base or the new annex location?
I guess you could say things are getting serious. Bought a tire changer for our lawn mower tires. Figured I'd use it on this today to see how it works. Since we will only change a few lawn mower tires a year, I'll likely use it on a few truck tires/rims so it doesn't feel neglected. With two trucks plus 10 rims/tires for spares that came with the trucks. . . It will be used. I hard plumbed it into our air compressor. That will be handy. Better than dragging an air hose over to it every time.
I might have picked up our two engines tonight as well from the engine builder. Lots to do in under a month. Plus finishing taxes. Plus spring jobs rolling in. I also picked up some "Greta stickers". Thinking I'll put them on the air cleaner or maybe where we pour the race fuel into the fuel cell.
I might have picked up our two engines tonight as well from the engine builder. Lots to do in under a month. Plus finishing taxes. Plus spring jobs rolling in. I also picked up some "Greta stickers". Thinking I'll put them on the air cleaner or maybe where we pour the race fuel into the fuel cell.
Twelve days to the first race. I have two trucks. Neither have an engine installed yet. Haven't been fired up since putting them together. No body work done. No graphics. No tire prep. Oh well. Got to take care of my customers first. Them the toys. Rain the next two days. Hoping to rock out one of them at a minimum. At least get it fired. Maybe peel off the last owner's stickers.
Looks like plenty of room in the new trailer. It will be loaded closer to the tail (more centered over axles) when I don't have an engine on the stand and cherry picker loaded.
Looks like plenty of room in the new trailer. It will be loaded closer to the tail (more centered over axles) when I don't have an engine on the stand and cherry picker loaded.
Snag after snag after snag.
Clutch had issues. Modified it to work.
Engine mounts are wrong. Brewing another pot of coffee and fabricating new ones.
Got some body panels pulled off for easier access. They were pretty crunched already. Did some painting on the portions of the truck we are supposed to leave alone to keep a "factory appearance."
To do list: mount full containment seat and new 5pt harness.
Mate engine and transmission and install.
Fire up new engine.
Put new body on from body line down. Worry about the rest later.
Fabricate a hood as it didn't come with one.
Charge battery.
Set timing.
Adjust carb.
Prep tires.
Possibly add some body supports to reinforce it.
Cut down sun/dirt
visor as I can't see thru it. Need to make it smaller.
Possibly alter engine mount locations to align driveshaft. Notice top view of engine. Broom stick handle taped to driveshaft to see how it aligns with clutch. Lol
I'm sure I'm missing some things.
Clutch had issues. Modified it to work.
Engine mounts are wrong. Brewing another pot of coffee and fabricating new ones.
Got some body panels pulled off for easier access. They were pretty crunched already. Did some painting on the portions of the truck we are supposed to leave alone to keep a "factory appearance."
To do list: mount full containment seat and new 5pt harness.
Mate engine and transmission and install.
Fire up new engine.
Put new body on from body line down. Worry about the rest later.
Fabricate a hood as it didn't come with one.
Charge battery.
Set timing.
Adjust carb.
Prep tires.
Possibly add some body supports to reinforce it.
Cut down sun/dirt
visor as I can't see thru it. Need to make it smaller.
Possibly alter engine mount locations to align driveshaft. Notice top view of engine. Broom stick handle taped to driveshaft to see how it aligns with clutch. Lol
I'm sure I'm missing some things.
It's Tuesday. I have focused on the white truck. Engine mated to trans. Had to re-engineer engine mounts and transmission mounts. Went thru three headers before I got one that fit with the trans mount from previous owner.
Power steering had no brackets. Awaiting two different belts to try tomorrow. I fabbed up the brackets but belt is a tad loose and there is no adjustment on the set up. If I can't find the right sized belt I will fabricate a belt tensioner. I have the idea in my head. Just waiting to see if one of the belts ordered works first.
Got tires pressure washed and mounted a few more. I have 10 spares with different sizes and offsets. Looks like 7 hold air. We have set up options now.
Fabricated the radiator mounts.
Installed valve cover tonight since I finally got the gasket for it. Installed oil pressure gauge. Temp gauge doesn't fit in the block. Need adapters there.
Think I'll go work in mounting the seat, new safety belts, and do body work tonight. I can't fire the engine until tomorrow when I get belts and hook temp unit.
My sister and family coming in town to watch. Mom, wife, kids coming. Some neighbors and other friends too. I'll have a big cheering section. I kinda need to have a truck ready at this point. Lol.
No clue how she will handle. Should have plenty of power so long as no build issues. If that happens I'll jump in the other truck. It only needs the engine dropped in.
Power steering had no brackets. Awaiting two different belts to try tomorrow. I fabbed up the brackets but belt is a tad loose and there is no adjustment on the set up. If I can't find the right sized belt I will fabricate a belt tensioner. I have the idea in my head. Just waiting to see if one of the belts ordered works first.
Got tires pressure washed and mounted a few more. I have 10 spares with different sizes and offsets. Looks like 7 hold air. We have set up options now.
Fabricated the radiator mounts.
Installed valve cover tonight since I finally got the gasket for it. Installed oil pressure gauge. Temp gauge doesn't fit in the block. Need adapters there.
Think I'll go work in mounting the seat, new safety belts, and do body work tonight. I can't fire the engine until tomorrow when I get belts and hook temp unit.
My sister and family coming in town to watch. Mom, wife, kids coming. Some neighbors and other friends too. I'll have a big cheering section. I kinda need to have a truck ready at this point. Lol.
No clue how she will handle. Should have plenty of power so long as no build issues. If that happens I'll jump in the other truck. It only needs the engine dropped in.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Just put in 4 all niters. 3-5hrs of sleep to get ready for tonight. Truck is together and sounds great. Upon final shakedown we had a catastrophic failure. The clutch let loose. I'm bummed.
I'll still race tonight but not in one of my trucks.
Adding some pics. No sponsor decals. No numbers yet.
I'll still race tonight but not in one of my trucks.
Adding some pics. No sponsor decals. No numbers yet.
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Buckmaster
Senior Member
It's dirt track racing. I think most of those boys spell it "tern". Lol
Thanks guys. Ran okay. Track was like Lake Erie with 6-8' waves. Rougher than a cob. I was off the ground more than once. Truck just didn't quite run right and definitely didn't handle well. In all fairness, we all had the same track conditions. I was running 4th out of 16 with a couple laps to go. Got really loose. Was facing the infield coming out of "tern" 2 but saved it and didn't draw a caution. Couldn't get momentum back in time and finished 6th. Not bad, but it hurts running 4th with a couple to go and finishing 6. Oh well. That is racing.
Update on the "20 truck" I raced Friday. It had a bent upper control arm and a smashed #4 spark plug. Never heard of smashing the tip of a spark plug without detonating an engine. Apparently just a small scratch on the piston. Bent a-arm? Had a guy hit me in right rear. Had same guy get me on drivers door. The videos I watched with inside tires off the ground probably explain a-arm. Track was rutted up bad. Running on three cylinders with a truck not handling well makes me feel better about running 4th with a couple laps to go. Should have finished 4th but I took a gamble that didn't pay off. 6 out of 16 is where I ended up.
The "17" truck had been quite a challenge. Clutch issues. Pulled transmission again. New slave cylinder. Worked for a minute. Then had to bleed it again. I'm changing all the clutch line tomorrow. We are racing I'm Lima Friday and I'm driving my own damn truck. With OR without a clutch. If I have to start it in gear to take off, I will. I spent too much time and money to not race my own freaking truck. Can you sense the frustration? Isn't this supposed to be fun? Lol
Anywho. . . .she is coming along.
Anywho. . . .she is coming along.
She looks good Phil, good luck!
The old saying "everyone who is in racing wants out, everyone out of racing wants in". Hope it all comes together for ya!
The old saying "everyone who is in racing wants out, everyone out of racing wants in". Hope it all comes together for ya!