Leftovers-racer Research Archives

This information contains posts related to the racing jeep we call “Leftovers”

To Top

The 2024 PNW4WDA Convention

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
2024-summer-convention-weekend1

Here I am Wednesday finishing up the lettering Ann made using her Cricut machine. We’ll see if they hold up!

On Thursday we loaded up for our six-hour drive to the west side of the state for Summer Convention. This weekend was very much a test weekend, for the motorhome, for the race jeep, for the trailer carrying the race jeep, etc. And, it didn’t take long for us to run into a problem. When I attempted to hook the trailer to the back of the motorhome, I discovered the hitch and ball did not sit low enough, so when I hooked up the trailer, it was sitting at too much of an angle. Arghhhh! Since we planned to take the truck anyway (just in case we had a problem), we just hooked the trailer to the truck, which Ann drove.

2024-summer-convention-weekend4

Race jeep loaded and ready for the road.

We arrived early to get a good camping spot and to get through the tech inspection. An old jeep friend Mike Julsrud was manning the clipboard, so it was great to catch up with him. Many ears ago we raced against each other in the 20 and under class, called the “Under the Hill Gang”; these days, we are “way over the Hill Gang”, lol.

On Friday morning, following the 8am driver’s meeting, Ann accompanied me and other racers on a parade lap of the obstacle and cross country courses. It’s a nice way for folks to tour the courses together, get a sense of where to drive, and a great community event. One concern bubbled up during our drive, the engine got a little hotter than it should have. One suggestion was that the timing might need to shift slightly, so I’ll give that a try. The good news is that, during my first run, the temp stayed where it should.

2024-summer-convention-weekend7

Me at the driver’s meeting with Betty Page and Lizzy in tow. The dogs came with us this weekend and, to our surprise and relief, were really well behaved!

2024-summer-convention-weekend8

As we waited for the parade lap to begin, Diana Stafford photo bombed us in the Stafford’s race jeep.

2024-summer-convention-weekend9

Here we are starting the parade lap on the obstacle course. This course was more wide open than the cross country course, which is where the jeeps went next. That truck in front of us wasn’t racing; it was just taking the opportunity to tour the track.

In this first video that Ann took, we were on the obstacle course, I was puttering along in 2nd gear, low range, but the video makes it seem like I was going faster:

Here’s a second video Ann shot just a few seconds later: Continue reading

 
To Top

New Shift Knob for the Racer

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a person happy. In this case, eBay served me up the perfect vintage knob for the racer. I did have to resize the threads, but that was trivial. I’m really happy with it (even Ann was excited about it, and pretty perplexed about why she was happy about it, lol).

In other news, I figured out why’d the brakes on the FC weren’t working quite right. The custom-built pedal assembly is rubbing in a way that keeps it, even with springs, from returning to its standard position. So, I need to rebuild the swing pedal assembly, but that also entails rewiring the cab. It will likely take me a good week to sort all that out. It’s really a good thing, because there were some electrical items yet to be hooked up, along with working through the speedometer cable, which isn’t quite long enough to reach the speedometer.

2024-02-11-Shift-knob-racer2 2024-02-11-Shift-knob-racer1

 

 
To Top

Took Racer for a Pasture Spin

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Looking out over the pasture, I see lots of green, but don’t see all that much cow shit. So, I didn’t think I’d hit all that many piles racing around it. Welp, those tires found plenty of piles and threw it all over me and the jeep.

This was the first time I ran it in 4WD. That worked flawlessly. As for control and driving, I found the racer felt really balanced and smooth, despite the bumps (the pasture isn’t all that even). The steering is a little stiff, but that feels great when going faster.

It seemed like it was missing a bit as I hit higher RPMs; I couldn’t decide if that was caused by the bumps disrupting the gas flow in the carb or by a timing issue. We’ll figure it out.

At the end of the video I realized that the fan wasn’t working (it turned out to be a loose connection), so I was trying to get Ann to open the gate, but she decided she would film me while pretending to not hear me, lol … she is a merry prankster!

 
To Top

Testing Out the Complete Race Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
2023-09-23-race-jeep7-lores

“Leftovers” with the mocked up name. I don’t like the angled bracket I made at the step. I may just got with two bolts and two washer to keep the body in place rather than the bracket.

Yesterday, I attached the remaining netting, roof, and body parts to the race jeep, only to discover I needed to cut a couple small parts from the floor that were too wide for the body (nothing a quick sawz-it-all couldn’t fix).

The hood requires four bolts to attach it, as I need to make sure it stays secure. Five additional bumpers help keep the hood in place.

It’s hard to test the speed on these short jaunts. I really don’t want to tear up the grass too much. In addition, I don’t have it in four wheel drive, again so I don’t tear up the grass too much. The next time I test it, I will wear ear plugs, because when you hit the gas, it gets loud in the cockpit!

Now it’s time for some helmet shopping!

Some additional pics:
2023-09-23-race-jeep6-lores

Continue reading

 
To Top

Ann says, “I like it!”

• CATEGORIES: Features, videos • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

2023-09-19-ann-racer

I installed the new master cylinder for the clutch. The pedal is a bit more stiff due to the larger bore, but it does the job. I wanted Ann to test it to make sure she could operate the clutch, so she took it for a cruise (and kept the speed down to keep the grass intact).

 
To Top

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Solved the oil spillage issue. The oil was coming from the back of the engine where the oil gauge line attaches to the engine. I had made the hose a little too long, so it didn’t tighten down correctly. Trimming the line fixed the issue. So, I got to drive around the property yesterday instead of doing updates for today ….

=============

2023-09-10-starting-racer3

Gassing up the racer.

The good news: I rolled the racer out of the garage, put in some gas, and tried to start it. Naturally, it didn’t start straight away. After fiddling with it, finally figured out that the manual choke needed to be opened (the choke was never hooked up on the old racer, so I never thought about it). Once I adjusted the choke, the jeep started right up! So, I will be adding a choke cable.

Unfortunately, while looking for the starting problem, I ran my forehead into the tall air cleaner bolt. It was only a large scratch and some blood, so not that big of deal. I was more made than anything. This highlights the problem with the bubble in the eye; sometimes it screws with the depth perception.

2023-09-10-starting-racer2

Starting the racer.

The bad news:  Once it started, it sounded as great as it did last year. However, for some reason the fuel pump didn’t stop pumping prior to starting the engine (that’s how I remember it working). This suggests to me that maybe something isn’t sealed correctly, so it’s not building the pressure needed to shut off the pump? I will have to research the pump to double check this. I’m sure the fix will be fairly simple.

2023-09-10-starting-racer1

Discovering the rear main seal likely needs to be changed.

The ugly news: The worst issue was underneath the jeep; I discovered that a significant amount of oil was leaking out the back of the engine. My guess is the rear main oil seal needs replacing. Ugh! It was fine when I parked it last summer (and this highlights the risk of “ran-when-parked” jeeps!). I’ll let it sit for a day or two and see if things magically right themselves.

That pretty much ended my garage time yesterday.

 
To Top

3 Dogs, 3 Rims and a Bonus

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I have been wanting a set of 5 lug aluminum rims that match the six lug aluminum rims for the racer. Yesterday, while fuming about the oil leak, I went on FB Marketplace and did some searching for local motorhomes (pondering the idea of getting a gently used, older motorhome to take to races). After looking through ads, on a lark, I entered a search for Desert Dogs. Lo and Behold, these three popped up for sale for only $400! Check out all that barely used tread!

2023-09-11-desert-dogs1

Even better, the dogs were mounted on the style of rims I had been seeking!  I made arrangements to get them, which meant driving to Boise today.

It turns out they had been an extra part of a Suzuki Samarai purchase.As a bonus, they threw in another desert dog, though it doesn’t have much life left.

2023-09-11-desert-dogs5

2023-09-11-desert-dogs3

This rim has a little cosmetic discoloring and the tread is slightly different, but no bid deal. On the left you can see the other rims. The COOP tires on the green rims will be transferred to the other matching six lug aluminum rims that I have.

2023-09-11-desert-dogs4
This is the worn tire. It has enough tread for racing.
2023-09-11-desert-dogs2

 
To Top

Race Jeep Instructions

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Ann fired up her Cricket yesterday and printed out some labels that also act as instructions for starting and managing the jeep. She also add “ON” and “OFF” labels to make clear what switches need to be pressed. Starting the jeep is a five step process:

  1. Power
  2. Fan
  3. Fuel pump
  4. Ignition
  5. Start (button)

In the first pic, the “2-” for the fan label is hiding behind the switch.

2023-08-22-race-jeep-lettering1 2023-08-22-race-jeep-lettering2 2023-08-22-race-jeep-lettering3

 
To Top

Racer Progress Pedaling Along

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

More progress made on the racer this weekend. The floors are installed and mostly bolted. The pedals are all in place. The steering was in place, but I was unhappy with the final angle of the front support bearing, so I plan to redo that support so that it angles differently. Hopefully, I will get that done and installed today.

Here’s how the rear top crossmember that holds the rear fire extinguisher looks. The two holes on either side are the shoulder strap attachments.

2023-08-20-racer-pedals-rear-extinquisher

Here are the three pedals (with the steering drive shaft disconnected from the quick-turn unit).

2023-08-20-racer-pedals2

One thing I still need are a brake and clutch pedal pad. Any recommendations on what I can use that has a similar mount point and size? (these were from the yellow racer .. I didn’t like the other racer’s pedals). These look to be rubber casings over metal pedals, but both pedal bolts are in bad shape. this is the good one …

pedal2 pedal1

The master cylinders are attached (the brakes are ready to go). I have to get an adapter to connected the clutch line to the clutch master cylinder. Everything is fitting well. I have to say the fire wall turned out better than I thought. Remember, I flattened the old firewall from the yellow racer and re-bent it into the shape I wanted.

2023-08-20-racer-pedals1

Here side view of the gas pedal setup. One thing I learned from my first race jeep was that having a firm, stable gas pedal was greatly beneficial when racing, due to the bouncing. I could plant the bottom of my foot firmly, while using the top of my foot to feather the gas. This setup is based on what I built for Biscuit, but heavier duty.

Continue reading

 
To Top

Wiring 99% Complete

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
2023-08-14-wiring-firewall8

Helpers helping …

Despite the sauna-like temps, and with ice-water-bottles in front of my sho- fan blasting at full speed, I nearly completed the wiring (a couple things left to do). The principal goal was to secure it to the firewall to limit movement while racing, which should keep connections intact and stop cables from rubbing to bare wire. (On the yellow race jeep I could see where the battery cable had rubbed through the protective outer layer at some point, then it had been patched).

I decided to add a second jumper connection which solely handles the lights. I’ve now got most of the wiring in place in case I want to later add headlights and turn signals. I still need to add a switch to power the gauge lights and rear driving lights (in case I need them for some reason). I also didn’t think about adding a fuse for the rear lights until just now .. oops.

2023-08-14-wiring-firewall2

2023-08-14-wiring-firewall1

2023-08-14-wiring-firewall3

Ann helped me put the body into place to make sure the wire dropped under the lip of the cowl from the rollbar:

2023-08-14-wiring-firewall7

Continue reading