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Re: Hemi cylinder wall failure

To: "Steve Pitt" <steve@seattleconstructioninc.com>, <ARDUNDOUG@aol.com>,
Subject: Re: Hemi cylinder wall failure
From: "Keith Turk" <kturk@ala.net>
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 15:12:34 -0500
Yep Steve he is the Man... isn't that neat... and he's a super guy to
boot.. Awesome Hot Rod's aren't they?  Keith

----------
> From: Steve Pitt <steve@seattleconstructioninc.com>
> To: ARDUNDOUG@aol.com; land-speed@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: Hemi cylinder wall failure
> Date: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 2:29 PM
> 
> ADK,
> There can only be one Ardun Doug King?!  I just checked for the latest
> updates on Don Ewald's Fuel Dragster site and saw the 1955 pic of the
flat
> head dragster taken by guess who, Ardun Doug King.  This has got to be
you!?
> (I'm a newcomer to this site)  Great photo of a cool early rail!!!!!
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-land-speed@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-land-speed@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of ARDUNDOUG@aol.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 11:00 AM
> > To: dfergus@bactc.com; land-speed@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: Hemi cylinder wall failure
> >
> >
> > Darrell,
> >     I think the cylinder wall failure on the Ardun/Merc was the result
of
> > hydraulicking the thing a couple of times during engine starting.
> >     When I finished the fuel system on the modified roadster I
> > installed a
> > "tip" valve in the fuel tank vent line to comply with SCTA rules.
> > I didn't
> > realize it at the time, but the "tip" valve really works well and
> > won't allow
> > ANYTHING out of the tank.
> >     After filling the tank and home and driving over 4200' Tejon Pass
the
> > pressure in the tank was greater than the outside air pressure,
> > causing the
> > fuel to flow through the pump, barrel valve, and nozzles, into
> > the cylinders.
> >     The hydraulic situation cleared itself out at the Lakes after
> > a couple of
> > hits from the starter, but when we went to the World Finals over
> > a couple of
> > 7000' passes and through 80 deg weather the cylinders REALLY got
filled.
> >     I suspect that the cylinder was wounded from those 2 incidents and
> > finally gave up on the 4th pass. I've run 12.6 pistons on 80% in
> > the "wet"
> > dragster engine for years with no cylinder problem.
> >     I've had to change my operating procedure so as to leave the
> > fuel valve
> > in the "off-bypass" position at all times other than running the
engine.
> >     I may try to sleeve the block, but I probably will keep it as
> > a "spare".
> >                                             Ardun Doug King
> >
> 

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