The baton has been passed...

In reply to MrJoshua:

OK.

You said "We killed 2 O2 sensors".

...and no tune can work without O2 sensors!

But I don't mind giving you the win if it makes you feel better! I'm just really excited you figured it out!

SVreX wrote: ...and no tune can work without O2 sensors!

Au contraire mon frere-it was surprising to me too, but yes they can.

As I see it, the biggest obstacle to success at the Challenge is lack of test time. Who was it that said the job is half done when the last bolt gets tightened? Taking time to develop this car means your more modest(?) but well sorted machine may vault over something with more potential but no development time. Keep up the good work. Glad you caught the problem this week rather than 5 months from now.

In reply to Jerry From LA:

Thanks Jerry. I agree.

This car was close, although it had some glaring issues. It posted a winning autox time last year, in spite of questionable tires, dampening, and spring rates. It posted a 13 second drag pass, in spite of a host of tune, cooling, flow, and boost related problems. We left a LOT on the table at the Concourse.

None of us have ever been good at putting the effort into sorting. I can't put in sufficient time, and I don't think Mr Joshua or spinout007 can either. But together...

We are giving it our best.

"+" a bunch to what both Jerry and Paul said.

As a procrastinator who has nearly perfected his craft, this arrangement might just be the best possible for me.

When I work alone, there is never enough time.

If we all lived near each other as a team, we would drink a lot of beer, and talk about all the cool things we could do (after the next beer).

This way, the progress is all on me when the car is at my house. But my team mates are counting on me, and send me emails a couple of times a week looking for updates. I feel I need to accomplish something, for them.

When the car is with them, I am stuck being able to accomplish nothing. But, I can keep the pressure on them by emailing them stupid ideas.

A year is too long for me to keep momentum. 1 month would be to short to accomplish anything, and it would feel pressured. 2 months is perfect. I push a bit to get something done, but then I get a break while they push.

Yeah, as long as your daily doesn't break while it's in your possession. Then you get to the point of you don't want to see an engine... much less a wrench. I've got to admit I was a bit annoyed when MrJoshua told me he was coming over last night. Even more annoyed when we were still swinging a dead cylinder after plugs. My inner 2 year old came out (inside) when we were going out for a test drive and there were a dozen sheriff's deputy patrol cars at the end of our drive. (The neighbor allows them to use their property 2 days a week for training, they're usually done by 3-4o'clock) But after a quick conversation with the supervising lieutenant and things got better. First Pull under heavy load and no misfire got me smiling. The above video pretty much plastered a grin to my face. I needed the success after the last two weeks.

In reply to Spinout007:

Well, congrats. You did it (and I'm excited)!

patgizz wrote: In reply to Tim Suddard: i should hope so, i sent mine in monday. i kept watching the challenge page for the entry form to get posted.

Just so you know, we did get yours. You were entry #2. I'll post something on the Challenge Facebook page if I can find a picture.

MrJoshua wrote:

SVreX wrote: ...and no tune can work without O2 sensors!

Au contraire mon frere-it was surprising to me too, but yes they can.

I am not saying the car can't work, I am saying the tune can't. (and I really meant the MS is not capable of managing the engine for the conditions it is facing)

Without the O2, the MS would have no knowledge of the A/F ratio. It couldn't make adjustments based on actual conditions.

It would be resorting to a "base tune", or "limp home" setup.

The car will run, but not well. The computer can't make adjustments without inputs.

In reply to SVreX:

It's my understanding that it mostly works using temps, RPM, MAP, and throttle position. It has a wideband correction factor but it's turned off in our current tune.

Years ago when Matt was wiring your Yugo he was explaining to me how it's not a great signal for real time adjustments.

We can't log or tune without it, but if our map is good we can drive just fine without it.

Disclaimer-I'm not our Megasquirt guy, Spinout007 is. If anyone wants to point out how wrong my understanding is I would like to know so I can fix it.

In reply to MrJoshua:

How do you remember Matt saying that?

I don't even remember you being there!

Old sure happens fast.

I'm really not sure why I was there that day. It was the day his car wouldn't start because of dielectric grease on the battery posts.

In reply to MrJoshua:

At this point, you could pretty much make up any E36 M3 you wanted to, and I'd have to believe you.

In reply to SVreX:

Hmmmm......Keith was there too and I'm pretty sure he was saying your Gainesville teammates need a set of Flyin Miata hub stands if this car is going to have any chance of competing.

I can say a three am alignment is quite a handful to drive on the street.

In reply to Spinout007:

You confuse me.

How did you throw the alignment out significantly by playing with the tune??

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA....

HAHHAHAHA

HA

HAHA

HA

You don't, but as I've been telling you, as well as MrJoshua has been telling you. It's not ideal.

Oh, you meant MY 3 AM alignment!!

I thought you meant YOU did one!

I make no apologies. You get what you pay for.

Hang on tighter. Butt pucker is good for your circulation.

So we fixed most of the "but pucker" factor of driving the car with a homebrew alignment. Several of the eccentrics had moved. The extent of my alignment was aiming all the eccentrics one notch negative. Much better.

After thinking we solved the running issues by finding a faulty spark plug on 4 and a faulty injector plug on 1 we developed a nasty sputtering idle and cruising problem. We also seemed to have a dead O2 sensor again. To compound problems Spinout007's truck gave up the ghost and needed his help so the car came to me to poke at. I don't know much about megasquirt tuning and am just recently able to even monitor what's going on.
I've been driving the car every few days and watching its behavior. It turns out our O2 sensor comes back after several hard 10-70 pulls. Then all the readings are right on target but the idle and cruise still run poorly. Then if you maintain a steady speed or idle the AFR's steadily drop until the JAW deems the reading nonsense and reads a steady 7.81.
Somewhere a while back we decided a leakdown test and compression test were needed on our poor 200k mile 1.6. Spinout007 took a break from demon truck repair and came by. He completed a cold compression, cold and hot leakdown, and then in our typical wrenching fashion the tester fell apart before a hot compression could be completed. A few days later I dug out my father's 30 year old tester and gave it a go. It turns out 30 year old Schrader valves can make it through a cold test but not a hot one. . Another day of monkeying with the tester and I was ready to recruit some assistants to try again.

And of course I almost made it through a full test.

Left and middle columns compression with right side leakdown. My tester died on the last cylinders wet compression test. I would say ignore all 7/15 results and probably ignore the wet test (not enough oil actually in the cylinder). Whatcha guys think?

Can't believe you posted my nasty handwriting online.... GEEZ Thanks man...

I'm so sad it's almost time for this thing to go home and I have barely turned a wrench on her in the last month because of this possessed truck. I want to scream, cry, throw a entitled 13 year old girl sized tantrum. Dunno. Test n Tune is Wed, we ready for this E36 M3?

In reply to Spinout007:

I REALLY don't think you can pull this off:

Do you really want to see me try it? It may scar you for life! Kind of like 3AM around the pool at the challenge hotel.

In reply to Spinout007:

My handwritings on there as well.

I'm ready for the test'n'tune, lets just hope the weather clears.

Are you guys planning on doing another AutoX in Moultrie? I haven't been out on the track in my Mustang in far too many years, but I'd make the drive just to meet everyone and kill some cones, if my schedule doesn't interfere.

EDIT: Crap. checked Dixie's schedule. They have strategically placed all their runs on days I'm already committed.