"Weekend Racer" Alpine Back running!

[alpine_64]

belmateo, YUP! when I saw the timing jumping around with the Pertronix,

I would have loved going to a crank trigger....

But then I keep telling myself, VINTAGE.

Funny thing, these days, MSD IS knocking on Vintage status....

Recent Dyno stuff here:

Alpine Chassis Dyno pulls

Seeing I can't find any Chassis Dyno Threads, I'll start one. (Edit- another thread here http://forum.sunbeamalpine.org/index.php?threads/dyno-testing.13337/) And seeing the one I have handy is from a Vintage Race Alpine, I'll put it in the Racing section. BUT, I'd like to see Stock Alpine...

forum.sunbeamalpine.org

DW

Dan I'm assuming VRA don't let you run crank fired...
Your regs are a little looser than ours.. in production sports we can't run dcoe as have to run factory stock carbs.

I did see a video of your WRA on the dyno, sounded healthy.

 

[spmdr]

Looking at the Dyno results reminds me of another possible weak link.

The questionable valve springs.

I have my sights on some "Racing" VW springs to inspect.

What are Youall using?

DW

 

[spmdr]

I have replaced the Valve springs and plan to test this Saturday.

The event is the LA Shelby Club at the Streets of Willow April 27.

We are even looking at dusting off the LOVE Bug Alpine to also take.

DW

 

[alpine_64]

I have replaced the Valve springs and plan to test this Saturday.

The event is the LA Shelby Club at the Streets of Willow April 27.

We are even looking at dusting off the LOVE Bug Alpine to also take.

DW

Good luck dan.. hopefully with ignition sorted and webers optimised you'll have a better run without the top end restrictions of the last run...

Also nice to know you are also going to get some good Love time

 

[spmdr]

Been tied up....but...

At the track, and testing on the street, the new valve springs are an improvement!

Clearly the old springs were too weak.

More info on them elsewhere/later.

However, there is still a miss in the 5500 rpm range.

The new springs let the engine pull through that missing range and continue with more gusto.

The O2 says the jetting is a little lean at 13.4 but I can't see that as the reason for the miss.

I need to go through the carbs and double check everything, I think.

...getting closer to better performance!

DW

 

[spmdr]

The WER Alpine has had some activity lately.

-I pulled the carbs apart and reset the float levels.

The jury is still out about the results.

- Then found the Generator/charging system had died.

- I replaced the Generator with a Denso Alternator.

- I took the Alpine up to Big Bear and the Tigers United event.

Steve Alcala ran the Alpine in the Autocross and ran a time

12th out of 28, mostly Tigers. Steve out ran 14 Tigers, a 2002 BMW and a 911 Porsche.

DW

 

[Warren]

Aw come on and tell about your fun run time ...

 

[spmdr]

I had a little issue with the WER Alpine and decided to start

a new thread about it, as it's an issue that could aflict other Alpiners.

DW

The car just shut off. DEAD!

Well, I need to back up in time... JUST to give you an idea How much FUN I have been having with the Weekend Racer Alpine... I changed the carb float levels, I backed the car up and it SHUT OFF, DEAD! NO power! How can that be?? After trying the ignition switch several times in...

forum.sunbeamalpine.org

 

[spmdr]

The jury has come in with a verdict

about the Carb Float level change.

Guilty of going the WRONG Direction.

I raised the Float levels and the car

ran worse.

So I lowered the float levels a bit

lower than they were and the car is

back running with better overall

Street manners, better throttle responds,

less stumbling.

Both the higher float level and lower

float level STILL has the intermittent

MISS around 5500 RPM....

At this point, I'm thinking Carb/jetting

is not part of the missing issue.

I am using a 3/8" drill

bit as a go/no-go Float level gauge.

I think the next Carb changes will

include Air correctors and different

Emulsion tubes.

to get a better overall air/Fuel curve.

DW

 

[spmdr]

And I had a Tach change exercise...

8000 RPM Tach

After installing the MSD 6AL control box, I needed to get a Tach that works with it. The S5 7000 RPM Tach I was using needed a Tach adapter to work with the MSD Box and 7000 RPM is a bit limiting for my hoped future RPM range. What to do? I went shopping for an 8000+ Tach. One challenge...

forum.sunbeamalpine.org

 

[spmdr]

Yet again, the WER Alpine has been relaxing...

But it's a new year and life goes on, or should.

So I have entered the Monterey Event.

And we will see what I can do before the event.

I'm leaning toward changing the exhaust.

Then maybe the rear end gear.

....And I still have the Nagging Miss...

DW

 

[alpine_64]

....And I still have the Nagging Miss...

DW

Carburetion or female companion?

 

[spmdr]

Well, let's just say this....

The last time I drove the Alpine on the street, it DIDN'T Misfire around 5500 RPM!

But, proper testing of the Alpine in the Upper RPMs, on the street,

is a bit of a challenge!

....AND, the Alpine Just happens to be "Arrest-me-RED"...

I have done Nothing to FIX the Miss... nagging or otherwise....

Monterey Event discussion here:

2025 Monterey Reunion

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is August 13-16, 2025 Today I received an email about the opening of registration for the 2025 event. And, unlike recent years, the registration is closing March 15, 2025. Also, they claim to be clamping down on the Originality of the cars...(I'll...

forum.sunbeamalpine.org

DW

 

[spmdr]

I fitted the Atalla Header and ran the car at

the CAT Dyno day.

Fitting and Testing an Atalla Header

Bill Atalla made a batch of Big tube Tri-Y headers some time ago. Much thanks goes to the late Dan Richardson for keeping the heavily damaged/abused header in his parts supply when others may have scrapped it. The repair of it is here...

forum.sunbeamalpine.org

I'm only coming up with More questions....

DW

 

[spmdr]

With the up coming 2025 Shelby convention in Sonoma, CA,

There is an interest in the "Weekend Racer" movie.

Unknown to me, there is a part of the movie on vimeo

This is an edited 12 minute version with just the Shelby racer

Mark Waco.

(just hit the more info box to get to the link)

Here is a reference to it.

The Story of the Alpine Movie stars

As Paul Harvey would say, "the REST of the story" Road Racing Sunbeam Alpines in So Cal from the '60s. This is a (shortened) story(s) fit for "History Detectives".... When I look back over the series of events, it's hard to believe! ...Something like fact is stranger than Fiction. My...

forum.sunbeamalpine.org

DW

 

[spmdr]

I finally did a crash course in

video editing and put a few laps

at Laguna Seca up on youtube.

I covered the event above at post

#82

"In the Saturday afternoon Race, I found myself chasing a Porsche 356 S90GT.

Like the Morgan, he would leave me on the straight and I would catch him in the turns.

But toward the end of the race, the 356 turned up the wick and left me for good.

I finished 22nd out of 30 cars.


I turned a 2:05.8 lap time, the 356 did a 2:03.01."


DW