From the bottom you can see the TCI "Rattler" damper that helps absorb the harmonics that could damage the Ohio Crankshaft rotating assembly. You can also see the clearance problem between the oil pan and the steering linkage. That will be cured this week by removing the pan and notching it for clearance so we can lower the engine back down about 3/4".

We filled the engine with eight quarts of Kendall 20-50, primed the oil system and that was the start of one adventure. I could feel the oil pump putting a load on the drill but no oil pressure was coming out of the motor to our Auto Meter oil pressure gauge. I called everybody I knew about what it could be. There must have been 20 different opinions. The ideas ranged from a missing plug in the block to simply a bad oil pressure gauge. I was a little frantic as we had three days before the first race. It ended up being the oil filter adapter and it was my fault. The adapter was intended for use with a remote cooler and I had just plugged the outlets. The oil was going in but had no way out. A $12.00 hose fixed it and we were ready.

With that problem solved, we installed the MSD billet distributor and fired it up. The engine has run perfectly since the first week and I want to thank the companies that helped up get the Burkster 383 together. Ohio Crankshaft for the rotating assembly, Dart Machinery for the Iron Eagle heads and intake, Isky Cams for the Magnum hydraulic cam and kit, Moroso for the oil pan and pump, and Demon for the carb and mechanical bypass.

I am sure we hurt the converter as 60-foot times are off by about two tenths since we first got it out. We will have the converter rebuilt or get a new one from TCI, have Steve Oldani check the transmission, look over all the bolts and suspension pieces, and get ready for 2004.

We hope to bring you a tech series on upgrading the braking system. Stock Vega front discs and heavy drum brakes in the rear just aren't cutting it at 130 mph. We hope we can find a disc brake kit for Vega spindles and one for the Dana 60 rear-end.

I finally got the Dart valve covers on and they are pretty cool. Now it looks like we have a "bad ass" engine in it. I have to take the oil pan off the engine and modify it to make clearance for the steering arm. Nothing major, but when that is done I can lower the engine and get a better driveshaft angle coming out of the transmission. Speaking of driveshafts, I decided I wanted one that was worry-free so I called Strange Engineering. They asked for a couple measurements and I ordered a 3" chrome moly driveshaft with Spicer 1350 U-Joints. They did a great job. It's so pretty I hate to cover it up with the floor -- but rules are rules!

We will be busy in the next few months, so stick with us and check out the updates on the "Back-2-Basics" and "Project 4-Link" project cars.

See you at the races . . . doing it the No-Box way!