The big trip 2016 (part 2)

Today has been filled with loading, unloading, purchasing, figuring, organizing, anticipating, stressing, and enjoying. Tomorrow morning we head out from the marina to the waters we have traversed many many times.  We have always anticipated the day we could continue sailing beyond our known territory and now it will finally happen.

Project drift S14 (part 7)

This is the last "project drift s14" update for at least a month.  I'm only slightly sad about that because we head to the boat tomorrow to finish provisioning for the keys!  

The car (that will now be called "Silvia" to help differentiate between all the project vehicles I have) is in the best version of itself to date.  She is running better, more reliable, and more powerful than she ever has.  While there are a few issues to still iron out I can now just hop in the car fire her up and go tear up the streets.

The issues that sill be addressed once we get back from the keys are:

• The fuel tank cannot hold more than three gallons of gas without leaking. Fuel cell time!
• The tranny leaks fluid.  I replaced the rear tranny seal a couple days ago so this issue may be fixed but I know I still have to fix the upper seal around the shifter.  Fluid escapes up through the shifter hole during acceleration.  When the fluid gets low in the tranny the syncros start to grind.
• The car is still turned on by a screwdriver.  Once I figure out the current draw on that circuit I can get a switch of the correct amperage to turn the car on from the center dash panel.
• The power steering also has a very slow leak but it is negligible.
• There is a slight pull to the right and a little wheel feedback on sharper right turns.  These will hopefully be sorted out with a front end alignment.
• Lastly what appears to be an oil leak has surfaced today. I have no idea where it is coming from and unfortunately will not be able to diagnose until July.

Those are the issues that effect drivabilty.

These are the fun things that will improve the car:

• Most importantly is the differential.  I was drifting for years on an open diff. It's time to get serious. I may buy an extra open diff and weld it, or I may just save the money for a real Tomei
• The hydraulic e-brake handle and master cylinder is bolted in place now but is not yet hooked into the cars brake system. It looks awesome though!
• Rear camber arms. The pretty low now with the ISR pro series coilovers installed. This is cause major camber in the rear. I'm going for performance oriented, not show. Plus I will be chewing through enough tires as it is. I'd rather not wear the insides out prematurely.
• Fuel injectors!  The gt2871r turbo is limited to around 14-15 psi before the stock 370cc injectors loose the ability to keep up. With new injectors the car should be able to boost up to 20ish psi.  The catch to that is it would be wise to change out the head gasket, head bolts, and get a rom tune for the ecu.  Enjuku Racing in Clermont, FL can facilitate all of this but it just takes time and money.
• Paint - not the highest on my priority list but it will look great once the car has a...
• Body kit - because. just because.

There is much more bubbling around in the convoluted thought-soup I call my brain, but only time will tell what comes from it.  For now I get to veg for an entire month while sailing to the keys!

Wooooo!

The big trip 2016 (part 1)

The plan is set, the time is requested off from work, and we are mentally already on island time.  We are finally setting out on a big trip in our boat "Happy Day."  We are going to The Florida Keys traveling slightly over 300 miles down the west coast.  We have the entire month of June requested off to give us enough time.  

The plan involves us sailing roughly 40 miles per day for 2 days. Then stopping on the third day to re-provision.   Another 40 miles for 2 days and then a re-provision day. Then one 40 mile day and a re-provision day.  Then finally two 50 mile days to reach the keys.

This probably sounds like a slow pace, and it is, but we don't want to kill ourselves trying to get to the keys. We want to watch the weather and play it safe. Our boat is arguably not the most seaworthy boat and we are well aware of it's limitations. We will pay careful attention to the weather and not take any risks.

So essentially we have figured 11 days to get down. We spend 7 days with the rest of my family in the keys and then 11 days to sail back.

While in the keys I will most likely be renting a car to drive 5.5 hours back home to pick up Austin and Aaliah only to immediately turn around and drive back to the keys.  This is the only way I can figure to get them there without with 4 of us being trapped in a 26ft boat for 11 days.

I'll be posting more regarding preparation for the trip as soon as possible.