Parma Sealed 16d

[GaryH]

In our weekly NASCAR and GT races using sealed Parma black motors we can do anything to the motor as long as the seal is not broken. My question is what can be done, given these parameters, to get the most out of these motors? Is there a tool that will align the brush hoods with the arm in place? Should these motors be geared high or low on a Englemann track?

GaryH

[Monty @ B.O.W.]

Gary,
Being a blueprinter, I've always stayed clear of sealed motor races. Not only do I prefer to be able to fix factory mistakes, I know that I can't run in races of that sort without someone thinking I must be cheating (if I do well!).

So, what can YOU do? For starters, a good breakin can help. I'm completely convinced by the water method. Next, if you're running a heavy car, consider tighter springs.

Parma says these motor are typically timed 20 - 25 degrees, which is quite mild. You can therefore gear taller than you would with a blueprinted version of the same motor.

The real secret to doing well in a totally limited power race, however, is to make very sure the rest of the car is operating as perfectly as possible. Pay extra attention to smooth gearing, cutting out excess weight, reducing drag, etc.

Here's an interesting anecdote! At this year's Div. I Nats, I assembled a spec car for one of the racers. The motors were of the handout variety. On first testing the car, it ran 3.32 seconds as a best lap. Back in the pits, I loosened the gear mesh by approx. .003" - a second thickness of lane sticker backing paper. The mesh was NOT previously tight, as it had been set with 1 piece of paper and had detectable backlash all around. Even so, without changing anything else, the car would now clock 3.12 seconds, a two-tenth improvement from a miniscule reduction in drag. Sealed motors are like that...