Slave Cyl Hack

[Rick Kirchner]

I have a Tab McBlaine slave cyl for my 94 VD. If you're familiar with the mid-year slaves, there's one groove the Brits didn't get quite right, and the kits sold by TRE, etc, have a special oversized one to compensate.

Now Tab made his to use standard o-rings, I believe three different sizes. Two are known, the other he doesn't remember and despite having the drawings, I don't have enough o-ring talent to guess the other size.

Prepping for this season and decided to break my "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" rule and swap out the slave, which had been in there for many years. It had gotten to the point where it was a good idea to get some heat in the oil before stepping on the clutch pedaI. had a VD slave in my spares box already loaded and ready to go.

So I was taking apart Tab's device, and decided to throw it in my ultrasonic cleaner. Its filled with a mix of ATF and mineral spirits. After a couple of hours I took it out and the external o-rings had swelled to the point where they almost fell off. But the internal ones - well they didn't appear flattened anymore and were snug in their grooves.

So I put the thing back together and it was pretty much like putting in new o-rings.

So, if you find yourself a couple of days out from a race, or at the track with a split car and failed slave cylinder, soak the o-rings in some ATF and thinner for a couple of hours. Be really careful with the thin ones on the outside so they don't get too big.

[billtebbutt]

Tab McBlane!!!! He was the very first person I met at Nelson Ledges when I started doing regional races like, a lifetime ago? I always used to look forward to seeing him (he was running an FC at the time), and had totally forgot about him until your post - great guy.

best,
bt

[Steve Demeter]

Tab was a great racer who got fed up with the SCCA. Transponders and CFC stooping at 1990 when he had just purchased a 91 VD were the last straws for him

[Rick Iverson]

I have a Tab McBlaine slave cyl for my 94 VD. If you're familiar with the mid-year slaves, there's one groove the Brits didn't get quite.

Rick:

Any photos, please?

[Rick Kirchner]

Rick:

Any photos, please?

Looks just like the original, except it has Tabs info carved into it.

[Rick Kirchner]

Tab was a great racer who got fed up with the SCCA. Transponders and CFC stooping at 1990 when he had just purchased a 91 VD were the last straws for him

Yup. Class distinctions need to be defined by technology, not years. Suspension characteristics (outboard/rocker/push or pull rod) wheelbase, track, engine components and aero.

When I wrote the rules for VARA's FC class many years ago I had FC1 and FC2, and the distinctions in FC1 were rockers on one end and no diffuser - original wide chord front and rear wings. Then you find out original aero is pretty scarce. I bet there's not 10 of 'em left in the whole country.