Changing the gear box oil on a Spec Racer Ford is relatively simple. Unfortunately we had to go through this process when we lost a transmission at the Sonoma weekend last year. Over night in the paddock we needed to swap in a new transmission. It is also a good idea to do it as part of annual maintenance.
Tools and Equipment:
Long Oil Funnel
Oil Pan
Gearbox Oil
10mm and 24mm Socket, Ratchet and Extension
3 quarts of gear oil (Redline D4 ATF)
Repalcing the Gearbox Oil
First thing to do is drain the gearbox oil using the 24mm socket and ratchet.
Drain into a pan and dispose of appropriately, most tracks have an onsite oil dump.
Before you remove the drain plug it is always a good idea to ensure you remove the fill plug. Sucks when there is an empty gear box and no way to fill it.
Use the 10mm socket and ratchet to remove the transmission fill plug. You probably need an extension to reach down between the chassis members and rocker arm. Once the bolt is removed slide out the hold tab. Pull up on the plug to remove it is held in place with an O-ring.
Inspect the removed plug and make sure the O-ring is good, replace if worn. Clean it off to ensure no debris gets back into the transmission.
Reinstall the drain plug and tighten in place.
Use a long funnel to reach down into the transmission.
Pour in fresh transmission oil. Talking to our partners at Red Line Synthetic Oil, they recommend D4 ATF for use in the Spec Racer Ford.
I sit the bottle in the funnel to let it drain.
Fill the transmission until it is just below half of the white speedo cog, should be 2.5 to 3 quarts. If you overfill the transmission it will puke out fluid as it gets hot on your next few sessions out. Makes a mess and is a pain to clean.
Replace the transmission plug, slide in the clamping fork and torque the 10mm bolt in place. Simple and straight forward now get back out on track.
Other Maintenance Articles
A step by step guide for replacing the upper ball joints on the Spec Racer Ford. The ball joints are a maintenance item that is not often required except after a few seasons.
A quick health check of the Spec Racer Ford Gen3 engine can accomplished by performing a compression test.
Changing the oil filter on the Spec Racer Ford Gen3 is made difficult by the interference of fuel filler hose. This guide should help keep the mess to a minimum.
Servicing the half shafts can involve repacking the grease to prolong their life or replacing the CVs and Tripods that have worn out.
To ensure smooth operations of the brake calipers it is a good idea to replace the pins and bushings as they wear over time.
If the fuel injectors are sticking swapping the injectors is easier if you remove the fuel rail.
A great video produced by MidWest Spec Racer shows how to install the updated 5th gear on the Spec Racer Ford Gear Box.
The seat doesn't move on a Spec Racer Ford. To accommodate different height drivers the pedal assembly moves fore and aft.
Part of the annual maintenance program is to replace the Spark Plugs. You need to remove the alternator to access Spark Plug #1.
The fuel filler hose dries out and cracks with time. Replacing the hose just requires a little finnese to remove and then position the new hose in the right spot.
Swapping out a throttle cable just takes a little finesse feeding it through the chassis and a handy helper to ensure you are reaching full throttle.
The stress of racing puts a lot of load on the wheel bearings especially with the new stickier tires. To change out a wheel bearing you need a press.
Last year we had to swap in a new transmission over night in the paddock. That meant new transmission fluid here is how you change it.
A quick and simple modification the alternator adjuster can make it easier to tighten the alternator belt.
Rubbing is racing... but sometimes you get nudged, bumped or slammed. Luckily the rub rail is designed to be replaced.
Changing the air filter is very simple requiring no tools, just a simple rag and possibly some degreaser. Most people change it just before qualifying or if it is soaked in oil due to engine blow by
Sloppy shifts? Can't find the right gear? Shifter wiggle? It might be time to replace the U-joints and/or rod ends in the shifter linkage.
Dang that don't look right? A tweaked ball joint or ball joint bracket is straight forward to replace with a few simple tools.
Adding the go juice to the Spec Racer Ford is straight forward. Just make sure to activate the check valve in the vent tube.
The engine and transmissions mounts can crack and deteriorate over time so they need to be replaced. The task is straight forward but it can be tricky to have the clearance to get the mount in place.
Sway bar adjustments are a good way to fine tune your cars handling. Being able to do this quickly between session can help you get the most out of a test day.
A relatively common fault with Spec Racer Fords is that the alternators can fail, requiring a trackside replacement. The process is straight forward but sometimes access can be a problem.
Accident damage can occur from time to time, repairing fiberglass at the track can be achieved using spare aluminum sheet, rivets and some duct tape.
Changing the oil on the Spec Racer Ford should be done after 4-5 race weekends or whenever the oil starts to turn black.
Replacing the Gen3 starter motor can be tricky as you have to reach up inside the back of the engine bay to get to the 3 mounting stud nuts.
Jacking the car is simple and straight forward but is an essential item for doing any maintenance or repair on the car.
The pads and rotors will wear down over time depending on number of heavy braking zones at your local tracks. Changing brake pads and rotors is an essential maintenance task to be fast on the track.
Replacing the grease in the driveshafts is part of the maintenance program to help prolong the life of these units and prevent failures at the track. All you need is a few simple tools and some high quality grease.
The Spec Racer Ford Gen3 uses a reusable air filter that can be cleaned and refreshed with a new oil coating.