Maintenance Articles

Lots of great content on this page. Here are your quick jump links to make finding it easier:

• Spec Racer Ford Gen3 Maintenance

• Spec Racer Ford Gen2 Maintenance

• Maintenance Checklists

  • Pre Race Weekend Checklist

  • Post Track Session Checklist

  • Annual Maintenance Checklist

• Fluids

• Spec Racer Ford Tools

• Spec Racer Ford Spares List

• Torque Settings Cheat sheet

Spec Racer Ford Gen3 Maintenance Articles

Spec Racer Ford Gen2 Maintenance

Want more great Maintenance Articles? Sign up for our Newsletter.

Checklists

Checklist Before / After the Race Weekend

• Check/Top Up Motor Oil Level (Gen 3 / Gen2)

• Check/Top Up Gearbox Oil Level

• Check/Top Up Water Level

• Check/Top Up Brake Fluid Level

• Torque Lug Nuts (55 ft-lbs)

• Torque Axle Nuts (150 ft-lbs)

• Check Car Setup

• Grease Rockers

• Grease Upper Ball Joint (if possible)

• Grease Tie Rods (if possible)

• Check Floor Pan

• Check Rub Rails

• Check Brake Pads & Rotors

• Check Wheel Bearings

• Nut and Bolt Check:

  • Brake Caliper Mount

  • Brake Caliper Pins

  • Sway Bars and Jam nuts

  • Lower Control Arm (LCA) and Jam Nuts

  • Upper Ball Joint Nut

  • Upper Ball Joint Bracket Bolts and Nuts

  • Tie Rods and Jam Nuts

  • Rocker Bolts and Nuts

• Check Cam Timing

• Check Alternator Charging

• Check Chassis for Cracks

• Check Engine Mounts for Cracks

• Check Rockers for Shape and Cracks underneath

• Check Fuel Filter

• Bleed Brakes

Checklist Between Each Session / End of Day

• Master Switch Off

• Check/Top Up Motor Oil Level (Gen 3 / Gen2)

• Check/Top Up Water Level

• Check/Top Up Brake Fluid Level

• Inspect Brake Pads & Rotors for Wear

• Check Wheel Bearings

• Fuel Car

• Bolt & Nut Check:

  • Lower Control Arms

  • Upper Control Arms / Rockers

  • Tie Rods

  • Sway Bars

  • Upper Ball Joints

  • Upper Ball Joint Brackets

  • Brake Bolts & Pins

• Torque Rear Axle Nuts: 150 ft-lbs

• Torque Lug Nuts: 55 ft-lbs

• Check Alternator Belt and Lower Bolt

• Prior to Qualifying for SRF Gen2: Replace Air Filter (FRAM CA3660, Motorcraft FA1031)

Fluids

Fuel SRF Gen3: 20 to 40 % mix of 100 OCT unleaded with 93 / 91 OCT unleaded
Fuel SRF Gen2: 50/50 Mix Pump Gas 91 & 100 Octane Race Gas
Motor Oil Gen3: Red Line 30WT Race Oil / 5W30 (~4 Quarts)
Coolant: Red Line Water Wetter / Distilled Water
Gearbox Oil: Red Line MT-90 (~2.5 Quarts)
Brake Fluid: ATE Type 200 Amber / ATE Super Blue
Tripod & CV Joint Grease: Red Line CV-2 Grease
Rocker Arm Grease: Red Line CV-2 Grease
Ball Joint Grease: Red Line CV-2 Grease
Tie Rod Grease: Red Line CV-2 Grease

Annual Maintenance

• Service Brake Calipers and Replace Seals

• Service Drive Shafts and Repack with Grease

• Check/Top Up Water Level

• Motor Oil Change (Gen 3 / Gen2)

• Gearbox Oil Change

• Check Fire Extinguisher Bottle

• Check Seat Belts

• Bleed brakes

• Nut and Bolt Check:

  • Brake Caliper Mount

  • Brake Caliper Pins

  • Sway Bars and Jam nuts

  • Lower Control Arm (LCA) and Jam Nuts

  • Upper Ball Joint Nut

  • Upper Ball Joint Bracket Bolts and Nuts

  • Tie Rods and Jam Nuts

  • Rocker Bolts and Nuts

• Check Chassis for Cracks

• Check Engine Mounts for Cracks

• Check Rockers for Shape and Cracks underneath

• Check the Fuel Cell for any leaks

Spec Racer Ford Tools

The Spec Racer Ford is built in the United States using Renault, Ford and Subaru parts, consequently there is a mix of metric and SAE fasteners on the car. Most suspension/chassis elements are SAE. While the motor and drivetrain are metric. This can be very confusing for the first few times. I grew up in Australia with metric tools so it is not immediately obvious to me which fractional wrench is needed. Here is a short list of recommended tools and some specialty Spec Racer Ford tools:

Specialty Spec Racer Ford tools:

• Quick jack - getting the low car off the ground

• Inner 5/8 crescent T wrench

• Toe alignment bars

General Tools:

• SAE and Metric wrench sets (ratcheting are useful in SAE)

• 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive - SAE and Metric socket sets (short, deep and extensions)

• Flare nut wrench for brake lines

• AN wrenches (-6, -8, -10, -12)

• Screw driver set

• Cordless drill and drill bits

• 3/8 inch impact driver

• 1/2 inch impact up to 150 ft-lbs

• Pop riveter and rivets

• Compressed Air (Tank or small compressor)

• Tyre Pressure Gauge (30 psi)

• Castor gauge

• Camber gauge

• Pocket Steel Rule

• Side cutter

• Pliers

• Wire strippers

• Wire crimpers

• Channel locks

• Hammer

• Rubber mallet

• Safety wire and pliers

• Duct tape

• Oil filter wrench

• Funnels

Gen3 Spec Racer Ford Conversion Manual

The SCCA Enterprises manual details the steps for doing the conversion from the 1.9 ltr to the 1.6 ltr including the ancillary equipment. It also has details on torque specifications, maintenance, spares and known areas to pay attention.

Spares List

You really don't need spares if you are racing with SCCA as there is great trackside support by the Customer Service Representative (CSR). The CSRs carry spares for cars and are present at the track for SCCA weekends. However, if you are running test days and track days without CSR support here is a short list of some items you might want.

• Brake Pads - Enterprise PN: 801993

• Vented Brake Rotors - Enterprise PN: 800065

• Lower Control Arm Rod End

• Gear box oil - 2-3 qt

• Motor oil - 4 qt

• Spark plugs - Gen2 NGK TR6 / Enterprise PN: 301041

• Spare Aluminium for patching body work

• Spare 1x Front Left/Rear Right & 1x Front Right/Rear Left Upright incase the wheel bearings fail

• Alternator belt

• Wheel Bearing - SKF B31 Tapered Roller Bearing / Enterprise PN: 200436

• Upper Ball Joint - Moog K3082 Ball Joint / Enterprise PN: 236414

• Tie Rod - Moog ES2287RL Tie Rod End / Enterprise PN: 261141

Gen3 Specific

• Spark Plugs – NGK LTR7IX-11 Iridium, Stock Number: 6510 Gap: .035” /.038 / Enterprise PN: G301041

• Alternator Belt - Enterprise PN: G991412 / Gates K040440 Micro-V

• Oil Filter - Motorcraft / Enterprise PN: FL-910 S

• Ignition Relay - Enterprise PN: WM901006

• Fuel Pump Relay - Enterprise PN: WM901006

• O2 Sensor - Enterprise PN: G990504

• Starter - Enterprise PN: G992701

• Oil PSI Sending Unit - Enterprise PN: G980495

• Fuel PSI Sending Unit - Enterprise PN: G980495

• Air Filter - Enterprise PN: WM301020

• Thermostat - Enterprise PN: G300999

• Oil Filter Adaptor O-ring - Enterprise PN: 392499

Torque Settings

• Lug Nuts: 55 ft-lbs

• Rear Axle Nuts: 150 ft-lbs

• Generic Torque Specs for Block /Head (Aluminum) fasteners:

  • 6mm: 5 ft-lbs

  • 8mm: 16 ft-lbs

  • 10mm: 35 ft-lbs

Gen3 Specific

• Flywheel: 65 ft-lbs

• Clutch Cover: 18-20 ft-lbs

• Intake Manifold Nut: 16 ft-lbs

• Exhaust Header Nut: 30 ft-lbs