Pit Crew tools...

[nismomans13]

So i was watching the Nascar race at Pocono today. (please leave out the nascar is gay comments).

Anyway, i'm generally curious about the tools they use in the pits, i think some are pretty awesome, like the insanely expensive 2 pump jacks they use. But i was wondering today, what sort of impact do they use for the tires. I'm sure their modified, but does anybody know the specs of the tools they use?

 

[padronanniversary]

aren't they 200 psi nitrogen IR impacts that they use ?

 

[Boost Creep]

try checking out this thread. not all nascar but still same idea
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60505&highlight=nASCAR

 

[tonydanzah]

its been mentioned before, i think the are 1" inlet spainish guns, one direction so you need 2 of them.

 

[tweety652]

good question and i don't have an answer but would like to know from those who do know. Never have understood the "nascar is gay" mentality. I mean, you have guys hitting each other, covered in pads and that's a "Man" sport, but guys crashing into walls or other vehicles, rolling over several times and being torn to shreds while their car was going 170+, and this is "gay".

 

[padronanniversary]

 

[TireTracks]

good question and i don't have an answer but would like to know from those who do know. Never have understood the "nascar is gay" mentality. I mean, you have guys hitting each other, covered in pads and that's a "Man" sport, but guys crashing into walls or other vehicles, rolling over several times and being torn to shreds while their car was going 170+, and this is "gay".

I dont like watching it, because nothing but left turns happens.

Then again the only sport i like is baseball.

 

[nismomans13]

wow, i always imagined it some highly modified super expensive snap on gun or something..haha

 

[tweety652]

well i'm not saying i'm a huge fan or that it's even interesting, but i just feel it's wrong to call it gay. now that one sport where they sweep ice and throw an oval stone (saw it on winter olympics) that's gay.

 

[tyreguy25]

The impacts are the non-street legal ThunderGuns from IR. They turn insane RPMs and have crazy power. They are reversible. You will never see a Nascar tire changer grabbing another gun.

 

[tweety652]

i just saw that you tube video posted earlier...doesn't surprise me that it's an IR. i have many of their airtools and they are awesome. does anyone know of any other brands that have the kind of power and reliability of IR?

 

[D9H 90V]

The impacts are the non-street legal ThunderGuns from IR. They turn insane RPMs and have crazy power. They are reversible. You will never see a Nascar tire changer grabbing another gun.

Exactly, and they run them off compressed nitrogen, they either rebuild them after every race or IR replaces them and rebuilds the old ones, I used to know a front tire changer for RCR.
Also at the track in the garages the teams use what ever tool brand they are sponsored by, at the teams shop in NC or where ever they are from the mechanics use what ever tool they own, and dont think the 48 team uses kobalt tools, Hendrick motorsports is sponsored by Mac

 

[MarcSeattle]

The impacts are the non-street legal ThunderGuns from IR. They turn insane RPMs and have crazy power. They are reversible. You will never see a Nascar tire changer grabbing another gun.

The video said 625 lb-ft.

Now this is a gun: y20dth did some research and found the Paoli guns used in, well, just about everything are 300 psi and check out the torque:

DP-3000 = 2800Nm
DP 2000 = 2000Nm
DP-197 = 1900Nm

 

[blue dog]

Slightly off topic question for those that know. How do they keep the lug nuts attached to the replacement wheel. They are all ready attached some how. All most seems like they are hot glued or something to that effect. Just curious how they do it in the left turn sport.

 

[tweety652]

they're glued.

 

[MarcSeattle]

How do they avoid getting them cross-threaded?

 

[2drx4]

well i'm not saying i'm a huge fan or that it's even interesting, but i just feel it's wrong to call it gay. now that one sport where they sweep ice and throw an oval stone (saw it on winter olympics) that's gay.

I'm pretty certain there's more hot women who curl than are driving in a NASCAR. I'm just saying...

 

[D9H 90V]

The lug studs are tapered and have very coarse threads, plus the lug nuts are softer then the studs that way if anything is gonna cross thread its usually the nut the lug nuts are throw aways (sent back, melted and re made)

 

[Coach James]

When I used to be in the pits at Rockingham, they used double sided gasket looking material. One guy would very carefully apply the double sided stuff then carefully add the lug nut.

I saw lots of crews using Snap On, some MAC and MATCO. I never saw Kobalt or Stanley tools in the pit boxes. The box had Lowes and Kobalt stickers on it, but inside the box, those Kobalt tools turned into something else. Even the teams that did not have a big name primary sponsor still had top of the line tools.

Coach

 

[tweety652]

I'm pretty certain there's more hot women who curl than are driving in a NASCAR. I'm just saying...

i'm not speaking of the contestents/players/drivers of the sport, just the sport itself...curl, curling or whatever it's called is far less dangerous than NASCAR...

 

[Rockford514]

Lug nuts are held on with 3m weather strip adhesive

 

[mrholeshot]

NASCAR isn't gay. Just Jeff Gordon

 

[nismomans13]

NASCAR isn't gay. Just Jeff Gordon

haha, i'm not a fan of him but why does everyone say that.

 

[D9H 90V]

haha, i'm not a fan of him but why does everyone say that.

Look at his cars usual paint scheme, its basically a flaming rainbow
Not saying he is im just saying

 

[Thumper]

They used to use IR impacts modified by Howard Hurd. This was years ago.

 

[Torq'er]

Originally Posted by nismomans13 View Post
haha, i'm not a fan of him but why does everyone say that.

Dale Sr. liked Jeffs racing attitude and style when he came into the sport, and the two became quick friends.
Dale recognized, and even mentioned on more then one occasion to the media that Jeff was the future of Nascar.

Dale was a mentor to Jeff in racing and more importantly, the business of racing.
One of the things impressed on Jeff was how important it was for the fans to always have something to say about you - good or bad, as long as they noticed.

Dale also had a "different" sense of humor.
He made a couple comments about Jeff to the media about him not being seen in public with women.
It was more about Jeffs young age when he entered Nascar and the lack of free time drivers had then about any kind of ****** preference, but Dale knew what he was doing.
It put Jeff "over the top" - and people haven't stopped talking about Jeff good or bad ever since.

Controversy gets press, and sponsors love press.
IE: Edwards-keselowski, Gordon-Johnson, Darrel Waltrips entire career, etc.......

BTW - Gordon loves the controversy.
He's been know to go through the infield and autograph or at least comment to fans about the over-the-top displays that are anti-Gordon.

Love him or hate him, you're still talking about him - and his sponsors see $ when you do.

Look at his cars usual paint scheme, its basically a flaming rainbow
Not saying he is im just saying

Dupont pays somewhere $20 million a year to put whatever them want on his car, and as long as Nascar approves, Hendrick or Gordon couldn't care less as long as the checks clear the bank.
What better design or symbol could a paint company chose to represent the range of colors they offer?

Racers have been putting flames on their cars since the Model T.
Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Dale Jarrett, Robbie Gordon, Martin Truex jr. and more have run flame paint jobs on numerous occasions without the ridiculous connection of ****** orientation to paint design.

Jeff has never been spotted once with a male companion, but has dated and been married to some amazing looking women.
He also has children with His model/actress wife .......... just saying.

 

[tweety652]

Jeff Gordon a.k.a. RAINBOW WARRIOR

 

[mrholeshot]

Jeff has never been spotted once with a male companion, but has dated and been married to some amazing looking women.
He also has children with His model/actress wife .......... just saying.

Yeah my ex brother in law was married to my sister, two kids and as gay as Liberaci. He didn't come out of the closet till he was 50. He had a double life. Not that theres anything wrong with that.

 

[tyreguy25]

Exactly, and they run them off compressed nitrogen, they either rebuild them after every race or IR replaces them and rebuilds the old ones, I used to know a front tire changer for RCR.
Also at the track in the garages the teams use what ever tool brand they are sponsored by, at the teams shop in NC or where ever they are from the mechanics use what ever tool they own, and dont think the 48 team uses kobalt tools, Hendrick motorsports is sponsored by Mac

Yep. I am not a fan of Mac Tools, but apparently the quality is there...wait, the money is there. Those Thunderguns are awesome and I would like to have one. The Street Legal version turns 625 lb ft but the pit crew version turns way more and many more RPM.

 

[Ford12508]

What do you guys mean the "Street Legal" version? I have read about people having modified guns, but why is one called "Street Legal" and the other isn't? Why isn't it just called a modified IR TG?

 

[wafrederick]

The impacts get rebuilt every other 2 weeks,I was told this by a retired IR rep.Most poular tools are Mac,Snap On and Craftsman.Roger Penske must has a great relationship with Snap On.Roush has been using Mac tools for a long time since the 1980s.Snap On must of did something wrong to Richard Childress Racing including Earnhardt Ganassi Racing,RCR does not use Snap On anymore and switched to Craftsman.I do not have an use for the street legal thundergun.Matco used to be in Nascar and the last team was Sabco in 2000 and switched to Snap On when Chip Ganassi bought out Sabco

Kyle Busch: crybaby and now called Cryle Busch a lot

 

[tyreguy25]

What do you guys mean the "Street Legal" version? I have read about people having modified guns, but why is one called "Street Legal" and the other isn't? Why isn't it just called a modified IR TG?

You and I cannot buy the actual Thundergun, but we can buy a pedestrian version called the Street Legal version which is limited to 625lb.ft.

 

[00S4Boy]

You and I cannot buy the actual Thundergun, but we can buy a pedestrian version called the Street Legal version which is limited to 625lb.ft.

Just run a mg725 at 300psi i'm sure it will be close to the nascar gun.

 

[SLAUGHTERHAUS FAB]

I just happen to have one of the older "Non Street Legal" Thunderguns, don't ask how I got it, long story. Never had it hooked up to nitrogen or anything higher than 150psi though. Meanest tire changing impact ever! Guys in my old shop always asked about it because it sounded different than theirs and blew theirs out of the water, never did tell them because I didn't want it to go missing.

 

[SLAUGHTERHAUS FAB]

Dale Sr. liked Jeffs racing attitude and style when he came into the sport, and the two became quick friends.
Dale recognized, and even mentioned on more then one occasion to the media that Jeff was the future of Nascar.

Dale was a mentor to Jeff in racing and more importantly, the business of racing.
One of the things impressed on Jeff was how important it was for the fans to always have something to say about you - good or bad, as long as they noticed.

Dale also had a "different" sense of humor.
He made a couple comments about Jeff to the media about him not being seen in public with women.
It was more about Jeffs young age when he entered Nascar and the lack of free time drivers had then about any kind of ****** preference, but Dale knew what he was doing.
It put Jeff "over the top" - and people haven't stopped talking about Jeff good or bad ever since.

Controversy gets press, and sponsors love press.
IE: Edwards-keselowski, Gordon-Johnson, Darrel Waltrips entire career, etc.......

BTW - Gordon loves the controversy.
He's been know to go through the infield and autograph or at least comment to fans about the over-the-top displays that are anti-Gordon.

Love him or hate him, you're still talking about him - and his sponsors see $ when you do.




Dupont pays somewhere $20 million a year to put whatever them want on his car, and as long as Nascar approves, Hendrick or Gordon couldn't care less as long as the checks clear the bank.
What better design or symbol could a paint company chose to represent the range of colors they offer?

Racers have been putting flames on their cars since the Model T.
Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Dale Jarrett, Robbie Gordon, Martin Truex jr. and more have run flame paint jobs on numerous occasions without the ridiculous connection of ****** orientation to paint design.

Jeff has never been spotted once with a male companion, but has dated and been married to some amazing looking women.
He also has children with His model/actress wife .......... just saying.

Must be his boyfriend defending him like that .......... just saying.

 

[Ford12508]

Why can't we buy the gun? IR wouldn't allow me to buy it even if I payed for it? Who do they sell them to besides nascar pit crews?

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

the trailer in the old winston cup pits said "FASTEST GUN IN THE WEST " parked next to the banjo matthews and hutcherson pagan parts trailers back in the day

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

 

[Spareparts]

Petty Enterpises was the first to modify the IR based guns, they actually dont have that much torqus, just speed. Lug nuts only have to be torqued to 85 ft lbs. The studs are 5/8" with course threads and it is turned down smooth for the first 1 1/2" so the lug nuts will slide over it and stay on the stud. They are glued with 3M adhesive as was mentioned above ( every thing has been tried but the 3M always wins) Lug nuts get cleaned and glued on again, they only use then about 3 times and a lot of them get sole for souveneirs with the car # stamped on them or go to racers auctions. I have often wanted to ask how many lug nuts a team goes thru during a season but didn't want to look like a goof. I have one of the IR guns from a friend's ARCA team and it will empty a single nitrogen real quick, they have flow rate about twice the rate of the Thunder Gun that is where then get their speed.

 

[Taylor J.]

How do they avoid getting them cross-threaded?

Sometime they do get cross threaded. The studs get replaced after each race as you can imagine! As far as the guns are concerned, yes they are awesome. They typically get rebuilt every week or two weeks as someone mentioned. That is their only use, they don't get used around the shop, unless it's for practice pit stops.