My track Corsa - and so the season ends...

Post by **pietpetoors** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:55 am

Cool, good luck for Saturday, we hope this time it is without problems.

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:15 am

Thanks, Guys

Racing starts at 10h00

Our group's qualifying is 08h15, first race at 11h15, second race 16h45 if I remember correctly

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:18 am

Oh yes - Superhatch pis are there between turns 7 & 8, close to the Goldwagen stand. If any of you guys are there come and say hi ;)

Die$eL · Post by **Die$eL** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:28 am

Good luck! I wish I could attend but I have to work

Seems you have done a good build. All should be fine

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:02 pm

4x4BEES · Post by **4x4BEES** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:31 am

Very cool Andre

Good luck on getting enough sleep this weekend

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:30 pm

Congrats and BEST wishes !!

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 4:03 pm

Thanks guys

Post by **Mud Dog** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:30 pm

Best of luck! Give it horns!!

Post by **pietpetoors** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:43 pm

Will you be able to sleep tonight?

The clock is ticking.........

Froll · Post by **Froll** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:49 pm

Looking very good, best of luck for you.

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:52 pm

pietpetoors wrote:Will you be able to sleep tonight?

The clock is ticking.........

dink hy kamp vanaand in die garage

(ek weet ek sou)

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:28 pm

Anybody want to guess what I kept myself busy with tonight?

Well if your guess was that I was changing big-end bearings, you'd be right...

Last night after taking pics of the car, I gave it a burn to check everything was OK. Heard a funny noise and all day today I was worried sick about it. Soon as I got home, pulled the sump off and found the no 4 big end in really bad shape. Thankfully I had a new set of bearings on the shelf, so in they went. Unfortunately the crank has some scoring marks, so I know this is no long term solution...

Just hope it holds through all of tomorrow...

Gonna go sleep now - real tired...

Post by **Mud Dog** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 11:02 pm

What!!??? Again?? It's almost as if the cosmos is trying to tell you something .... if I were superstitious, I'd advise you to withdraw!

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 4:26 am

Nah that is life with a race car... It's like being married to a supermodel - occasionally she allows you to have a good time, but she doesn't really love you, and she just wants all your money :D

I just say thank goodness these issues reared their ugly heads before race day. Can you imagine the disappointment getting there and then you can't race???

Riaan S · Post by **Riaan S** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:42 am

Good Luck Dodging!

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:09 pm

pray tell ?

4x4BEES · Post by **4x4BEES** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:30 pm

Ja asb

Ons wag in spanning

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:36 pm

What a great day's racing!

Too bad I had to enjoy it from the stands. Went out for qualifying, motor didn't sound too good, third lap I got a tiiiiiiny little oil leak when a conrod made a little hole in the sump...

Sub assembly is essentially f'd.

Gonna leave the car be for a while now... Feeling grumpy about it.

Only way I'm gonna build another sub is if I can afford to do it properly. Crank and block must be perfect, new pistons, NEW conrods (maybe forged) etc...

Will see about taking part at Phakisa - definitely not going to do Mahem (even if the car was running 110%)

4x4BEES · Post by **4x4BEES** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:05 pm

Ag nee man, jammer om te hoor.

Post by **pietpetoors** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:40 pm

Ag nee man, that is now not good news. I would have been more than a bit grumpy.
Good luck.

Agree, do it new from scratch and do it yourself, then you know it is right.

Post by **Mud Dog** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 1:11 am

Sorry to hear, Andre', but to tell you the truth I wasn't expecting that you would be racing or completing a race today. Better luck next time around.

Riaan S · Post by **Riaan S** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 8:26 am

Ag sorry! I was really hoping the motor would last!

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:21 am

AAaaiiiii Boet !!

Lekker braai, Sunday with the family .... Monday back at it :)

rigardt · Post by **rigardt** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:49 am

hey we were there. missed qualifying but there was some nice racing !
saw your car on the trailer and thought something must have happened during qualifying.
sorry to hear about the car man !!

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:38 am

Got 6 rods yesterday. Will have them all measured and checked along with the remaining 3 in the engine, then make up a set that'll get balanced and go back in the engine.

Finally got the will to actually work on the car again this morning - took the valve cover off haha

Will set about stripping the motor tonight to see the extent of the damage. With a bit of luck it'll just be the crank that got screwed up. The sump has a tiny hole in it that's easy enough to fix, will still have to see what the splash tray looks like. Think the block will be OK. Will still see what the pistons look like...

Mars · Post by **Mars** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:08 am

Racing cars are'nt for sissys!! Sorry about your mishap. Hope the damage is not too bad and that you get it running right quickly and with minimal pain.

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:08 am

Yup - Phakisa is on 2 May

This is probably the one I've looked forward to most of all the races on the calendar

Post by **Mud Dog** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:17 pm

Good luck! .... again!

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 10:56 am

Mars wrote:Racing cars are'nt for sissys!! Sorry about your mishap. Hope the damage is not too bad and that you get it running right quickly and with minimal pain.

in the 70's my dad raced stock cars at the old Goodwood Show grounds.

Last three races - THREE cars !!

On average went through a few cars per season.

Anybody remembers the Gunston Stunt team ?

Tjomma · Post by **Tjomma** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 11:35 am

I read through your thread, impressive build brotha.Sorry to read about your disappointment.... Like you say,its like being married to a supermodel. I am vw nutter and I know what its like putting together that special car , whether its for race, sound or concourse or just show off. you want it to be perfect. So keep on building nd goodluk for next time.

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:42 am

So yesterday I picked up a block, crank and some other bits. Will strip the busted engine next, then take the bits I intend using to Dynamic balancing to get it all balanced and whatnot. Will also send the old crank in to be ground to 10thou sometime, and set about putting a second sub assembly together to be on standby just incase. Will have to buy a second set of pistons for that one though. If I can find a second set of cams, I will actually then have justabout a complete second engine, but I suppose I can always have the cams I got with the initial setup ground to a longer duration. Will then just be short of an intake manifold, but I'm thinking I must maybe make a plan with them ITB's for it. Only issue with that motor will then be that it'll make far too much power for class C. Will first see how the first engine holds up before I build that one though...

Will hopefully have the car running again sometime next week

Oh yes - yesterday I changed the cambelt on my Hilux... Why can't they make all cars this simple to work on??? Took me all of 25 minutes to replace the belt, tensioner and idler. Next time I build a racecar it'll be a Hilux hahaha

Die$eL · Post by **Die$eL** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:20 am

Sorry to hear about the issues

Glad to hear you are still in it!

Thats the thing with motorsport, the costs never end

However, the feeling of being flat out on track makes it all worthwhile

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 9:40 am

So I finally started on getting a working engine again.

Started by opening up the motor, this is what I found:

Image Link Broken

The piston hit the head pretty hard, so obviously them valves are bent properly

Image Link Broken

Did a little seepage test on the other combustion chambers, and found that the valves don't seat perfectly on 2 other chambers too, so the head needs a complete overhaul. Don't have the bucks for that now, so I'm just going to slap the flowed head on. Will still see how much weight I'll now have to add to the car to stay in regs.

The crank is obviously not in good shape. The no 4 journal is hurt bad. Doubt a 10thou grind will sort it, 20thou should do but that crank can wait. Using the other crank for now - had that polished and it looks real good now.

Unfortunately the block needs to be re-bored. Sadly so does the other one... So I dropped both off at the engineers this morning to be taken to 20thou. Picking up a new set of pistons this afternoon, and will get a second set sometime soon for the second sub assembly...

Costing a bloody fortune....

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 7:47 pm

Things are coming along...

Took the oil cooler out today and flushed it out - don't want some bits of bearing anywhere near the new motor. Gonna replace the oil pump too, as it feels a bit sticky - probably some pieces of the bearing in there. Not taking any chances with it

Engineering work is almost done. On Monday I'll go and put the sub assembly together at the engineers. Doing it there as I'd like them to torque the caps with their fancy torque guage. Will then set about putting the head back on and dropping it into the engine bay...

rigardt · Post by **rigardt** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 8:08 pm

with all the bad luck you have had on this car you shouldn't drop it into the engine bay !
gently set it done and massage it in.

in any way glad you are working on it again and hopefully back to track in no time.

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:40 am

Update on the engine...

Buggerall has happened since. Block is still at the engineers, just needs honing.

Summary of what's happening to the engine:

New pistons, rings, bearings, oil pump, headgasket, head bolts. Flowed head going on instead of std. The rest remains as it was.

Flushed out the oil cooler yesterday - lots of fine pieces of bearing came out of it. Scary stuff...

The block will supposedly be ready thisafternoon, then assembly will commence...

Clock's ticking...

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:27 pm

Andre how much time before the next race ?

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:47 pm

Next weekend.... 2nd of May

4x4BEES · Post by **4x4BEES** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 3:16 pm

Plenty of time, no sweat

ChrisF · Post by **ChrisF** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:01 pm

Holding thumbs !!!

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:38 am

So this morning I started on the sub assembly

Main bearings in
Image Link Broken

Crank in just before the caps and getting torqued
Image Link Broken

Might be able to continue later this afternoon with it, but I have my doubts... Worst case tomorrow morning I'll put the pistons in and torque the bigends, then the rest can go on there. Thankfully I am at home tomorrow, so with a bit of luck I can maybe start her up by tomorrow evening

dd6 · Post by **dd6** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:42 pm

Is that turbo going on the engine as well?

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 9:07 pm

Hehehe

Big one huh?

dd6 · Post by **dd6** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 8:52 pm

Jeez, that thing is huge! :wth: Your block looks very nice though...

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 9:02 pm

Thanks, Bud. I think my tiny motor will only get that tebbo spooled by about 8000rpm haha

Update time: Not a bad day's progress, despite not having a full day to work on it - only started with the sub assembly around lunchtime

First got the block on my engine stand
Image Link Broken

Pistons in, new steel headgasket
Image Link Broken

Head on, torqued with new headbolts
Image Link Broken

Cambelt on, timing set, cambelt tension set just so
Image Link Broken

More bits added on, and outside for another wash
Image Link Broken

Gave the engine bay a quick clean as well. This is the cleanest that gearbox has been since I owned the car haha. Amazing what happens when you use the right chemicals
Image Link Broken

Pickup in, just before I put the sump back
Image Link Broken

Just had the sump tightened, and then Eskom put an end to the progress...

Tomorrow I'll continue
Ì

Thabogrobler · Post by **Thabogrobler** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:12 pm

Nice!

What did you use to clean the gearbox?

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:14 am

A product called 'Truck Brite'. Heluva caustic, so I diluted it 1:5 with water, sprayed it on and used the powerwasher

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 12:12 pm

Status update

Image Link Broken

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 3:45 pm

Had to call it quits - heading to the pre-Phakisa braai/meeting.

Have about an hour's work left to do, then I can start her up.

Feeling excited [ROLLER COASTER]

dd6 · Post by **dd6** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 8:00 pm

She WILL run like a dream! Positive toughts!!

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:12 am

Success!

Started it up yesterday, and drove it for a bit. Drove it to the Gautrain station this morning on the sly. I can feel the motor starting to loosen up nicely, as it was heluva tight and stiff initially. Feels nice and torquey so far in the lower rpm range, and picks up revs quite keenly. Sounds a bit tappety at this stage, but that should be sorted once I change the oil.

Tomorrow it gets tuned!

Post by **Mud Dog** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:29 am

Here's holding thumbs there's no more 'issues'.

4x4BEES · Post by **4x4BEES** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 10:48 am

Awesome

Hope the running in process goes as smooth as you need it to.

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 3:14 pm

Dyno is done - all went well.

For the first time I have confidence in the engine. Power curve has flattened out beautifully, and makes power all the way to 7000rpm. Apart from one really noisy injector, the motor sounds fantastic. Power delivery is really smooth and constant.

So now all I still want to do on the car is to box the radiator, and see what I can do to get as much cold air to the intake as possible.

Time to start packing the Hilux tonight - Friday morning we leave before the sparrows fart

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 3:40 pm

How bout something like this Andre:

Hehe!

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 3:48 pm

Hehehehehe

O ja - small problem... I need to add 60kg of weight to the car...

Anybody got some weights or big flywheels or whatnot I can loan for the weekend?

JohanW · Post by **JohanW** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 9:49 pm

55L water tank. Mounted secure and low. So its easy to empty if more weight is added in other places. Fill it to the brim to avoid sloshing water playing havoc on the vehicle dynamics.

Dodging · Post by **Dodging** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 6:05 am

Got 20kg so far in dumbells

Going to take a steel ammo crate, dump the weights in there and ratchet it down where the passenger seat goes

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:24 am

Alle sterkte Andre !!
Vat genoeg warm goed saam - dis al koud in Welkom !