Unfortunately I couldn't make TOTB last week, but it wasn't for lack of trying, so thought I'd put up a post about it - problem shared and all that :)

 

Some of you will know the scramble I had to get to the previous TimeAttack event, with an engine swap, pedal box install, new loom, different ecu, all fitted between events, we mapped it on the road due to lack of time and came away from the Oulton Park with a decent haul of points despite my crash.

 

Some pics to keep it interesting

 

 

So this this brings us to last week...

Monday - a day of rest and ordering a few bits. Slick Pete kindly sent me a new lower arm to replace my bent one

 

Tuesday - going to pop over to Jimmer, but lower arm hadn't arrived. Wired in my MAP and IAT sensor into new ECU instead

 

Wednesday - lower arm arrived, went to pop over to Jimmers to fit, but all hell brakes out at work and I can't get away. Going to make the next few days interesting

 

Thursday - appointment with Noz to run the car on the dyno and double check the map. Day started out well when I couldn't get the car to run and load onto trailer, 45mins later and it's running, hadn't tightened the ecu plug properly - Doh!

 

I get to Noel's, quick chat, get her strapped down etc. First run, 672hp at fly, not bad for a road map and lower spec engine. However, torque is well down as VTC isn't working. Still, TOTB is power based so not the end of the world. Some delays due to other things happening at he garage, then we get onto run 2. Something isn't right, power has dropped even though everything appears ok, go to start a 3rd run and it's aborted.

Looks like my spare engine (which was a spare for a reason) has finally expired - crap! at least it got me through the last TA event.

 

Some calls are made, do we call it a day, or try to sort it out before TOTB? Not one to give up, we hatch a plan and I head home ...

 

To be continued....

The Plan!

 

There was an engine for sale on the forum, that was already sitting at Jimmer's with new bearings. All I needed to do was contact the owner, then swap it in, and off to TOTB - simples :D

 

So Thursday night, get home, put my son to bed, agree purchase of said engine, and go outside in the dark to strip down my engine with car on trailer. Removed fan, loom, all boost/intake pipes and plenum ready to be pulled the next day. Also booked day off work.

 

Friday - Car was supposed to have new stickers, so dropped it off with sign company just after 9am, saying I needed it back asap. went to grab some breakfast and collect unit keys from Jimmer. Before I even got to the unit I'd got a call to say the stickers were done - fast work! So collected car and went to unit, unloaded car and found the donor engine.

 

I then proceed to get the engine off the floor, mount it on an engine stand, and strip it down ready to put my bits on it. So plenum off, fuel rail out, valve covers off, downpipes, turbos, manifolds, all off. Bear in mind I'm no mechanic so this takes me a few hours. Then once done, I get my car on the ramp, remove exhaust and shield then Jimmer turns up after his day at work.

 

Now, Friday night is normally Jimmer's night off so I'm calling on some favours here :)

Edited July 31, 201312 yr by jaffa

Gutted you couldn't make it James, was looking forward to seeing you in action as well as Bob.

Prftttttttt life can be so complex at times can't it lol

Prftttttttt life can be so complex at times can't it lol

 

I'm just getting started, next installment on the way!

So Jimmer is here, all fired up, and while I drain the coolant, he sets the oil draining, drops the gearbox, undoes engine mounts etc and we're ready to pull the engine out. Within a very short time of him arriving the engine is sitting on a worktop.

 

So we pause for thought, look at the new donor engine and figure the sumps coming off anyway, we may as well take a look at it's innards to make sure all is well before spending the night getting it fitted. So turn her over, sump off, and start inspecting bearings. All are brand new as expected, slight scoring on crank journals, but nothing too dramatic... until we get to number 6 that is. This has more scoring, and should have been reground, but worse than that, it just looks wrong. There's no obvious lip at the edge of the bearing mating surface compared to the others, it's still in tolerance size wise, but it's got us worried.

 

We start taking a real good look now as it's clear the new bearings weren't fitted as a refresh, the old ones must have been toast. Closer inspection reveals debris in the sump, and even some wire bristles from some sort of brush or dremel. These things are everywhere, in the sump, in the block, sitting under pistons etc. We also found some play in the rod for number 6 when all bolted up, so this engine was not going to last a few road miles, let alone the abuse I was intending to give it :(

 

We deem the donor engine unfit for use, it needs a complete stip down, clean, replace worn items etc. The person who did the work did offer a replacement crank, but it's beyond that.

 

Disappointment all round, we kick this engine into a corner and get ourselves cleaned up and decide to try to salvage our friday night.

 

I head home, spend some time with family and back to the drawing board...

 

PS I have pics of this engine but at those tolence levels it doesn't show very well

With a bit of help from Noz and ebay, we find a potential engine at AndyZ, only problem is he's based in deepest darkest Norfolk. A few text messages later and I've agreed to collect the engine at 5am :sweatdrop:

 

Instead of going to bed, I get in the Jeep, and start heading over to Thetford. Get there just before 5, by 6am I'm back on the road and get back to the unit at around 9:30am. So we're back in the game.

 

Get the new engine out of the jeep and onto the engine stand, strip all the bits off my original engine, and wow, that really let go dramatically! Anyway all stipped off, ready to start cleaning and rebuilding and we have a quick play with the tubs. One spins nicely, the other is all over the place. The crap running around the engine from the failure has taken a turbo core with it :cry:

 

I ring around the usual turbo distributors, but all are closed and most are actually at TOTB. Noz goes and asks a few vendors but none can help - game over:no:

What a shitter after all that effort, fair play for trying though

My God James that's a hell of a lot of work and still end up beaten mate. You guys give it all to follow your dream and you all have my respect. Good luck in your next race James and hope you have a good one.

My God James that's a hell of a lot of work and still end up beaten mate. You guys give it all to follow your dream and you all have my respect. Good luck in your next race James and hope you have a good one.

 

That^^^^^. Hope your luck changes soon.

Damn James, you're having no luck. First getting sold a POS buy some bloke in Rooksbridge, then this. I really hope you get it back in the road. I'll head over to Jimmer's unit on Saturday afternoon to see what's going down/

 

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*by

Damn....that was exhausting just reading it ! Sorry to hear you didnt make TOTB.

Damn James, you're having no luck. First getting sold a POS buy some bloke in Rooksbridge, then this. I really hope you get it back in the road. I'll head over to Jimmer's unit on Saturday afternoon to see what's going down/

 

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*by

 

Very disappointing to hear.

Very disappointing to hear.

 

yes, that was at the beginning of the year, so that's 2 dudd engines that I've purchased this year - buyer beware when buying used engines!

What that a forum member that sold you that duffer? Real shame, I know where there's a spare engine and box fairly cheap from a low mileage uk car. I was going to buy them both myself but just have got other priorities.

The second one I picked-up 'should' be ok, just waiting on a new turbo core and it'll be re-assembled.

 

The duff one was from a forum member, who in turn bought it from a trader on here who did the work. The forum member has been very good about the whole thing and is dealing with it. He was going to put it in his so in a way it's a good thing all round that I had a different sump to fit, otherwise it would have ended up in someone's car and been rattling away not long after ...

The second one I picked-up 'should' be ok, just waiting on a new turbo core and it'll be re-assembled.

 

The duff one was from a forum member, who in turn bought it from a trader on here who did the work. The forum member has been very good about the whole thing and is dealing with it. He was going to put it in his so in a way it's a good thing all round that I had a different sump to fit, otherwise it would have ended up in someone's car and been rattling away not long after ...

 

Oh dear, thankfully you had a proper engine builder on hand to spot it, many of us amatures may not of noticed that. What turbos are they again gt30 something arnt they?

Oh dear, thankfully you had a proper engine builder on hand to spot it, many of us amatures may not of noticed that. What turbos are they again gt30 something arnt they?

 

exactly. Tubs are GT3071

Hope you get this sorted buddy.