Cars tracked and all done there.

Now a full service kit, all genuine.

Genuine Air, Oil, Fuel, Pollen and wipers.

Quantum oil of course.

Only 10k on this.

Been tracking down a few leaks, boost mostly.

Seen weeping here.

So put a new seal on the damper, genuine of course. Cleaned all up well and replaced.

Egr seal on the intake manifold was suspect too, so again changed it for genuine.

All back together and tightened. 

Tightened and replaced some suspect boost clamps too. Cleaned them all out when I was at it.

Replaced the MAF for one off the parts car too. Running much better now, a lot more responsive 

Replaced the undertray and tec screwed the back onto the subframe as it was lower than I'd like. Plywood somehow holding up still

Got some new steel rivnuts for the BAF K brace, seems a better job than the soft aluminium ones, somehow.

Sitting well on the new suspension, rides very well and has fantastic roadholding. Can't recommend the ST shock and spring kit enough.

Solid rubber wishbone bushes feel fantastic, roadholding is very good too.

Few other small things, but bulk of it is up to scratch for now.

Another Trip to the UK

Went to Melbourne for straight liners. Not a terrible run, mostly straight shot on the motorway so fairly little trouble.

Got there VERY early so hung around York for a bit and then went to the air museum nearby.

Even loaded with stuff it sat fairly well. Ended up sleeping in it, didn't bother taking a tent.

Was a fantastic place, they even had a Saracen

Did a few runs on Saturday

And set some mediocre times. Soft limiter stopped me revving high enough so kept bogging off the line.  First run was fastest and kept getting slower as the day went on.

Exhaust would start rattling every time I finished a run and would stopped when I pushed it. Help from a friend bending the rearmost bracket solved most of it. 

Fastest time was a 10.61, slowest being 10.99 and the rest of the day was struggling in the 10.8s. 

Amazingly original clutch took it fine, aside from injector tick it ran fine the whole time too.

Car drove very nicely over and back with the new suspension, even got 60 mpg on the way over.

Pretty good weekend in all, definitely going again.

Injector tick is getting worse and worse but still driving fine. It will need changed when it goes.

So, long week.

Went on a trip to Scotland, doing my pre trip checks, came across this.

Pad separated, on a bank holiday no less so couldn't get bits.

Ended up getting some textars to go on in.

Gave it a checkover again, and a lube service.

Picked up some stuff for a friend,

Quick wash and off to the UK on the 5th.

 

Thought my second half posted

Anyhow.

Off the ferry, dropped off the engine and went up through Scotland.

Up to Stirling,through Glencoe,

then to Fort William, then Inverness.

Fair spin.

Next day we did the Isle of Skye which was fantastic.

Day after that we went to Durness, which was also fantastic.

 

 

And on the last day it was Applecross pass.

Stunning views the whole time

Roads up to the top were quite steep and not helped by people dicking about doing 7 up the hills.

 

Next day it was the trek back to the ferry

Aside from the views, there wasn't much drama, Just ticked 165k as I got home. Got decent Economy the whole trip, didn't make a fool out of myself I don't think, car took the roads quite well all said.

The ST suspension is fantastic, it's really the best of both worlds. Even with an engine in the back it didn't bottom out. It held the road well throughout.

 

5 hours ago, DieselMonte said:

up through Scotland.

Up to Stirling, through Glencoe

Unless the engine builder is in Stirling I wouldn't have gone that far East. Better to take the M8 West, M/A898 and onto the A82 there.

2 hours ago, Paws4Thot said:

Unless the engine builder is in Stirling I wouldn't have gone that far East. Better to take the M8 West, M/A898 and onto the A82 there.

 

I'd have taken a similar route too. That being said, those photos look nice, so as long as a good time was had that's what matters.

 

Last year, myself and some friends did Inverness and back in a day. Started at home, near the A713, then onto the A78, A737 to pick up from Johnstone, M8 (W), A898 over the Erskine Bridge, A82 stopping in Balloch, and then following to Inverness with lunch in Fort William. Got dinner in Inverness and killed an hour or two. Came back down the A9, into Stirling, then over the A811 to Balloch, and worked backwards from there.

Edited 23 June, 20241 yr by AnnoyingPentium

What was wrong with the roofs of the MX5s...   Broken?...   There were at least two sunny photos there where they had the roofs up! 

14 hours ago, Paws4Thot said:

Unless the engine builder is in Stirling I wouldn't have gone that far East. Better to take the M8 West, M/A898 and onto the A82 there.

No dropped the engine off way before

Meeting friends along the way, Stirling was one of them.

9 hours ago, skomaz said:

What was wrong with the roofs of the MX5s...   Broken?...   There were at least two sunny photos there where they had the roofs up! 

Cold and normal predictably unpredictable weather.

51 minutes ago, DieselMonte said:

 

Cold and normal predictably unpredictable weather.

 

 

Pah...   That's no excuse!  If it's not raining the roof should be down...   And only takes about 30 seconds to put back up even if it does start to rain...  And if it's light rain just keep driving and you stay dry!

Just some more photos I've come across 

One from Melbourne and another a Friend took on the most recent run to the UK.

Now have another car on the road so this won't be taking so much stress on its own.

No point selling it, don't want to so I'm swapping between.

 

So got some odds and ends.

RHR calipers handbrake mechanism failed, even though it's nearly a year old  

Otherwise worked fine but having half of an already meager handbrake is very annoying.

Also fitted new handbrake cables at the same time.

Gathered some bits to refresh the shifter

New cable ends, new bits for the shifter box also.

Can't post the before video but a vast improvement, still not amazing, but better than before.

 

 

Went to Melbourne last week.

Was really busy all weekend

Still slow but markedly faster than last time

Found by pulling a fuse I could cheat the soft limiter and make it quicker off the jump.

Fair spin to to Yorkshire and back, and getting searched at Holyhead is never fun nor surprising.

Still got solid fuel economy.

Persistent check engine light which is either the map sensor or a glow plug.

Left with a lovely gift of 4 semi slicks in my size, which will hopefully be put to use before years end.

 

Nearly at 170k so almost time for another full service, and test.

 

Replaced cylinder 1 glow plug as it was showing a light.

Was well due.

Came out easily considering it's most likely original.

Might just replace the other 3, can't imagine they're far behind.

Productive weekend.

Got my semi slicks on some spare alloys. Tyres that have come off are in really good shape so can use them for the VRSdi

Inners on my pilot sports are heavily worn as per usual.

Booked a Trackday at Kirkistown for today so went up.

Just shy of 2 hrs driving each way.

Drove up on the semi slicks.

Quite a few cars. Was pretty nervous for my first Trackday but it was absolutely fantastic.

Everyone was extremely nice, fantastic atmosphere.

Some really quick cars too.

Brakes held up fairly well, paint melted on the calipers a bit, but they were due for a refresh anyhow. Track debris stuck to them like glue.

 

Kirkistown is a very fast track that's very heavy on the front left tyre, I'd been warned before hand. Made the mistake of having tyre pressures too high, so wore the middle a fair bit.

Was warned to not use the handbrake either so used a suicide jack as a wheel chock.

Intercooler sprayer came in clutch. Even though it is November, and a mild 12°c, intake temps were wanting to stay around 50°. Used torque to monitor water temp and boost. Water temps were quite warm, didn't overheat but peaked at 108°, kept the heater on full and fan on to help. Boost seemed to pull back with high intake temps. Normally peaks at 22.5 psi, pulled back to 18 ish when it was heat soaked.

Swapped the front wheels around to try balance wear.

Running 215/45/17 Ar-1s, even though they were near the end of their life they held up really well, and they were free.

Did get some minor rubbing however.

 

Was careful to cool it down after each session, not leave the handbrake on etc. Opened the bonnet and let it idle between sessions to cool it as much as possible.

Few people came over and had a look, 

Some very fast cars and drivers, did my best to keep out of the way and keep pace. Didn't want to leave a bad impression.

Think I did fairly well for a first time out, the semi slicks were a big help, but otherwise it handled pretty decently for what it is.

No calamities, kept a decent pace. Car held up very well all things considered.

Was able to drive there, do a lot of laps I think I got roughly 60 laps in all said and done. 1.5 mile course, and get home. Tyres are fairly done for, ridiculous how good they felt.

Nearly 171k on it now so it is due another full service. And test soon too.

 

 

 

 

 

Also got a new set of pilot sport 4's for cheap, so these will go onto my normal wheels soon enough.

10 minutes ago, DieselMonte said:

 

 

 

 

 

I'd not worry too much about missing the LH apex at those esses; lots of other people were doing that too, and you were definitely taking distance out of that RX-8 through the esses.

Just now, Paws4Thot said:

I'd not worry too much about missing the LH apex at those esses; lots of other people were doing that too, and you were definitely taking distance out of that RX-8 through the esses.

Was told something to the effect of not worrying so much about the apex and just following the shape of the corner, could have been tighter there surely.

Used the section after it and the back straight to let cars pass.

Didn't time myself or anything, was more so about going out and doing a track day.

3 minutes ago, DieselMonte said:

Was told something to the effect of not worrying so much about the apex and just following the shape of the corner, could have been tighter there surely.

Used the section after it and the back straight to let cars pass.

Didn't time myself or anything, was more so about going out and doing a track day.

Yeah; I was more commenting that you were catching a "nominally faster car" through that section. On-board footage would help more with technique, but I suspect lots of you were too fast through the RH apex so couldn't make the LH and were late on the throttle for the following straight.

I've no footage, but I do remember seeing one guy at the old Ingliston (Royal Highland Showground) circuit trying to be too fast through one corner, running wide and not getting on the power until he was halfway to the next, which then became flat for him where faster drivers (including his teammate) were slower through the first apex but faster to the second turn in point to the extent of needing an audible lift through it but being faster down to the hairpin braking point, maybe 1/3 of the lap distance.

On 03/11/2024 at 22:28, Paws4Thot said:

Yeah; I was more commenting that you were catching a "nominally faster car" through that section. On-board footage would help more with technique, but I suspect lots of you were too fast through the RH apex so couldn't make the LH and were late on the throttle for the following straight.

Yeah think that was a common theme for most bar the regulars.

 

Since then I've blown out my undertray. And I need it soon for test.

Pulled it off, not much if any damage aside from it.

Got a full service kit for 170k

-Quantums finest bag in a box oil.

-Oil Filter

-Air Filter

-Fuel Filter

-Pollen filter

-3 remaining glow plugs

-Magnetic Sump Bung

-Liqui Moly engine flush (on the cheap)

Also got some injector seals and bolts from darkside, but didn't get doing them.

New rocker cover injector gaskets too.

Hoping to not see anything on this sump plug when I change oil next. Magnet on it is really strong so if there is anything in there I'm sure it will be caught.

Remaining plugs looked fine, fair bit of gunk around the top of them so was careful to blow air around the wells to clear them, soaked the threads in penetrant too. New ones in so all should be working as intended coming into winter.

Battery is weak again, want to get the biggest battery I can find to fit in the tray, as it does sit.

Also came upon this photo on the RMS forum. Laughing it got up on 3 wheels. Full credit to the photographer.

 

Want to do the injector seals soon.

Brakes looking scruffy so need painting too.

Never stops.

6 hours ago, DieselMonte said:

 

Also came upon this photo on the RMS forum. Laughing it got up on 3 wheels. Full credit to the photographer.

 

I would suggest a RARB, but they actually work by reducing front grip...

 

Is there anything you can do to reduce weight other than taking out "luxuries" that make the car easier to drive such as air con and PAS? (Learnt from Porsche AG)

Already has a white line rarb and K brace.

Not really much extra I want to remove since I use it on the road plenty.

AC hasn't worked for a few years, have a compressor been meaning to fit.

Had spare wheel and all out.

Aside from rear seats which Im not bothered pulling in and out there's not a whole pile. 

Really it's lacking power which I have the solution for but the engine won't give up so hesitant to do that either.

 

 

Not much here,

Replaced a worn bodged gearbox mount with another bodged gearbox mount.

Tightened up a few things, greased the shifter tower, etc. 

Not a hard job to do and considering how cheap I can stiffen these up for I don't mind replacing them every so often.

Also noticed some oil weeping around the outlet of the turbo, lo and behold the seal wasn't sealing very well. Guess boost pressure pushed it way out

Repaired it with bits from the parts car, running all the better for it.

Also dropped the engine and gearbox out of the parts car.  Know it ran fine beforehand and although my engine refuses to die it's nice to have on hand. Been debating stripping and refreshing it or leaving well enough alone. It's there when I need it anyhow 

 

Not much, near due it's next service, already started pulling more off of the spare engine, relatives car popped an injector so used one off it and spare bolts seals I had for mine to do the job.

Easy enough job, did have to get torque wrenches as the bolts are notorious for breaking.

Got yet another car so this won't be used as much, still going to keep it but it's going to be seeing more downtime now. Is wanting some work done

Heavily Considering putting the oe turbo off the spare engine onto this, mine is pretty poor.

Play and knock in the steering too, knock was always present but the play seems a bit excessive lately, all joints good (you would hope Considering) most likely the rack or Intermediate shaft for the column, also finally will do Injector seals since I know now for sure how to do them properly.

Can't really find anyone to properly map it on the 170 turbo I got years ago, as much as I'd like to.

Also got yet another car which I've started a page for in the non skoda section.

Injector seals done, went pretty poorly, you'll see why.

Injectors 3 and 4 came out fine, no trouble at all.

Slightly grubby but dont look too bad.

Injector 2 and namely one were seized in.

Took ages of prising, spraying penetrant etc to try free them, after hours and hours, they did come free. However,

Pretty bad looking.

The hole for number one was as bad.

The rest werent horrible.

Ended up pulling the rocker and intake manifold.

Aside from the hole, the cambox looks really fresh, for almost 180k now its really very clean.

Same for the intake, very little sludge built up.

Did clean up what i could, not that it really needed it.

Suspected intake seals were leaking so got new seals for it.

Copper washers were well used.

Got an injector bore cleaning kit to make life easier.