New Blog
Since the 180 is now gone I thought it appropriate to move the blog and adjust the title. It can now be found here: http://dbsmotorsport.wordpress.com/
Check it out :)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
180SX now sold...
I guess I have some explaining to do!
The decision for me to sell my car may have seemed quite sudden, but as I've explained to a number of people lately it has been a drawn out and lengthy decision making process that has caused me quite a bit of angst over the last few months. I've always said that deciding between 2 race cars is a great problem to have, but that doesn't mean it's not difficult!
The car that started all of this confusion is this:
It's a Radical SR3, and if you've not heard of one before then check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx5IdcSyEMo
Basically it is a LMP type race car, powered by a 1500cc Haybusa engine, revving to 10,500rpm and making 252hp. Combined with a weight of 500 odd kilo's and it's a bit of a weapon. A friend of mine, his father and myself went to Eastern Creek to try one out in October, and I decided it was the car for me.
To cut a long story short, I was offered a fantastic car from Radical UK on some great terms that worked well for me, and at the same time an offer came in for my SR22DET. I purchased the Radical, and sold the engine which was quickly followed by the rest of the car.
As much as I'll miss the 180, this just looked like the right long term decision for me right now. After 4 years off the track I'm getting a little tired of it and want to be back out there, and this will give me the best opportunity to do just that while having full factory support and for a relatively reasonable cost.
Stay tuned for a Radical blog one of these days!
Cheers,
Dane
I guess I have some explaining to do!
The decision for me to sell my car may have seemed quite sudden, but as I've explained to a number of people lately it has been a drawn out and lengthy decision making process that has caused me quite a bit of angst over the last few months. I've always said that deciding between 2 race cars is a great problem to have, but that doesn't mean it's not difficult!
The car that started all of this confusion is this:
It's a Radical SR3, and if you've not heard of one before then check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx5IdcSyEMo
Basically it is a LMP type race car, powered by a 1500cc Haybusa engine, revving to 10,500rpm and making 252hp. Combined with a weight of 500 odd kilo's and it's a bit of a weapon. A friend of mine, his father and myself went to Eastern Creek to try one out in October, and I decided it was the car for me.
To cut a long story short, I was offered a fantastic car from Radical UK on some great terms that worked well for me, and at the same time an offer came in for my SR22DET. I purchased the Radical, and sold the engine which was quickly followed by the rest of the car.
As much as I'll miss the 180, this just looked like the right long term decision for me right now. After 4 years off the track I'm getting a little tired of it and want to be back out there, and this will give me the best opportunity to do just that while having full factory support and for a relatively reasonable cost.
Stay tuned for a Radical blog one of these days!
Cheers,
Dane
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 04, 2010
SR20 is back... EJ25 is coming out.
Well, the SR20 is about to go back in... and the EJ25 is about to come out.
It seems that piston 4 has chucked a hissy fit in the STi, with low comp and terrible leak down results so the bottom end is being replaced. Due to time constraints, and also the poor experience I've just had with having an engine built here I looked overseas for a ready built block. After much research Rallispec in the US came very highly recommended, and after having a chat to the owner I was convinced.
This is now being built and will be shipped soon enough:
RSB-SS25 Street Spec Short Block Subaru 2.5L
Custom built to exacting tolerances. Street Spec short blocks are designed for applications under 600bhp. Features semi-closed deck block, Manley 4340 steel H-beam conrods, Cosworth forged pistons, and uprated main and rod bearings. Factory nitrided crankshaft . Designed for the low noise and long life demanded by a daily driven street application. 8.2:1 CR with EJ257 heads and standard head gasket thickness.
I'll alos be looking to have the fuel system modified as I believe the issue was caused by a lean out in cylinder 4. Research tells me that the fuel distribution has an inherent issue and this will be addressed prior to screwing everything back together.
Stay tuned.
Well, the SR20 is about to go back in... and the EJ25 is about to come out.
It seems that piston 4 has chucked a hissy fit in the STi, with low comp and terrible leak down results so the bottom end is being replaced. Due to time constraints, and also the poor experience I've just had with having an engine built here I looked overseas for a ready built block. After much research Rallispec in the US came very highly recommended, and after having a chat to the owner I was convinced.
This is now being built and will be shipped soon enough:
RSB-SS25 Street Spec Short Block Subaru 2.5L
Custom built to exacting tolerances. Street Spec short blocks are designed for applications under 600bhp. Features semi-closed deck block, Manley 4340 steel H-beam conrods, Cosworth forged pistons, and uprated main and rod bearings. Factory nitrided crankshaft . Designed for the low noise and long life demanded by a daily driven street application. 8.2:1 CR with EJ257 heads and standard head gasket thickness.
I'll alos be looking to have the fuel system modified as I believe the issue was caused by a lean out in cylinder 4. Research tells me that the fuel distribution has an inherent issue and this will be addressed prior to screwing everything back together.
Stay tuned.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Engine is back...
Full list of work completed when re-assembling the issue is as follows:
Block:
Block pressure tested with cylinder head fitted - OK
Block chemically cleaned
Mains line honed with ARP Studs fitted
Torque Plate honed lightly ARP studs fitted
Block decked
Cylinder Head:
Cylinder head camshaft tunnels honed due to camshaft pick up
Camshaft sensor locating bore honed due to pick up
Head all ready had been surfaced
Crankshaft:
New crank - crack tested - OK
Crank clearance ground on mains and big ends 10/10thou
Piston and rods:
H-beam rods shotpeened and small ends honed to give more clearance for supplied gudegon pins
Supplied pistons cleaned
Whole assembly chemically cleaned and fully balanced
Timing Cover and Oil pump:
Timing cover clearanced oil passages
Timing cover peened and die ground where originally welded
Oil pump inspected and passages clearanced
Oil pick up opening enlarged for bigger area, not increasing pickup area height.
Clearance Spec's:
Clearances in thousandths of an inch
Crank Main Journals 2.155""
Block main tunnels 2.157 1/2"
Clearance .002 1/2"
Crank big end journals 1.878"
H-Beam rod big end 1.880"
Clearance .002"
Crankshaft thrust bearings clearanced
Clearance .004"
Piston rings: Supplied Total Seal rings
Top rings gapped and edges lightly filed
Top ring .018"
Second .022" could not gap as they were all ready this size
Bearings used: ACL race series
Part no.
Big ends 4B2960H .25 under 10 thou
Mains 5M2964H .25 under 10 thou
Standard ACL thrust bearings
Compression Ratio:
Head CC 44.6
Gasket CC 9.9
Piston dish CC 15.8
Swept Vol CC 547.6
Bore 3.545
Stroke 3.385
8.8:1 compression
Also, new cams, new Mazworx Headgasket, bearings, gaskets.
Plenum has had gussets welded on to stop the fuel rail lifting under high boost. New flywheel bolts also installed, and new Nissan coilpacks and Knock sensor ready to go in. Feels like new everything!
Block:
Block pressure tested with cylinder head fitted - OK
Block chemically cleaned
Mains line honed with ARP Studs fitted
Torque Plate honed lightly ARP studs fitted
Block decked
Cylinder Head:
Cylinder head camshaft tunnels honed due to camshaft pick up
Camshaft sensor locating bore honed due to pick up
Head all ready had been surfaced
Crankshaft:
New crank - crack tested - OK
Crank clearance ground on mains and big ends 10/10thou
Piston and rods:
H-beam rods shotpeened and small ends honed to give more clearance for supplied gudegon pins
Supplied pistons cleaned
Whole assembly chemically cleaned and fully balanced
Timing Cover and Oil pump:
Timing cover clearanced oil passages
Timing cover peened and die ground where originally welded
Oil pump inspected and passages clearanced
Oil pick up opening enlarged for bigger area, not increasing pickup area height.
Clearance Spec's:
Clearances in thousandths of an inch
Crank Main Journals 2.155""
Block main tunnels 2.157 1/2"
Clearance .002 1/2"
Crank big end journals 1.878"
H-Beam rod big end 1.880"
Clearance .002"
Crankshaft thrust bearings clearanced
Clearance .004"
Piston rings: Supplied Total Seal rings
Top rings gapped and edges lightly filed
Top ring .018"
Second .022" could not gap as they were all ready this size
Bearings used: ACL race series
Part no.
Big ends 4B2960H .25 under 10 thou
Mains 5M2964H .25 under 10 thou
Standard ACL thrust bearings
Compression Ratio:
Head CC 44.6
Gasket CC 9.9
Piston dish CC 15.8
Swept Vol CC 547.6
Bore 3.545
Stroke 3.385
8.8:1 compression
Also, new cams, new Mazworx Headgasket, bearings, gaskets.
Plenum has had gussets welded on to stop the fuel rail lifting under high boost. New flywheel bolts also installed, and new Nissan coilpacks and Knock sensor ready to go in. Feels like new everything!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
DECA June 2010
Just a few pics from the SAU DECA day a few weeks back. The addition of new struts and 22mm Front and 25mm Rear Perrin Swaybars and Endlinks has transformed the car, and it was the most fun I've had in motorsport. The car is so taily now - just the way I like it.
I came 4th outright and 3rd in AWD class....exactly the same result I had last time! Will be on again in August so hopefully I can better it this time around.
Just a few pics from the SAU DECA day a few weeks back. The addition of new struts and 22mm Front and 25mm Rear Perrin Swaybars and Endlinks has transformed the car, and it was the most fun I've had in motorsport. The car is so taily now - just the way I like it.
I came 4th outright and 3rd in AWD class....exactly the same result I had last time! Will be on again in August so hopefully I can better it this time around.
Progress!
Block and Head pressure tested
Shot peened and re-sized rods
Block decked
Honed cam tunnels
Clearance ground crank
Rotating assembly balanced
New bearings, gaskets etc
Hotwash
Crack tested and linished crank
The Dummy fitting began on Saturday:
Testing thrust bearing clearances:
Old bearings vs new:
Cracked crank:
New knock sensor, cams and coilpacks:
Block and Head pressure tested
Shot peened and re-sized rods
Block decked
Honed cam tunnels
Clearance ground crank
Rotating assembly balanced
New bearings, gaskets etc
Hotwash
Crack tested and linished crank
The Dummy fitting began on Saturday:
Testing thrust bearing clearances:
Old bearings vs new:
Cracked crank:
New knock sensor, cams and coilpacks:
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Mazworx Headgasket
So after going through 3 headgaskets, and water in the oil being a major issue I decided to spring for the best of the best in headgaskets - the Mazworx item developed for the 90mm bore.
I'm not blaming any previous issues with the Cometics as I believe it was a block/head preperation issue, but understandably I don't want any perceived weak points. At 3 times the cost of the Cometic I'm hoping this is as good as people say it is.
I have just ordered some new Nissan Coil Packs and a new Knock sensor while I was at it just in case.
So now we have new:
So after going through 3 headgaskets, and water in the oil being a major issue I decided to spring for the best of the best in headgaskets - the Mazworx item developed for the 90mm bore.
I'm not blaming any previous issues with the Cometics as I believe it was a block/head preperation issue, but understandably I don't want any perceived weak points. At 3 times the cost of the Cometic I'm hoping this is as good as people say it is.
So now we have new:
- Crank
- Headgasket
- Cams
- Bearings
- Gaskets
- Coil Packs
- Knock Sensor
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Bad News
Crankshaft has been linished and it turns out that it's cracked... awesome. The cam bolts seem to be missing too...
I've ordered a used crank and bolts through Osaka Imports, who were excellent to deal with. Paul even delivered the goods to the engine builder within a few hours. Fantastic service. Now here's hooping this crank is not damaged...
Crankshaft has been linished and it turns out that it's cracked... awesome. The cam bolts seem to be missing too...
I've ordered a used crank and bolts through Osaka Imports, who were excellent to deal with. Paul even delivered the goods to the engine builder within a few hours. Fantastic service. Now here's hooping this crank is not damaged...
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Good News
Well the engine has come back from being pressure tested and has come back with a pass, which is good news. This means the sleeves are ok, and we can continue with decking the head and block, linishing the crank, cleaning up the head, replacing the scored cams, resizing the rods and then hopefully put it back together.
I'm not happy about having to pay for this all over again, but I just want it completed now! I'm glad I decided to take the engine from the old builders and take it to my buddy, at least now I know it will be done right!
Well the engine has come back from being pressure tested and has come back with a pass, which is good news. This means the sleeves are ok, and we can continue with decking the head and block, linishing the crank, cleaning up the head, replacing the scored cams, resizing the rods and then hopefully put it back together.
I'm not happy about having to pay for this all over again, but I just want it completed now! I'm glad I decided to take the engine from the old builders and take it to my buddy, at least now I know it will be done right!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Cusco STi
When my Rex grows up I want him to be like this:
Tomei Cusco Impreza FSW Test April 2010 from Tomei Powered on Vimeo.
When my Rex grows up I want him to be like this:
Tomei Cusco Impreza FSW Test April 2010 from Tomei Powered on Vimeo.
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