Ye Gods - Thie engine building lark isnt easy

[IainB]

Apologies for not being around much latley, been taking some 'quality time' at home after nearly throwing myself into an early grave with 'U-Fix' (im sure youve seen the adverts, muggins here had to test it )
Anyway - for a long long time Ive been researching on the net, reading books, working out cam lifts, duration, spring poundage, head airflow, rev-ranges etc etc etc.
Settled on a cam a long time ago (im sure you remeber the thread) nice solid roller number with .714 lift on the inlet and exhaust.
Anyway - slowly started getting the rest of the items I needed, lightweight roller lifters, roller rockers (both UK sourced) then moved onto www.summitracing.com
Friends had offered to bring over anything I needed, so a bit more research on getting the 'best' I could find (as spending this much on the engine I didnt want the small things letting me down) carefully selected a set of push rods, then moved onto the springs - taking carefull note of the cam card.
This is where things go wrong.... horribly wrong
This cam, due to its type, lift and duration needs BIG springs, they most probably exert more pressue with the valve closed then most 'normal' engines exert when the valves open - try 250lbs closed 700lbs open
Choice of 2 types, both of which have different retainers (titianium of course.. to keep the weight down) then settled on a set of 10 deg locks and lash caps.
Buy this lot, and the orders dispatched.....
Friends leave for the US of A, for 2 week holiday.....
2nd week they are away, I have a minor OP, and while laid up phone my engine builder (whos done all the machining, balancing etc for me)..... now this is 1 day before they are due home.... and what does he tell me.....
THEY WONT WORK Ive bought the worng one of the pair I looked at...
Hopefully (I have yet to find out) it 'may' just need custom length push rods, but may need new springs, new retainers and new valves.... feck!
Live and learn eh
Wish I had stayed with the norm instead of going 'exotic' would have been much cheaper!!
And to top it all off, my friends destoyed (totally) some of the boxes to make trhe parts look '2nd hand' just in case customs got a bit too friendly so I cant sell them on with boxes either......

[CocoPops]

Should you need something else bringing back.......
I'm in Florida as of April 28th for 10 days.

Nice to see you back "on the job"

[Zak33]

those springs would sell to most Nova owners for supsension upgrades

[IainB]

Should you need something else bringing back.......
I'm in Florida as of April 28th for 10 days.

Nice to see you back "on the job"

Oooh tempting, is that business or pleasure?
Might just take you up on the offer IF I can get to see my engine builder in time, hes a Chevy genius who also runs a Top Fuel car, so im hoping he can sort this mess out!

those springs would sell to most Nova owners for supsension upgrades

LOL - they are a touch on the heavy side, you can move them a fraction before they lock up.... now I know why they have regular spring checks after races.

All this installed valve/spring height is a right malarky, all is forgiven, give me back my hyd flat tappet cam
Actually, dont as it wone make the engine half as good!
Step learning curve, but I will get there eventually and I WILL be looking for at least 1 additional crew

[CocoPops]

Do ya reckon she'll be running this summer then Ian?

What kind of time scales are you working to?

[IainB]

Do ya reckon she'll be running this summer then Ian?

What kind of time scales are you working to?

Really dont know, I would like to get her fired up, even if shes not MOT'd, but this engine is, like the rest of the build, way way way over budget - which is why im calling favours getting bits in from Summit.
I think, once the drive train issue is resolved, all I need is Pistons and Rings,harmonic balancer (actually if we can sort an arrangment out for this, it would be very helpfull - there not light though ), flex plate and head studs and I think its all there
Then just need to rebuild the Auto box, plumb and wire the car and thats it.... I think
Its definatley do-able, just need to get my springs sorted - at least im learning through my mistakes which will, hopefully, help at the track.
Just hope having a 'trick' engine is worth it in the long run

[CocoPops]

Just hope having a 'trick' engine is worth it in the long run

It will be, We can see just from the amount of detail you post means the engine would have even more care and attention to detail.

Every little update almost makes us feel like we are part of the project!

[IainB]

It will be, We can see just from the amount of detail you post means the engine would have even more care and attention to detail.

Every little update almost makes us feel like we are part of the project!

LOL - Im going to admit something here, 2 years ago - someone said to be about a roller cam (actually the bloke whos doing my engine) and I will admit I said 'WTF'
Im now working out lift, duration, ramps, spring pressures, installed heights etc etc - its not easy, I HAVE made mistake (as im willing to post on a public board) but, by god, If I do this right its going to pop and snarl like an animal.
Im going to be most upset if on the first fire (or dyno run) it goes bang - as I wont have the money to repair it
But, if it all goes to plan there will be a lot of and and in the burns household

[Butuz]

Thats really cool. I have this burning desire to build up a nice nissan sr20 engine myself but i dont have the tools or the guts to have a go at the mo. As soon as somone buys my focus then i will have the tools.

Hmm just need some guts now.

Butuz

[CocoPops]

tbh, thats part of the reason for buying a westy.

It's simple enough, that if something goes wrong, bits are easy/cheap to find etc.

Hopefully, I can start to tinker with it as well as time moves on.

[Butuz]

I am growing fond of tinkering now its fun!

Gonna paint my calipers soon

Butuz

[Devilman]

I know what ya feelin, Im having hell of a time trying to get a custom FI system built and installed on an old carb fueled bike, at first everything seems so simple, then just when you think you cracked it, something comes and bites ya in the a$$ lol.

[IainB]

Next Tuesday (21st) is when I find out how much of a boo boo Ive made.
Spending the day up with Peter Knight http://www.knightracingservices.co.uk taking up all and anything related to this engine and finding out what fits, what works, and how much Ive got wrong and need to sell
Also taking up the new crank I aquired (7.5 litre instead of 7 litre) which although it means I can get the pistons I need 'off the shelf' the engine will rev lower and I 'may' run out of air with the heads I have.
Expensive leason learned here, a 'race' engine is not a normal beast and you have to think 5 steps ahead.... but hell will it be worth it

[Zak33]

5 steps ahead....agreed !

I have just lost ANOTHER drive shaft.....but this time it was the shaft itself. Not the CV joint, they're stronf enough now, so the sahft snapped

Motorsport.....who'd do it ?

[IainB]

Ouch - I think we are going to have the same problem, the original shafts we purchased are good for 600bhp..... (thinking WAY back that I wouldnt be making that sort of power) now it looks like Im doing that N/A - so im not expecting them to last very long..... another £400 down the drain.
Pete has a TVR on the rollers Tuesday, and knowing the sort of engines he dyno's i.e. NOT the normal run of the mill stuff, Im guessing it must be a race lump of some sort, should be errr interesting

[CocoPops]

Saw your car again on the weekend zakky boy, sat on the trailer.

Any new pics Iain?