1065 replies to this topic

[adam_93rio]

Been following this for a while now, got to say that last update left is a bit inspirational!

Really hope all goes well

[Jamie_hail]

With regards to it popping out of gear, how have you mounted the gearshift underneath the car? I'm mounting mine on rubber bushes, so even with engine movement the assembly as a whole will move rather than popping out of gear - might be worth considering?

[Kam]

I'm back from Le Mans and the cars back and even better, I drove it back

Got in a few hours ago but I'm still buzzing, my only aim was to meet my deadline and make it there, but although there was problems throughout it even got itself back home

Wow, what an eventful trip, in more ways then one, don't think for a second it was a simple trip there and back! Car had problems at the start and at the end and a few in between but considering its been put together by me it played well and got a bit more attention than I wanted...

First problem was about a minute from dover, a guy in a beemer pulls his window down in slow traffic "Oi mate your exhaust is hanging off" me thinks "interesting?" pull in and yep the rear rubber has pulled away from the hook, couple of cable ties with the rubber and job done, onto the ferry I go

Open it up a bit more on the frenchy roads, car was running sweet, plenty of three figures (I think it was kmh officer) only problem was I filling up every 45 minutes or so, it was too hard to take it easy with this car. What was funny was a brit three car convoy and they were cruising at shall we say a comfortable speed and I would vtec past them, pull in for some fuel and vtec past them again and so on, got a thumbs up on the third pass - job done!

Pull in to fill up (again) and a couple of guys behind me filling up walk up and say "What you got in there?" I told them a-series, its just been tuned up a bit with some high lift cams, he goes "nah no way" so I said check out the wheels? have a seat and check out the interior? he sits in there (glovebox is closed) and starts off with the traditional "this takes me back, I used to have a mini............" anyway he's happy with it, glad he never asked me to pop the bonnet

Hit Rouen just before rush hour, not good, stuck in so many jams and was watching the temp gauge tentatively, only upside was a girl in a white mini pulling up alongside in traffic waving frantically, I wave back and then leave a long gap ahead of me - then vtec'd past her with some added pops - job done!

Finally made it to the guys in the campsite

Bonjour! Le Rio-Tec is here!



Say hello have a beer then couldn't wait to get the front end off to sort some stuff out, only two of them knew I had a honda engine, the others didn't have a clue, was a bit of a surprise!



These engine mounts were getting worse, going into second at traffic speed jolts the whole car, you can litterally feel the engine hitting everything and almost pin point the the type of sound, I knew one was coming from the front but that wasn't exactly hard to spot - rad beens poked by part of the bonnet



I've bent a small section on the bonnet so it clears now but there was more than enough clearance before so I know the engine has rocker more on these mounts, if anyone is in any doubt about why I moan about these mounts being utter tosh done by a prick well here you go



Anyways, I'm here now, so join the others for race day, the food was so bad at this place they named it twice...



I haven't got alot of photos/vids, got a couple of night vids, don't mind our dutch friend, he's one cool cat





Get back to the campsite about 2am to find one of our crew is in A&E???? He had bit to drink all day and stood up lost his footing and he went over on his ankle, he's fractured one bone and broke the other In the morning none of us was really in the mood for the race, he's ok now and back home here, his wife will not be pleased!

Finished off a few more niggles with the car, had quite a few people keep turning up to have a look at it, yes its nice but sometimes you want to just be able to get on with things, grabbed a few shots whilst working on it













Back on the road on the way back and car is moving along nicely, still rattly as hell, but I decide to take it easy, only filled up twice aswell, did have a play with some french guys in a civic, what that means is I vtec'd past them they pull up alongside and we both floor it, yeah that was an easy one

Finally make it home but not without problems everythings reading fine on the gauges and I'm starting to think "dam I've nearly done it, I'm actually gonna drive it home!" I get out to open the garage door and when I get back in the car the oil pressure is reading about 4psi and dash oil light flickering.......errrm ok, quickly pull in and shut off and find the obligatory oil leak like you do on a mini...



Sump plug is dry, as is the oil pressure/temp sender units, its coming from higher up, I can only think its the oil filter which I can't really get to it now so will try another time

You can always tell when you've had a good drive, the plate splats



No rush on the car now, I'll get the bits that need attention as and when

The mini proved itself and suprised me once again, really liking this car

[yeti21586]

Well I definitely won't to make a v-tech sleeper now!!!

[Rhys]

Mine won't be quite like this, but I'm hoping to make it pretty subtle.

[Kam]

I found the oil leak, its coming from the vtec oil feed pipe at the block end (the head to block pipe) need to take the alternator off and maybe the inlet to get to it, I'll take my time with it as no rush now

Edited by Kam, 20 June 2012 - 06:45 PM.

[paul190181]

Your car really looks ace mate just a shame that moron messed up those mounts as it seems to caused lots of problems and damage . Maybe you should try training standards or sumfin because that's shoddy yet dangerous what he's done aswell.

[thelegg]

if hes just an odd bod making them though doubt theres much trading standards would do, car looks great all the same though ha ha certainly pulled off the sleeper look very well indeed

[johny:)]

looks like you had fun out there kam wouldnt mind doing that wen the mini is finished bet that cost you loads v tecing past every one and filling up every 45 minits lol just a thout dont now if you could even fit them in you bay but why dont you try engine dampers there supost to help stop allot of movment

[Nick Warwick]

Well done mate!

VTEC YO!

[Kam]

Thanks for the kind words guys, I am still proper psyched the car made it there and back

Not really much to update, I've whipped off the inlet to get at the oil leak, also looks like one of the braided brake lines has been getting scuffed when the engine was rocking back n forth because of the failed mounts, it had plenty of clearance but another component was rubbing against it so just waiting on a new braid to come through before I tackle that



As for the mounts, well, during the build you needed a pry bar to move the engine, currently I can do it with one hand.......

Got some new mounts from the USofA, billet, lightweight, 75a shure rating, usual bells n whistles, I think these will hold up better than i-jokes ones



I won't be able to use the rear one though as its only got three mount points so will continue to use the allspeed one, but will check to see if I can maybe use it with some spacers and a plate, I won't explain now

I'll tackle the mounts now and then the oil leak and once the brake line comes through I can get the inlet back on and fire it up and go hunt some boxsters again!

No rush though, boxsters are ten a penny...

[Sleepy Stu]

Kam how much were those mounts and where from? They look pretty decent?

[Kam]

Kam how much were those mounts and where from? They look pretty decent?

Not cheap mate, £215 to your door...

I don't think I can use the rear one as the allspeed frame has four bolt holes so I'll keep that one attached and just change the other two, If your still interested PM me

[Sleepy Stu]

Kam how much were those mounts and where from? They look pretty decent?

Not cheap mate, £215 to your door...

I don't think I can use the rear one as the allspeed frame has four bolt holes so I'll keep that one attached and just change the other two, If your still interested PM me

Hmm surely you could rig something though for the rear mount like a a welded metal triangle thing to connect to the 3rd hole? And then the same thichness plate under the other two so they are level?

Edited by Sleepy Stu, 03 July 2012 - 08:24 PM.

[Kam]

I know what you mean, I had pretty much the same idea, these ones are 75a shure rating and the allspeed ones are 60a rating, so if anyone is gonna give first and take the brunt of it it'll be the allspeed one

I'll put my thinking cap on later, brain hurts at the moment