1065 replies to this topic

[Kam]

Thought I'd tackle the oil leak today whilst I wait for the braided brake line to come through the post, I figured it would be a simple spanner on and tighten up kinda thing, obviously what I figure and what is actually happening in the world are two very different things!

I didn't even have to tighten it up, it felt kinda loose then dropped off on its own accord!



Its sheared away, the other end bit is still in the block! not good! Strangely I wasn't even panicking???

Calmly put a grab-it bit in



No room for a drill unless I pull the engine out, obviously that aint gonna happen! Strangely I wasn't even panicking???

Put some mole grips on, no joy, then moment of genius, another grab-it (to grab the grab-it) bit and some spannerage!



No panic, all calm here





Looks like the weight of the t-piece holding the oil pressure sender, oil temp sender and oil pressure switch in that single outlet even with a securing bracket was too much hence it giving way, surprised it lasted for 900 odd miles though...

Gonna get a sandwich plate now to hold the two senders and still use the single outlet as it was but now just holding a lightweight oil pressure switch, might need a stumpy oil filter though as clearance might be tight with a sandwich on but we'll see

Funnily enough someone told me it might not hold and put pressure on the pipe, its only funny if your reading this and not typing it...

[Sleepy Stu]

Looks like cast alloy to me thats why its snapped with the weight. I bet a proper bit of metal in there would have been fine? Anyway glad you got it out that could have been a real ball ache!!!!

Edited by Sleepy Stu, 03 July 2012 - 11:25 PM.

[Rhys]

I think your engine bay is the most beautiful VTEC bay I have seen. It's the details like this that make the difference. Mine is going to be very rough and ready!

[thelegg]

i believe perfection is the best word to describe the engine bay

[Kam]

Picked up a new oil feed adaptor for the block, got it in steel this time! also had my sandwich plate come through, comes with different fittings, M20 will do just fine



Mocked up fitment, best I can get, which is basically no clearance!



Then time to crack on with the new billet mounts, if you haven't got a press or suitable vice then don't even bother trying to squeeze them into the allspeed brackets, I got a vice here but its only a small size hobby one, got there in there end



Gearbox one went in finally aswell, rear mount is a no no, theres no clearance on the allspeed plate to squeeze it in, so this billet one aint gonna happen, even one set of holes don't line up as there is some bracing on the frame in the way



I aint gonna make up any plates etc so I'm gonna keep the original allspeed custom one in, thing is though when I was getting engine positioning I didn't even have the rear one in and the engine didn't drop whatsoever when the jack was pulled away - man these are one strong mounts!

Unlike the ones that came out



I've also welded up the front section of the exhaust as the clamps were getting in the way, bit more clearance and all that malarky

Then carried on with fitting the oil sandwich plate and all its gubbins, the plates holding the oil pressure sender and switch, the take off has just got the oil temp sender as its uber light so there should be no problems this time, fag paper clearance stuff here...



Good thing though on the b20 block is the lack of factory oil cooler between the filter and block, which means I got enough room for the adaptor plate and a full size filter and I can still get my filter wrench on aswell before I hit the bulkhead

Ran some new braided brake lines (with protective sleeving) in the front as the last lot got scuffed from other components rubbing against it, then got the inlet back on



Everythings going together sweet, but I know when not to count my chickens....

Filled it up with some temporary oil, took out the plugs and spun it over, got pressure within a few cranks, check for leaks, all cool....still not counting those chickens yet.....

Went to undo the sump plug and it kept spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning, I think you know the rest

Managed to pull the sump off, even though its still fill of oil



Drained it but couldn't get the sump plug out, lots of shavings round there, looks like the battle between a steel plug and ally sump did not go so well for the ally side......why its done this I don't know, I never do the sump plug up tight because of stuff like this

Anyways, this is my baffled sump from my old b16 so I grabbed the sump that was sitting on the b16 - the one that came with the b20



No baffle in there though so I'll get a baffle kit from ebay and find someone to tack it in for me as I've only got a MIG here, but as I'm not doing any trackdays or exuberant driving I'm fine to run without one in the meantime

For the allspeed guys, if you are having trouble pulling the sump free with the engine in and find it clipping the frame/tie bar bolt then if you have studs in the passenger corner then take it out and just replace with a 10mm bolt like on the others



Sump comes away and goes on freely then as its only that corner stud that gets in the way

While I wait for the new baffle kit and a new magnetic sump plug and get someone to weld the baffle in I'm gonna throw the car back together and try and nab a test drive beforehand just to check oil pressure on the move, also because I miss driving it!

Edited by Kam, 15 July 2012 - 11:27 PM.

[Kam]

I think your engine bay is the most beautiful VTEC bay I have seen. It's the details like this that make the difference. Mine is going to be very rough and ready!

i believe perfection is the best word to describe the engine bay

Thanks guys but I've seen better out there, it doesn't really matter what it looks like, its just got to look like its not meant to be in there, I just went a bit OTT thats all!

[Kam]

Finally finished up the new vtec oil feed pipe and the sandwich plate fittings, hopefully this pipe should hold up, also done the new front braided brake lines, engine positioning is ok for the moment, just need to sort out the few squeaks n rattles and go from there, in the meantime the engine aint moving atall, these are proper mounts...

Decided to heat wrap up the rest of the inlet duct, I might even wrap round the cone and feed a couple of hoses to it as its sitting right behind the rad, not sure yet



Finished up and got all the fluids in and cranked it over, got oil pressure and no leaks





Took it out for a little drive, oil temp and pressure all fine, no leaks, good good

It was nice to drive it again since Le Mans but I didn't totally enjoy it, the exhaust is banging underneath and was doing my nut in, I know where so just need to come up with a plan...

When I got back and was looking at where it was banging underneath I also found an exhaust leak where its clamped just after the flexi, these clamps are pooh so took the exhaust off again and welded it up and took it out for another spin, OMG it pulls more now, that leak must've been there since I first put this exhaust on as it picks up much much easier now!



I also need a middle silencer, its good fun popping off throttle but the sound is a bit OTT for the cars look, especially when I'm slowing down in traffic and its burbling away to a standstill, too much attention...

Not much room in the exhaust tunnel with this 2.5" system so gonna see if I can get a 4" diameter middle silencer in there somehow, I'll mock it up first, somehow!

As soon as I get these cams degreed in I'll get it on the rollers for a full on power run, but I'm not too bothered about that at the moment as its got enough as it is

Hopefully I'll do a vid next time now that VTEC has been given the green light...

[Rhys]

Looking forward to the video! You seem to have everything very much under control now.

[sladey]

I've read this thread from the very start over the last few days - fantastic reading - inspirational stuff. Thanks for sharing all the information.

[Kam]

Appreciate the kind words there mate

Thanks

[sonikk4]

Kam that's a sweet install there. Very very tidy.

[Kam]

Cheers mate but its not that tidy

I didn't get a chance to do a vid as......I pulled the exhaust off, should be getting a middle silencer through this week as I seriously do need one, as for will it fit in the tunnel with a 2.5" pipe already hogging the space.....only time will tell....

Trust me

[Rhys]

Is the noise just unbearable? This is one of the things bothering me most about my build, I want it to be subtle rather than loud and annoying.

[Kam]

No its not unbearable, I drove this to Le Mans and it was fine on the motorway, the problem is the local roads 'round my manor' as it attracts way too much attention, even more when its coming to a standstill in traffic as its still burbling away till I stop, wouldn't be so bad if the look of the car matched the sound but this is only an innocent little mini

At the moment its not silly loud I've heard louder a-series, its just my garage shakes when I start it up as theres a booooooom coming out of it and then a little mini rolls out

I wouldn't worry about the noise, the exhaust pipe you'll be running will be either the same (2") or larger than a mini so its gonna be more vocal but not in an annoying way

[Sleepy Stu]

Kam keep us updated how you get on as I havn't decided on my exhaust yet and I dont want it excessively loud either so may consider an extra silencer?