stuffed the engine

Update on change in car.
Last time you herd from me i was getting around in a Holden Gemini. Well the Gemini is in storage and my new beast is a Mitsubishi Sigma. I bought it from a guy up in Todjay, Erol Moore. It had been sitting in his shed for a couple of years and had never been raced hard. A couple of bits of tiding up and it was ready for racing. I raced it on two different nights late in the 08/09 season with great success. That was until on the second night of racing at Easter when the temperature gauge went though the roof! I had previously been spun by a fellow racer clipping my font as he overtook me and i spun 180 degrees to be facing the wrong way. Just as i went to grab first gear, along came another car and hit me head on. A bent front bumper bar and some minor fibreglass damage was all that came. Back to the temp, anyway after i got the bonnet off, i pulled the dipstick to find the oil had turned to a nice cappuccino colour. Shit I'd probably done a head gasket. If only i new!
To cut a long story short. Took the car down to Augusta's Richard nelson, who pulled the head off. It wasn't a gasket but the block!. It had cracked down one side at every whole the head screwed into.
This was going to be a major job. I had to source a whole new engine. At least it would keep me busy over winter.

I'm Back!

Hi All, its been a long time i know but i am back to writing now. A lot has happened including the huge news that i am now racing in a new car and new number! There are lots of pics to come including all the modifications, damage and repairs, so sit tight.
Until i get the time to write about whats been happening, i will just add that I'm racing this weekend at Margaret River on Saturday. Look out for number "34"
Cheers Damon

Another Engine

After the disastrous start to my racing career, another engine is the order of the day.

A lot of ringing around to wreckers all over Perth and I finally found a G180, 1.8L Isuzu engine. Its second hand and i wouldn't know its condition until I put it in and turned the key. (not that there a key in my car, more like pushed the button)

Once again it took a lot of convincing Dad to use his shed for the removal and fitting, but after a guarantee it would take no longer than a week, i began work.

Out with the old

Working only after work and late into the night, I got it all done in 2 and a half days! I'm impressed with my effort. I swapped the clutch over and also put on my existing Holley carb and intake as well as the existing extractors.

The hole

In with the new

It started first go, and sounds terrific. A bit of tuning on the dizzy and the new engine is pulling 5500rpm and puring like a kitten. I gave it a drive around the vineyard and the car has heaps of torque. Then issue now is that I have to wait until November for the start of the 08/09 race season. At least this will give me time to freshen up the paintwork and sort out some minor wiring issues.
Cheers. Damon

Race Day, Well sort of

Sorry for not getting back to everyone sooner, but work has been chaotic!

Well Race day came, after some last minute alterations to get the car passed scruitenering. Lots of cutting and welding was done to lower the seat, secure the battery, install new anchor points for the seat belt harness, etc etc.

With Rain looming, the Margaret River speedway club wasted no time in beginning the races. AS my luck had it, I was in the first race of the night. All suited up and ready to roll, we proceeded onto the greasy Margaret River race track. Starting from the back of the rolling grid, the lights went green.

With a roar, we were off. I approached the first corner with caution, which was a good idea as the car started sliding everywhere. I held it together for two and a half laps and then it all went bad.

Coming out of turn 3 and 4 I lost all power. I pulled into the infield and as the car rolled to a stop the engine just died. A Marshal popped the bonnet and told me that there was oil all over the engine bay. Meanwhile the race finished and i was pushed back to the pits area.

Half an hour working on the car and it just wouldn't start. Basically the motor just blew up. I got some other drivers to help me push it back onto the trailer as that was the end of my night. I sat down with my boys and watched the rest of the race program including the 3 other production races that I was supposed to be in.

Well as it was the last race of the season, I have put the car away to concentrate on some other things, but to my surprise Manjimup Speedway is having a meeting on the 1st June!!!

On the phone to some wreckers in Perth and I have found another engine. Therefore this weekend I will be pulling out the stuffed one and putting in the second hand one I am getting next week. Hopefully I have more luck this time and can actually finish a race! Fingers crossed X Damon

Like a kid in a lollie shop

Well things are getting closer. I'm having the car scrutiniered tonight so fingers crossed everything is o.k, and they will let me race this weekend.

My safety gear arrive!, This includes, Racing helmet, new safety harness, Race suit, Nomex fireproof underwear, balaclava, boots, gloves and lots of other stuff.

Most of my gear is RCI brand. (Racers Choice International) and is made in the USA.

I purchased it through Rocket Industries in Sydney. A big thank you to Sam Walsh and the guy's who was extremely helpful in my selections and advise. (check out their website in my links section for all your racing and performance gear)

Gee this hobby is expensive.

On another note, I have received my new car race number. As number 09 is already taken, my new number is 91
A quick trip to the sign writer, and a new roof mounted sign and were almost done.
The car is still at the mechanics, so I hope everything can get sorted for tonight.
Damon

Holy Holley

Well it arrived! The brand new 350 Holley. This is the largest carburettor allowed in Production sedan racing. If only it was simple to install.

Being a bit of a mechanical virgin regarding the engine I ran into a few issues in the fitting.

The space plate provided, didn't match up with the intake manifold. Secondly when the carby was bolted to the plate, it hit the thermostat housing.

Solution?

Mount the carby backwards!

A big thanks to "Holley Carbs Perth" for their assistance and advise with the purchase and the fitting.

I cut out the centre of the intake manifold to reduce the obstruction to the fuel/air mixture. and a bit of TIG welding later and it was all installed.
Now to get the thing running.

Problem. Shes Not A Firing!

No spark at the plugs. Another trip to Auto one and the guys sorted me out with a new distributor rotor, plugs and ignition coil.

At last it started. Running a bit rough though. Time for a real mechanic to have a look. I dropped the car of yesterday at VJ Auto in Margaret River. Two hours later and Vic called to say it was only running on three cylinders. Another set of plugs and a new set of contact points and its all back on track. Now I just need to give it a work out early next week.
The big news now is that I am madly trying to get all my paperwork done so I can race in the last speedway meeting in Margaret River on Sat 26th April. (weather permitting)

I will kept everyone informed of the process.

Damon

Strip those decals

It was messy and time consuming but I've been busy removing the decals. If I'm going to put on a fresh coat of paint, the old stickers have to come off. This also presents me with the opportunity to get my own sponsorship. (stay tuned).

Its pretty simple to remove.
A drill with wire brush attachment and some strong arms and 5.5 hours latter I'm nearly finished.

I've also replaced the battery terminal ends. The old ones looked dodgy and with the inherent risk of a cabin fire, due to the fuel lines running through the cab, it was in my best interest to change these over. When your doing 140kh down the straight you don't want to be seeing blue sparks arcing inside, do you?

I flushed out the radiator and figured that replacing the thermostat would also be a wise move.

When i removed the old one and took it into the local boys at Auto 1 Margaret River, The new one just didn't look right.

The old one had 8 holes drilled into it. A bit of research on the Internet solved this mystery.

The holes serve a couple of purposes. They allow water to pass through to the radiator whilst the engine is warming up. This prevents cavitation of the water in the head and block. But the main function is to protect the Head Gasket from failure. As thermostats get older there chance of not opening increases. Al owing some water to flow past will reduce potential damage to the head and gasket. Also as these cars are raced in 2nd gear, maximum RPM, the increased water flow back to the rear cabin mounted radiator, helps keep the engine from overheating.

Coming up next, The Holy Holley arrives!

Cheers Damon