Flatnose progress
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: u.k 1994 3.6 turbo
Thats actually a good question.
The previous engine was putting out 603bhp (corrected) at 1.2bar on the engine dyno. CTR who did the work turned that engine round in approx. 3 weeks. I was so impressed with their work I asked RC what he could do with less "restrictions".
We had a good long chat and talked about my enjoyment of good Project. To me messing about with cars is so much more than just driving them.
Having made good BHP with the previous engine, ultimate power was not my motivation for this new engine. It was really about 'what could you achieve with modern materials/techniques' on one of these old school engines. That is really where the expense has come; overcoming inherent design limitations of yesterdays engines...
Once you combine that with my love of "detail" things go wrong pretty quickly expense wise. However, every nook and cranny offers up something interesting to look at/talk about. If you ever have the opportunity to look over RCs race car you'll know where I got my ideas from: Its a self contained play ground for the mechanically curious...
What we hadn't planned on was this engine crying out for bigger turbos/cams/boost. The Turbos are currently running out of puff at 7k along with the Cams. The engine will take a chunk more boost too but the plenums would have to be changed to metal ones... I think we expected the original spec sheet to be close to the limit of what was sensible (whatever that means...). I'd say this engine is making its power at about 70% of its limit which is crazy.
Car should all be back together early this week, then back down to the body shop for a few little things like connecting up the electric mirrors (i had blanking plates/small loom made so I could easily remove the mirrors for top speed runs). Unfortunately the weather in the UK is pretty bad at the moment so no idea what driving it is going to be like...
The previous engine was putting out 603bhp (corrected) at 1.2bar on the engine dyno. CTR who did the work turned that engine round in approx. 3 weeks. I was so impressed with their work I asked RC what he could do with less "restrictions".
We had a good long chat and talked about my enjoyment of good Project. To me messing about with cars is so much more than just driving them.
Having made good BHP with the previous engine, ultimate power was not my motivation for this new engine. It was really about 'what could you achieve with modern materials/techniques' on one of these old school engines. That is really where the expense has come; overcoming inherent design limitations of yesterdays engines...
Once you combine that with my love of "detail" things go wrong pretty quickly expense wise. However, every nook and cranny offers up something interesting to look at/talk about. If you ever have the opportunity to look over RCs race car you'll know where I got my ideas from: Its a self contained play ground for the mechanically curious...
What we hadn't planned on was this engine crying out for bigger turbos/cams/boost. The Turbos are currently running out of puff at 7k along with the Cams. The engine will take a chunk more boost too but the plenums would have to be changed to metal ones... I think we expected the original spec sheet to be close to the limit of what was sensible (whatever that means...). I'd say this engine is making its power at about 70% of its limit which is crazy.
Car should all be back together early this week, then back down to the body shop for a few little things like connecting up the electric mirrors (i had blanking plates/small loom made so I could easily remove the mirrors for top speed runs). Unfortunately the weather in the UK is pretty bad at the moment so no idea what driving it is going to be like...
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From: London
Well, weather in the UK has held things up. However, RC took the car out on the road for the first time, briefly, last week. It was a complete pig to drive as JUDD don't Map for much less than WOT. Transients were awful and weather just wasn't appropriate (for many reasons not least it is currently on PMSC and the weather hasn't been above 0degc for weeks).
Last couple of days have seen the temp improve a lot; it has been around 10degC over the weekend. RC took the car out again, to do a bit more mapping and give it "less than half throttle"...
RC: "Err... James, we have a problem."
Me: "Yes?...."
RC: "I got to about half throttle and it just ripped the engine out of its mounts!"
Luckily everything/body is fine and no damage to the engine. RC is now hand machining custom mounts that should be strong enough to keep the engine in place.
It will be going to a Rolling Road on Monday to do more transient mapping then will be picked up by PC to do final body prep. before I pick it up....
Last couple of days have seen the temp improve a lot; it has been around 10degC over the weekend. RC took the car out again, to do a bit more mapping and give it "less than half throttle"...
RC: "Err... James, we have a problem."
Me: "Yes?...."
RC: "I got to about half throttle and it just ripped the engine out of its mounts!"
Luckily everything/body is fine and no damage to the engine. RC is now hand machining custom mounts that should be strong enough to keep the engine in place.
It will be going to a Rolling Road on Monday to do more transient mapping then will be picked up by PC to do final body prep. before I pick it up....
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From: Kent, UK
RC: "I got to about half throttle and it just ripped the engine out of its mounts!"
O/T - movements on "stuff" this end...Wednesday could be interesting...will keep you posted ;o)
Can't wait to hear more about it 
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Miami, Florida
i've always liked these cars...can't wait to see the end result. it sounds like a real monster. how do these cars handle the air cooling, especially in hot climates. congrats on the build..
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ARRRRGGGGG........
PC had prep'd the car ready for me to pick it up. He had taken it round the block to check everything and clear the plugs. He noticed that the car seemed to be losing volts. Sure enough the car soon cut out with a flat battery... Long-story, short.... Alternator is faulty. It is charging but only just (it was a new item...).
So, RC is picking up the car this week to swap in a new alternator and do a few other jobs that need doing (swap the wastegates over to my new ones, tame the on/off boost transition etc).
I could have gone up and driven the car on Sunday, but thought i'd wait until it is working correctly. I want my reunion to be the full deal, not a fleeting glance.
Sorry for the delay...
PC had prep'd the car ready for me to pick it up. He had taken it round the block to check everything and clear the plugs. He noticed that the car seemed to be losing volts. Sure enough the car soon cut out with a flat battery... Long-story, short.... Alternator is faulty. It is charging but only just (it was a new item...).
So, RC is picking up the car this week to swap in a new alternator and do a few other jobs that need doing (swap the wastegates over to my new ones, tame the on/off boost transition etc).
I could have gone up and driven the car on Sunday, but thought i'd wait until it is working correctly. I want my reunion to be the full deal, not a fleeting glance.
Sorry for the delay...
Not Forgotten
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,215
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From: South East, UK
Your car has been longer on the spanners than any other, but it's going to come out and lay some new ground rules....... It's not far off a 10 year project, many of the years wasted, there are a few of us that have had trials and tribulations, but you've stuck it out James, you've made a vision a reality, and taken not ONE shortcut, i doff my cap...!! I'm chuffed to bits that you're almost there, i honestly cannot wait to see some of the performance figures. At full chatt, with the right wheel man, i have no doubt it'll be the quickest, and best road going 964t on the globe. It may not beat Bello's monster in the mile, but if it was a race down 100mls of unrestricted Autobahns, or 20 laps of Le Sarthe, you know your motor is built for constant and sustained wide open throttle. I've been in it in all states of tune, and i like to think i've got stainless steel *****, but i'm not sure i'll have the nerve for a pax lap with the new lump....... It's going to be ****ing mental, real deal power....
If you have any video on the engine dyno please stick it up for these chaps. It's a bit special.... Top marks chap, all the best!!
If you have any video on the engine dyno please stick it up for these chaps. It's a bit special.... Top marks chap, all the best!!
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Ha, yes...
I think PC was more upset than me. He'd spent ages getting the car prep'd and looking "just so"...
This car wont break any bhp records, but as you say, it has been built to sit at full load all day long. That said, the figures I do have, were capped because we were on the limit of the dyno... and they're not small...
I think PC was more upset than me. He'd spent ages getting the car prep'd and looking "just so"...
This car wont break any bhp records, but as you say, it has been built to sit at full load all day long. That said, the figures I do have, were capped because we were on the limit of the dyno... and they're not small...
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From: UK
You're nearly there mate, don't worry were're all in the same boat with this stuff, mine won't be ready 'til end of Jan which means 6 bloody months for a "simple" engine job - par for course !!!
We shall have to meet up at Brunters mid week for some low key "safe" testing
We shall have to meet up at Brunters mid week for some low key "safe" testing