The journey to Apu

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:10 pm

Quite a few things have happened of late. Fitted the oil vapour catch can, but now that we've had the track day I should check to see how much vapour has ended up there.

I also painted the rocker cover in wrinkle black and I like it! Now to do the intake manifold and give the rocker cover a final, thicker coat (it didn't "wrinkle" enough).

Engine bay 2.jpg

I also got my mittens on this little beauty - managed to sell off my "as new" Sparco Sprint V and topped up a bit to get Hjt's Tillet which fits me better than the Sparco.

Tillet.JPG

That, plus that KU36s gave me a new PB in the low 1:18s at Wakefield. Target is now 1:16!

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:35 pm

I am really hanging to get a couple of the Tillet B5's to. How did you find it on track?

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:39 pm

I didn't quite get the seating position right (I want it a bit more upright), so whilst my back and bum were on the seat, my thighs were up in the air. I'd probably raise the seat higher too as I'm not as tall as Hayden, and that should position my legs better.

Other than that, the seat held me well with the harness on and because it doesn't have high side bolsters, it's actually very easy to get in and out of.

Surprisingly comfortable too - more so than the Sparco was for me...which really was just too big for me and I flopped around in it.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:23 pm

So to answer the questions re the B5 seat:

- I wouldn't use it as a daily, though it was reasonably comfortable for the 2 hr drive to Wakefield and back. I'll be swapping back to my leather pews! (Lokiel take note - would NOT use as a daily, sorry about the typo!)

- the side bolsters are just enough. That side, I am of slight build. 5 foot 9 at best, and no more than 64kg.

- the B5 is GRP/carbon so it's not 3-4kg...more like 6-7kg, and that's about the same as the Sparco Sprint V.

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:39 am

Does anyone REALLY need a catch can?

More shots of the CAI please. That looks very very good. :mrgreen:

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:05 am

Catch can...less so for an n/a car but I thought it wouldn't hurt to remove the oil vapor from the combustion process as it lowers the octane value of the fuel.

Thanks for the comment on the intake. Everyone tells me how nice that intake is - they're not cheap of course...and that's stopping me from bringing more in.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:34 am

You dont need a catch can on the road really but certainly for track work they are important. Make sure you keep checking it Apu, they can fill up surprisingly quick and make a real mess if they overflow!!

I'm really in a bind about a pair of Tillet seats, I think they would really suit but I worry that they might not be deep enough for track work. I do have harnesses.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:29 pm

Yup, that's why I've got the catch can on the MX5. Not sure if I'll do the same for the Integra after I've seen how aggressive it is with the tyres...it will definitely see less track work!

The Tillets - they're a beautiful seat but I did have to brace myself a bit though...nearly pulled a glute muscle :oops:

but once I got comfortable trusting the harness would keep me in place and not have my legs in an odd position, it was OK.

I did find that I slid lower into the seat on a couple of occassions though, but I put that down to not tightening the harness properly and the seat needing that bit more adjustment.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:56 pm

Harness was prob loose

Needs to hurt!

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:48 am

deviant wrote:You dont need a catch can on the road really but certainly for track work they are important. Make sure you keep checking it Apu, they can fill up surprisingly quick and make a real mess if they overflow!!

I'm really in a bind about a pair of Tillet seats, I think they would really suit but I worry that they might not be deep enough for track work. I do have harnesses.

I checked the catch can yesterday - it's had a couple of weeks driving including one track day. There were a couple of drops of "oil" at the bottom and the stainless mesh was covered in a greasy film, so that's a good sign.

The negative is that if I'm stuck in traffic and have the fan blowing, I can smell the oil vapour...so just have to close the vents.

The positive is that my CEL hasn't flashed yet! After I had the exhaust system changed, it always comes on after a spirited run or track day.

Apart from nothing much else happening to Apu...just need to give the rocker cover another coat of the wrinkle black.

Gmi · Postby **Gmi** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 2:15 pm

You can smell the oil from the catch can??
My cusco one has no smell at all?!?

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:32 pm

My guess is the vent where the vapor escapes, and if you're stuck in traffic it starts to make it's way into the cabin. I don't notice it when moving.

Is your can vented?