A NB8B Turbo progress.

Postby **beavis** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 6:57 pm

Definitely better!
No longer do they look like clothes dryer vents.

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 7:02 pm

Airbox Part 2.

The first airbox was made using 0.5mm alloy sheet, it was just a tester, after the hillclimb practice day I learnt about how much the motor moves under full load. I have been trying to figure out why the coolant hose at the throttle body keeps getting cut below the barb, it turned out to be the motor twisting and pushing the coolant barb on the throttle body against the catch can hoses, enough to cut the coolant hose...4 times (im a slow learner) :oops:

.

The fix is too simply put the catch can back where Dann positioned it, 20mm lower ( I raised it to aid oil draining back to the sump, gravity fed), plus while I was at it I have bypassed the throttle body completely and have coolant going from the oil cooler to the mixer. Problem solved.

The other thing with the motor moving so much (maybe only 15mm) was that the first airbox was too far away from the turbo and the connections were stretched to the limit, so again on the last hillclimb day the pod would pull away from the intake pipe under load. Solution, build another airbox that allows for movement in the motor, plus use a heavier alloy, 0.6mm...and make it look nice and tidy. I used rubber u channel trimming on both the box lid and the bonnet vents, super glue in the channel and fix it for tidiness.

After reading yet again the nsw guidelines for having a legal engine bay, there is no way any non std car can stand up to the heavy hand of the law but we do what we can to make an effort to comply...

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 7:07 pm

beavis wrote:Definitely better!
No longer do they look like clothes dryer vents.

Thanks Brenden, on another note you'd be happy to know (not really but you did tell me so) Ive removed the mesh from the front bar, for sure you would be right, it was a tight mesh and for blocking air :beer:

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 7:12 pm

mx5002 wrote:Nice driving Ian. Except for that understeer moment

Car sounds great and certainly gets moving between corners! you'll have to take me for a quick spin next time we cross paths

Haha thanks Dennis, bloody understeer... helps if the brakes are used at the right time :oops:

Yeah for sure we can take a spin, it will make you smile that's a promise.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:09 pm

IanR wrote:
beavis wrote:Definitely better!
No longer do they look like clothes dryer vents.

Thanks Brenden, on another note you'd be happy to know (not really but you did tell me so) Ive removed the mesh from the front bar, for sure you would be right, it was a tight mesh and for blocking air

Another vote for the new version of the vents.

The front opening is apparently plenty (3x) big enough. Getting air into the right places - the radiator - and then out of the bonnet to avoid pressure build up behind the radiator is more important than introducing more air from the front. Brendan has interesting plans for his car in this regard.

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:09 am

New vents look soooo much better, great job! Good work on the airbox too, that's one of those jobs I need to tackle one day.

speed · Postby **speed** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 6:18 pm

x4 (I think) on the new vents.
Soooo much more appealing to the eye.
The air box also.looks great.
Good work!

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Tue Jun 14, 2016 6:59 pm

Hey thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.
Nice when things work out, its fun making things in the garage but only satisfying when it works and looks clean enough to live with.

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:35 am

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:58 pm

Not long after the above lap was recorded the below bolt fell out...

I heard it hit the ground and thought it was a rock flicking up... but at the next left hand bend as the transmission oil sloshed on the ground the quick spin was inevitable, easy enough to catch but limped to the pits to try and figure out why, the dropping oil revealed what was happening. Luckily the bolt was found which explained the rest.

For those lucky enough not to know this bolt... it holds 5th 6th and reverse gears connected to the linkage. When it comes out, usually because it gets mistaken for the drain bolt...you then only have forward gears 1-4 and the gearbox must be dropped, split and rebuilt... makes you wonder how it came loose on its own...especially when it then takes 6 hours for a gearbox mechanic to do the job to fix it. It's been coming out for several thousand k's...all because it was never torqued right. :frown:

On an up note, I bought a cheap set of nb8a 15" wheels and was generously given a set of worn nitto nt01 tyres with several mm left... bloody noisy to drive to the track on (hmm last time ill do that officer), but the r spec semis give a great turn in and much better traction exiting corners on the throttle, didn't stop me overcooking it on corner 5 trail braking and with the tail coming out managed to hold it but ran wide and brushed the rubber wall ( actually it was a hit ). Most of the marking will buff out but the front bar needs to come off and have some repairs... :frown:

luzinit · Postby **luzinit** » Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:58 pm

Car looks like a real hoot to drive. Good to see you making the most of it.

Shame about the gearbox bolt...
Makes me wonder if theres a short list of items to check n tighten after a good day of abuse!

What sort of maintenance do you perform after track days like the one above?

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Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 4:49 pm

Sucks about the gearbox bolt. Was there any damage to the internals or does it all just need to be put back in place correctly?

Super happy to get some passenger time in the car though! So fast, its an incredible amount of power!

I forgot to mention on the day that I have a random orbital polisher if you wanted to come around and see it the marks polish out?
It was probably the most gentle wall touch I've seen

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 8:28 pm

luzinit wrote:What sort of maintenance do you perform after track days like the one above?

I'd like to say that I drop it off to my mechanic who goes over every bolt and electrical circuit, then runs it up on the dyno to check all parameters...

However, the truth is I lift the bonnet several times over the following days, checking fluids, connections, keeping an eye on whats wearing, whats leaking etc. The handbrake needs adjusting pretty much after each event.

That said the oil gets changed every 2500ks, spark plugs last 5000 same as tyres :roll:

It gets dríven most days so plenty of time to listen for and feel if something isn't right, I have a keen feel for something that's changed.

IanR · Postby **IanR** » Thu Aug 04, 2016 8:32 pm

Roadrunner wrote:I forgot to mention on the day that I have a random orbital polisher if you wanted to come around and see it the marks polish out?
It was probably the most gentle wall touch I've seen

Thanks Josh...I've got a track day at smsp next saturday, might wait till after then

Glad you enjoyed the laps, I think the best bit is taking or being a passenger and having some fun, I mean learning new lines. :wink: