Spent a busy day running around with a long list fixing things that I need to progress various projects -

Number 1 was to fix up a the collector on a new 6-3-1 I've had made as otherwise they drive you insane. Added some home made pinch bolts to prevent leakage. This will be set up with a 2" Chris Witor Supersports system on my new 2.1 EFI engine - should sound sweet

Comparison with my old Mike Randall system currently off Humphs PI as it has a new bottom end being built - decent 6-3-1's are like buses - you don't see any then they all appear at once :-)

Humph now has Pauter Steel Rods and Gareth Thomas Forged 77mm pistons after continual failure of Mazda piston whilst using 11:1 CR - needed a new block due to terminal block damage from a failed NO. 6 piston ring land.

Interloper at Markich Triumph - the owner Terry McGrath has 20 Jags including 12 XK's !!!!!!!

Fitted up my new 4.11:1 Salisbury style LSD with output flanges, oil seal and backplate ready for a quick swap over - half filled with foul smelling 80W/140 Penrite LSD oil - reckon it would be perfect for Herald Trunnions - I'll bung this in at the weekend

My exhaust welder is also my PI Estate restorer and the shell is verging on complete after some further reinforcing of the sunroof aperture. Should be fully painted in Wedgewood by October

Looking forward to the RBRR :-))

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 27th August 2010 7:57pm gmt

Weekend Track day issues

Gave my white PI a good flogging around Wanneroo but failed to beat my personnal best - My car showed its indignance at my inability to drive it quick enough by locking it's brakes and me ending up hitting a sand trap at about 100mph - oops - very stuck with brakes smoking heavily as the pads tried to weld themselves to the cherry red discs - got dragged out by a 4WD Toyota fire truck - oil light flickering at idle and running on five -

Fixed up the injector - rubber sliver in number 5 and hosed out all the sand from everywhere - seemed to be OK - not sure about that oil light - reshelled 500miles ago - might be that I had just done 6 flat out laps and had effectively hit the kill switch at 100mph - must have all been a bit hot!!!!!

Made it home OK - serious wheel shake from minilite spokes full of sand!!! Now contemplating binning my Nissan Skyline servo (needed the displacement in the master cylinder for the Nissan GTR calipers all round) and fitting my previously built but not fitted non servo'ed twin Tilton master cylinder set up - Nissan Servo is twin diaphragm 6:1 ratio assistance - horrible modern thing designed for ABS and light brakes - too sensitive for last of the late brakers

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 27th July 2010 3:59pm gmt

Some Classic scrap and a brown TR6 in Manitoba

Bit bored this afternoon so went for a stroll soaking up the culture of a southern canadian industrial area in spring - yikes - went into my first Walmart for a some social observations - double yikes

Anyway wandering back to the Hotel (flying into London for a few days wednesday) I came across a TVR280i - then a MG midget then a TR6, Mini Cooper , MGC and Jensen Interceptor - so people in Winnipeg don't all drive minivan blobs and other rusting yank tat - no they have quality as well - Brown TR6's ;-) . A wee garage specializing in all thing British

Red Bearing Garage

Talking of tat this wee Austin 1300 'America' complete with twisted arsehole Leyland badges is a shining example of what NOT to export to Canada / North America - very low mileage - probably because its front subframe rotted out in the first five years - Found it at Lynn Lake - awful long way from Longbridge - nice steering wheel - 1300GT item - remember them?

Couple of decaying Pontiacs at Lynn Lake- good chrome on these

Worthy of some sort of bit part in a Canadian Mad Max movie - stealth bomber painted 1972 Dodge Charger SE 440 - brings back happy memories of Nigel Gairs 400cube one going to Le Mans

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 18th May 2010 07:44am gmt

Pics from Canada

New Job , new scenery - I have given up gold mining in the middle of nowhere in Western Australia and swapped to working for a small exploration company based in Perth but whose main asset is some prospective ground at Lynn Lake, Manitoba

Churchill River Diversion - Rat River hydro dam picture doesn't do this justice

My new company Hire Truck - 1964 Dodge 318cui V8 Push button auto -29k miles from new - all in Lynn Lake that wasn't connected to the national roads until 1972

Typical lakeside bush camp

In the backshed of typical bush camp

River just north of Lynn Lake with the last of the ice melting May 2010

Burntwood River float plane at Thompson

Thompson is a major Nickel Mining and smelting centre no doubt named after one of the clan - note bear warning

This guy -Joey Barnes better known as KoO or King of Obsolete is helping out our drill program - http://www.kingofobsolete.ca/THE_KINGDOM_WEBPAGE.htm

thought his nickname was also very appropriate for most of our hobbies/obsessions :-)

He unknowingly lent me a great DVD to watch whilst staying in Lynn -

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_168811-Triumph-25-PI-1972.html

Bank Job :-)

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 17th May 2010 04:21am gmt

Northam Round-the-houses scrutineering

Pre-event scrutineering for the VSCC Round the houses regularity event at Northam WA always has some interesting metal. This morning was no exception. A lovely ex Targa Tasmania Series 1 XJ6 on EFI , nice bespoke 6-3-1 exhaust , D type cams etc pushing 300+ bhp

How rare is this? Bolwell Nagari 302 Windsor V8 Bespoke Ozzy sportscar from the seventies. Those alloy were factory by Bolwell. Nice touch

Shades of Ozzy GT6?

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 20th March 2010 10:44pm gmt

EFI progress - economy

After a few months of tweaking and one laptop being stolen from my passenger seat I finally am getting to where I originally envisaged as far as fuel economy using Megasquirt on my 2500 daily hack.

The theft of the laptop had one silver lining, I had to recalibate the Wideband sensor to get the correct file onto the new laptop and found that I had incorrectly calibrated it first time round which was causing richer than desirable mixtures.

Using Autotune I quickly got most map points about 15% leaner and instantly the engine felt crisper and torquier. Economy has markedly improved too from 25-26 to 28-29mpg on my daily commute

Not sure what it will do on a run but I worked out this 28.5mpg is from ~ 250miles commuting a week averaging ~30mph and at least 240 sets of traffic light per tankful - at least half of them red!! I would expect +35mpg easy on a long run.

Just need to get to a dyno now for a final tweak and torque curve - probably early April

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 18th March 2010 1:26pm gmt

PI Estate progress

Very brief update on my poor mans Mk1 PI estate... a 1970 Mk2 Pi estate. This has been ongoing for several years!!!!!

During the strip down - bye bye valencia blue

Re-assembly , now wedgewood blue, interior and door shuts painted

Engine out for underbonnet paint job and aircon installed with battery tray modifications

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 16th March 2010 2:45pm gmt

High gears and hillclimbing

Finally got the white PI back on the road after a few months hiatus... about 4 actually which is a bit embarassing but fixing my 2500 up with megasquirt EFI and Herald clutch fixing has taken precedent. Its not as if parts of the car haven't done some work as the new rebuilt LSD did about 1500 miles in the back of my everyday 2500 to run it in.

Back on the road the white PI was showing some worrying rear end steering issues which I had noticed at Collie before my diff broke but had put down to wierd diff things. Anyway it was still there and turned out to be loose and/or stripped 3/8 unf nut and bolts holding the rear outer shackles on ... OOOP's.

Soon fixed, but it shows the need for aviligance on a 45 year old car with more than twice the designed power and torque.

One side effect of the new 3.45 ratio diff, STR053 Sprint CR gearset and 225/50 x 15 tyres is I have a 1st gear good for 60+mph and second good for 85mph.
This feels pretty good for the open road but on a tight hillclimb with 1st gear hairpins and lots of tight area needing throttle steering it was not really much fun.

Anyway I decided to have a go at the TSOA Jack Hills hillclimb today and did OK with a 69.5 second run (fastest times were in the 66-67 range with a 5.2 TR7 V8 leading) but everyone was using (proper) first gear and I was lugging away in what was a higher gear than most peoples 2nd gear. It's a testament to the torque of engine that I did as well as I did really but it was a bit of a struggle

No excuse really though and I am intending on solving the issue with Stag ratios and 205/50 tyres. This will give me gear speeds of 43,61 and 93 rather than 61,85 and 108, at 6500rpm

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 14th March 2010 8:04pm gmt

Diff run in + stuff

Herald with newly rebuilt radiator. New core fitted and new Mitsubishi temp sensor - 92deg rising and 87 deg falling. Didn't overheat before but core was becoming a bit incontinent so it was time. I love my Dellorto's :-) :-)

Herald ready for commuting in the shade of our carport

Spent Friday afternoon in 40 deg heat swapping out a very hot (LSD) diff for a nice cool standard one. Then quickly swapped back plates and hey presto one 1000mile Quaife 3.45 LSD ready for the white PI. This assembly is probably worth more than the car it is sitting in :-/

I thought I better finish off my EFI conversion with a nicely painted rocker cover.. I used high temp silver which is not too in your face and old Bosch injector o-rings to prevent leaks... seem to work :-)

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 01st March 2010 3:49pm gmt

Virtually rust free bodyshell going very cheap

Going very cheap. 1972 2000 straight with no structural rust
Dave Markich 08 9271 4834

Make a great rally / motorsport base... tiny bit of rust in bottom corner of NSF arch otherwise pretty much rust free ... any one in UK need a basis for a re-shell?

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 28th January 2010 9:18pm gmt

Old Gloria and NOS CWP

This old 1936 Triumph Gloria is having some repairs at Markich Motors. The odd thing about it is a very 'professional' look Riley 2.5 engine conversion whereas standard factory fit was Coventry Climax 4 or 6pot. Not sure of the vintage of the conversion but Donald Healey had an assocation with pre-war triumphs (think Dolomite straight 8) and used the Riley engine immediately postwar in the Healey Silverstone.

Apparently five of these twin cam ohv engined Glorias were built but was it factory or aftermarket? Certainly looks very 'original'

Good find here at Markich, courtesy of the twisted arsehole. A NOS 3.45 CWP which will need a little modification so as to be able to use a non-collapsible spacer. This diff ratio will go into my white PI with the Quaife LSD and combined with slightly smaller 205/50 Dunlop rubber and Stag ratios replacing the STR53 CR gears currently in use I am hoping for ratios more suited to the torque of my 2.7 PI

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 25th January 2010 8:35pm gmt

Post Christmas running repairs

Humph was bored after Christmas so suggested some theraputic spannering on the hottest day so far this summer... 40 deg in the shade. Got my diff out... very unhappy pinion... think the quaife might need a rinse out... any ideas if they are easy to take to bits??

Heralds clutch has been dragging badly so out with the box... bit of a heave ho these cast iron lumps.. must be getting old :-( Luckily we have modified the transmission tunnel to get the J Type single rail box out without too much of a struggle.

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 28th December 2009 5:18pm gmt

Megasquirt Update

Well its all a bit of a non-event really.. been driving to work on a daily basis and it hasn't missed a beat. Currently on my second tank of fuel... first one gave 25mpg which included a lot of idling , traffic jams and messing about with tuning the VE table.

I have been using the Megasquirt autotune feature which with a wideband o2 sensor allows you to set a target AFR which it achieves by modifying the VE (volumetric efficiency at the corresponding rpm/MAP point. You then burn the new table values into the ECU flash card whilst still driving. Very neat.

I currently have an AFR of about 16.5 at cruise ~ 14.0 under mild acceleration and 13-12.5 under full power. I need to set up max power on a dyno in the new year but basically economy in normal commuting seem to be high 20's which is just fine - I will start pushing the envelope of economy at cruise using plasma plugs in the new year too... just happy to run about and settle down the basics at the moment.

Only issues to date are a semi functioning rev-counter (it dies at 2500rpm) so needs some sort of signal boost after the coil pack and the idle stepper motor is a little random for cold starts. I will keep trying settings but I have a Bosch K-tronic idle valve if required.

Bit of wire tidying required and that about it... runs very smoothly and has great torque (feels like it will go anywhere in overdrive top) but it will also rev nicely with a nice surge of torque at 3500+

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 21st December 2009 9:12pm gmt

Video Link

Here are some vid's of George Cameron's Tr7 V8 at various TSOA WA meets and other sprint

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=agoodwon#p/u/6/XtbXiKsJ09g
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=agoodwon#p/u/10/GzaZxdWTz-k

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 20th November 2009 3:29pm gmt

Greek Landrovers and Megasquirt progress

Graham Reeks doing a spot of servicing on the 'Bench'

A few detailed shots of the current layout of my EFI setup. I was lucky to find a Falcon air trunk to allow a neat route to a remote KN up in front of the radiator. Not happy with the ignition lead lengths (too long) and just need to wire up a few sensors (TPS , coolant IAC and inlet air temp) probably take the loom through the inner wing as much as possible to keep it uncluttered. Need to set up the wideband O2lambda and enlarge the bulkhead hole for a discovery throttle cable....then its ready to fire up :-)

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 14th November 2009 9:49pm gmt

Classics of Perth rush hour

A few happy snaps from my drive home over the last day or so....

Valiant coupe ~1968 .... basically a Dodge Coronet?

Ford Futura Sprint? 289 V8 ~1965-66

Marcos !!!!!

Rover 2000 auto :-)

And a nice Shadow II complete with a pair of golden bollox... classy.

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 13th November 2009 11:57am gmt

Update on TSOA day + Megasquirt

Been a bit busy and not really had enough time for everything.

TSOA national went Ok until my diff cried enough. Maybe my guest driver summarized it better as an outside observer?

http://ofnofixedabode.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/tasting-paddles/

My best time I got was literally my first competitive lap in the dry at collie in over 2 years before I was held up a bit by having to negotiate slower cars. It was also a personal best at 56.2sec but I had no chance to chip away at this time over the rest of the session (a 55sec or better lap was definitely a probability as there are a few corners where you need to build speed as you get confidence in the grip conditions).

Humph's PI was howling and he started in the mid 57's and got down to 56sec dead by the end of the third session. The new hybrid cam concept we are trialling definitely has improved power and torque and if anything, Humphs engine has benefitted most as he runs a 11.4:1 CR versus my 10.8:1 and the new inlet cam profile with a closing timing of 77deg ABDC needs a high CR to get the most out of it.

Any it was a good day marred only by a nasty finish line roll by a Victorian TR8 dhc at the "hillclimb" finish. No injuries but a sad TR and a definite advert for the NECESSITY of roll bars in open cars. I think the accident could have had a very different outcome without the rollover protection.

Megasquirt is so nearly ready... fitted up 95% of the hardware at the weekend and now I'm just tinkering away at getting the wiring and hose details as neat and as user friendly as possible. Should be ready very soon....

Now trying to get another diff too and mine needs to come out for a post mortem

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 11th November 2009 12:41am gmt

White PI up and running + Greek visitor

Pictured just before I slapped the rocker cover back on and fired it up. Ran it for 10 minutes at 2000rpm with a litre too much oil in the sump + cam lube so hopefully no issues with cam wear on start up. I know that there are many differing opinions on cam run in but this works for me.

Just been to put some fuel in and it drives nicely. Bit flat at 2500revs, off cam feel but then very smooth and torquey from 2800 onwards and just using a whisper of throttle we're up to about 5300revs in every gear without even trying so that 100mph ooopps... its nice and strong then.

Just need to change the oil (Castrol RS 10W60) , filter, retorque the head and change a couple of injector hoses that I still haven't got round to doing.

Brakes feel fine (DS2500 pads) and I'm really looking forward to the Collie Sprint.

Might have a guest driver if I can wangle the paperwork as a certain Mr Greeks and co are on his way down to South West WA. He has already accepted a yellow Stag as courtesy car for a week or so.

Fun fun

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 24th October 2009 4:40pm gmt

Rush jobs for the TSOA National November 1

I guess I've been relatively lucky just needing to change cams and upgrade discs and pads on my white PI. This is Ron Marians TR6 engine. It ran a cam journal at the Wanneroo TSOA sprint but upon stripping the cause of the journal failure was the adjacent lobe failing which literally filled the oilways with swarf causing the cam to partially seize in the block (no bearings) and then get into the mains and big ends... yikes. I helped out my selling Ron a original TR5 cam that I had picked off ebay for 50 quid a few years back.. it was in perfect original nick but didn't have the 2-rings identification although the TR5 Part no. was scribed into a flat as per early PI cams. Hence the reason it went cheap...

The motor is now running and feels strong (these photos are a few days old) after a crank grind, cam bearings line bored and spitty bearings inserted + new rings and a hone.

This is Martin Eyers TR8 which is in the process of being reshelled after a major incident on the Targa West event where Martin hit a concrete wall and comprehensively reshaped his bodywork. I helped source a new shell which has had to be completely repainted and now is being trimmed. One of the complications with this car is it is fitted with a Discovery 2 4.0litre EFI V8 so imagine the one off wiring loom which needs to be re-installed!!!

Needs to be ready in 6 days time.....

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 23rd October 2009 10:05am gmt

Manifold Finished... almost ready for installation of megasquirt

Fuel rail secured by 5/16UNC threaded bar and locknuts

Just waiting on a few wiring loom connectors to finish off the loom (adapted from a six pot Ford falcon) and to connect the Megasquirt loom to the TPS.

Discovery Throttle cable arrived today and although a bit long it will fit fine and adapt easily once the bulkhead hole is enlarged to Rover proportions.

Fuel hose pretty much done, just waiting on an ebay 300kpa /43psi regulator ex-Ford XR6 to complete the plumbing in the engine bay.

Once the ordered Bosch connectors arrive it will be time to swap the TBI to MPFI !! Beena bit of a drawn out process.. what with work, 3 kids, rebuilding the white Pi and having to use the 2500 everyday.

Guess the Stag should be readied for summer now the 30+ deg days are beckoning as it does have the best aircon.... give me a chance to set up the megasquirt over a few days

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 12th October 2009 10:20pm gmt

EFI Manifold progress

Definitely getting there now. Fuel rail is drilled for injectors and fuel fittings. Just need to get a final 5/16 unc tap to allow fuel rail to be attached using the old injector mounting points and a reducer for a vacuum take off for the Megasquirt MAP sensor.

I am going to try the vacuum sensor takeoff point utilising as the the old idle air tube off the plenum log. If it doesn't give a stable reading I shall try elsewhere.

Brass 3/8 fitting is for servo vacuum take off. Engine crankcase breather will feed into the Throttle body as per Rover and idle air valve will feed into 1/2" tube where old idle screw was situated.

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 07th October 2009 9:32pm gmt

EDIS 6 success... by Heath Robinson

Just to check the coil pack wiring and EDIS module and VR sensor will work before rehashing the injection side, I jerry rigged the set up with the Dizzy module still attached (for the current ECU injector signal).

Fired up first time and same experience as everyone else... SMOOTH as silk even on only 10 BTDC limp home setting.... definitely reccomended. Just need to rig up a dizzy pedastal with a core plug to blank it off and a coil pack mounting and its all done

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 03rd October 2009 12:35am gmt

More (slow) EFI progress

Finished my plenum / throttle body yesterday. Got a flange laser cut for the Range Rover throttle body. Welded on with 4 captive 1/4 unf studs. Fabricated a throttle cable bracket for a Discovery cable. Cleaned it up and painted crackle black for the factory look.

Just waiting on a fuel rail and a bit of plumbing now.....

BTW I have several spare flanges (minimum order from the laser people) in both 74mm (Land Rover) and 64mm sizes with Ford Type PCD. Contact me if your interested... much cheapness!!

The Oz Ford Falcon TB pictured above are very common (read virtually free) but have a problematic throttle cable action (pull from the wrong side) which I'm sure could be overcome. Anyhow I got 4 flanges made for the Ford TB just in case....

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 03rd October 2009 07:18am gmt

Wanneroo Sprint Piccies

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 07th September 2009 10:12am gmt

New Bits for White PI Part 2 Cam change

Old Wade cam out through the nose cone. Essential mod for modded Mk1's !!!! Cam was definitely on the way out. Exhaust 1 lobe about 0.220" whereas standard for this cam is 0.265". All the otheres were between 0.248" and 0.255" and showing signs of distress especially on the lowering flank.

New cam with polished journals, nicely scrolled on these early TR5 cams.

Not sure if this is really necessary on a tuftrided cam but it won't do any harm either

Installing the Cam and timing up with Inlet lobe 1 at max lift with engine at 108 deg ATDC.

Been cleaning up a spare old PI head 218225 (32mm exhaust valves) for possible modification with GT's valves if it passes the crack tests.

This will have to wait 'til Thursday as I'm off to the gold mine, then I'll cart the heads to Luigi's Head Shop for the next plan of attack. Right now I have six hours before I have to wake up for the flight.. yikes...

posted by andy thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410105771539803739noreply@blogger.com 06th September 2009 9:48pm gmt

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