Recent updates also included a 'wired for remote Gopro' installation so I can start/stop the camera easily, and its powered from the car so no more flat batteries.
Also added an oil cooler just in front of the radiator, and I have a fibreglass bonnet to fit that will be going on for events. The original steel bonnets are so heavy, but fit really nicely, so it will be nice to have the option, depending on what the car is doing.
Updates on that in due course.
Hoping to take the car to Caffeine and Machine on the 21st May as part of their all things Japanese weekend
https://caffeineandmachine.com/whats-on/retro-daikoku-weekend-20-21-may
Also added an oil cooler just in front of the radiator, and I have a fibreglass bonnet to fit that will be going on for events. The original steel bonnets are so heavy, but fit really nicely, so it will be nice to have the option, depending on what the car is doing.
Updates on that in due course.
Hoping to take the car to Caffeine and Machine on the 21st May as part of their all things Japanese weekend
https://caffeineandmachine.com/whats-on/retro-daikoku-weekend-20-21-may
Apologies for lack of updates on the car recently. A few developments and tweaks have been carried out but I've not had any time to use the car in the back end of this year.
It did get out to C&M in the Spring as posted above. Not affiliated in any way, but they did use an image of the car for some media earlier in the year!
It did get out to C&M in the Spring as posted above. Not affiliated in any way, but they did use an image of the car for some media earlier in the year!
As part of my plan to use the car more this year, I have a number of little updates and mods to carry out to further improve the car.
Firstly;
Manifold off a few days ago, a friend has a new high temp coating he wants to try out, so my modified F20C manifold is ready for a colour change!
Next, it was always my plan to run the car on 15 inch wheels. But as I had the 16" Rota's that came with the rolling shell back at the beginning, the plan was to start on those and drop to 15's once the first set or two of tyres were done.
Now at that point, I went looking into the best way to keep the larger S14 wheel bearings, but go back to a 4 stud pattern. After some research, it turned out that T3 have just released a set of S14 hubs that are drilled off for both 4 and 5 x 114.3 PCD!
By the time I could engineer something myself, it was just as cost effective to order the T3 hubs. Together with the black Friday discount which helped! Hoping these will arrive very soon and I can get them swapped over.
So, onto the wheels.
I need to check the brake clearance, as the front calipers are pretty big and there isnt that much clearance at some points to the 16" wheel.
Finding a 4x114.3, 15" with a very low offset and a 73mm centre bore, that also cleared these brakes is not easy! I would be happy to stay with the Rota grid and go for the 15" version of what I have, but I cant seem to get a template for the wheel and im reluctant to buy one incase its no where near.
Step up Braid, who have been amazing with info and help so far. I have made some templates from the PDFs they sent, and have been satisfying myself that the clearance is adequate on both of the wheels that could work for me.
Nothing ordered yet, hoping that the next couple of days see me place an order for a car set or two. I'd really like the inner template of the Rota wheel but they dont seem to have it, or want to send it, so it might force my hand.
Firstly;
Manifold off a few days ago, a friend has a new high temp coating he wants to try out, so my modified F20C manifold is ready for a colour change!
Next, it was always my plan to run the car on 15 inch wheels. But as I had the 16" Rota's that came with the rolling shell back at the beginning, the plan was to start on those and drop to 15's once the first set or two of tyres were done.
Now at that point, I went looking into the best way to keep the larger S14 wheel bearings, but go back to a 4 stud pattern. After some research, it turned out that T3 have just released a set of S14 hubs that are drilled off for both 4 and 5 x 114.3 PCD!
By the time I could engineer something myself, it was just as cost effective to order the T3 hubs. Together with the black Friday discount which helped! Hoping these will arrive very soon and I can get them swapped over.
So, onto the wheels.
I need to check the brake clearance, as the front calipers are pretty big and there isnt that much clearance at some points to the 16" wheel.
Finding a 4x114.3, 15" with a very low offset and a 73mm centre bore, that also cleared these brakes is not easy! I would be happy to stay with the Rota grid and go for the 15" version of what I have, but I cant seem to get a template for the wheel and im reluctant to buy one incase its no where near.
Step up Braid, who have been amazing with info and help so far. I have made some templates from the PDFs they sent, and have been satisfying myself that the clearance is adequate on both of the wheels that could work for me.
Nothing ordered yet, hoping that the next couple of days see me place an order for a car set or two. I'd really like the inner template of the Rota wheel but they dont seem to have it, or want to send it, so it might force my hand.
Winter progress continues, although at a steady pace as is often the way!
Manifold back from Cerakote, a black high-temp coating has been applied which looks amazing and is meant to be well exceed the temps the N/A manifold will see. I guess we'll soon find out!
Wideband lambda and EGT re-fitted, time to get it on the car!
Manifold back from Cerakote, a black high-temp coating has been applied which looks amazing and is meant to be well exceed the temps the N/A manifold will see. I guess we'll soon find out!
Wideband lambda and EGT re-fitted, time to get it on the car!
After a few weeks of (not very) patiently waiting, the S14 hubs arrived from T3 in the states.
I'm not generally a fan of dual purpose parts like these, however being able to assemble for either 4x114 or 5x114 does make a lot of sense here. Its an easy swap if I ever need to, and adding lightness in the way of holes is never bad!
They arrived immaculately built and boxed as expected, and fitted with long studs neatly pressed in, ready to fit.
Front are now on the car and I will try and do the rears tomorrow or early next week.
Currently, the disks are with a local machine shop, being drillled off for the 4x114.3 fitment, hoping to get them back in a couple of days so the whole lot can go back together
I'm not generally a fan of dual purpose parts like these, however being able to assemble for either 4x114 or 5x114 does make a lot of sense here. Its an easy swap if I ever need to, and adding lightness in the way of holes is never bad!
They arrived immaculately built and boxed as expected, and fitted with long studs neatly pressed in, ready to fit.
Front are now on the car and I will try and do the rears tomorrow or early next week.
Currently, the disks are with a local machine shop, being drillled off for the 4x114.3 fitment, hoping to get them back in a couple of days so the whole lot can go back together
After much nervous anticipation, following on from my carboard wheel clearance template, a truck arrived with x6 wheels.
I had to try them and thankfully there is plenty of caliper clearance!
So, with a bit of luck, tyres and brake discs will arrive/be ready next week and I can get it all back together and on its wheels.
A few more things to complete, pre-fit, then paint/wrap the fibreglass bonnet. Again, not normally a fan, but at a 10KG weight saving over the steel version, its a no brainer for when driving competitively.
An oil and filter change, and probably rear diff oil now too now that its done a couple of hundred competition miles.
I had to try them and thankfully there is plenty of caliper clearance!
So, with a bit of luck, tyres and brake discs will arrive/be ready next week and I can get it all back together and on its wheels.
A few more things to complete, pre-fit, then paint/wrap the fibreglass bonnet. Again, not normally a fan, but at a 10KG weight saving over the steel version, its a no brainer for when driving competitively.
An oil and filter change, and probably rear diff oil now too now that its done a couple of hundred competition miles.
One of the last things on the winter list was to fit the fibre glass bonnet. Its an easy 8KG saved and it was a great fit. After fitting aero catches and wrapping the bonnet, you cant tell from the outside that its not a steel one.
Then we finally got the car done and back on the ground in time for Japfest a couple of weeks ago. Hadnt seen the car on the 15" but they clear everything, seem to suit the car well and a smaller wheel equals another kilo or two saved per corner. Happy days.
Then we finally got the car done and back on the ground in time for Japfest a couple of weeks ago. Hadnt seen the car on the 15" but they clear everything, seem to suit the car well and a smaller wheel equals another kilo or two saved per corner. Happy days.
Off to Japfest we went, dry all day but very windy!
A couple of hectic track sessions but great fun to drive the car again, id forgotten how good it sounds as it reaches 9000rpm!
Chasing Swampys Dat-Sev-Un, which is an MK indy, with S13 engine, hubs etc and about half the weight of the '86!!
A couple of hectic track sessions but great fun to drive the car again, id forgotten how good it sounds as it reaches 9000rpm!
Chasing Swampys Dat-Sev-Un, which is an MK indy, with S13 engine, hubs etc and about half the weight of the '86!!
Lastly, I drew up some brake ducts to bolt into the fog light holes in the front bumper, but I also added the yellow fog light 
£12 per pair of yellow LED fogs, from Alibaba or similar. The 3d printed ducts were much more expensive than the lamps!
I now have 50mm brake ducting straight to each front corner, which should help a little.
£12 per pair of yellow LED fogs, from Alibaba or similar. The 3d printed ducts were much more expensive than the lamps!
I now have 50mm brake ducting straight to each front corner, which should help a little.