My current racer

[Euroboost]

$1200 isn't bad.

[Billzilla]

Okay a bit of an update.
The gearbox is all fixed up and ready to go back together again.
Rz (Pete) has done some absolutely stunningly good work on it and it's a shame to hide it away so I'll post some photos of it here, before it's all tucked away.

This is the extension housing, the good welding is by Pete the shit welding is by us. Yes the oil seal isn't in place properly yet.



Inside the extension housing are a pair of small roller bearings and they run on the tailshaft yoke to locate it. We've had problem with the brass bush getting a hard time so this should fix it. To make sure it's going to get plenty of oil, Pete welded on a couple of small paddles onto the 1st/rev gear synchro ring thingy, and they splash a lot of oil around into the rear of the box.



The paddles throw the oil around the back of the extension housing and up against the milled plate that Pete welded in the back. The oil runs down that, into a long slot, then into the two roller bearings. There's two oil drains from the bearing tunnel to make sure no pressure builds up and the oil gets changed frequently.




And just for laffs, here's a stock extension housing, to show you how much different the race box one is. Much shorter eh? And the gearstick is much further forwards.





... and the bad news is that with the new job I can't afford to do anything much other than put fuel into the car to go to work. So no more building cars for at least a year or two.

[simon010]

Bill

could you let me know the following when you get a chance

1. front mount rack - why the move
2. the different rack - does it have more travel than a trumpy?, and if so whats is that and whats its from? (mm per turn of pinion)
3. its not leyland marina!
4. can you explain "how the move" changes the accerman with travle plse

thanks and regards

simon

[Jim]

what was involved in shortening the output shaft?

[Billzilla]

Bill

could you let me know the following when you get a chance

1. front mount rack - why the move
2. the different rack - does it have more travel than a trumpy?, and if so whats is that and whats its from? (mm per turn of pinion)
3. its not leyland marina!
4. can you explain "how the move" changes the accerman with travle plse

thanks and regards

simon

I moved the rack for a few reasons -
- To make the front of the chassis a bit stiffer.
- To reduce the angle of the steering links to make them straighter, again to make the whole thing stiffer.
- I'm not sure about the akerman change, but at least now it'll be more predictable, if only for the above reasons.
- It's a Triumph Herald rack, just a stock one so whatever they have as a ratio stock is what I have.

what was involved in shortening the output shaft?

For the old shaft we cut out a ~15cm section towards the rear of the main shaft and welded them together. The first weld was done in the early 90's and it lasted quite a while .... then we got more power from the engine and it broke. So we welded up another one and that broke as well.
So the final (I hope) fix is that brand-new single-pice one a few posts back. It's larger diameter than than welded ones and of course no weld so hopefully it'll be strong enough this time.

[Jim]

I have to say looking at the shaft $1200 for a brand new custom one is awesome cheap!

[Billzilla]

Yeah I was pretty darn happy about it!
The engine is nearly back together and the gearbox is also on the way.
The engine will be off to the dyno soon to get the damn Mikuni's right before it hits the track again.

[Billzilla]

Halfway through sorting the engine on the dyno today.
With the mixtures still all over the place it's making good power but it'll need a lot better before it's really driveable. But very briefly the mixtures were right at about 6,000rpm and according to the dyno guy (who's done a lot of Suzuki engines) it's about 10% better than the previous best engine he's done. Yet to be confirmed with his dyno calibraions, but once it's sorted it will be a very strong engine.

[Cal]

Halfway through sorting the engine on the dyno today.
With the mixtures still all over the place it's making good power but it'll need a lot better before it's really driveable. But very briefly the mixtures were right at about 6,000rpm and according to the dyno guy (who's done a lot of Suzuki engines) it's about 10% better than the previous best engine he's done. Yet to be confirmed with his dyno calibraions, but once it's sorted it will be a very strong engine.

Weren't you meant to be there the previous weekend after I was there?

[Billzilla]

Un yeah, but we ran into a few little hiccups. Engine should be off the dyno in a day or two.

[Billzilla]

*pouts*
Was hoping to crack 160hp at the flywheel but didn't make it. Bettered 150hp though and still the best he's seen.







The engine is back home now, and the gearbox is going back together. Hopefully in a couple of weeks it'll get a test run on the track.

[Jason Broadhurst]

Just chuck the dissy a few degrees forward

[Billzilla]

Cracked the shits finally and started the big clean-up in the garage. I did a bit a few days ago, and a lot more this morning.
I shifted a lot of the gear around so there's effectively more space and the car bays are much better organised.



Still a huge amount of cleaning up to do, after many years of neglect, and I have to make plenty of shelves on the walls to put various crap.
But it's a start at least.

[Steve]

Use the hoist much?

[Billzilla]

Before it got covered in crap, yes.
It'll be in service again in a couple of months.

[Billzilla]

Almost all back together now, should be a runner in a day or so.



I'll try to make the sprints at Willowbank on the weekend.

[Jay_G]

How did you go with getting the glasswork done on it?

[Billzilla]

Yeah all sorted. Got the guy to finally come around. Just sanding the rear guards now to get them ready for painting.

[Rz]

jesus christ , it almost looks tidy.

[Billzilla]

Come and help me get it ready Friday night ya stinky poof.

[Dark Orange]

jesus christ , it almost looks tidy.

Photoshop.

[Rz]

nah.
stuff i touch normally blows the fuck up.

[Billzilla]

It's okay, it doesn't have power steering ....

[Billzilla]

But seriously ..... All going well I'd like to corner-weight it Friday night and that takes a couple of people. I might have another mate coming around but if he can't make it I put it to a vote and the result was that you have to come and help.
Oh, and you just happen to have my scales .... !

[Rz]

yeh ok ill bring the scales up , and your complimentry punch in the head for the power steering gag.

[Billzilla]

Don't hit me in the head or I'll get my Dad to talk to you.



Back in my day they weren't called turkeys they were called Walking Birds ....

[bigmuz]

Nice job on the cable ties holding the oil tank in place..

Look at the yellow paint coming off already. Please let me know next time it needs paint man.

[Gammaboy]

Nice job on the cable ties holding the oil tank in place..

If it was good enough for the Works Yoshimura Suzukis...

Look at the yellow paint coming off already. Please let me know next time it needs paint man.

No paint is lighter than too much paint :P

[RXI11]

when will it be out and about again ... lovely car mate .

[Billzilla]

I'm hoping to give it a run Monday at QR ..... if there's private practice then.
Otherwise Friday the 7th at Oran Park.