505 replies to this topic

[Redslur]

Hope you got permission to post BR's ugly head on line :-0

[Tyre biter]

It Lives!!!

A big, big day today - four and a half years in the making.

 

This afternoon we got it started and running a-okay, and the sound, FFS the sound - it is brilliant!

I took a video (as you do) but LX6LTR is not keen on having his mug plastered all over the internet notwithstanding it is presently all over Performance Garage and Aussie Muscle Enthusiast magazines...

A few little bits and pieces to do and it can turn a wheel.

A big day in this boy's world - a very big day and baring any catastrophes, it will be at TF.

Cheers, TB

[IMORAL]

Awesome job. Cant wait to see it there in a couple of weeks

[Ice]

Good stuff Craig will be good to finally see this beast
Cheers G.

[Tyre biter]

Paul and Gene,

Thanks guys - I am pretty excited to be taking it up there, but be under no illusion; it is pretty simple car built to a budget - there is nothing flash but it is tidy-ish, and it isn't a high hp monster but it sounds pretty bloody good.

Just off to go see it now, and maybe, just maybe, I might get it turning a wheel under its own steam this afternoon...

Cheers, TB

Edited by Tyre biter, 05 September 2015 - 12:45 PM.

[Tyre biter]

Here's one for you:

• 'Knock, knock'
• 'Who's there?'
• 'Big end...'

Had a drive yesterday, lasted only a few km - sort of reminded me of my first lover's tryst, it didn't last long but I was besotted nonetheless.

 

Heck knows what went wrong and why - time may tell whenever the engine gets pulled down - I don't understand how the engine went through two twenty minute break-in cycles at 2,000rpm without a worry in the world and then this happens.

 

Pretty gutted really..

 

Cheers, TB

 

[IMORAL]

Yeah. What daz said. So sorry to hear that m8
I know it sux but even on a tilt tray your car still looks fr0cking awesome. Fingers crossed its not too much damage.

[Ice]

Jesus Craig you cant take a trick hope its not to bad
bloody big end i know all about that

[BIG KEV]

What a bummer

[GMHAz]

That's a prick of a thing to happen Craig but at least it happened closer to home rather than hundreds of K's away on the way to Toranafest.
I'm another who was ( and still am looking forward to ) checking out your sweet Hatchback, hopefully the engine drama isn't to serious & your albe to bring it to the Fest.
Good luck Craig

Az

[Redslur]

Went and sussed it out today., No big end knock at all. Me's think it is something a little less sinister. Fingers crossed......

[IMORAL]

Thats good to here

[N/A-PWR]

Just wack everything in/on another Short Motor TB. 

[N/A-PWR]

a Big end noise happens at a higher RPM,

 

and then sounds at a RPM lower that that one,

 

and then comes in lower than the previous.

 

 

So eventually, the motor stalls under normal load,

 

so restarting becomes harder,

 

till she does not ever Start again. 

[Tyre biter]

Daz,

Still thinking about bringing it up even if it has a broken heart.

Not sure what to do one way or the other in that regard - it just seems mean (to me and it) to drag it up there knowing it is but a dust collector and an expensive paper weight.

 

Paul,

Funny you should mention that - I thought the same thing - that it looks shit hot even on the back of a truck.

I wish I had the presence of mind to take a photo when it was stopped on the side of a country road - full afternoon sun, green colour just gleaming - I recall thinking 'wow' and also recall thinking that was the first time I haven't regretted painting it green.

 

Good point Aaron - things could have been worse - shit, it is a car, and engines can be fixed after all - I appreciate the perspective you provide.

My engine builder suggested the same thing to me only this morning - life could be a whole lot worse.

Truth is though, I can't afford to fix this for the foreseeable future which is in reality the kicker for me.

 

Finally, to Daz, Paul, Gene, Kevin, Aaron, Dave and Grant; thanks for your moral support. 

You are right Gene, I could really deserve a break with this car but having said that, notwithstanding the problems encountered, I have to admit that I have had quite a few wins along the way, mostly from folks just wanting to help me out. 

Right now I really, really feel for Craig Ballard (CB - LX6LTR) - he has poured his heart and soul into finishing this car for me these past few weeks and is just gutted despite this latest bit of promise alluded to by Gerry (Redslur) who in himself has no small amount of effort invested in this car of mine - jeepers the list of those who have is long and I remain humble for it.

 

I've been in touch this evening with both Gerry and CB and to clarify Gerry's comment above re: "No big end knock at all" (post #437) - as I understand it, the issue of a big-end failure has not in fact been ruled out.  Simply, when started again today neither Gerry nor CB were able to hear that dreaded noise, and so Gerry is not saying anything more than he simply couldn't hear anything.

 

Yes, Gerry alluding to something 'a little less sinister' acknowledges that this outcome is strange - if it is a big-end problem then one would think it would be there today and again tomorrow and the day after just as it was yesterday, and so the absence of that noise perhaps rules big end failure out...  Thing is, two fold - what the heck else could have caused that noise, and in reality the noise was pretty definitive yesterday.  And so really, heck knows - could still be, might not be, and the the strange thing on the side of it not being a big-end failure is the retention of oil pressure throughout, especially at idle - it is bloody good by all reports (yes, using the correct sender).

 

On the subject of oil pressure: Does anyone know if the increments on the SS/SLR instrument oil pressure gauge actually align with any particular pressure number, or are they merely indicative (non-specific) measurements?

 

Thanks again for the concern and support shown guys - I very much appreciate it.

I will keep you posted as to how it all pans out, and either way, I will be at TF with or without the car.

As mentioned, i am just very unsure whether I should bring a broken car if that is the case - do I bring it even if it is broken, or should I leave it at home so it is not pretending to be something it presently is not (a 'real' car)?

 

Cheers, TB

Edited by Tyre biter, 06 September 2015 - 10:05 PM.

[Ice]

Your call Craig as much as we want to see your car it wont be the same if you cant drive it
but hey dont let a little thing like that stop you bringing it
you know what i mean

[axistr]

TB both my Torana's have around the same reading on the oil pressure gauge  3/4 65-70 PSI 1/2 way on the scale is around 35-40 PSI, 1/4 = 20-25 PSI and just before the red and close to zero reading 10 PSI. But it is an indication not an exact pressure. There will always be slight variations in gauges and senders and the Torana dash voltage stabiliser.

[IMORAL]

Bring it. Yes it would suck not being able to drive it but it doesn't need to be driven to be appreciated by the crowds. But I do see your point and it will be a hard decision to make that's for sure.

[Redslur]

Knock is back....Went and had another listen yesterday. Seems to be much more evident when the engine is hot. Certainly sounds like a big end knock now. Very interesting.  Think the boys will start pulling things apart today to investigate.

[xu2308]

Sad News TB

[Tyre biter]

Thanks for the moral support fella's.

Car is loaded and ready for the treck in the morning:

Bloody hell, it still sounds amazing at start-up for a few minutes - just don;t want to let it start up to avoid the big-end knock.

All sorted with the engine builder and warranty repairs to be underway in early October - a wonderful outcome.

In the mean time, it will be but a pretty to look at and pretty expensive paper-weight.

Nonetheless, it is coming to TF but please excuse that it is all talk and no action - bit like its owner one might say... .

Cheers, TB