Out with the old...in with the new...Britain's Racecar Development, Subaru Engine, Lotus Suspension! Time to go racing! Options

[Britain Smith]

Superb - Really gaining pace now. If it were me I'd want to strip it all out and respray the shell inside and out - it just looks soo good (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Yea, that would be a great plan if I had 6 more months to build the car...however, the race season started in 4 weeks. I need as much time as I can get to finish the car and start sorting it out.

-Britain

[Chris Pincetich]

I am loving the blend of old and new in your 914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Inspirational work. Subby transplants are just so nice. I am sure it will be smokin fast with less fuel consumption

[grantsfo]

Looking good Brit! I knew you would eventually figure out how to make a fast prepared ax 914! I'm about to throw up my hands like JP did and dump the Boxster to someone who has time and money to do it right. Most people have no idea what it takes to build a national level ax car. If you think about it this 914 has been in serious development in modified and prepared form for over 7 years and I think it's just getting to the point of being nationally competitive in prepared this season but suspect you have lots of sorting left prior to nationals. I suspect you will be working on suspension balance as turbo power is sure to be different than NA car was setup. Again this is very exciting!

Looking forward to seeing it run with big dogs! Are you coming down to SD again?

[Britain Smith]

Hey Grant...haven't heard from you in a while.

I have a dyno date in 2 weeks so I am in the final push to get this thing running. I doubt I will make San Diego this year as it is a little too close to ensure I have the car sorted. We shall see what happens over the next few weeks.

-Britain

[Britain Smith]

Ok, I am on the final push towards the end. I have dyno time schedules for Friday, Feb 18th at Cobb Tuning Surgeline. Still waiting on the flywheel, but I can get everything else prepared in advance.

Reprogrammed the dash for a little pre-race inspiration. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I also wired up the oil pressure, oil temp, fuel pressure, and water temp sensors to monitor on the dash.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1297098064.1.jpg)

For radiator venting thru the hood, I purchased two louvered panels. These things were pricey and I was less than impressed with the quality. However, they will serve a purpose and I have to remind myself that this is just a race car.

Here are the panels in the approximate location on the hood.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1297098065.2.jpg)

I took the hood up to JP's shop to make the cutouts. Fortunately I was able to get JP off his butt to help cut the hood. Notice that he can't do anything without a cig hangin out of his mouth. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smoke.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1297098065.3.jpg)

Here are the panels bonded to the back of the hood and in place on the car.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1297098065.4.jpg)

Side view, they are just under the 1" height restriction as per SCCA.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1297098065.5.jpg)

Looking down into the hood you can see the radiator and fan.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1297098066.6.jpg)

On the backside, you can see the area of the core mat we had to remove to bond directly to the backside of the hood. Added an additional layer of epoxy to the backside for strength.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1297098066.7.jpg)

I also was able to put a gallon of fuel in and test the system...good idea that I did this now as I found a pinched injector o-ring and had to get a new set on order. It was fun to have 45psi of fuel squirting out of the fuel rail.

-Britain

[DanT]

Hood came out nice Brit, even with JP doing the cutting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I have probably forgotten but where is the air coming in to the radiator from...?

[Britain Smith]

Air entering the oil cooler cutout location in the front bumper.

-Britain

[sawtooth]

Looking great Britain. Make sure, double sure to shoot some video of your car on the dyno for us, please?

[Andyrew]

Is the radiator going to be shrouded to the vents? Just curious.

Were those louvers flexible to mold to the curve of the hood? Curious how you managed that.


Looking good as usual!

[Britain Smith]

The recent change to the SCCA rules do not allow ducting from the radiator to the vent. I am still trying to clarify exactly what I can and can't do. As per the rules I also need to add a mesh screen under the louvers...again, trying to clarify.

As for the curve of the hood, the louvers were fairly flexible but I had to use a bunch of weights and some strong epoxy to get the shape right...took all weekend to set.

-Britain

[J P Stein]

Is the radiator going to be shrouded to the vents? Just curious.

That touches a sore spot.
Believe it or not, per SCCA XP rules building a duct from the radiator to the vents/louvers is ILLEGAL! The result will be some trailer park engineering in an attempt to get the hot air out & away from the gas tank...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[Andyrew]

Eek.

Personally I dont think that it will be enough heat (for autox) to cause any problems with the gas tank. But diverted air and keeping the engine cool enough is my concern. You could always open up the fenderwells (Unless thats against the rules as well). That combination would certainly keep the radiator cool, and maybe add in brake cooling (500+ deg brakes vs 150 deg air)

[grantsfo]

Check this out! Its still being developed but when they figure out all the ECU mapping watch out! EMod Lotus Europa with 20B triple rotor turbo. Makes 440 WHP! It amounts to little more than a tubeframe car with fiberglass shell. inboard brakes, Penske dampers, fat Avon slicks.

This post has been edited by grantsfo: Feb 22 2011, 11:56 AM

[Britain Smith]

Yea, is that Jesus car? Looks pretty fast...glad it is in Emod. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

-Britain

[grantsfo]

Yea, is that Jesus car? Looks pretty fast...glad it is in Emod. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

-Britain

No Jesus' car is in the background and is almost equally as fast.

[Britain Smith]

Wow, there are 2 Europa's down there...nice!

-Britain

[Britain Smith]

I haven't been posting progress picture as often, but I can promise you I have been working hard. I had to move my dyno time out a week due to a delay in the arrival of the custom flywheel, but now I am back on track.

All the car wiring is completed. Pictures of wiring is not that exciting, but here is the ECU and rear fuse panel wired up.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399904.1.jpg)

This is the custom flywheel that I commissioned WEVO to make. I had a concern about the conversion flywheels out there as they are welded together, about 32lbs with the pressure plate assembly, and intended for a 6200rpm USDM motor. This is an 8500 rpm engine and I wanted a little bit lighter rotating mass....therefore I went this route.

The flywheel is actually a three-piece design. This the flywheel as it arrived.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399905.2.jpg)

This is the back mounting flange of the flywheel. The large step is required to clear the adapter plate. This is where the conversion flywheels are welded.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399905.3.jpg)

Ring gear installed.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399906.4.jpg)

Flywheel mounted on the engine and the pilot bearing plate fitted.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399906.5.jpg)

Tilton pressure plate installed.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399908.6.jpg)

As I mentioned when installing the pedal assembly, I decided to go with a hydraulic throw-out bearing. Here is the Tilton Hydraulic throw-out bearing assembly fit in the 901 transmission. This is a completely custom set-up with custom parts. It is actually a SAAB bearing.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399908.7.jpg)

And finally, the transmission reinstalled with the assistance of my wife. VSS sensor wired up and hydraulic lines routed.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-364-1298399910.8.jpg)

I actually filled the engine with oil/water last night and cranked it over. I got it to start for about 5secs before it would stumble. I have some ideas on things to check, but the good news is that is started. It was about 11:30 last night when I was cranking it and decided that I didn't want to push it with the neighbors, I will try again this evening.

-Britain

[grantsfo]

Wow, there are 2 Europa's down there...nice!

-Britain

Yeah Emod is actually a viable class here this year. AAS event this year in July should be a great shootout between these Lotus cars and the V8 and turbo Rotory powered Austin Healys. The AAS memorial event attracts very fast cars. I'm going for sure this year. I think California will have 4 or 5 e mod cars that are cable of winning nationals this year.

Cant wait to see your car run! Looks great from the pictures. I hear you on the crazy SCCA rules. I despise SCCA rules and cant understand some of the people involved in the process. Some of the stuff makes no sense. Especially when talking venting etc. I couldn't touch any chassis metal from what I read. And when I asked for rulings on my center radiator the best I ever got was something like. "well that is probably OK" Never get a commitment.

Now I'm trying to get Street Prepared classing for the 370Z it is a joke. Takes weeks to months. One might expect that a moderate volume sports car that has been on the market for almost 3 years might have been classified! The politics behind car classing are amazing to me. I have to run in same class as professionally prepared Z06's and GT2's in a car that makes 316 WHP and weighs 3300 lbs. Yet EVO that makes 450 WHP can hang in BSP and dominate the class. I love UFO. I called them compared car to other BSP cars and they agreed and allowed BSP classing in one day. Gotta love effectiveness of one person in charge!

Here is my new ride.

This post has been edited by grantsfo: Feb 22 2011, 01:55 PM

[Britain Smith]

Yea, I have several letters in for SEB clarification. Depending on my schedule, I might be able to make a California AAS event....we shall see.

-Britain

[Britain Smith]

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

First start of my Subaru engine conversion. Still a couple of things to sort out, but I am 99% of the way there. Dyno time in less than a week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0RPBTWZaQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0RPBTWZaQ