Category: General

New Project !

Jacob`s First Car Project

And it’s a ripper! It is a 1984 Celica Supra MA61 spec and is basically complete, original wheels and all. It is an Auto and the engine is knackered, but what do you want for the 3 Grand?

The engine will be kept but not used as it is the correct engine for the car, and the auto will be replaced with a period correct W58 MA61 spec 5 speed manual box. The replacement engine is a secrete for now.

First order of business is to build a new garden shed out the back for exclusive storage of any parts and bits removed from, or procured for, the project.

From there it will be a systematic tear down, cataloging and assessment of the car. Once all that is done, the project proper can start. Can’t wait!

New Tools

I have a heap of new tools in the workshop ready for an upcoming project I hope to start in the future. There is quite a substantial learning curve involved so I will be doing a fair bit of practice first and when I get some competency, I will get started on the project.

First cab off the rank is a Tube Notcher. The piece of pipe in the photo is too small for that cutter, it`s just for illustration purposes. It is actually my Jack Handle so I had better not chop bits out of it.

The unit is mounted to a pedestal as you can see and is bolted to the floor. I used what could best be described as Dyna Nuts instead of Dyna Bolts for this task.

These fasteners were used so the whole thing can be un-bolted and stored away when not in use without there being bolts left protruding from the floor.

There will be other tools mounted in a similar way that can be bolted to the same spot in the floor so as long as I do not need two at the same time, I should be able to stop the shed floor looking like Swiss Cheese. More tools to follow, stay tuned.

Two is Better than One

I have had some questions lately on why I run 2 fuel pumps, one on each side of the tank. The short answer is, as those who track 86’s or BRZ’s already know, is Fuel Surge.

Amaroo

Sustained high G cornering to the left causes the fuel to slosh away from the pump pickup, causing loss of fuel pressure to the engine. Turbo or supercharged cars, or cars running on E85 suffer even more from this phenomenon. E85 consumption in an NA car is approx. 40% higher than normal fuel. Below is a video where I simulate this by un-plugging the OEM fuel pump while the car is at idle. Watch the gauges and see the second fuel pump turn on and take over.

What you just watched is a simulation only. In reality the system operates a little differently. The second pump is only turned off by the control unit I made when the car is at idle. When on the track both pumps would be running at the same time. When one loses pressure, the other is already running and keeps the engine supplied. It works well.

CSCA Supersprint

Round 4

Sunday the 14th of June was round 4 of the CSCA Supersprint series held at One Raceway. We took the BRZ and the Excel.

The first three sessions were held on the clockwise Wakefield Circuit, and the last three sessions were held on the anti-clockwise Shelly Circuit.

Unfortunately, the excel developed a nasty oil leak from the gearbox aera so we parked it after only 2 sessions.

The BRZ was a Jet again and I am really enjoying the grip and balance of the car at the moment. The new fuel system, gauges and low-pressure warning lights worked well and it was very interesting to see the pumps loose and gain pressure as the fuel moved from one side of the tank to the other as the turning forces were applied to the car.

The secondary fuel pump did leak from the top as the fuel sloshed up the side of the tank but I know the cause and I have the required seal available to fix it.

Even with the issue with the excel, it was still a good day.