S54 powered E30 track car

[grt]

Looking good man, What are those brakes off though? I'll be keen to see the new wheels too!

Calipers are off a series 2 RX7
Discs are from a VW Corrado

Wheels look very sexy!

[grt]

Right, where should I kick this off.

The racing weekend has been and gone. It did not go to plan at all! As I type this I am looking at empty engine bay and a blown engine sitting on a stand.

I will go back to Friday before the race day. I got the tyres mounted onto the new rims and fitted them to the car. I am super impressed with how they look! Also on Friday we did the usual check-over. Last race weekend must have been a hard one. I found 2 diff bolts loose, 1 drive shaft bolt loose, 1 exhaust bolt missing and the clutch line clip had disappeared.

With everything ready to go we hit the track for practice on Saturday to get some testing done. It had been about 6 weeks since I had driven the car so I need to cut a few laps to get my eye back in. Being open practice every man and his dog was on track so I didn't get one clean lap. The car felt really strong and ready for a days racing on Sunday.

Qualifying - First up on Sunday was qualifying and we were the first group on track. I went out and did a warm up lap, 1 flying lap and a cool down lap. My time wasn't to great but I came in and reset tyres pressures then went back out. I couldn't get a good lap in. I kept making little mistakes and getting caught in traffic. On the last lap I managed a clean, mistake free lap. The time was a 59.1300 and good enough for 5th. A new personal best by 0.06 of a second. I know, nothing really to brag about.

Race 1, 7 laps – Started on the right hand side on the 3rd row. Green flag was waved and I went straight back to 6th as the car beside me was a 600hp Holden Torana. I had no chance! On the 2nd lap he came into turn 2 hot and spun in front of me. I was back to 5th with about a 2 second gap to 4th and a 2 second back to 6th. Coming onto the straight on the fifth lap and the red flags were shown. I back marker had hit the wall on the exit of turn 3. I was pretty happy, starting 5th and finished 5th.

Race 2, 7 laps – Starting in the same position and the start was a copy of race 1. Straight away going back to 6th as the 427ci Holden Monaro out-powering my little BMW. He then moved up to 4th and proceeded to make some questionable blocking manoeuvres. He then spun on lap 3 and I was back to 5th. I spent the rest of the race chasing down 4th place BMW 2002 (also S14 powered). The last lap came around and I was right behind him but I couldn't make a move. Again pretty happy to start 5th and finish 5th.

Race 3, 10 laps – Again staring in 5th I managed to get a great jump on the start and moved up to 4th. With a few laps complete I was catching 3rd place. Then coming into the straight I pulled 5th gear and the car started to misfire. I pushed on for another lap and decided to pull in as it only got worst. I was gutted. My first DNF with the possibility of a podium. One plus is I did a 58.8 on the 3rd lap!

Back to the present and there is no time for crying. I pulled the engine down on Monday to find that number 2 cylinder had leaned out and damaged the piston. I was not quite sure why it happened so a few things are being investigated.

I new set of pistons and gasket kit is on the way. I am also replacing rod bearings, adding a bigger sump gate and crank scrapper as there was signs of oil surge on the rod bearings. The clutch is getting a once over and the pucks replaced. The head is getting repaired and shaved. The gearbox also had a small leak from the front seal so I am replacing that as well.

So everything is ordered and on the mend. The next round is in December so time is on my side. Stay tuned for lots of boxes arriving. I have also ordered a few more bits and pieces to tidy up other parts of the car.

Hopefully will hit the track for some practice in the not to distant future.

On with the pictures.

Friday with the new wheels mounted!




Engine and head damage




Racing!

[grt]

Race 2 and new personal best

[JCarp90]

Ouch.

I really like this car so this is painful. Glad it will be back up in no time.

[DER E30]

This is a really kool build! I love the ///M power! The "inside front wheel in the air" shots are neat as well.
Great job and keep it up!

[Massimo]

Dam. Oh well give you a chance to fix those other issues. Seems like the car is really competitive now.

Will you be bringing it to Adelaide at all?

[grt]

Dam. Oh well give you a chance to fix those other issues. Seems like the car is really competitive now.

Will you be bringing it to Adelaide at all?

Yeah. It's is getting there. Can't wait to get it back together.

Not sure about Adelaide. Never been before so have no idea about the tracks that are there.

This is a really kool build! I love the ///M power! The "inside front wheel in the air" shots are neat as well.
Great job and keep it up!

Thanks mate!

[grt]

Bit of an update.

My main order from VAC hasn't arrived yet and my Tuner one has so hopefully it isn't far away.

I had a gearbox oil leak from the front gasket. I couldn't find at gasket locally so I made one. Was pretty straight forward just had to remember to put the shims back on the bearings. I replaced the bolts with high tensile allen head bolts.

In my Turner package was a new shifter rod linkage. I you watch my in-car you will notice the gear lever moves around quite a bit even when it's in gear. Was a pretty straight forward swap and it feels much more solid. I also replace the selector shaft seal.

I also have had my clutch re-pucked and flywheel machined (haven't got any pics).

I finally got a new 3L catch can as well. I will probably mount it side ways and paint it in black wrinkle paint.

I bought a new main fuel pump as well. Bosch 044. Stand by for the best boot you will ever see. It is getting painted and all new lines. Should look quite nice when it's done.

Leaking front gasket



Front plate removed



Cleaned up from plate



Re-fitted with new gasket and bolts



Old shift linkage



New parts :)



New shift linkage



New catch can



Possible mounting position



Empty engine bay :(

[JCarp90]

Updates!

[grt]

Updates!

Not much happening.

Unfortunately I had the wrong pistons delivered so that is the big hold-up.

I have entered Noosa Hillclimb which is mid November so hopefully will be back together back then.

Also working on a fuel system re-build with Speedflow 200 series lines/fittings.

I will update as soon as possible :)

[JCarp90]

Not much happening.

Unfortunately I had the wrong pistons delivered so that is the big hold-up.

I have entered Noosa Hillclimb which is mid November so hopefully will be back together back then.

Also working on a fuel system re-build with Speedflow 200 series lines/fittings.

I will update as soon as possible :)

:hitler:

I'll trade you my S52 for your S14 :D

[grt]

:hitler:

I'll trade you my S52 for your S14 :D

Too many cylinders!

Although my friend is build a full on high compression S50 :)

Just got a set of $800 valves for it

[Jon_The_Pom]

Sorry to hear about your engine, fingers crossed for a quick re-build.

I am in the process of putting an S14B20 into my E30 racecar over here in NZ and have been following your thread for ages, if mine turns out half as good as yours I will be a very happy man. I just joined up to ask you a question.

Were your headers made by the shop as a custom one off job or did you buy them from a company that can supply another set? I've got to decide how to fix the header issue...

[grt]

Sorry to hear about your engine, fingers crossed for a quick re-build.

I am in the process of putting an S14B20 into my E30 racecar over here in NZ and have been following your thread for ages, if mine turns out half as good as yours I will be a very happy man. I just joined up to ask you a question.

Were your headers made by the shop as a custom one off job or did you buy them from a company that can supply another set? I've got to decide how to fix the header issue...

Thanks! You will love it when your done. Best engine in the world!

They are a custom 1 off. But I could probably get him to make a set as they are out of the car already and he would copy them.

You should start up a build thread!

[grt]

Small update on engine parts.

The rest of my gaskets rocked up from VAC and I think (fingers crossed) we have sorted the piston issue.

The reason for the delay is quite a long story so here is a very compressed version.

My bore size is 95.25mm.

Back in 2011 when I first ordered the pistons/rings they were making the 95.25mm sets.

Fast forward to 2013 and they don't make them anymore. CP Pistons will make whatever piston size you want but they get there rings from another company. Which now only stock 95.0mm and 95.5mm and there is a 6-9 month wait on 95.25mm rings.

So after doing some research I found a place locally that makes custom piston rings. So I have ordered a set of 95.25mm pistons and I will source the rings locally. Hopefully all goes smoothly!!!!!!

In other news I have bought another set of Konig wheels! :) I figured I had to buy something to this car because not driving it is giving me the shits!

I am also half-way through painting the boot and re-fitting the fuel system but lost motivation. Fingers crossed when this piston drama gets sorted it will give me the motivation the finish the sexiest E30 boot :D