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The Car Thread


MadManMike

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edit: by all accounts Kennard seems to have had fun at curborough, something about a head gasket and rac :D

The day was awesome, until it wasn't. The carnage to the car is much more serious than anyone would have expected.

Had a good night sleep at a friend's in Coventry, then rocked over to Curborough for 8.15,

One of the first there so had a good opportunity to chat to people. Prawn then turns up with his driveshaft giving him shit, so has to get another fitted ASAP. Somehow he manages it and we go for lunch ready for the afternoon session.

Set a PB and very pleased it was under 30s as apparently that was the target.

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It gets to 4pm and I am on track leaving down the finish straight. Full throttle, changed up to third and sudden misfire, brakes and steering go solid. Somehow managed to get it the brakes to work in time to leave the track, coast to a stop in the paddock and turn the engine off.

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I try to turn it over and no luck. A couple more attempts then under the bonnet to have a look. I then leave it to cool for about 30 mins.

Used this time to take the track numbers off the car.

Had a look with various members of club gti and we come to the conclusion that there is low compression in at least 2 of the cylinders, likely to be the head gasket. The coolant has completely drained even though I knew it was fine in the morning as I had checked it. Someone then comes down from the timing area who says that they heard the misfire and saw lots of white smoke. Head gasket. Checked for mayo on the oil cap. There is a small amount. Head gasket.Then go to check the oil, and it is massively over filled. Alarm bells start ringing as we realise that the coolant has somehow drained into the engine.

It gets to the end of the day with a ridiculous mk 1 coming in first, I then proceed to borrow his tow bar and get pulled off track and towed on the road with a great volunteer with a road car, A few miles down the road to this place:

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I then sit here from 6 untill 10.30. Where the RAC had contracted out a company to do their job. 1st trailer turns up at 7.45, awesome. He then tells me he can't take me home (150 miles) as they need drivers in the local area as they are short staffed on a Sunday. Fine. Wait until 10pm for the other driver in the local area who could take me home.

We get the car loaded up:

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It turns out he was a miserable b*****d, and a big truck this size can't be driven quickly (56mph max). He then tells me in the most cuntish way that he could only take me to a service station off the m40 near the a34. Irritating.

I then get dropped off in the Lorry park, unload, lock the car, go get some food.

Sit in the car eating a pulled pork meat slice (I love you Ginsters!) and notice a red light now flashing next to the temp gauge:

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45 minutes later I get a call from the next recovery vehicle who says he has been waiting for a call from the other driver to let him know I was here. It turns out as well that they meet in the Travelodge car park to transfer vehicles so The car was in the wrong place and he couldn't find my in the massive expanse of filled lorry park.

He finds me at about 1am. He starts to get the car on the ramps. after assuring me he wouldn't catch the splitter on the ramp. He catches the splitter on the ramp step, scuffing it massively and folding it under the bumper. Annoying:

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and after a search for some wood and some very careful towing skills we got it on the ramp:

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We leave only to find this chap is awesome. Lets me smoke in the cabin (because he does) Finally go to the garage I wanted to be dropped to and get the car off the ramp in the dark by torch light at 2.30am.

Go and speak to the garage in the morning, surprisingly, they did notice the car was there. I explained what had happened as honestly as I could. They said leave it with them and they world have a look.

I go back to see them Tuesday evening as they have had a quick look just a general exterior checkover and checked the coil packs and spark plugs...

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Oh dear.

The spark plug has melted, dropped out the ceramic section straight through the piston and into the rod area, potentially bending it and there was evidence of lots of debris. Also, bits could have gotten to the turbo. To make things worse, the threads were welded together so he has had to strip the thread in the head. Although the head's integrity could also be at risk as valves could be bent and could crack the head. The garage want to take the head off to get a proper look. I think it is the right thing to do, only labour and then they can really access the damage. If it is just the head, rods and pistons I think the engine will need a heavily modded rebuild, if it is the lower end too, I may be looking for a new engine...

f**k.

If it is the modded rebuild route, then I will be happy in a way as this has just accelerated plans. Although by a year at least, which means I have not planned parts or a budget. Slightly worrying.

Cheers for reading about my sad week.

Finger crossed this all works out.

Cheers, Ash

Edited by Ash-Kennard
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That sucks Ash:(

In happier news, I've built up my inlet manifold and bolted it on. I'm minus an airbox and inlet tube but everything plugged in perfectly, and it runs! Really, really well on the supposed itb map... Thinking it never had one in the first place. It comes on fast idle, then drops when it's warmed up, smooth right through the Rev range, zero misfires, starts perfectly from cold and warm, and feels quicker too.

Going to pick up an airbox/inlet and then get some fuel, and see if it's any better. If it is, which i can assume it's going to be, I doubt that the h tune chip is nothing more than a b16a2 basemap anyway.

Edited by SamKidney
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How can you possibly know it is unsalvagable? I will update once the head is removed and a proper assessment can be made.

How can you possibly know it is unsalvagable? I will update once the head is removed and a proper assessment can be made.

How can you possibly know it is unsalvagable? I will update once the head is removed and a proper assessment can be made.

How can you possibly know it is unsalvagable? I will update once the head is removed and a proper assessment can be made.

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Bits of smashed spark plug inside combustion chambers tend not to do engines many favours, even less if said plug bits make it further than that. There's about a dozen 20vt engines in any given scrapyard that would be a lot less f**king around and expense...

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Hate to say it but I'm in agreement, if it were a rare or uncommon engine then yes spend the money but otherwise I buy a bog standard lump to fit. Have the old motor and strip it yourself as a long term rebuild project on a stand, that way you can become 100% intimate with the motor and know it's right from the outset. Trying to fund a uprated motor instantly is just going to be a money sink and cause more grief because you can't actually drive the car.

I had the same issue when the supermotos motor blew up, oil scavenge pump cavitated and pumped the contents of the oil tank into the sump. Cue nipped up little end, twisted piston and very scored bore. Fortunately I managed to dip the clutch and save it before it became a permanent sieze. Piston, rod, crank rebuild and bore weld up and replate totalled to a little more than £600 which was a significant portion of the bikes value. However due to the fact that the motor is not commonly available (air cooled rotax motor from the 80s) and it was significantly breathed upon (+50% power from stock) it was worth the cost in my eyes.

Fell on good luck and a very kind gentleman from the north east actually gave me a spare piston and rod for a couple of hours of my time spent setting up the carb on his bike!

Still sucks that the motor lunched itself :(

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Hate to say it but I'm in agreement, if it were a rare or uncommon engine then yes spend the money but otherwise I buy a bog standard lump to fit. Have the old motor and strip it yourself as a long term rebuild project on a stand, that way you can become 100% intimate with the motor and know it's right from the outset. Trying to fund a uprated motor instantly is just going to be a money sink and cause more grief because you can't actually drive the car.

Agreed with the above...

Hate to say it but I'm in agreement, if it were a rare or uncommon engine then yes spend the money but otherwise I buy a bog standard lump to fit. Have the old motor and strip it yourself as a long term rebuild project on a stand, that way you can become 100% intimate with the motor and know it's right from the outset. Trying to fund a uprated motor instantly is just going to be a money sink and cause more grief because you can't actually drive the car.

Agreed with the above...

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20vt presumably? Would you not be better just slinging any old 20v in for now? The engine's clearly f**ked so labour costs to strip it down seem a waste of time/money..?

Bits of smashed spark plug inside combustion chambers tend not to do engines many favours, even less if said plug bits make it further than that. There's about a dozen 20vt engines in any given scrapyard that would be a lot less f**king around and expense...

Have to agree with Rich...that engine is fit for the bin. For the cost of (at the very least), a new piston, 5 new valves and labour, you may as well just chuck a replacement engine in there. Or fit a forged one of you have plans for upping the power in the future

Hate to say it but I'm in agreement, if it were a rare or uncommon engine then yes spend the money but otherwise I buy a bog standard lump to fit. Have the old motor and strip it yourself as a long term rebuild project on a stand, that way you can become 100% intimate with the motor and know it's right from the outset. Trying to fund a uprated motor instantly is just going to be a money sink and cause more grief because you can't actually drive the car.

I had the same issue when the supermotos motor blew up, oil scavenge pump cavitated and pumped the contents of the oil tank into the sump. Cue nipped up little end, twisted piston and very scored bore. Fortunately I managed to dip the clutch and save it before it became a permanent sieze. Piston, rod, crank rebuild and bore weld up and replate totalled to a little more than £600 which was a significant portion of the bikes value. However due to the fact that the motor is not commonly available (air cooled rotax motor from the 80s) and it was significantly breathed upon (+50% power from stock) it was worth the cost in my eyes.

Fell on good luck and a very kind gentleman from the north east actually gave me a spare piston and rod for a couple of hours of my time spent setting up the carb on his bike!

Still sucks that the motor lunched itself :(

Agreed with the above...

Agreed with the above...

I agree.

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Because VAG blinkers, banter, internet, the lols, I like winding you/Clio (and Honda, although Honda's are actually shit) boys up, take your pick, I don't really give a f**k what other people drive :lol:

I'm quite sure every car in this thread would outperform my Hilux/camper in every department bar liveablity :P

Edited by Jolfa
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