XE bike carbs into van

[Joker]

Seen as though I have some spare time on my hands I figured a thread was in order to show the progress of the build I recently started. Once the xe is built and ready I shall be transplanting it into a renault kangoo van which I have just bought for cheap.

I've got a spare XE Block an Head and various other spare parts which have been lying around for sometime now and thought it was time to put them too use. I recently bought a set of R6 Carbs and an inlet manifold and pretty much everything I needed to get them up and running of another member over on astra-mk2.

I'ts a slow project but am aiming for it to be ready for when the shows come around next year.

The Bottom end was going to be the xe block I had in my shed but upon further inspection when the head was removed it was badly pitted and needed a rebore! (spark plugs had been removed and water had got in) There were nice rusty puddles in each cylinder which isn't good for any engine.



I attempted to hone the block just to see what I could remove but it was too deep and 110% Needed a rebore, Instead of doing that I just bought an XEV Block from eBay for £15! Bargain seen as though it had only covered 60k. This project is supposed to be on the cheap side and spending 300+ On Oversized pistons and rebore It seemed kinda silly as it was cheaper to get another block so thats what I got.









My XEV Block came yesterday and whilst I was at work I got it on the engine stand and de-greased it all ready for some paint - I was thinking red so red it will be. I haven't had chance to take any pictures just yet of the new block and stuff I've been doing but will take some this week.

Here are some pictures of the carbs and manifold I bought.





I think these little babies should sound pretty damn sweet when up and running.

List of things I have got and need are as followed:

XEV Block (DONE)
Piston rings (FITTED)
XE Head (DONE) *sending off for decoke, valve seats cut and new seals and rebuild*
F20 G/Box ([B]DONE/B])
R6 Carbs (DONE)
Bottom Pulley (DONE)
Bottom Pulley Bolt (DONE)
ARP Rod Bolts (STAYED WITH STANDARD)
Main Bearings (DONE)
Big End Bearings (DONE)
Driveshafts (MEASURED)
R6 Carbs (DONE) *need to drill jets to 1.8m*
R6 Fuel Pump (DONE)
Bogg Bross Inlet Manifold (DONE)
Ignition Coil (DONE)
Adjustable Distributor (DONE) *Sent off to H+H For Timing curve correction and vaccum blanking*
Cambelt Kit and Tensioners (DONE)
8V Baffle Plate (DONE)
Air Filter (need)

There are probably some more little bits I need but can't remember.

I shall update the thread if and when I get more pics and more progress.

I've never played around with carbs so it's all new to me but have followed a few tips from a few people that have done it before and covered the article in TV Mag also. It should be one nippy little van, Although fuel consumption won't be the best It Should Sound wicked!

Joker

[8valve-craig]

Hope your looking forward to the odd headache, Im just finishing my nova at the moment and setting them up is a right pain in the ass.

But your right, they sound awesome!

[Joker]

haha, what problems did you have mate? care to share....

Joker

[Joker]

Here are some more pics that I had taken today at work with a crappy camera (poor quality)

The head before its clean.



I Sprayed my pulleys just to give them some colour, nothing special but better than the rust colour lol



I've cleaned the block up and put the bearings in ready for the crank and cleaned my pistons, got them up nicely.









Hydraulic lifters in soak and some bolts for the sump



Advancable Dizzy



Clean sump



Clean Oil pipe



New head gasket set and head bolts.



Coil



Flywheel



R6 Fuel pump



And here are the carbs with the inlet on





Crank



Powder coated rocker cover



Breather for rocker cover



I couldn't resist and take some pics with the rocker cover and carbs on the head.







Quick picture of the block before I paint it tomorrow



Joker

[8valve-craig]

haha, what problems did you have mate? care to share....

Joker

Just teething problems, First run bust the throttle cable had to let the car drive itself home on tickover. Second run ran out of fuel (my own fault).

Now i think i may have killed the fuel pump, as i can nail it and drain the bowls but they dont fill back up quick enough. Mix that in with timing, mixture and tickover and you have a pretty potent headache...

Your followers chilling out in the oil...... How do you know which one goes where? I have always numbered them in seperate bags as i do with valves and cam caps.

[Joker]

Sounds like a head ache lol, It's all fun though I can't wait to hear mine start up, what air filter are u using and where u get it from ?

Yeah i didn't bother numbering them matey just threw them all in the oil - I was going to replace them with new but decided not too and by the time I made the decision I had mixed them up. They will be just fine though.

Joker

[8valve-craig]

Sounds like a head ache lol, It's all fun though I can't wait to hear mine start up, what air filter are u using and where u get it from ?

Joker

NO filters just yet, But i will be using a performance Foam filter for fzr1000 which is what the carbs are from. Im just waiting for a replacement pump to arrive before i can spend a bit more time on it and hopefully get it to run consistently.

If you live anywhere like my road you will be falling out with the neighbours when it comes to setting it up,

[Joker]

lol my neighbours are pretty sweet, however my engines being built at work in my unit so its all good. I'm gunna take it to a rolling road once im happy with my home set up should be good.

Joker

[Joker]

OK so today I painted my bottom end with smooth hammerite, it looks shi*e!!! really not impressed with it so gunna get it all off.

Anyone got any ideas of how I can remove it or no of any company that specialise in this sort of thing?

Joker

[8valve-craig]

it'l need a few coats before it starts to look ok.

[Joker]

yeah i think i put far to much on the first coat so gunna wire brush it all then have another go, or send it off and get it dipped.

will take some more pics tomoz

Joker

[inuendo0]

those carbs look nasty...what figures have you thought at?

[Joker]

why do they look nasty? figures are standard m8 prob add 10 - 15bhp from what ive seen, not going the whole way with them i.e headwork / cams. Just want something different to play with my let is off the road.

[tom reid]

I think you'll be happy with the performance,if the R6 carbs are as good as the R1's, on a standard engine it had so much grunt downstairs and through the mid range, it transformed the car, also transformed the fuel tank to empty, quickly, lol.
Not telling you how to suck eggs, but I'd have the buckets in thinners for a day and then strip and rebuild.

[Joker]

Yeah can't wait mate, got some more pics of my painted block to upload in a second. When you say buckets? do you mean my lifters or are you talking about the carbs?

Joker

[astra2004]

why do they look nasty? figures are standard m8 prob add 10 - 15bhp from what ive seen, not going the whole way with them i.e headwork / cams. Just want something different to play with my let is off the road.

might mean nasty in a good way,like sick or bad

[Joker]

Some more pics of painting - Not alot done but impressed after my first coat once I'd applied some more it looks OK.

Painted my pulleys and thermostat housing.






Dipstick painted


Few pictures of the block after its painted














Just out of bordem - Took a few pics of the unit.





Can anyone guess the engine. Timing chain jumped





Joker

[Joker]

might mean nasty in a good way,like sick or bad

lol I hope so I think their wicked they look "sick" and should sound "sick" lol

Joker

[tom reid]

buckets, lifters, the same thing.

[Joker]

ahhhhh I thought thats what you ment. Strip them down? can you remove the middle bit then? I've left them 2 soak and been squeezing them in and out and getting the air gun in there opening them and closing them to free them up.

[8valve-craig]

Bmw v8?

[Joker]

Bmw v8?

yes mate came from a 5 Series. Scrap engine now

[tom reid]

ahhhhh I thought thats what you ment. Strip them down? can you remove the middle bit then? I've left them 2 soak and been squeezing them in and out and getting the air gun in there opening them and closing them to free them up.

You'll be surprised how much muck gets into them. I leave them in thinners for 24 hours, then bang the bucket hard onto a metal bench a few times, the plunger should fall out, if not gently use small vice grips to remove it, this then strips down to a spring and sleeve, along with a cap and small ball bearing, it's worth doing.

[Joker]

OK mate, I'll have a bash at that tomorrow.

[Rick Draper]

May i ask why you have painted where the oil pump will fit?