Craig's XE track Nova

[SimonTW]

Great job on the wheels! Looks like a profession spray job on them!

[Craig-S]

Thanks, Im doing the last one now which was the worst of them all as its been on fire. Have been photographing every single step so i can put a "DIY WHEEL REFURB" guide up in the technical section at some point.

Yesterday was a good day with no real issues. It still amazes me how i can drive up and down the country in something i built with no qualifications, without it breaking down or falling apart.... Its almost too good to be true?

Got to Santa Pod at 8am after setting off at 6 for a brisk drive. Got signed on and throughout the day got 7 runs in. Best time was a 14.3 which i was a little disapointed with. The car could definately have got into the 13's but every single run was flawed in one way or another, with either a big wheelspin or a missed gearchange.

The runs were ended when it threw its alternator belt off, and as i was using my van battery thought it best to find a Halfords at 3:30pm and fix it for the drive home. Looks like its running skew-iff so will be making a new lower alt mount to pull it in 7mm, which will then get it away from the chassis leg too.



One casualty that i didnt notice until Halfords car-park was that when the belt came off it must have swiped one of the trumpets off with it, Which is a bit annoying, but just means il have to buy some shiney new ones.



All in all a good day. Just need to think about the box and gear-change now really. Il start by rose jointing the linkage, and if that doesnt work will be on the lookout for a low milage Daewoo Nexia f16. Got the car all tucked up now, Will definately be back out for Billing, then probably be back out for Trax and Combe action day, Plus i have a voucher for a day at keevil too so a few more outings yet.

[Corsamitch]

Was good to meet ya mate, shame the belt ended things early, glad ya sorted it tho!

I also managed a best of 14.3 by the end of the day! Gd little races we had mate, I think it's fair to say our cars are very evenly matched

[Benn]

Glad you made it home.

[Craig-S]

Was good to meet ya mate, shame the belt ended things early, glad ya sorted it tho!

I also managed a best of 14.3 by the end of the day! Gd little races we had mate, I think it's fair to say our cars are very evenly matched

Well done, Yes, nice to meet you. The carbs v's throttle bodies debate has been had 1000 times, but yesterday proved that in a straight line on an otherwise standard engine there is nothing in it.

Glad you made it home.

Cheers Benn. Dont know where you got that alt from, but i have 4 here and all of them have those spacers between the fan and the pulley ????

[Benn]

Maybe i just took mine out... I don't remember tbh, i just need it to be shorter.

[Craig-S]

Il try that. Saves cutting and drilling a new bracket.

[Craig-S]

Been thinking more and more about it recently and decided i should pull my finger out and build a real mans engine. I have the bits under my bath so have promised myself il start putting them together.

[Kev_G]

under the bath thats a random place but out of the way

[SimonTW]

That is the most bizzarre place to store engine bits. Great idea though!

[r_hughes]

Not strange to keep bits in weird places can always find them easier !! i have a driveshaft under my bed for a good while

[Craig-S]

Driveshaft under the bed? I dont want to know what you use that for

Yeah under my bath is the best place for stuff like this. The shed at home isnt very sequre and my unit is 2 miles away. Id be gutted if i turned up one morning and it was all gone.

[r_hughes]

Don't think anyone wants to know that

yeah same for me the garage door is buggered and the council are too tight to fix it so need to hide all my stuff from prying eyes ! (or known as thieving wee chavs)

[Kev_G]

Craig should you not change your username now also just thought

[pmc_3]

I'd be worried about getting a leak and them all getting wet!

[Melv]

Craig should you not change your username now also just thought

He still has 8 valves. Just that there are another 8 keeping them company.

[Corsamitch]

Get it built!! Some nice bits ya there

[Corsamitch]

I'd be worried about getting a leak and them all getting wet!

It wouldn't surprise me...I heard he used to be a dodgy plumber!

[Craig-S]

Ah it was shower screen i had trouble with. Leaks were uncommon (not like filling a toilet up with hot water)

I had a bit of luck today and got the chance to clear out a guys garage. He had been collecting XE parts for 11 years so there was a fair bit there. I handed over the money without really bothering to look at what was included in the sale, But to my suprise i found this alternator, which looks perfect for what i need to solve the belt issue

And next to it a modified diff inspection plate. I like to change the oil in my box a lot, so its ideal, and i had actually been considering making one.

[Corsamitch]

Hahahahaha...

Yer that alt looks better mate, should make it sit nice and straight now...

[Craig-S]

Yeah should be a straight swap. there is about 8mm in it, which will make a world of difference.

Also just sequred a Quaife Straight cut syncro box, so the plate will be even more valuable. Not picked it up yet though.

[Corsamitch]

^^ nice!! ^^

[Craig-S]

Yeah... Nice... But could probably buy another car for what its costing

[Corsamitch]

Yer didn't think it'd be cheap lol!! 1500-2k?

[Craig-S]

Not quite that much. But i do work hard i suppose.