"Reuben" Blog Entries
The following are written as web-logs.
18th Aug, 2008
My first blog entry, as i'm bored at work with nothing to do!
I started the "turbo conversion" at the end of 2006, when my n/a 1275 engine died. So I bought a standard metro turbo engine on ebay for more than i'd have liked to but oh well!
It cam with the engine itself, as well as larger ID fuel lines, bulkhead box, downpipe and fuel pump. So at least I didnt have to buy these at a later date!
The car which this was going into basically disolved on my driveway as I had no where to store it, I couldnt maintain it as I was away at university the majority of the time. During breaks from uni, I got cracking on the engine. I stripped it and sent the block away to minispeed (mistake) for machining. I had it chemically dipped etc with new core plugs and cam bearings etc along with a +020" bore to 1293.
At this stage progress stayed the same when I went back to university. While I was away I still carried on collecting bits when I had the cash to spare so bought parts such as, some di-cast omega pistons, avobar phase 2 cam kit, piper duplex vernier, minispares 4-pin molybdenum differential, minispares clubman SCCR gearset, TRAN-X 1:1 SC drops, MED Ultralight Flywheel and gearbox rebuild kit.
It took quite a while to get these bits together as all the cash was coming out of my student loan, and I didnt have a job while away at university which I should have really :P. Last summer I bought a rolling shell from I guy in Aylesbury, for £500 I got a very good condition rolling shell with mg metro 1275 unit and no front end. So I set about getting this on the road, which halted funding to the engine side of things. I bought some swanky arches and seats when I could afford to.
Anyway I finished uni this year and straight away got the car on the road, passing the MOT first time was a bonus, with the car all setup and ready to go I have turned my attention to the turbo motor. I have just started a job at Rolls Royce, Goodwood as a bespoke engineer. Now im actually getting paid i've started to make some progress, i've been waiting ages to get properly into this project!
To get the ball rolling i've recently built the short motor, assembled the gearbox and attatched the two! Feels like huge steps foward and thinking about it, it is! So as you might guess im really enthusiastic at the moment.
Next on my list this month is getting an ultralight backplate, grey diagphram and rally clutch plate. As well as a fully modified BENROSS head. With all this fitted, I'll take the n/a engine out the car and start prepping it for the turbo motor, bulkhead box, fuel lines and an injection tank will be installed. With all that done the motor can go in, i'll rebuild the turbo and fix it to the engine, and drop the lot in.
So hopefully within the next few months I will be able to get alot of stuff done, i'm keeping and eye out for some EDIS bits and will need to make a trigger wheel and VR sensor bracket, and get the MJLJ unit itself.
But yeah, making progress now, cant wait to have it done!!! I'll list the final spec but no doubt it wont be completely accurate to the final thing:
[B]Engine and Gearbox[/B]
What ive got so far:
Standard T3 turbo, to be rebuilt
Standard turbo carb, to be rebuilt with noice bits
Avonbar Billet acuator, 12psi i think, dunno how I find out
15+ psi
1293 Metro Turbo block
10cc dish Omega Cast pistons
Standard crank and rods
Centre main strap
Heavy duty main, rod and camshaft bearings
Powerflow high capacity oil pump
Avonbar phase 2 cam kit
Piper Vernier Duplex kit
MED Ultralight steel flywheel
Minispares Molybdenum 4-pin differential
Minispares Clubman SCCR gearset
TRAN-X 1:1 SC drop gears
Bits to come:
Fully modded Benross head
MED ultralight backplate
Grey Diagphram
AP Race/Rally plate
EDIS and MJLJ setup
2wd Cosworth intercooler, modded plenum and pipes
Some sort of dump valve
In car bleed valve
MPI tank
Whatever i've forgotten
[B]General Car[/B]
Bits i've got:
Clubman f/g 1 piece front
Curley carbon miglia arches
7x13 ultralights
2 Cobra imola s buckets with TRS harnesses
All sound deadening gone tubby bye bye's
SPAXtics shocks and some hi-lo's
Bits to come:
A full weld in cage
Protech shocks
Maybe a beam axle
Tubbed rear arches
Ally doors
Carbon bootlid
Mk2 lights
Ligther wheels
Some half decent brakes
Digi Display, gauges
Ally dashboard
Cheers,
Rich
