Wayne
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Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Feb 9, 2005 14:55:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Doug I will live with the linkage for now but use a rod change box on the engine I wll be using after I get the car sorted Cheers Wayne
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Wayne
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Feb 12, 2005 14:41:25 GMT -5
Hi everyone Ive just had my first track day and the car went quite well with the only real problem being with the cooling system.It was a hot day with temp in the mid 30 c and I could only manage 2 laps at a time before the car would get to hot. Im going to have to get larger radiators. Other than that the car went really well I managed 7 laps in all as the day was shortened when a Peugeot blew his motor at the end of the straight and dropped all its oil. This took some time to clean up. By my last run i was starting to get used to the way the car handles, I had never driven an open wheeled car before. My last run of the day was just a couple of seconds slower than my best time in my Cooper S which had around 120 hp. I will post some pics on my website in a day or so. Cheers Wayne
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Post by MiNiTiCi on Feb 12, 2005 16:14:26 GMT -5
Hi Wayne, Glad to hear that your first test session did not give you too much trouble. Re. The overheating - (apart from the fact that it never gets to 30 Deg C here in Scotland!) I did encounter overheating with my Mini engined single seater even on short hillclimbs and sprints. Usually when I was double entered on an event. I was using a single side radiator with header and expansion tanks. Most of my problems seemed to happen after I had stopped when heat soak started to boil the water in the block and head after the water stopped flowing. With the short running times for sprints (maximum 1.5 minutes) I was still seeing temperatures over 100 deg C - I put this down to the waterpump cavitating at high revs (on short courses I was probably never below 6000 rpm and peaking at 7800). I think the cure would be to fit an electric water pump which would pump regardless of engine speed and can run after the engine is switched off to avoid heat soak from that great lump of iron ;D The pictures of your Terrapin seem to show very small diameter radiator pipes - again the Mini waterpump may be toiling to circulate water through these. My GTM coupe with a front mounted radiator does not pump water below 3500 rpm due to the resistance of the 1 inch dia. pipes with bends etc. Doug.
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Wayne
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Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Feb 12, 2005 16:36:32 GMT -5
Hi Doug I am using an electric pump however my radiators are only heater cores out of a Holden I think I will need to get 2 custom radiators made. I spoke to a guy at the track who was running a formula ford he had just fitted 2 new radiators he had made and it solved all his heating problems. He also told me the mounting is very important and to angle them so as to slow the air as it passes through. Cheers Wayne
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Post by Terrapin on Feb 14, 2005 3:44:27 GMT -5
Usinf front rad, 1.25 " tubing & ex.large pump pulley on mine to cut down cavitation. Let you know how it performs on first outing.
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Wayne
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Feb 14, 2005 4:13:16 GMT -5
I dont think you will encounter to many problems Rob. I think my problem lies in the hose diameter I ran tests at home running the motor for 20 minutes with no sign of overheating but race conditions are a lot more servere. Anyway this is what building a car is all about if everything went smoothly what would we do with all the spare time. Cheers Wayne
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Post by Terrapin on Feb 14, 2005 6:15:38 GMT -5
Well Wayne, one milestone under the belt - car built and raced. Now into developement ;D Stu's tips seem to be well recognised (keeping the rear soft and the front firm). Allan suggested I need the anti-roll bars also so have made mine out of EN24T 1/2" OD steel bar. Once bent to shape (heat to cherry red with oxy torch - do not bend cold - grain structure problems) Then normalise and heat treat to T6 (I am getting this done by a site contractor here at work as a favour - heat treatment specialist)
Post some pic next week (as off for three days after tomorrow - school half term - I'll fire up the camera) regards Rob
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Wayne
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Jun 4, 2005 16:19:21 GMT -5
Hi Eveyone well I have just had my second outing in the car and the new Radiators worked so well that i had to put the Thermostat back in so the Engine would get up to the correct tempreture. The day saw a few problems I have learnt to be a bit gentle with my gear changes as I found myself stuck in top gear when the rear linkage pull out of its socket and on my last run of the day I blew a Head Gasket. I have discovered that the 1100 Engine im using is way underpowered and I think its time to upgrade the car is capable of going so much quicker but is limited by the Engine. In all though I had a very good day with my lap times improving on every run as I get used to the way the car handles my last time was nearly 10 seconds quicker than my first which was quite good considering it was done with a blown head gasket.Well thats about it I will put some pics on my website soon
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Wayne
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Jun 4, 2005 17:49:39 GMT -5
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Post by Terrapin on Jun 6, 2005 6:03:40 GMT -5
Good pictures Wayne. Nice to see another Terrapin in action. cheers Rob
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Wayne
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Sept 24, 2005 23:41:58 GMT -5
Hi everyone I have just returned from my Terrapins 3rd outing this one was not very successful I managed only 4 laps before once again blowing a head gasket, so ive decided its time to get started on building a good race engine, the current one did well considering it was only supposed to be used to set up the chassis and get all the mounting points correct. I have posted some pics at www.msnusers.com/terrapinracecar for anyone interested in having a look. I would be most greatful for any advice on engine building as it will be all new to me Cheers Wayne
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Post by MiNiTiCi on Sept 25, 2005 4:59:52 GMT -5
Hi Wayne, Sorry to hear about your recurring head gasket problems. What sort of CR is the engine running? Hopefully your new engine will hold a gasket. In the past I have had problems getting 'competition' copper gaskets to seal and have ended up using Loctite flange sealant! There again I have used standard Mini gaskets and had no problems Nice pictures - doesn't the Terrapin look tiny, especially next to the Pylon. Anyway - must go and weld the top rocker for my Hawke's front suspension - managed to take too much rumble strip last weekend and the rocker folded. Doug.
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Wayne
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by Wayne on Sept 25, 2005 22:15:31 GMT -5
I dont think the compression is the problem it might be a fault with the head as I didnt get it crack tested after the last time. I will have to teach my wife how to use the Zoom on the camera so I can get some close up shots Wayne
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