3.14 Differential Refurb #1

Managed to get a 3.14 diff from eBay for a good price. I plan to clean it up and then to use it as a spare, maybe in time get an LSD fitted.

First job was to remove the back plate to check that it actually is a 3.14 and also to look at the crown wheel, pinion and planed gears for wear. The bolts on the back plate eventually moved with the exception of one which I broke a hex bit on. I ground the head off and then removed the back plate.

It is a 3.14, all looks fine and the gears all look tidy. 

The diff was really dirty, caked in mud and grease. First I jet washed off the mud, then applied de-greaser and jet washed again. Next I cleaned the casing with wire brushes to get ready for paint.

Removed the diff flange, used a gear puller to remove the flange from the splined shaft. The diff flange looks heavily rusted and needs a good clean. Read somewhere about electrolysis cleaning so might have a go to clean it up.

Masked off the edges of the diff and ready for paint.

Some More Bits

While the car has been away at MNR I have been getting a few bits ready to be installed after it's been registered. Seeing Chris's car really spurred me on and gave me some ideas.

I've ordered a pair of Tillett carbon B6F seats similar to the ones Chris has in his grey car. These are due in about 2 weeks, I also have a rear diffuser to fit that I've had for a while. 

Still need to order an aero screen and get some 0.7mm carbon for the rear boot lid to replace the carbon effect one fitted.

On the engine front I have the SBD throttle bodies, 690cc injectors, flat shifter blipper kit and a pipercrosss filter to go on before the final mapping session with Daman. Originally I planned to fit these later, but if I get it done now I will save a mapping session. 

Getting ready for IVA at Daytuner #2

Spoken to Damian today for an update, he has now swapped over the cams for a standard set and shimmed them for the correct clearances. The emissions are now where they need to be for the IVA test.

I'm glad it's sorted now, will get the car fully mapped for performance at a later date.

Getting ready for IVA at Daytuner

Had a call from Damian at Daytuner today who told me that he was having difficulty in mapping my engine for emissions. The car is fitted with a cat and exhaust but was refusing to provide a consistent emissions readings.

Damian has completed compression tests on the cylinders and found that cylinders 1 & 4 are 210 psi and 2 & 3 are reading 190 psi. Given that the engine is supposed to be fitted with high compression pistons, these should be reading of closer to 240 psi. 

He also completed a leak down test which showed up a problem with the piston rings and a small amount of leakage via the valves, this can be fixed by seating the valves with a grind. I'll do this sometime in the future.

The other possible issue is with the high lift kent cams that are fitted and the possibility of valve timing overlap. Damian will swap out the cams for standard ones tomorrow and to try again. 

Hopefully he can sort the emissions and get it down to an acceptable level. IVA is booked for 8th so will need to let them know by Thursday if I need to postpone the test. 

Blyton Park

Had a day out yesterday and met up with the MNR team along with a decent turn out of MNR owners.

Experienced some track action as a passenger with Leon in his MNR, he drove it like he'd stolen it!! Nothing came close, even full blown race cars at 3 times the cost with downforce.

Later on he hit a cone while not paying attention, he was checking out his dash and he bent a front wishbone, lost a cycle wing and damaged a rear arch. MNR sorted him out and replaced the wishbone at trackside and got him back on the track. Surprisingly they had a set of wishbones on the trailer, guess they have been here before.

There were some really great MNR's at Blyton, one that I was impressed with was a tidy grey and black car owned by Chris, he's done a top job and has given me some ideas.

Like his Tillett seats, they are comfortable and look amazing. Will look in to getting a pair of these when I get my car back from IVA. Also like how Chris has fitted his diffuser, his rear  brake callipers and the 0.7mm carbon used on his boot lid. 

Still Waiting For IVA

Chased up VOSA in Swansea today and they told me that the documentation was in order and they had had passed it to the local testing station in Beverly on the 4th September.

Was told that the station should he in contact within a month to book an appointment for the IVA test!!!

Called the Beverly test station and they have now booked the car in for 8th October for the test. 

Spotted at MNR

My car was finally collected by MNR on Tuesday this week and taken back to Harrogate for IVA prep, then will go to Damian at Daytuner for mapping. 

Received confirmation from VOSA that my paperwork is in order and the Beverly Test Centre will be in touch with a date. Hope it's soon as I've been waiting to get IVA sorted for a month now...

In the meantime, here's some pictures of my car at MNR.