Jon Stewart

Some of you may remember some of the issues i had at the end of last year here After a bit of a faff the engine was eventually put back in, was carefully run in, new oil put in and off to Spa i went for a double trackday at the begining of August. The engine was performing well (i later calculated 147mph at the end of Kemmel straight albeit with a draft ) but then spat some coolant out. the temperature remained fine throughout. I checked the coolant levels, topped up and carefully bled and went back out. All as OK until braking for the chicane my visor was covered with a fine spray of coolant. I dropped straight into the pits and it started chuffing like a steam train. ☹️ I later had the engine removed and was sent off for investigation. It was found the engine had failed on the head gasket to cylinder no. 4. The fault appears to be due to lifting of the head on one or more of the bolts at the rear of cylinder no.4 and cylinder no 4 was full of water.The head casting has suffered detonation and eaten away the gasket face, the head casting is scrap.The bottom end has shown some signs of deterioration to the bearings due to detonation of the head (apparently this causes a mis-fire type fault and damages bearing faces) and a small amount of pickup in the bores. So, it has been recommended i have a full rebuild with a new worked head ☹️ I have also been advised to have new cams as the current ones are of an old profile (circa 15yrs old) and a new ECU as it currently runs an old Weber one that isn't user programable. I now have to decide whether to do the above and sod the expense, source another engine, sell the car as a whole or as parts or something else i haven't yet thought of All suggestions welcome apart from renting my 🙆🏻. It hasn't been a good year so far but i'm sure it could have been worse

here 🤔

Miltec, My old carb VX can still a few 🙆🏻 😬 Drop me an email and i can send you a spreadsheet of weights. Jon

You'll need to get bosses fitted. I had Arch do them on my '91 chassis while i waited. Shouldn't be a problem on a renovation!

Will do. Don't know the steerer tube length as it's attached to an old bike but i'll have a look and try and work out. Jon

I think i have in the shed: 100mm travel forks (Rock Shox something or other) with v bosses Avid V-brakes and levers (both of late 90's vintage) Merlin built wheels with XT hubs and 717 rims (about 3-4yrs old not many miles) I can have a look tonight for more detail if you're interested 🤔

I have the SPC heavy duty semi-helical in my VX and like it. Ideal ratios for the road although a bit long for track use with a 3.92 and high revs. I see SPC have "1 x Unused Quaife T9 5 speed semi helical gearbox,long imput shaft,2.39 1st,suitable for Caterham seven etc. £1100.00+vat" here

That was me I thought at the time you were telling me to slow down 😬

Have as closer look at mine next time here

So am i I understand if you don't want to give too much away

dazzle, wherabouts are you 🤔 I'm up Hammond Street way Jon

....or 1161mm

I have some that can be seen here There is a small mark on each door (photos 9 & 10) and the usual mark where they fold back against the screen (photos 3 & 7) I'll take £120 + postage if you are interested. Jon

Finally got the car fired up yesterday with its refreshed engine and heard a terrible metallic screaching noise. It sounded what i expect a CRB to sound like although a new one had been fitted and the noise goes completely when the clutch is depressed. A new flywheel has been fitted. Is it worth adjusting the clutch cable or could there be anything else i've done wrong? Jon Edited by - Jon Stewart on 6 Jun 2010 14:03:47

I have a pair in the loft with fittings and mirrors and elbow room. I'll have to check condition but one is nearly new. I'm off to Scotland tomorrow but if you can drop me a blatmail on Sunday it might jog my memory

You sod *mad* I was going to stick some on (on the sly) for the next track day and catch you on the hop. 😬 As for learning curve, i found the best policy was to hammer it from the word go 😬

John Wilcox website is here

I'm in the Cheshunt/Goffs Oak area but know your area well.

Paul, It's already dry sumped. After a problem I had with the crank wheel disintegrating I changed to a toothed flywheel and the crankcase breather was blanked off as it fouled the newly positioned sensor. I was going to blank off the corresponding outlet on the cam cover as the front breather is linked to a Pace oil tank which breathes to a catch tank which I think will be OK John, whereabouts in Herts are you? Edited by - Jon Stewart on 30 Jan 2010 16:32:02

Can anyone confirm that the large rear breather elbow on the cam cover is removable and if so how would i get it out? I was thinking a hairdryer to the cover might do it. thanks Jon

You can buy a "Starter Kit" here which has decent coverage but has a gloss finish so will not match the powder coating. OK for underneath though.

Indeed. I wondered if she would also notice some throttle bodies? 😬 I gained plenty of knowledge and confidence with Marks help to have a go at putting the engine back in myself this weekend. I already had a quick attempt then remembered i needed the scavenge pump which is still away being serviced I had a few queries about refitting and i'll start a seperate topic.

I picked up my freshly rebuilt engine on Friday and am pleased to report that the only serious damage was a bent rod There was a bit of tidying up needed, re-balance etc but i think i got off quite lightly and the damage to my wallet was very reasonable Thank you again to Mark for the help with removal and recommendation 😶‍🌫️ The only thing i wasn't happy with was, after comparing costs with my last refresh, it would appear i paid about £3k to get the engine removed and refitted last time and £500 of headwork that was carried out at that time consisted of +1mm inlet valves and er, nothing else I'll put that one down to experience Jon

I found the sheared off heads of the screws in the sump. Would this suggest they failed before the Trigger wheel?

Mark has kindly offered to remove the engine on Saturday so i'm confident on that front. I had a new alternator fitted at the end of last year and queried it then but I'm now inclined to go with the small type Is this best sourced from SBD and how would it be mounted? The photo on their website has it on the inlet side where my dry sump pump is.