Im beginning to regret owning this pile of shyte!!
Discussion
Im at a total loss with this car and dont even want to drive it anymore!..I went out there earlier to adjust the clutch cable and after bruising and scratching up all my hands and arms i decided to try to find out why its running like crap!..I changed the oil filler cap to one that it had originally but noticed loads of what looked like steam coming out from under it so i took it off to have a look and its oily smoke which would suggest that the breather is not working properly...This now is starting to make sense why the oil is being forced out of the crank seal..I then removed number 3 spark plug only to find it was black with oil but it was not wet more like varnish!..The plugs were brand new around a month ago..This might suggest that something is not right internally or it could be the inlet manifold gasket failing which shouldnt as its a good quality payen one...I really have had enough and im strongly thinking about scrapping it as its worth nothing running like shyte!..Maybe its time for a V8 or maybe its time to call it a day on wedges period...Ziga
Zig - take a deep breath and walk away from the heap of junk.
On Saturday, I wanted to throw a Jerry-can of petrol over Pandora and set her on fire. I was so pissed off.
These are not easy cars to live with at times, but that's because they're unique, pukka sports cars.
If you wanted cheap and easy, you could have bought a hot-hatch back.
Keep the faith mate. We've all been there.
On Saturday, I wanted to throw a Jerry-can of petrol over Pandora and set her on fire. I was so pissed off.
These are not easy cars to live with at times, but that's because they're unique, pukka sports cars.
If you wanted cheap and easy, you could have bought a hot-hatch back.
Keep the faith mate. We've all been there.
Where there is a will, there is a way. Everything is fixable. Take a deep breath, clear your head and think of all your options to solve the problem. You've come this far and with a little more effort you'll achieve your goal. Your car is still in it's test period with all the new stuff you have added. Once solved and running right the car will be worth a tidy sum. Then you can decide if you want to sell or keep. If you give up now you stand to loose too much. Good luck mate, I have faith in you and I'm sure you can do it.
Tony. TCB.
Tony. TCB.
Hi Mark at this point I would like to offer some form of wisdom to you bud but can't as I'm at the same junction as you ! Do we carry on trying to make sense of our motors or do we call it a day ??
For myself I have made a decision that if I'm not able to lower the inlet temps to a level where It can be fully mapped then the full stop as it were ends here....I feel in your case mate you have more of a connection with Delilah with all the time spent hooning around over the last three years so would be a shame to end it now.
Give her one more chance fella, I'm sure these are just a few problems that have popped up after fitting the supercharger ... Once you have them under control I think it will be full steam ahead for you !!
So take a step back fella have a rusty or two and count to ten !!!
For myself I have made a decision that if I'm not able to lower the inlet temps to a level where It can be fully mapped then the full stop as it were ends here....I feel in your case mate you have more of a connection with Delilah with all the time spent hooning around over the last three years so would be a shame to end it now.
Give her one more chance fella, I'm sure these are just a few problems that have popped up after fitting the supercharger ... Once you have them under control I think it will be full steam ahead for you !!
So take a step back fella have a rusty or two and count to ten !!!
Zig, Calm down mate....I finished my peiod the other day and things are ok now. I remember my first wedge, and believe me going by what you have there, yours is like a diamond compared to mine, it was a total heap of shyte, but I stuck at it, with the guys on here. It was a bit of a joke at one point I would only drive to meets and come back on a low loader every time.
Chin up mate.
Keep calm and keep wedging
Rob
Chin up mate.
Keep calm and keep wedging
Rob
But you are Mr Wedge! You can't sell now - not after you've made me buy one! "All suffer for one - one suffer for all!"
If it's glossy/lacquered I thought that was overheating? Injector issue leading to running lean and hot? Although to be fair that would likely melt something... Might just be breather and it's pulling it in on that one?
If it's glossy/lacquered I thought that was overheating? Injector issue leading to running lean and hot? Although to be fair that would likely melt something... Might just be breather and it's pulling it in on that one?
Zig, can this run with the supercharger disconnected? This will allow you to (hopefully) prove that the crankcase ventilation works OK until the supercharger is connected. Varnish on one plug? Clean it and swop plugs around to see if the varnish problem transfers to another cylinder. When it's running, can you measure the temperature of each exhaust manifold?
Cheers for the kind words of encouragement and the offer of taking it off my hands, I dont like to give up on things unless its a hopeless case.. Which it very nearly is..I dont think it will run very well without the blower as i had the compression lowered in the heads..It seems that the plugs on the O/S are all varnished up and the plugs on the N/S are all fine..The breather is on the O/S..The engine was strong and didnt leak pre-supercharger..The only issue is was the front crank seal disturbed when the charger pulley was fitted or has it failed with too much pressure?..I have a temporary catch tank that i was going to fit but it has started raining so its cover up time..Im also thinking of a get out clause..
1. Have a race prepared engine built by John Toovey and sell the blower as a kit..(1-1.5K).
2. Have John Toovey build a race spec engine that is suitable for a blower with long stroke crank..forged pistons..Stage 2-3 heads and a blower profiled cam...(2K)
OR
Sell the supercharger..Scrap the wedge and book myself a caribbean cruise..
PS:I cant measure the temp of each pipe as the heads have siamesed ports..I can measure each side though..
1. Have a race prepared engine built by John Toovey and sell the blower as a kit..(1-1.5K).
2. Have John Toovey build a race spec engine that is suitable for a blower with long stroke crank..forged pistons..Stage 2-3 heads and a blower profiled cam...(2K)
OR
Sell the supercharger..Scrap the wedge and book myself a caribbean cruise..
PS:I cant measure the temp of each pipe as the heads have siamesed ports..I can measure each side though..
Edited by mrzigazaga on Tuesday 10th September 16:27
Hi Mark
Although I've no longer got my Wedge after 7 years of ownership I learnt a few points.
Owning a TVR (performance car) is not cheap. When I was 25 years old (27 years ago) and worked in Harrogate, I used to walk to work past Harrogate Horseless Carriages and stick my nose on the glass and ogle at the 350's etc and promised myself that one day I would own one.
The cars where so expensive in those days it was only the "well off" that could afford them and run them compered to other cars on the market.
I eventually realised my dream and bought a 1990 400 SE - which was the one featured in Gassing Station last week.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
When I bought it I paid £8250 for it which was the going price at the time and I had that money as a disposable (good bonus year at work) but it was a bit tired and needed a bit of care.
Many pounds later - probably £14k plus I sold it due to injuring my back and not being comfortable in it. It sold for £6800 as that was the price at the time - bit dissappointed but I see it as going to the casino - if you can't afford to loose it then don't go!!
Bought a 1998 BMW Z3M -its not a TVR - but it goes like stink 335bhp and rear wheel drive and costs me £240 for a service and £40 for a MOT. It may Teutonic but its certainly got some character if you want to keep it on the road and not disappear over the hedge.
I think that the moral of MY story is if you want to realise a dream, it costs cash and unless you have disposable cash its sometimes painful but at the end you ain't going to make money out of the deal, just have some fun and meet some good guys then its worth it.
If I'd stuck to being a sensible pencil I might have more money, but its been one hell of a ride...
Piston broke Richard
Although I've no longer got my Wedge after 7 years of ownership I learnt a few points.
Owning a TVR (performance car) is not cheap. When I was 25 years old (27 years ago) and worked in Harrogate, I used to walk to work past Harrogate Horseless Carriages and stick my nose on the glass and ogle at the 350's etc and promised myself that one day I would own one.
The cars where so expensive in those days it was only the "well off" that could afford them and run them compered to other cars on the market.
I eventually realised my dream and bought a 1990 400 SE - which was the one featured in Gassing Station last week.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
When I bought it I paid £8250 for it which was the going price at the time and I had that money as a disposable (good bonus year at work) but it was a bit tired and needed a bit of care.
Many pounds later - probably £14k plus I sold it due to injuring my back and not being comfortable in it. It sold for £6800 as that was the price at the time - bit dissappointed but I see it as going to the casino - if you can't afford to loose it then don't go!!
Bought a 1998 BMW Z3M -its not a TVR - but it goes like stink 335bhp and rear wheel drive and costs me £240 for a service and £40 for a MOT. It may Teutonic but its certainly got some character if you want to keep it on the road and not disappear over the hedge.
I think that the moral of MY story is if you want to realise a dream, it costs cash and unless you have disposable cash its sometimes painful but at the end you ain't going to make money out of the deal, just have some fun and meet some good guys then its worth it.
If I'd stuck to being a sensible pencil I might have more money, but its been one hell of a ride...
Piston broke Richard
Snow Mole said:
just have some fun and meet some good guys then its worth it.
Hi Richard..Thanks for that..It has been worth it as i have met some really nice people who own TVR's, Not just wedges either..I guess once its sorted then i will be a very happy bunny, I know its MORE MONEY but i was going to spend out on the interior and eventually have the chassis stripped and refurbed..I guess i could spend the money on sex, drugs and rock n roll and then waste the rest but would it make me smile as much..
..Probably only if my toes were to curl up..Unfortunately the only luck i get is shyte luck which i suppose is better than none at all..The mod was done to 60 cars in the mid 80's and none of them had any issues..I do it to the same engine but in a TVR and guess what...It goes tits up..Well i guess i should see it through to the end..As magnus magnusson used to say.."Ive started so i'll finish"...Cheers..Ziga
h. You just have to take her in hand and show her who the boss is. Failing that a gallon of go juice and a lighted match carob said:
I finished my period the other day and things are ok now.
Rob
LOL!Rob
Zig, you may find the breathing and oily plugs are connected somehow.
Don't despair, you are on the cutting edge of developing a new type of car, there are bound to be teething problems. We'll kick about a few stupid theories on here and out of that some stuff worth trying will emerge.
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