Five Years Off The Road
Discussion
I parked my road car up 5 years ago after taking the engine out to use in the 2008 TVR championship.. Left it in my granddads barn... Over the years I have tidied the chassis and changed various parts including old race car parts that we have upgraded (brakes, clutch, gearbox etc) but never got round to putting an engine in it or actually getting her going.
Anyway, 4 weeks ago a mate said about going to Le Mans and how it would be nice to go in the Cerb.. I like a challenge!
So Dad and I built our first AJP! Having never fully built one before (have done lots of running repairs at race tracks, changed heads etc) we were unsure if we would get it right! Time wasn’t on our side so I worked through the night and got the engine in...
The first time I installed the engine, wired and plumbed her in..... There was an immediate problem.... Water escaping from a large crack in the drivers side head that wasn't visible!! Great! So pull it all back out and take apart again!
Three weeks to go and the engine has another head on it, a spare for the race car. Repeat the process of fitting plumbing in etc.... Another late night!!!
For some reason before starting it for the first time I open the throttles to have a look at the valves etc... Drivers side cylinder 6 full of water..... (Leaking down the valve stem) cue lots of swearing throwing things and giving up on Le Mans! The next morning (with a calm head) I found a good pair of tested heads... Picked them up and pulled the engine out for the third time over night!
Rebuilt the engine (again) and fitted it the next evening... and even managed to get my granddad in on the action!! This was a very late night!
Last Tuesday with two weeks until our tunnel crossing I finished plumbing it in again! Did all the checks and everything is oil and water tight!! Turn on the ignition for the first time in 5 years and everything seems to work (at last)! What I hadn't accounted for was all the fuel lines being perished! Yet again stay up all night, this time replacing the fuel system....
Wednesday 8am last week... Fuel system fuel tight, engine still oil and water tight! Time for the first start up! So there I am lap top plugged in throttles all set up with the engine turning over perfectly! But no fuel or spark.... Try all the usual things to no avail... So swap the crank sensor, no good. Try a different ecu, no good. Clean every earth and electrical connector, no good!! More swearing! Decide I'm going to drive to another friend’s house that has a spare loom. Get back at 5pm and fit a complete new engine loom......
6.30pm she fires up straight away and runs like a dream!! Chuffed! Tired....
So over the following evenings I have built her back up spanner checked everything got the brakes and clutch working. Took her for her first ever drive to the MOT station on Monday.... Passed first time!
Since Monday I have done over 300 miles to run the engine in. Haven't gone above 4k or half throttle yet but it all seems good!
It's amazing really that a car that has sat for 5 years and everything works! I had forgotten a lot of the characteristics of the cerb, the driving position. The dim headlights, the way they sit in traffic and there ability to get away from you when not concentrating! I love it! Over the next few days I will get the mileage to 750 and then open her up! Then on Thursday next week I will be driving her to Le Mans and back!
A happy cerb driver again!!
Mike
Anyway, 4 weeks ago a mate said about going to Le Mans and how it would be nice to go in the Cerb.. I like a challenge!
So Dad and I built our first AJP! Having never fully built one before (have done lots of running repairs at race tracks, changed heads etc) we were unsure if we would get it right! Time wasn’t on our side so I worked through the night and got the engine in...
The first time I installed the engine, wired and plumbed her in..... There was an immediate problem.... Water escaping from a large crack in the drivers side head that wasn't visible!! Great! So pull it all back out and take apart again!
Three weeks to go and the engine has another head on it, a spare for the race car. Repeat the process of fitting plumbing in etc.... Another late night!!!
For some reason before starting it for the first time I open the throttles to have a look at the valves etc... Drivers side cylinder 6 full of water..... (Leaking down the valve stem) cue lots of swearing throwing things and giving up on Le Mans! The next morning (with a calm head) I found a good pair of tested heads... Picked them up and pulled the engine out for the third time over night!
Rebuilt the engine (again) and fitted it the next evening... and even managed to get my granddad in on the action!! This was a very late night!
Last Tuesday with two weeks until our tunnel crossing I finished plumbing it in again! Did all the checks and everything is oil and water tight!! Turn on the ignition for the first time in 5 years and everything seems to work (at last)! What I hadn't accounted for was all the fuel lines being perished! Yet again stay up all night, this time replacing the fuel system....
Wednesday 8am last week... Fuel system fuel tight, engine still oil and water tight! Time for the first start up! So there I am lap top plugged in throttles all set up with the engine turning over perfectly! But no fuel or spark.... Try all the usual things to no avail... So swap the crank sensor, no good. Try a different ecu, no good. Clean every earth and electrical connector, no good!! More swearing! Decide I'm going to drive to another friend’s house that has a spare loom. Get back at 5pm and fit a complete new engine loom......
6.30pm she fires up straight away and runs like a dream!! Chuffed! Tired....
So over the following evenings I have built her back up spanner checked everything got the brakes and clutch working. Took her for her first ever drive to the MOT station on Monday.... Passed first time!
Since Monday I have done over 300 miles to run the engine in. Haven't gone above 4k or half throttle yet but it all seems good!
It's amazing really that a car that has sat for 5 years and everything works! I had forgotten a lot of the characteristics of the cerb, the driving position. The dim headlights, the way they sit in traffic and there ability to get away from you when not concentrating! I love it! Over the next few days I will get the mileage to 750 and then open her up! Then on Thursday next week I will be driving her to Le Mans and back!
A happy cerb driver again!!
Mike
kin' nutter !
itsallyellow said:
We're on the 7.30 Chunnel. Staying in houx
Mike
We'll have to go some to catch you!! Mike
That's a shame - we always used to stay on Houx but have moved to Le Bounty last year and this. No worries though, I'm sure we will see you out and about on Friday!
You can never have too many Cerbs at Le Mans!!
Rob
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