Discussion
Haha. When I get a project it tends to become a bit of an obsession
I didn't really want another project as I'd just finished building this, but always fancied another Libra so thought I'd take it on and try and get it done as fast as possible. Especially before the weather comes good.
I didn't really want another project as I'd just finished building this, but always fancied another Libra so thought I'd take it on and try and get it done as fast as possible. Especially before the weather comes good.
Done some bits over the weekend, given the block a clean and re honed it ready for assembly.
Built myself a good gearbox out of the S80 LSD integra type R box and S4C 1.6 civic box.
Used the best gears, synchros and hubs out of the two and swapped 4th gear so there will be less of a gap from 3rd - 4th. So I have a really sought-after box now with better ratios than any of he standard boxes and with the factory LSD and 4.78 FD
Could have swapped 5th too but don't want it revving any higher than it already will be on the motorway.
Also fitted the drivers side front wishbones which were a pig to do, ran out of time after that but the passenger side should be easier with no steering rack/pedal box in the way when reaching through the monocoque.
Built myself a good gearbox out of the S80 LSD integra type R box and S4C 1.6 civic box.
Used the best gears, synchros and hubs out of the two and swapped 4th gear so there will be less of a gap from 3rd - 4th. So I have a really sought-after box now with better ratios than any of he standard boxes and with the factory LSD and 4.78 FD
Could have swapped 5th too but don't want it revving any higher than it already will be on the motorway.Also fitted the drivers side front wishbones which were a pig to do, ran out of time after that but the passenger side should be easier with no steering rack/pedal box in the way when reaching through the monocoque.
Still plodding on, haven't bothered updating much as nothing particularly interesting to show yet, I've fitted all the wishbones etc. got my arm stuck in the car whilst doing the rear wishbone mounts 
front end is built up new shocks etc
Just in the process of sorting the engine bits out and hopefully next weekend it'll be going back in. I could quite easily have the thing built as a rolling car this weekend but it'll be much easier to wait until the engine is ready and jack the whole engine/box/cradle assembly up to the back of the car an bolt to the lot to the tub than trying to crane the thing in. That's how I removed it anyway and it was dead easy. So hopefully some more exciting updates in a week or so...!
front end is built up new shocks etcJust in the process of sorting the engine bits out and hopefully next weekend it'll be going back in. I could quite easily have the thing built as a rolling car this weekend but it'll be much easier to wait until the engine is ready and jack the whole engine/box/cradle assembly up to the back of the car an bolt to the lot to the tub than trying to crane the thing in. That's how I removed it anyway and it was dead easy. So hopefully some more exciting updates in a week or so...!
Edited by Yazza54 on Wednesday 6th April 10:30
Finally got my head built up on Saturday.
I decided it would be criminal to fit it without doing some mild porting first, by that I just mean basically copying what mr Honda did... The head I have is exactly the same casting but Honda blended behind the valve on the type R heads. Having seen it, it's a basic clean up not the "factory port job" some would have you believe. As I found on mine there's a fairly pronounced ridge just before the valve which can't help flow at all so I blended that out on all of them as well as removing any nasty casting marks and gave the exhaust ports a good clean up. I don't profess to be particularly good at this kinda thing but I'm happy with the job I did and theres logic behind it rather than just mindlessly attacking it with a burr! I used a flap wheel to avoid removing any more material than necessary.
Lapped the type R valves in, built back up with type r dual springs and new colletsThen later on I finally finished plastigauging the rods which were all good so torqued them all up and all the main caps.
Built the motor up yesterday, note that I am a keen fan of recycling so I re used my pizza hut boxes as protection for the block ... The mrs said I should spend more time with her so I built it up in the dining room, hahahhaa
Buttoned all the bottom end up, fidanza flywheel and new clutch
Knew I kept the shaft from my old gearbox for a reason, made aligning the clutch dead easy
Flipped it over and dropped the head on and new gasket, then dropped the cams in.
At this point I had a ******* major ordeal with some JUNK 2 (or skunk2 as they're also known) low profile valve cover bolts. Two of the 4No. that replace the OEM posts on the cam caps snapped at not even 10ftlb. Now I know they probably would've been OK just nipped down but at the end of the day they bolt through the cam caps so everything IMO should be torqued to spec. These couldn't even manage half the specified torque. Utter s
te. One was dead easy to get out having snapped just below the head of the bolt, the other snapped flush with the head so yep you guessed it, frigging cam had to come out, cap off and just about managed to tap the bolt round with a punch and get it out.
Put the cam back in and fitted the OEM ones.
Then finally got onto getting the belt on, new gates belt, koyo tensioner and new water pump installed. I don't like how close the GTM engine mount is to the tensioner/belt so will be grinding that down a bit, although the tensioner is all the way back in the photo, there is a gap but very close... Hopefully I'll get that done tonight and maybe get it mated up to the box. Then I'll see about getting the lump back in the car.
I decided it would be criminal to fit it without doing some mild porting first, by that I just mean basically copying what mr Honda did... The head I have is exactly the same casting but Honda blended behind the valve on the type R heads. Having seen it, it's a basic clean up not the "factory port job" some would have you believe. As I found on mine there's a fairly pronounced ridge just before the valve which can't help flow at all so I blended that out on all of them as well as removing any nasty casting marks and gave the exhaust ports a good clean up. I don't profess to be particularly good at this kinda thing but I'm happy with the job I did and theres logic behind it rather than just mindlessly attacking it with a burr! I used a flap wheel to avoid removing any more material than necessary.
Lapped the type R valves in, built back up with type r dual springs and new collets
Then later on I finally finished plastigauging the rods which were all good so torqued them all up and all the main caps.Built the motor up yesterday, note that I am a keen fan of recycling so I re used my pizza hut boxes as protection for the block ... The mrs said I should spend more time with her so I built it up in the dining room, hahahhaa
Buttoned all the bottom end up, fidanza flywheel and new clutch
Knew I kept the shaft from my old gearbox for a reason, made aligning the clutch dead easy
Flipped it over and dropped the head on and new gasket, then dropped the cams in.
At this point I had a ******* major ordeal with some JUNK 2 (or skunk2 as they're also known) low profile valve cover bolts. Two of the 4No. that replace the OEM posts on the cam caps snapped at not even 10ftlb. Now I know they probably would've been OK just nipped down but at the end of the day they bolt through the cam caps so everything IMO should be torqued to spec. These couldn't even manage half the specified torque. Utter s
te. One was dead easy to get out having snapped just below the head of the bolt, the other snapped flush with the head so yep you guessed it, frigging cam had to come out, cap off and just about managed to tap the bolt round with a punch and get it out.
Put the cam back in and fitted the OEM ones.
Then finally got onto getting the belt on, new gates belt, koyo tensioner and new water pump installed. I don't like how close the GTM engine mount is to the tensioner/belt so will be grinding that down a bit, although the tensioner is all the way back in the photo, there is a gap but very close... Hopefully I'll get that done tonight and maybe get it mated up to the box. Then I'll see about getting the lump back in the car.
Edited by Yazza54 on Monday 18th April 13:48
Got the engine back in over the weekend, few bits of plumbing left to do but mostly done. Need to fit the gear linkage back up and fit the rose joints I've sourced instead of the old rubber ball joint type ends on the gear change cables.
Going to do the valve clearances tonight and fit my valve cover I think. Then I'll get some pics of that. New shocks are on the back etc..
Rear ARB is back on was cleaning the drop links up last night. Even after 3 lots of paint strupper it just didn't want to come off fully and they seemed a little stained by the paint so out came the grit paper.
Was quite difficult until I realised I could just about fit them in my drill chuck
40 odd quid worth of the best rose joints I could get from McGill motorsports later
Going to do the valve clearances tonight and fit my valve cover I think. Then I'll get some pics of that. New shocks are on the back etc..
Rear ARB is back on was cleaning the drop links up last night. Even after 3 lots of paint strupper it just didn't want to come off fully and they seemed a little stained by the paint so out came the grit paper.
Was quite difficult until I realised I could just about fit them in my drill chuck
40 odd quid worth of the best rose joints I could get from McGill motorsports later
Edited by Yazza54 on Wednesday 27th April 11:54
I like it ..
Gonna open up the top side vent too as it sits just behind it. I need to make some form of support for it so it looks a bit more finished. It's the only way you can get any kind of decent system on it as all there's room for is a bend or a cone filter straight on the TB surrounded by the clam so this way at least it's out of the way and near a opening.
Gonna open up the top side vent too as it sits just behind it. I need to make some form of support for it so it looks a bit more finished. It's the only way you can get any kind of decent system on it as all there's room for is a bend or a cone filter straight on the TB surrounded by the clam so this way at least it's out of the way and near a opening.
Yazza54 said:
I like it ..
Gonna open up the top side vent too as it sits just behind it. I need to make some form of support for it so it looks a bit more finished. It's the only way you can get any kind of decent system on it as all there's room for is a bend or a cone filter straight on the TB surrounded by the clam so this way at least it's out of the way and near a opening.
Is there a vent on the rear clam then?Gonna open up the top side vent too as it sits just behind it. I need to make some form of support for it so it looks a bit more finished. It's the only way you can get any kind of decent system on it as all there's room for is a bend or a cone filter straight on the TB surrounded by the clam so this way at least it's out of the way and near a opening.
Not sure. Need to make the exhaust which I'll get on with in the week, all the carpets etc need to go back stuff like that, then it needs the wheels powder coating and the car wants painting really to do it justice and I don't like half arsing stuff like that I want it to look as good as it can the first time it gets driven. Couple months maybe..??
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